The Nanny: Why the Spin-Off Failed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- "The Chatterbox" isn't just an episode of The Nanny -- it's also an attempted spin-off for a show about Fran's hair salon. Find out more about The Nanny spin-off that almost happened on Behind the Backdoor Pilot.
Watch more episodes of Behind the Backdoor Pilot: • Star Trek: Why the Spi...
Narrated by Kevin Maher
Written by Nick Nadel
Edited by Mike Schuster
Produced by Nick Nadel and Kevin Maher
Executive Produced by Tim Finn
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I wasn't even aware of the concept of a "backdoor pilot" until recently.
It's interesting how many I likely saw without knowing about it.
Oh yes, there are so, so many.
Watch our channel and see a lot more backdoor pilots.
Yeah I remember being a kid and watching the Married with Children and the Matt LeBlanc spin off
They were very popular in the 60s and 70 when talent was very good like green acres and Beverly hill Billy's and pettiecoat junction are all from the same universe..the 90s didn't have much talent for everyone show that was picked up 1 were canceled.
I remember this episode. It was one of The Nanny's very few misfires...
Yeah it was terrible!
Yeah, it was definitely....a decision they made
I agree it was flat and I kept wondering what was going on with it - Golden Girls did this once too.
@@AGMundy same
I liked it
My mom's been rewatching the nanny via hulu and when it got to this episode I was wondering if this was a crossover with another show that I'd never heard of
Ha!
watched this a few years ago and me too!
I loved that episode. I think of it often. Felt like a fever dream.
ha ha. I only wish the episode ended with Fran waking up from a dream.
@@atomicabe Or Newhart wakes up and realizes it was all a dream.
@@hdofu Ha ha ha -- that would be good, too!
Very interesting. Thank you.The episode was really boring because the original cast was just missing. At the time I thought they were all on vacation or indisposed and they had to produce this episode as a makeshift.
I thought it was an episode to give the actors a break because sometimes actors ask to have some time off because of their work is so demanding.
yeah backdoor pilots tend to be received poorly for that reason
@@fey0217 yes....Tachina Arnold (Pam) was given a backdoor pilot late in Martin (S5 Goin' For Mine) and her costars were Jenna von Oy (Blossom and The Parkers) & Tyrese Gibson.
Your channel is way underrated. The editing, the pace, and the research is superb.
I agree, can't wait to see more
And the jokes. 😂
Fun fact: Lauren Tom was also the voice of Minh and Connie from King of the Hill.
And Nicholle Tom, who played Sheffield's 16 year old daughter that gets creeped on is also another great voice actor. She was Supergirl in Justice League
Speaking of backdoor pilots AND Charles Shaughnessy, he guest starred in a Sabrina the Teenage Witch backdoor pilot episode called Witchright Hall, which would have starred Melissa Joan Hart's younger sister Emily Hart, playing Sabrina's bratty cousin Amanda attending the titular Hall for witches. That didn't get picked up, although Emily would play Sabrina in the animated series along with sister Melissa playing Aunt Hilda and Zelda.
Yes, I have it on my list. I got a copy but haven’t watched it yet.
omg i remember that
ooo howd i miss that!
although I enjoyed Sabrina that episode with Charles Shaughnessy is my fave 💙was the Sabrina spin off episode after the nanny ?
Yes! Thinking about it now it seems like a before-its-time Wizards of Waverly place type-show. Well it was a whole wave of magical tween sitcoms at the time actually.
I am probably the only one who liked this episode…probably because the nanny helped made it more fun.
and the nostalgia frim the campy salon. you know, thats 'so vintageovintage
I liked it also
Loved The Nanny but couldn't handle this episode. Even Ricky Nelson's daughter and David Cassidy's brother couldn't save it.
