Roseanne, which originally aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997, followed the Conner family as they dealt with trials and tribulations as a working-class family. Barr starred as Roseanne Conner while John Goodman played her onscreen husband, Dan Conner. Their family was expanded with Roseanne’s sister, Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), and Roseanne and Dan’s kids: Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Sarah Chalke and Lecy Goranson) and D.J. (Michael Fishman).

After the Roseanne sitcom was briefly revived in 2018, certain story lines had to be altered. The original series ended with Dan’s death, which the show wrote off as just a dream.

“I thought it was a clever way to do it, to handle it and get it out of the way,” Goodman teased at a Television Critics Association press tour panel in 2018.

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The ABC series was later canceled in the wake of Barr’s controversial social media posts and transformed into The Conners, which was a spinoff created without the actress’ involvement.

Meanwhile, over on AMC, Fear the Walking Dead killed off Kim Dickens in 2018 after she played a main character on the show.

“It was shocking. Obviously it was shocking to me and it was disappointing. It was heartbreaking,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2018. “I also thought there was so many more stories to tell and so many more places to go, so I was initially shocked and disappointed and heartbroken. But you know, it’s in the hands of the writers and the producers, and that’s the fate that befalls so many of the characters in this genre.”

She continued: “Basically, the message is, no one’s safe. And these kinds of deaths will ultimately propel the story of the other characters into other places. It’s part of the genre, it’s part of the storytelling device, and I just have to wrap my head around it and go into production.”

Despite committing to the twist for four years, the writing choice was walked back when Dickens returned in 2022. Keep scrolling for other TV characters whose deaths — or exits — were walked back due to overwhelming offscreen reactions:

Most Shocking TV Exits of 2025: 'Last of Us,' 'Emily in Paris' and More

Gates McFadden (‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’)

After being introduced in season 1 as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Gates McFadden was written out and replaced with Diana Muldaur as Katherine Pulaski. Muldaur left after only one season and McFadden returned in season three due to popular demand.

Patrick Duffy (‘Dallas’)

The soap opera introduced Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing when the show premiered in 1978. Bobby was later killed off and Duffy left for one year. Offscreen backlash, however, led to Bobby returning and he explained his absence — and death — away as all being part of a dream.

John Goodman (‘Roseanne’)

In order to bring Roseanne back as a revival, the show walked back several story lines including Dan’s death. John Goodman’s character returned with the explanation that anything contradicting that narrative was a dream.

Tom Selleck (‘Magnum P.I.’)

The main character was nearly killed off at the end of season 7. Ultimately that story was scrapped and Tom Selleck’s character, Thomas, lived to see another day in the eight and final season.

Kim Dickens (‘Fear the Walking Dead’)

When The Walking Dead expanded with Fear the Walking Dead, Kim Dickens was part of the main cast. Her character Madison was killed off in the season 4 midseason finale but ultimately the show found a way to bring Dickens back four years later.

Back in March 1975, M*A*S*H became a TV death pioneer when Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) died in the season 3 finale. The character was headed home after being honorably discharged from the army, but before he could make it, he was killed by enemy fire.

Some 21st-century shows, however, make M*A*S*H‘s surprise death look tame.

Lost, which ran from 2004 to 2010, became known for its shocking twists before the first season was even finished. In the April 2005 episode “Do No Harm,” viewers were devastated when Boone (Ian Somerhalder) died after a plane fell on him in the jungle, and his passing was just the beginning.

Manifest, You, Game of Thrones and more hit series have also thrown fans for a loop by killing off fan favorites.

Scroll down for a look back at some of the most shocking deaths in TV history — and remember, spoilers ahead!

Chances are if your favorite show felt different over the years, a showrunner shift occurred at some point behind the scenes.

Law & Order: Organized Crime attempted to solidify itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU but instead it has continued to make headlines for numerous showrunners exiting the series. The police procedural, which premiered in 2021 on NBC, stars Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, reprising his role from SVU.

By the time the show was renewed for its fifth season — and moved to Peacock — it had gone through seven showrunner changes. No official statement was made about the numerous swaps in the writers’ room.

