10 TV Show Spin-Offs That Are Practically Flawless
5. Happy Days
From: Love, American Style.
Starting life as a segment from the anthology series Love, American Style in 1972, Happy Days is far from a perfect vision, but its imperfections are exactly what makes it such a beloved and enduring classic.
With heaps of heart and simple but effective humour, Happy Days ran for over 250 episodes, and soared off the backs of the iconic characters it brought to life, from Henry Winkler's biker Fonzie to Ron Howard's all-American teen Richie and his family, who sold the show for all its brazen comedy, period detail, and 50s nostalgia.
The sitcom suffered through a bumpy final leg, but by then its mark was made: There are few shows that have proved to be as influentially itself on TV. Since it ended in 1984, it created a host of its own spinoffs, including Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, and Joanie Loves Chachi, each well remembered and iconic in their own right.