Yeah I have to agree. It’s pretty obvious why it didn’t get picked up as a series. It’s awful
Yay, someone mentioned Ricky 🥰
To be honest, both Tracy Nelson and Patrick Cassidy couldn't handle nor save this episode. Like the line from the hit film "A Few Good Men"
which Jack Nicholson says, "you can't handle the truth!"😇👌📺
With this year being the 60th anniversary of the debut of Doctor Who. A Behind the Backdoor Pilot episode about the secret pilot of early 1970s era Dr. Who called "The Invasion" and the 1 episode wonder K-9 and Company
I just finished a rewatch of the Nanny and I KNEW the beauty shop episode was a test pilot for a spin off! It was such a random episode and introduced so many new characters.
Holy crap, that was Heather Tom!! OMG, thankyou for clearing all this up. I can't believe I didn't connect those dots. I love Friends, too, AND Futurama - there's no excuse!
The Chatterbox was a good idea, on paper, dispirit being similar to the nanny, it just didn’t have the same vibe as the nanny.
I could tell the Chatterbox was mute from the get-go.
I know Tracy Nelson from Square Pegs, and that's it. It was really cool learning all that about her. I also never knew this was a backdoor pilot. I can't wait to watch more of your videos.
Thanks very much!
After a number of TV flops, actress/singer/filmmaker/cancer survivor Tracy Nelson found some success with "Father Dowling
Mysteries" which ran for a total of three seasons from 1989 until 1991 for Paramount Television. Nominated for an 1991
Primetime Emmy. Today more than ever, Tracy Nelson was an cancer survivor besides everything else. She lives in Los Angeles,
California and have only one child.
I'm surprised your backdoor pilot videos don't get as many views as they deserve. Do people not care about the wonderful world of backdoor pilots??
It's an outrage.
I divorced a back door pilot. I did it when I learned he was parking his jet in a whore’s hangar. Due to a dramatic change in his finances, I’m pleased to report he was never able to take off again.
I've never cared for them. Taking the focus away from established characters in order to focus on others has always been a terrible storytelling technique. I like spin-offs just fine, but they should never come at the expense of the reason why people are watching a particular show.
No.
That's because if people want to watch a video about getting backdoored, they'll go to an adult website instead. 😎
Mark Harmon himself staring in a successful backdoor pilot, probably one of the most successful ones ever, NCIS spawning from the Season 8 2 part episode of Jag (E20/21)
Nicely done. Spin offs are all about the writing. The only reason Chatterbox didn't work is because the writing was awful. Many series that copy the premise of the it's originator work because the writing remains clever and is engaging. If this episode was what CBS was judging the option of a spin off by, it would have left them unimpressed. The characters worked, the setting was good and the actors top notch but those jokes! Blah! The rehashed storyline - yawn!
Well isnt it always about the writing? The original and spin off? If The Nanny had horrible writing, would it have still been a success? The Nanny in my opinion died when they got married.
Pat Cassidy's New York accent gives me anxiety! But other than that he and the others did indeed do a good job--though it was none of their best work; they pretty much all proved themselves extremely talented elsewhere. I think he was in personality such a different character from Mr. Sheffield that they shouldn't be compared. But nothing else was very different. Anyway I agree completely with this. There's a video that just dropped, from Nerdstalgic I believe, that tries to advance the thesis that That '80s Show failed because it fell into a no-man's land of not knowing whether it should copy its parent or be completely different. This despite the clips that clearly show a much simpler explanation: It's a comedy and all the jokes are awful.
@@gamerincorporated154 actually it died after season 3.
@@gamerincorporated154 the writing was the major part of it. They could have went elsewhere with the theme but instead wanted to do a carbon copy of the nanny. they should have had Frans mom and grandma in it and surround the stories around them as being part owner while addressing the guy as too modern for their taste. And teh girl? Her lines were so baseless and a complete lack of imagination I am surprised her career survived.
One thing I also noticed is that Peter Marc Jacobson and Fran rehashed the exact same plot AGAIN in Beauty and the Beautician.
As much as I absolutely adore the cute, innocent and joyful world the Nanny is. It always goes to show that Hollywood really just throws anything at the wall and hopes that it sticks.
I love that you made a Models Inc. reference! Even funnier since she was also in Melrose Place!
Tracy Nelson Sure Was In Melrose Place!!!