Meanwhile, The Handmaid’s Tale became a household name with Bruce Miller at the helm. The hit series then faced a shakeup right before its sixth and final season when Miller stepped down as showrunner. He remained a writer and executive producer but passed on his duties to executive producers Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang.

TV’s Shadiest Behind-the-Scenes Shakeups

“We are ending our show on our own creative terms,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2022 before his departure. “Do I know what happens in season 6? Yes, I did think about the stuff that happens in season 6 for a while.”

Keep scrolling for more shows with significant showrunner swaps:

‘Fire Country’

Showrunner Tia Napolitano left Fire Country after four season on the show.

‘Twisted Metal’

David Reed will take over as showrunner in season 3, replacing Michael Jonathan Smith, who ran the series for its first two seasons.

‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’

When Stabler got his own show in 2020, Matt Olmstead took on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepped down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken, who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over. Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski, who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season. After Law & Order: Organized Crime was renewed for a fourth season, John Shiban was brought on as the newest showrunner but he didn’t stick around and Olmstead was brought back to finish up the scripts as an executive producer.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

When the show was first in development, Chaiken was meant to run the show but Showtime passed on the pilot. Miller became the official showrunner once Hulu picked up the series and remained at the helm until the final season. Miller stepped down in order to focus on adapting The Testaments and Tuchman and Chang were named co-showrunners for the sixth and final season.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

After Netflix announced a reimagined live-action remake of Avatar, creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were named as showrunners. They departed the series in 2020 due to creative differences and Albert Kim came onboard instead. Kim stepped down after the show was renewed and Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani became showrunners for the second and third seasons.

‘Call Me Kat’

The Fox sitcom, which starred Mayim Bialik, hired Darlene Hunt as a showrunner, which lasted for one season until Alissa Neubauer took over. Jim Patterson and Maria Ferrari were announced as the new showrunners for the third season, which turned out to be the show’s last.

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‘Designated Survivor’

Amy B. Harris was originally set to be the showrunner in 2016 but stepped down after Designated Survivor was officially picked up. Jon Harmon Feldman replaced Harris until Jeff Melvoin came on to supervise the second half of the first season. From there, writer Keith Eisner took over until the show was canceled on ABC. Netflix revived the series, which paved the way for Neal Baer to be named showrunner.

‘The Walking Dead’

The post-apocalyptic series premiered in 2010 with Frank Darabont at the helm. He departed after one season and Glen Mazzara took over until season 3. Scott M. Gimple was promoted to showrunner for four seasons until he became Chief Content Officer of the entire Walking Dead franchise and Angela Kang replaced him in the writers’ room.

‘West Wing’

The political series was created by Aaron Sorkin in 1999 and he remained with the show until the fifth season. After his departure, John Wells remained the sole executive producer and showrunner until the 2006 series finale.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Considering how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air, it makes sense that there have been some changes behind the scenes. Shonda Rhimes was the original showrunner for five seasons until Krista Vernoff joined her at the helm. One season later, Rhimes was began working alongside Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and the pair remained in charge when Rhimes stepped down to focus on other projects. From seasons 11 to 13, Stacy Mckee and William Harper were the showrunners before Mckee left and Vernoff returned. Vernoff was subsequently the sole showrunner from seasons 16 to 19 until Meg Marinis took over.

‘Supernatural’

Before Supernatural was picked up by The CW, creator Eric Kripke was developing the show for nearly 10 years. He remained as the showrunner until season 6, which is when Sera Gamble took over. Jeremy Carver was the sole showrunner from seasons 8 to 11 before turning control over to Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb for the remainder of its run.

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‘Gilmore Girls’

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were at the helm until failed contract negotiations caused them to leave after six seasons. David Rosenthal took over for the seventh and final season but ultimately it wasn’t the same. Sherman-Palladino ultimately returned for the four-part miniseries revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

‘The Office’

Greg Daniels developed the show and served as the showrunner for the first four seasons before leaving for Parks and Recreation. Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta were named the showrunners for season 5 but Celotta left the series one season later. Lieberstein stayed on for the following two seasons then briefly left to work on a potential spinoff. Daniels returned as showrunner for the ninth and final season.

