Television Shows That Spun Off From Anthology Series

This is a list of television anthology series that have had episodes spun off into full-blown series. Sometimes these spin-offs were deliberately made as backdoor television pilots.

Anthology Series Spin-off
ABC Movie of the Week
  • Alias Smith and Jones
  • The Immortal
  • Longstreet
  • Marcus Welby, M.D.
  • Matt Helm
  • Night Stalker
  • The Six Million Dollar Man
  • Starsky and Hutch
  • Wonder Woman
  • The Young Lawyers
Armchair Theatre
  • Armchair Thriller (format)
  • Callan ("A Magnum for Schneider")
  • Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width
  • Out of this World ("Murder Club")
Armchair Thriller
  • Quiet as a Nun
The Aunty Jack Show
  • Wollongong the Brave
Amazing Stories
  • Family Dog
Big Bite
  • Summer Heights High (Character: Mr G)
Bizarre (TV series)
  • Super Dave (Character)
The Carol Burnett Show
  • Mama's Family (sketch "The Family")
Comedy Company
  • Col'n Carpenter
Comedy Firsts
  • Barbara
  • Sometime, Never
Comedy Playhouse
  • Steptoe and Son ("The Offer")
  • Til Death Us Do Part
  • All Gas and Gaiters ("The Bishop Rides Again")
  • The Liver Birds
  • Are You Being Served? ("Are You Being Served?")
  • Last of the Summer Wine ("The Library Mob" aka "Of Funerals and Fish")
Comedy Premieres
  • Cold Feet
  • The Grimleys
Comic Asides
  • The High Life
  • I, Lovett
  • Joking Apart
  • KYTV
  • Mornin' Sarge
  • Tygo Road
Fast Forward
  • Kath and Kim (sketch) Also appeared in Big Girl's Blouse
Jackanory Playhouse
  • Lizzie Dripping ("Lizzie Dripping and the Orphans")
Love, American Style
  • Happy Days ("Love and the Happy Days")
  • Wait Till Your Father Gets Home ("Love and the Old-Fashioned Father")
  • Barefoot in the Park
The Naked Vicar Show
  • Kingswood Country (Sketch)
Play For Today
  • Rumpole of the Bailey ("Rumpole of the Bailey" aka "Rumpole and the Confession of Guilt")
  • Boys from the Blackstuff ("The Black Stuff")
  • Gangsters
  • Play for Tomorrow ("The Flipside of Dominick Hide")
Seven of One
  • Porridge ("Prisoner & Escort")
  • Open All Hours
Storyboard
  • The Bill ("Woodentop")
Story Parade
  • Out of the Unknown ("The Caves of Steel")
Tight Spot
  • Freezing
We Can Be Heroes: Finding The Australian of the Year
  • Summer Heights High (Character: Ja'mie King)
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
  • The Untouchables
Wollongong the Brave
  • The Norman Gunston Show ("Norman Gunston: The Golden Years")

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