Sequels to popular television series are risky. Some do okay, generally they are TV movies that fulfill an audience’s appetite for the continuation of a character. The Gilligan’s Island TV movies were highly anticipated but beyond silly. Columbo worked okay even though he was past retirement age. The Rockford Files TV movies were well-received, but I wasn’t a big fan of those. The Star Trek films with the original cast were uneven, a couple of them were very good. If the show title includes the word, New, chances are it will be gone soon.
Sequels, spin-offs, continuations, etc. Here are five in the spotlight. Happy Friday!
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) Mary and Rhoda (2000) is a made-for-TV-movie. Mary and Rhoda was a big change in format from her sitcom.
This TV film was shot on location using one film camera, and it was a drama. That funny, spunky lady was no more. She was the widow of a congressman, now living in NYC and dealing with money issues, aging and restarting her life. Rhoda didn’t bring any laughs either. Any connection to her life in Minneapolis was a separate life. None of the talented creative people from her sitcom were involved this film. I had looked forward to this film, and was greatly disappointed.
MASH (1972-1983) AfterMASH (1983-1985) 31 episodes, a valiant effort, but no dice. Colonel Potter, Sergeant Klinger, and Father Mulcahy find themselves working together at a veterans’ hospital stateside after the war. Expecting hi jinx? Big laughs? That wasn’t the thrust of this show. Despite three characters and most of the creative and technical people from the first series, AfterMASH wasn’t the original series. The tone of the show presented serious issues with minor comedy moments.
On its own, independent of the first series, this program might have found an audience, but it wasn’t in the cards.
WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982) The New WKRP in Cincinnati (1991 –1993) Syndicated, 47 episodes. A lot had changed in a decade off the air. Several original characters reprise their roles as series regulars, along with several original characters who guested.
Carlson, Nessman and Tarlek return as regulars, some of the creative people return, but no one brought clever ideas or that magic energy that defined the first series. I wanted to like this series but found it difficult to hold my interest. This was WKRP-lite.
Night Court (1984-1992) The original show was a classic. Bawdy humor and witty writing, a great cast and quirky guest stars. It wore a little threadbare towards the end, but overall a great show. Very 1980s.
The updated Night Court (2023-2025) 47 episodes, brought back only one character as a regular and the gimmick was that Judge Harry Stone’s replacement is his daughter. The new version struggled to gain traction and never quite found its stride. The magic wouldn’t be replicated, though John Larroquette tried like hell.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015) This was the “mothership” for science-solving crime shows. There were two successful spin-offs. The original series went through a variety of cast changes until there was hardly anyone left. Even Ted Danson got a chance to steer the ship.
A few years after cancellation, the original series set in Las Vegas returned – with two original members onboard, but only for a short tenure – William Petersen and Jorja Fox. After they left, any connection to the old show went with them. That’s when I tuned out. I found no connection with the new characters. Returned as CSI: Vegas (2021-2024) 41 episodes.
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