‘Community’

After basing the script on his experiences, Dan Harmon was the showrunner for four seasons. He was briefly replaced by writers David Guarascio and Moses Port before returning one year later.

‘Seinfeld’

Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld was run by David for seven seasons. His exit led to Seinfeld — who also starred on the show — to take over for two more years until the 1998 series finale.

‘Dawson’s Creek’

Kevin Williamson left after the first season to focus on another show, which meant Alex Gansa became the new showrunner. A production shutdown — due to the cast’s frustration with the story lines — led to Gansa being replaced by Greg Berlanti in season 3.

It’s hard to know where to begin with so many platforms and so many subgenres to choose from.

That’s why Watch With Us is recommending just one drama show for you to check out this month — and it’s an action-packed, underrated vampire series you can now watch on Netflix.

Learn more about why Van Helsing is our September 2025 pick for the one drama show you should stream.

It’s a Creative Premise That Mixes Old and New Vampire Lore

As you might expect, Van Helsing takes some inspiration from Dracula — it follows a descendant of the legendary vampire slayer Abraham Van Helsing. (In this story, her name is Vanessa Van Helsing, and she’s played by the talented Kelly Overton.) And the series uses some other classic vampire tropes — all the usual ways of killing a vampire are on display here, for example. But Van Helsing the series places that traditional vampire mythos in a very nontraditional landscape.

When the series begins, Vanessa is waking from a three-year coma, during which a volcanic eruption coated the atmosphere with so much ash that the sun was essentially blotted out — leading vampires to rise out of the darkness and take over the world. Now, humans live on the run from vamps, holding on to hope of some savior who may be able to turn things around.

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The setting of Van Helsing is reminiscent of The Walking Dead or The Last of Us, and deals with some of the same themes of tribalism and survival. The vampires are genuinely scary, leaning fully into violence and gore rather than the more elegant bloodsuckers we’ve seen in shows like True Blood. But one of the most interesting twists on vampire mythology is revealed at the end of the first episode — Vanessa’s Van Helsing blood doesn’t just make her immune to vampirism, it has the power to turn vampires back into humans. That discovery gives the show stakes beyond survival: redemption and the possibility of reclaiming humanity.

The Chemistry Between the Leads Is Captivating — and Not How You’d Expect

Vanessa’s partner in her mission against the vampires turns out to be Axel Miller (Jonathan Scarfe), a former Marine who was charged with caring for Vanessa while she was in her coma. Once she wakes up, their connection and like-mindedness are palpable — but it doesn’t take the romantic turn you’d expect. Instead, their strong and loyal friendship becomes one of the show’s greatest assets.

Where many genre shows force a love story, Van Helsing lets Axel and Vanessa build a platonic bond rooted in mutual respect and survival. Their banter balances tension with humor, and their trust in one another allows for some of the most emotionally grounded moments in the series.

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Kelly Overton Is an Underrated Action Hero

Van Helsing ran on Syfy from 2016-2021, and although that’s a respectable run, the series never really got the love it deserved. Kelly Overton, in particular, should be remembered in the butt-kicking female heroine hall of fame alongside Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michonne Hawthorne (The Walking Dead) and Wynonna Earp (Wynonna Earp). She has cool superpowers (which get more and more impressive over the course of the series), but she also has the heart of a hero.

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She carries the show with a mix of physicality and emotional weight. Overton’s fight choreography — especially her one-on-one battles with “feral” vampires — proves she can stand toe-to-toe with any action star, while her delivery of Vanessa’s sardonic one-liners gives the character a much-needed edge. At the same time, she plays Vanessa’s struggle with the burden of leadership and motherhood with genuine vulnerability, especially in later seasons when her daughter Dylan becomes part of the story.

If you’re looking to sink your teeth into the best horror action series you’ve never heard of, check out Van Helsing on Netflix.

Mack’s sister, Kathryn Klebenow, shared information about the ceremony via Mack’s Instagram page.

“Hi there! This is Kathryn, Kelley’s Sister. Regarding Kelley’s Los Angeles celebration of life – if you are a friend/colleague of Kelley’s, please reach out so we can send you more information,” she wrote earlier this month. “Sunday 9/7/25 | Afternoon Open House Westside (Sunset / 405 Freeway).”