She only appeared in melrose a few times
@@rony41165 I know. That's why I said it. 🤣
I often wondered about this episode. I assumed they were trying to make a spin-off pilot but I didn’t hear anything else about it. Thanks for the video 🙂
I usually don’t like videos with a lot of narration, but with this video the narration really worked. He spoke fast enough to not be dull but not so fast that you can’t keep up and it was a pretty humorous delivery. Well done! 👍
You know, you don’t have to verbalize every random thought that enters your head.
The actor that played Memo (Louis Tadaro) also played on PBS Kids TV show Ghostwriter (1993; guest starring as Frank in the season 2 episodes "Just in Time" Parts 1,2,3 and 4. Also he played on Quantum Leap's season 5 episode "A Tale of Two Sweeties" also in 1993.)
Love this series dude. You definitely deserve more subscribers and I'm sure your day will come.
I've been a massive fan of The Nanny from back when it was originally on air, and I never ever knew this about this episode! Honestly the ep always felt really weird (like who tf are these people now?!) so it's nice to finally understand what was going on. Great job with the vid!
Hey-Hey-Hey! I remember The Father Dowling Mysteries and I’m not a grandparent (yet). Love your channel, never fails to entertain & teach me something I didn’t know.
I remember that episode and thinking "yeah this is not going to work on its own, I don't even like these characters being in the Nanny, let alone enough to devote more time to watching a series just about them"
How in the hell can you produce a vid this good and not have more subscribers?
I think there's potential in a sitcom set at a hair salon. I always thought it was a missed opportunity on Roseanne that her job at the hair salon was only in a few episodes and they didn't do anything with it. I would just have it be mostly set at the salon but we'd still see the characters elsewhere - like on The Office we mostly saw the office but still saw them at Chili's or at their own homes from time to time.
I just had this recommended to me. Wow, very interesting. I love any backstory and insight into tv shows and movies I loved growing up with. Can't say I've ever really heard much about backdoor pilots. Subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing. We love backstories and the weird stories of how some deals get made.
This was one of those, “what were they thinking “ moments!
Ah, this explains why they focused on those characters so much in that episode, now it makes sense. It wasn't one of the better episodes unfortunately, so I'd say the audience sealed its fate. I'm loving this channel, I am subscribed!
A kid in a go-gurt commercial. 🤣 Oh, the 90s were so wonderful and wacky.
Ha ha. Very true.
The only thing that made me chuckle in this video was that gogurt comment 🤣
I just watched the episode Friday and man it screamed pilot.
Its actually a good sitcom idea the whole salon thing. And It may even work today with the right characters but all those actors that were too star in it look a little weak to me. I am not sure they would have carried the show. Its a good idea but it should have been re casted with different actors except
"Gil Chesterton" from Fraiser. He would have been really good in the show. So would be good to keep him
ONLY six seasons!?
I LOVE the SHOW! I thought they did EIGHT or NINE.
CBS:
"Nobody watches us when we sometimes HAVE ON GREAT SHOWS!"
"The Nanny" lasted only for 6 seasons on CBS. But now seen on Cozi TV, a year later.
I just know that actress from Seinfeld, playing Jerry's female doppelgänger that George dated. Didn't even know she had other well known roles!
Wow. I remember this episode. I thought that it was weird that we hardly saw Fran. I didnt know that this was supposed to be a spin off.
Before Fran, the pilot was called "Our Song" starring a Korean maid of a rich guy, possibly mayor played by George Hamilton centered in San Fransisco. They changed up the location o NYC, kept the kids, grandma, lost George and got Fran. I remember clearly because the pilot intro song was sung badly in broken english. Can't remember if it was old beautiful or the star spangled banner.
One of the back door pilots I remember most (for some reason) was with Fran Drescher and Donna Dixon on Who’s the Boss.
When I saw the episode, the biggest thing with Mary Ruth that’s jarring were her clothes and the fearful look she had. It wasn’t endearing.
