TV Derivatives Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Zeta Project

"The Zeta Project" was an animated series that ran for two seasons. The show followed an infiltration robot known as Zeta.

Zeta was designed to kill, but after discovering that one of his targets was innocent, he decided that he was no-longer able to kill for any reason. The show follows as he and his companion, Ro, attempt to hide from the National Security Agents trying to track him down.

The character had first appeared in a few episodes of "Batman Beyond".
"Batman Beyond" was itself a spin-off of "Batman: The Animated Series".

Answer: Better Call Saul

"Better Call Saul" follows attorney Saul Goodman in the early years of his law career. The character, played by Bob Odenkirk, was first known as Jimmy McGill. He changed his name after a rocky start as a lawyer.

Answer: The Tortellis

"The Tortellis" was the first spin-off of "Cheers", though not the more successful one.

The show ran for 13 episodes from January to May of 1987 and starred Dan Hedaya and Jean Kasem.

They reprised their roles from "Cheers", where they played barmaid Carla's ex husband and his new wife.

The more successful spin-off was "Frasier" which ran from 1993 to 2004.

Answer: Knots Landing

"Knots Landing" ran from 1979-93. Both "Dallas" and "Knots Landing" ran 14 seasons and more than 340 episodes each.

The spinoff was set in the same continuity through the first four seasons, but after that the show's split off and never crossed over again.

The reason for that was on "Dallas" Bobby Ewing was killed at that time. In the parent show, that was later wiped out and retconned away. In "Knots Landing" there had already been too many changes to take back, so the two shows split off in their continuity.

Answer: Nurses

"Nurses" ran for 68 episodes over three seasons.
The show was set in the same hospital that Dr. Harry Weston from "Empty Nest" worked at, though he rarely appeared on the show. He was only in four episodes over the course of the three seasons.
The show, a comedy, followed several nurses as they went about their jobs in the hospital.

Answer: Empty Nest

"Golden Girls" followed four housemates living through their seniors years as both friends and family in a Miami house.

That show later spun-off both "Empty Nest" and "Golden Palace".

"Empty Nest" followed Dr. Henry Weston through both his personal and work life. The show, mostly set outside of the hospital, followed the doctor as he learned to go through life after the loss of his wife, and his two adult daughters moving back into the house.

Answer: NCIS

"JAG" stood for Judge Advocates General, and focused on the prosecution of military criminals.

"NCIS" or "Navy: NCIS" as it was known in its first season, had a similar military theme, but focused more on investigating the crime instead of prosecuting it.

"NCIS" had it's own spin-offs called "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "NCIS: New Orleans".

Answer: Lou Grant

Lou Grant played Mary's boss on "The Mary Tyler Moore" show. After than show went off the air, the character transitioned from comedy to drama, and from a TV studio to a newspaper man.

Ed Asner won the Emmy Award for outstanding actor in a drama for "Lou Grant" and for supporting actor in a comedy for "The Mary Tyler Moore" show. He became the first person to play the same role on a drama and a comedy and win an Emmy for both.

Answer: Family Matters

"Family Matters" ended up running longer, and being more popular than the show it was spun off of.

"Family Matters" follows the WInslow family and their annoying neighbor Steve Urkel. Matriarch Harriet Winslow was the link to "Perfect Strangers", she had played a department store employee on that show.

Answer: VR Troopers

Other shows that have spun-off of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" include "Masked Rider" (1995-1996), "Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers" (1996), "Big Bad Beetleborgs" (1996-1998), "Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation" (1997-1998) and "The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog" (1998).

"VR Troopers" followed along as a boy and his friends fought evil forces in both the real and virtual worlds.