The post also included information on how to RSVP to the remembrance ceremony, and tagged actress Chelsea London Lloyd.

'9-1-1' Alum Kelley Mack's Death Was 'Total' Surprise After Treatment

Mack died on August 2 at age 33 following her battle with glioma of the central nervous system. Glioma “is a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord,” per Mayo Clinic. “As a glioma grows it forms a mass of cells called a tumor. The tumor can grow to press on brain or spinal cord tissue and cause symptoms.”

A separate celebration of life was previously held for the late Walking Dead star in Ohio earlier this month.

Mack’s family remembered her as a “bright, fervent light” via an Instagram post announcing news of her death on August 5.

“She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express,” the post continued.

Several of Mack’s Walking Dead costars paid tribute to the actress after her passing.

“My deepest condolences, Kelley was such a sweet and happy soul and I’m happy to have met her,” Anthony Michael Lopez wrote in a comment underneath Mack’s death announcement via Instagram. “She fought so hard. Sending her and your family lots of light and love. Rest easy Kelley.”

“This is heartbreaking. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed. Your bright light will always shine on 💙,” Gustavo Gomez penned.

'Walking Dead' Writer Scott M. Gimple Reacts to Kelley Mack's Death

Seven months before her death, Mack shared a health update via Instagram after having MRIs done at the hospital, revealing an “abnormal mass on her spinal cord.”

“Fast forward to now – I have been diagnosed with #diffusemidlineglioma, an extremely rare type of #astrocytoma #cancer,” she wrote. “Due to the biopsy surgery on my spinal cord, I have lost the use of my right leg and most of my left leg, so I now get around with a walker and a wheelchair.”

Mack said she was “very grateful” for her family and boyfriend Logan Lanier for being by her side throughout her health battle.

“It has been a very emotional and challenging time, truly testing my mental fortitude, faith, and physical strength,” she said. “They are so positive and we have a sense of calm knowing that my healing is taking place and we will overcome. This experience has brought me closer to God, and I am leaning on him and trust his plan for me.”

“Sad news about a massively talented member of the TWD family,” Gimple, 54, wrote via X on Wednesday, August 6. “We’re grateful we got to work with Kelley Mack and share her magic with the world.”

Mack was best known for her role as Addy in season 9 of the post-apocalyptic horror drama.

Mack’s sister, Kathryn, confirmed her death via a post on the 9-1-1 alum’s Instagram page on Tuesday, August 5.

Who Is '9-1-1' Actress Kelley Mack? What to Know After Her Death at Age 33

“It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go,” she wrote.

The post continued, “Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present. Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies 🦋 ❤️. She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express.”

Kathryn concluded, “Kelley’s Caringbridge link in her bio includes the 2-page formal announcement with information on her upcoming life celebration in Ohio on August 16th. She would want you all to know how much she loves you. And as her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I’m so f***ing proud of her.”

Eight months before her death, Mack announced that she had been diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare form of cancer that causes tumors in the brain and spinal cord.

“In September, I moved into a new apartment with my boyfriend, Logan. For a month after that, I had persistent lower back pain and thought I slipped a disc. A few weeks later, I had neuropathic itching in my right quad,” she wrote via Instagram in January. “And then, the shooting pains in my legs and back began, which resulted in me having to sleep in a recliner for a month because laying down was too painful. On Thanksgiving Eve, I had emergency MRIs done at the hospital, which revealed an abnormal mass in my spinal cord.”

Mack explained that she had a biopsy surgery done on her spinal cord, which left her unable to use her right leg “and most of my left leg.”

“So I now get around with a walker and a wheelchair,” she added.

“I am very grateful to have such a supportive and loving family and boyfriend, who have been with me every second of this process. It has been a very emotional and challenging time, truly testing my mental fortitude, faith, and physical strength,” she continued. “They are so positive and we have a sense of calm knowing that my healing is taking place and we will overcome. This experience has brought me closer to God, and I am leaning on him and trust his plan for me.”