IKR? Velvet and white tights in a hair salon? Lol
Exactly and the hairdresser dude was like a one-time gag character (moves hips to songs uhokay) Like how is that supposed to sustain a series HAHA
@@skylineb28 the side characters were stereotypes that have not aged well.
This cast was stacked, I'm rewatching the nanny so around 12 mins in. It felt so off. Not a episode to this point has me give anything less than a 10/10. But this threw me off so fast I was like wait, what am I watching 😂😂. Amazing cast, meh attempt at a spinoff.
I guess a lot of people felt this particular episode wasn't up to par but I liked it.
I thought this is what it was when I saw it.. Thank you for clearing it up! :)
You just gained a new subscriber... This was sooooo good. Am going to binge watch your channel all day.
Thanks very much. That's great to hear.
Not mentioning that Lauren Tom voiced Minh and Khan Jr. and that Tracey Nelson played “She Jerry” on Seinfeld are cardinal sitcom trivia sins in my book.
I love the way Nanny dressed ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
Yes, you could argue that all those CSI and NCIS spin-offs are carbom copies, but I don't think you can say that about "Young Sheldon": It's actually quite different from "Big Bang Theory". YS takes place 30 years ago; it's about a family, rather than friends; it's a single camera comedy, rather than a multicam; it's serialized; and it's got a much more dramatic emphasis to it.
Yeah, I don't care for Young Sheldon, but while it's a spin off, it's not a carbon copy spin off. There are no expy characters.
Such a cool concept for a series! I always wondered about these backdoor pilots. I wish on the last season on Scrubs that the interns spinoff stayed a backdoor pilot. What a crash and burn for a great series..
But in this, Tracy Nelson seems to be on a whole different show, she was way too over the top for The Nanny and that's saying something. Also, gogurt mimo was also on an episode of Full House where he plays Stephanie's classmate in one of those 'very special' episodes.
I have never heard of your channel before, subscribed! TH-cam algorithm sent me me. I saw this video had the nanny and I need something else to watch than my usual doom and gloom channels.
There’s a back door pilot on a show called undeclared they knew they were getting cancelled and just went for it to try to keep the show going. Source: what I remember from listening to directors commentary on dvd box set
Honestly, the only backdoor pilot I ever liked was the Laverne and Shirley one for Happy Days. I think that was because it was written like an actual Happy Days episode and Ron Howard and Henry Winkler were there the whole time. It just so happened to feature two new hilarious guest characters we wanted to see more of. That’s really how one does a backdoor pilot. It has to seem organic and not force viewers to essentially watch a new show within the regular show they tuned in to watch. Kind of like how Frasier, though a spin-off of Cheers, really happened because Frasier and Lilith made a guest appearance on Wings and the episode was not meant to be a backdoor pilot but a crossover episode that was written as a regular Wings episode. We got to see Frasier written by new writers and outside the Cheers environment and the rest is history. However, I will say there have been some good spin offs I’ve liked that had some bad backdoor pilots. Like that Grey’s Anatomy one. The show itself was much better than that backdoor pilot as far as pop network dramas go.
From what I remember, L&S were indeed initially meant to be one off characters so you're right in that technically it was not a backdoor pilot. Garry Marshall (Penny's brother) and the execs at ABC saw what chemistry the girls had and before you knew it, they had their own show. You'll notice how Shirley was still rougher around the edges than the prissy girl she would be on the series proper. It was also implies they were "experienced" whereas, on the series proper, they were more chaste with most guys.
Very well done!
It's so funny to see all of those episodes here and remembering them. I saw them as a child in Austria, of course dubbed in German, and with many of these shows I always wondered what this weird episode was. Married with Children, Nanny, etc, all those shows had these absurd ones. Now I learn about backdoor pilots. You see, since syndication works differently, and shows used to come out sometimes significantly later in Europe, there is no connection between a pilot, spinoff, spinoff attempt ,etc. We don't have US media telling us about failed shows, and failed shows of course do not make it ever to Europe, sometimes even successful shows don't, so all those weird episodes live on in an enigmatic no-man's-land
Dude I love that episode I wish the show had been given a chance
Love your videos, great job. Might I suggest one about the multiple failed backdoor spinoffs of The Facts Of Life? Keep up the great work.
