Law & Order: SVU - unique among spinoffs?

[David V]

I'll admit, I'm a Law & Order: SVU addict. It's always been compelling drama and is one of those shows you can watch over and over again.

However, here's what might make SVU unique as a show. Is it the only spin-off in history that has surpassed its parent show in popularity and visibility? The show didn't take long, it seems, to overtake L&O in terms of popularity and Criminal Intent hasn't come close. Yet all three have performed pretty well down the years and can even be said as carrying the network.

Is it down to the hard-hitting storylines resonating, or the fact that the lead cast members have more or less been stable throughout and are closely tied with the show's identity?

[SteveFrame]

I love SVU but I am one of those that is the opposite. I still love Law & Order the most. The biggest thing that has hurt L&O in the last few years is the overturn of cast members. They are really losing their leadership.

Back to SVU I think one of the big things that holds it is the love of Stabler and Benson that has helped it. With them it has been able to appeal to a wider audience where even teenagers will watch which they won't with L&O or Criminal Intent.

I will say that I sort of disagree that SVU is the only spinoff that has been more popular than it's parent show. I think that honor as being the first belongs to Knots Landing. Not only did it last longer than Dallas it eventually beat it in ratings and surpassed it in popularity and creatively as well. In fact in the long run KL's overall ratings are even higher than SVU's.