Spinoff

The year is 1977. Under the leadership of Fred Silverman, ABC has become the number-one network with a combination of family-friendly comedies (Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley) and titillating “jiggle” shows (Charlie’s Angels, Three’s Company). What next, Silverman asks himself? Why, how about combining the two — Get Garry Marshall to create a show that combines the family comedy of Happy Days with the titillation and frequent bralessness of Charlie’s Angels? And thus was born Blansky’s Beauties, starring Nancy Walker (Rhoda’s mom, the Bounty Towels lady) as the producer of a showgirl act in Las Vegas. The show was launched with a crossover episode of Happy Days, where Nancy Blansky was introduced as Tom Bosley’s cousin. And yet it bombed, and you will see why.

Nikki Finke takes time out from writing 973 posts about The Dark Knight‘s box-office (we get it, it’s going to make lots of money) to write about how The Office spinoff will not be a spinoff at all, and it’s largely due to Greg Daniels’ determination to create something similar but unconnected:

Like most of you, I have no idea what the Office spinoff will be about. I do think, however, that no matter what the title turns out to be, many of us will continue referring to it as “The Office Spinoff.” I’m just so used to that title after NBC blaring it at us for months.