I love your videos! "Who's the Boss?" had several back door pilots one of which starred Fran Drescher & Donna Dixon as models Angela hires for a commercial and hilarity ensues! Also "Who's the Boss?" Tried a spinoff for Mona where she leaves to run a zany hotel a la "Faulty Towers" in America starring Katherine Helmond.
Thanks. We want to cover the WHO’S THE BOSS and CHARLES IN CHARGE ones but can’t find good copies of the episodes
They did have spin-off living dolls that starred leah remini and Halle berry
@@rony41165 Yes, two of the WHO'S THE BOSS spin-offs went to series: LIVING DOLLS with Halle Berry and Leah Remini -- plus CHARMED LIVES (the one with Donna Dixon and Fran Drescher -- who'd previously shared the screen in DOCTOR DETROIT.)
The Katherine helmond wouldn't have worked she had already done that sort of on soap where the series Benson came from.
@@atomicabe They're total flops.
It ran for six successful seasons on CBS from Fall 1993 until Summer 1999 and won an Emmy for its costumes.
Man I was so confused whenever this episode would play
Loved this! Just had to throw out there though… Tracy Nelson’s dad wasn’t mentioned!!! Omg he’s one of the most legendary musicians on earth!! Elvis looked up to him!!!! Ricky Nelson!!!!! A gorgeous, talented, gentle soul with such a beautiful voice. Rest in Power, Rick 💜💜 Look him up!!
Sorry we didn't include that detail. I guess it's true "You can't please everyone, So you got to please yourself"
“Your grandparents may remember”
Me: ugh! Gut me!
I knew Mary Ruth looked familiar!! I love The Nanny - I have the entire series on DVD (YES, I said DVD!)
i remember watching parts of this episode and it felt like a fever dream where it felt like all the characters were replaced by different actors.
This video was incredible! Quite humorous, and very clever! SUBSCRIBED!
Father Dowling mysteries!!!! Omg i loved that show
I need to re-visit that one.
Same, although I'm only 39 so that grandparent comment hurt 😂
I didn’t know what a back door pilot was when i watched this episode i i thought it was introducing new characters to the show so i would always wonder when they were gonna appear in other episodes and it never happened. 😅
I remember that episode. I knew it was an attempted spinoff, but it was weird. I loved The Nanny. And Nelson. And Tracy Nelson, who I watched on Father Dowling, even though I’m not a grandma. 😊
I would catch an episode of Father Dowling when I'd visit my retired Aunt and Uncle. That or Murder She Wrote.
‘
@L CC I don’t know why I watched so many old folks’ shows as a little kid. 😂
So weird how they just basically forced you into watching a pitch with a different cast leading most of this episode.
Golden Girls were notorious for refusing actors for various roles too. Like we didn't notice!!
Man, I need some of that nanny superfan tech!
I remember this episode, it was funny😁
Whoa! Totally missed this episode of "The Nanny". Always had an eye for Fran (I mean, who didn't?). But, but, but... that Mary Ruth character... I could look at her ALL DAY LONG! (Wolf whistle).
Lauren Tom was hilarious IMO
Lauren Tom also voiced Connie on King of the Hill.
Lauren Tom is great. If you ever get the chance to see Tom Schiller's "Nothing Lasts Forever" -- she's terrific in it.
Lauren Tom Was Also On The Last Season Of Grace Under Fire.
@@atomicabe I haven't seen the movie at all but for Lauren Tom, she's got great performances on King of the Hill, Grace Under Fire etc.
I'm surprised you didn't mention Lauren Tom's role on King of the Hill as Minh Souphinusinphone (sp?) since she was basically using the same voice for the character in this pilot.
Glad someone else pointed this out! She was definitely my favorite part of this episode.
As a dedicated Nanny fan from the start, YES - I knew instantly that this was an attempt at a pilot, and YES - I knew the kid was in another episode ("Hey YO WOAH!)... this video was nice though.
