There's talk that the creators of “House M.D.” are mulling over the idea of a spin-off — the focus won’t be one of the doctors, but a new private-investigator character.

But aren't there other shows out there worthy of spawning new generations? Here's a look at some we'd like to see.

“The Big Bang Theory: Revenge of the Nerds”
While "Bang's" two nerdy leads, Leonard and Sheldon, provide the majority of the funny on a weekly basis, what about their even nerdier sidekicks: Howard and Rajnesh? Leonard’s practically a ladies man compared to these two dorks. The May 5 episode, in which Howard and Rajnesh each clumsily tried to make a move on Sheldon’s twin sister, is as funny as any 30 minutes on TV this season. Show co-creator Chuck Lorre  isn't afraid to poke fun at the chums' Jewish and Indian heritages in a way that only makes us chuckle, never take offense.

“30 Rock: A New Page”
What do we really know about our favorite NBC page, Kenneth? That he’s exceedingly polite, will do anything for his bosses and is in constant fear of going to hell. What we don’t know anything about is his family, who created this creature of niceness. How about a weekly trip down to his sweet Georgia home, explaining how their “aw, shucks” attitude works in a more down-home setting? A half-hour of Kenneth and his siblings has all the ingredients of Southern pecan pie: sweet and comforting.

“American Idol: Simon Says”
While the ratings for “American Idol” have taken a significant drubbing this season, it's certainly not because America is tiring of Simon Cowell. Cowell’s on-the-money and feelings-be-damned comments remain one of the few compelling reasons to tune in. While a musical competition show might seem too obvious a comparison to “Idol,” a spinoff reality series where he can act as a judge would be a perfect transition. Maybe in food or fashion — Simon and Chef Gordon Ramsay can have a harangue-off. Smart money's on Cowell.

“Friday Night Lights: The College Years”
Devoted fans of “Friday Night Lights” know that the show barely has enough viewers to warrant its own survival, let alone a spin-off — the show signed up with DirecTV as a production partner to ensure a return for 13 episodes of season three. But it would be great to see a new show explore one of the characters who don't get enough time on "FNL." One smart pick would be Landry Clark. By far the funniest of his senior class, Landry’s got a level head on his shoulders. It would be fascinating to see where his life turns once he leaves high school, and football, behind.

“The New NEW Adventures of Old Marly and Lindsay"
Christine’s hyper-driven and Ritalin-fueled personality is often funny, but at other times, it seems as if she’s trying too hard. That can't be said of Marly and Lindsay, her two archrivals at Matthew’s school, who never fail to cut Christine to the core. The writers save some of the best lines for these two supremely shallow homemakers, and credit goes to actresses Tricia O'Kelley and Alex Kapp Horner, whose deadpan deliveries often fuel Christine’s rage.

“Get Lost With Juliet”
"Lost's" Mystery Island could fuel a dozen spin-offs and follow-ups. How about "Cooking With Hurley," or "Vincent: It's a Dog's Life"? Here’s a vote to see where mysterious Juliet goes from here. She came to the island on false pretenses and, like Ben, has learned to lie and deceive like a pro. But the writers have neglected her this season, and it could be fascinating to see how she gets her life back together in the States — with or without Jack.

“How I Met Your Barney”
All hail Barney, a bro’s bro. While he plays well with his friends on “Mother,” giving the inimitable Neil Patrick Harris his own show and a new contingent of comrades could be fun. Several seasons ago, Barney's brother turned out to be none other than Wayne Brady. A spin-off could offer a terrific opportunity to see how the two of them could relate to each other, and maybe even give the womanizing Barney a steady girlfriend who is as morally shallow as he is.

Stuart Levine is a senior editor at Variety. He can be reached at

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