I think they removed it from rotation in syndication alltogether here in the Netherlands. I would have remembered this! (And I've watched the complete show about 5 or 6 times in my teens. I even recognized the snooty kid! 😂)
I liked Tracy on Seinfeld when she played George's girlfriend who looked like Jerry
Just discovered your channel. This series is fantastic, I love learning about backdoor pilots, it's such a weird and intriguing concept.
Speaking of Mark Harmon, he starred in a failed backdoor pilot in 1975. It was on the paramedic drama "Emergency!"in the episode 905-Wild. Would love to see your take on it if that interests you.
I remember this I liked it but this was hit or miss not many understood this episode was before it's time
Hey i remember seeing father Dowling as a kid. Charming series.
Uh....I guess I'm old. I first saw her on Square Pegs in 1982 Where's my walker?
I loved that series
@@blackamerican40 I loved that show!
I would have totally watched the chatterbox
Same!!
I always thought that episode was weird, now I know why
Thankfully I completely blacked this out
I remember liking this episode. I noticed it was a pilot. Shame they didn’t went forward with it
This should've been a movie instead of a spin-off.
Idea for a Halloween video:
At the "Failed Spinoff Graveyard", corpses (which represent the failed Backdoor Pilots) come out of the grave and preform a thriller liker video where afterwards then all return to their graves.
I remember seeing this episode.
I didn't know Jerry almost had a spin-off show.
I remember this episode I think 😭
Its crazy how good this series of back door pilots is. Kinda hard to pick them out though, none of them are titled the same? anyway very cool.
They should do an official reunion episode or mini series that shows where everyone is all these years later.
They did one in 2004.
Not the same but they did a reading of the first episode it’s on TH-cam I think it was a couple years ago
I love backdoor pilots.. The main characters disappear and for 20 minutes, we get a bunch new characters with a plot that has absolutely nothing with the original show.. I'm guessing The Facts of Life, a backdoor from Different Strokes is probably the most successful...
Although I'm not sure if they were backdoor pilots I think The Jeffersons was a very successful spinoff from All In The Family. Family Matters was a very successful spinoff from Perfect Strangers. Good Times was a very successful spinoff from Maude.
@@stacistaci6657 Technically, I think they count as spin-offs...Backdoors generally introduce a slew of new characters and environment within the original show..awkwardly, within one episode..The Jeffersons had quite a few appearances on All in the Family before leaving..Family Matters introduced the cast after it was picked up as a series. The same with Family Matters, Maude, and Perfect Strangers. That makes them spin-offs from the original....
@@edreid7872 I think The Chatterbox had potential if the producers had the main characters do several appearances in The Nanny the way the Jeffersons made multiple appearances on AITF.
@@stacistaci6657 As said in the video, it was to similar to The Nanny...A couple of years of the two leads playing footsie,ton of double entendre sex jokes, the neighborhood regulars with not much to do, and the occasional celebrity coming in for a cut, and the audience wondering, how did they end up in The Chatterbox...it would not have worked..
“Melrose Place” as spin-off of “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Angel” as spin-off of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” were both very successful.
I’m watching this show currently & my fiancé asked “is this a back door spin off”
The Golden Girls Launched Two Direct Spinoffs: Empty Nest And Nurses And A Spinoff/Continuation Series The Golden Palace!!!
"The Golden Palace" has moved from CBS to Lifetime with a trio of cast members from "The Golden Girls" and
ran for four seasons from 1992 thru 1996. Not bad at all!
I remember this!!!
when you said "Nanny Superfans" I felt SO included LMFAOOO
It was only season two and they were thinking of a spinoff?!
Tracy also starred in a failed spinoff on Matlock!
Oh, come on! The only one hit television series
that ran for three seasons from 1988 to 1991
was the Emmy nominated "Father Dowling
Mysteries" for Paramount Domestic Television
with Tom Bosley. You wanna know something?
Tracy, Tom and Mary Wickes were getting along
just fine.
A straight guy working in a hair salon, lol.