Who Was Kelley Mack's Boyfriend? Meet 'Supportive' Logan Lanier

Mack told fans that her acting career would be “somewhat paused” as she underwent radiation treatment in Cincinnati, “where my family is located.”

Over the next few months, Mack continued to share updates with fans, including videos of her learning to walk again.

A rep for Mack told TMZ that her death came as a “total” surprise, as she had been auditioning for projects earlier in the summer. Though she took a break from auditions by July, her rep said “no one expected” the news of her death.

Meanwhile, a family source told the outlet that Mack had made a “nice recovery” following her treatment earlier this year.

“It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley,” Mack’s sister Kathryn announced via the Chicago Med alum’s Instagram page on Tuesday, August 5. “Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go.”

The post shared that Mack “passed peacefully” on Saturday, August 2. Her mother Kristen and aunt Karen were present at the time of her death.

“Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies 🦋 ❤️,” the post continued. “She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express.”

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Mack’s sister added that Mack was appreciative of those who had supported her over the years,

“She would want you all to know how much she loves you,” the message read. “And as her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I’m so f***ing proud of her.

According to Mack’s online obituary, the actress passed away following her battle with glioma of the central nervous system. (According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition is a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord. As glioma grows it forms a tumor.)

A celebration of life for Mack has been scheduled for Saturday, August 16, in Ohio. A remembrance taking place in Los Angeles will also be scheduled at a later date.

Earlier this year, Mack gave an update on her health battle as she finished her proton radiation treatment in March.

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“I’m currently in Florida and will be here until next week! It’s tough adjusting to a new environment after getting into a routine at home, but the mental and emotional support from my loved ones keeps me in check, even when I’m feeling physically out of whack,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “It’s a challenge that’s really good for me, and the sun has been shining every day so far ☀️Overall, this journey has not been easy, but things are getting better — improvements are tough to see when you’re in the thick of it. Thank you again and again for the support and prayers 💞💪🏻.”

Mack was best known for her roles on The Walking Dead, where she joined the cast in season 9 as Addy. The actress also appeared on season 8 of Chicago Med where she played Penelope Jacobs. She made a cameo on 9-1-1 back in 2019.

Most recently, Mack starred in the upcoming film Universal alongside Joe Thomas and Rosa Robson. The movie will be screened at the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology on Sunday, August 10, and the Chain NYC Film Festival on Monday, August 11.

“Please forgive me if I get upset,” Burton Morgan, 42, said during an interview with People on Sunday, June 22, after reprising the role of Negan’s (Morgan) late wife Lucille. “I just watched it.”

Burton Morgan noted that it was “a really hard episode” to shoot, adding, “What people didn’t know is that, throughout this season, Jeff’s dad was dying. He had died, like, six days before we shot this scene.”

The actress got emotional about the tragic family loss.

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“Watching this man that I love so much hold that grief and really have to focus at work and hold it together, I wouldn’t cry except I just watched it,” she noted. “It was really, really amazing to watch the person you love most in the world be able to do that.”

Burton’s father, Richard, died in July 2024 after a brief illness. Burton Morgan noted that her husband was given a couple of days off from filming so they “could go say goodbye to his dad” in California.

“He was able to channel a lot of the grief he was feeling for his dad into this episode while not letting anyone down,” she continued. “Everyone knew that he was dealing with this tragedy, but these storylines had been written well in advance. We had no idea when we got the news that his dad was sick that we would have to film this scene within days of seeing him for the last time. And we definitely had no idea this episode was going to air on Father’s Day. It was a lot.”

Burton Morgan added: “I wish people knew what was going on behind the scenes when they see someone’s work. Anybody who’s in this line of work is usually tapping into something hard. The thing he was tapping into was really hard, but also very fresh. Working when you’re raw like that is a special skill set.”

During the June 15 episode of the hit AMC show, Negan hallucinated his dead wife, Lucille, while trying to help a sick Ginny (Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon). He spent the episode reflecting on his past struggles — including his attempts to keep Lucille alive after a cancer diagnosis before she died by suicide.

Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Relationship Timeline

Negan finally confronted the vision of his deceased wife after she initially appeared to be a thief. Negan apologized for failing to keep Lucille alive, which she disagreed with.

Burton Morgan, who started dating Morgan in 2009, originally appeared as Lucille in the season 10 finale of The Walking Dead. Viewers learned through flashbacks that it was Negan’s wife who inspired the name of his murder bat.

While reflecting on her return to TWD set, Burton Morgan shared how her and Burton’s 15-year-old son supported his dad as well.

“Our kids were there with us and in his trailer hanging out, so he could just be silly with them in between every take,” Burton Morgan, who also shares daughter George, 5, with Morgan, said. “Even when I wrapped, our son stayed with him at work and just shadowed the director and got to hang out with the camera crew. And so the balm that eases loss like that is being surrounded by the people who are still here and that we get to love on. Our son stepping up and being there for his dad at work was also a very cool turn of events.”

During the Sunday, June 15, episode of the hit AMC show, Negan (Morgan) hallucinated his dead wife, Lucille (Burton Morgan), while trying to help a sick Ginny (Mahina Anne Marie Napoleon). He spent the episode reflecting on his past struggles — including his attempts to keep Lucille alive after a cancer diagnosis before she died by suicide.

Negan finally confronted the vision of his deceased wife after she initially appeared to be a thief. Negan apologized for failing to keep Lucille alive, but she disagreed with him.

“You got me up every morning. You washed me,” she told Negan, who said “it wasn’t enough.” The hallucination of Lucille continued, “You got me dressed. You undressed me.”

Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Relationship Timeline

Burton Morgan, 42, originally appeared as Lucille in the season 10 finale of The Walking Dead. Viewers learned through flashbacks that it was Negan’s wife who inspired the name of his murder bat.

“We’ve been trying to figure out a way to bring her back into the show since she came on the first time,” Morgan, 59, told People. “I always wanted her back.”

Morgan was thrilled about how the moment will push his character forward, adding, “[Showrunner] Eli [Jorné] figured out a way to bring her back, and we did. I think that it does so much for my character having her around so you can see behind the door of why Negan is Negan.”

The couple have been together off screen since 2009, getting married in October 2019 after welcoming son Gus, 14, and daughter George, 5.

“Jeffrey and I weren’t made for dating. He was the man I was gonna get old and boring with. Instead of late nights out at clubs or wining and dining, at night we’d settle in and watch an episode of Lonesome Dove,” Burton Morgan reflected in her 2020 memoir, The Rural Diaries. “We decided that when we had a kid, we’d name him Gus after Robert DuVall’s character. As the credits rolled, Jeffrey turned to me and asked, ‘Do you just want to do this? Do you want to try and have a family?’ We’d known each other less than a month.”

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Burton Morgan has previously opened up about how navigating fertility struggles after welcoming Gus impacted their relationship.

“I did have postpartum [depression] with my son. I didn’t know I did because I was in the fog of it, but I wasn’t fun to be around, and I was severely depressed after I had my first miscarriage,” Burton Morgan exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2020. “I can look at it now and see how self-destructive I was. … Until you go through that first really horrible thing together, you don’t know how your partner is going to react. You don’t know what they need.”

She added: “I needed to slam doors and cry really hard and howl. He has been so supportive. He was so generous with his own privacy in allowing me to put this out there. Because it isn’t just me, it’s our story. And I can’t thank him enough for letting me process in this way. … The gift that he’s given me is being able to put this out there and invade his personal bubble. He’s a good man.”

Many of the hottest series, like The Last of Us or Hacks, wrapped up in May, but there are still a few key shows that are airing their finales this month.

Watch With Us is highlighting a few key TV finale episodes that you should check out, from the end of a hugely popular Netflix series to the first season finale of an underrated CW mystery series about Sherlock Holmes.

Don’t miss the chance to watch the finales of your favorite series, or take an opportunity to binge a new show in time for the finale.

‘Squid Game’ (2022-2025)

The critically acclaimed (and oft-imitated in Halloween costumes) Korean drama is returning for its final season, and in classic Netflix style, will drop all of its episodes at once. Binging viewers will surely be eager to see how Player 456, or Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), attempts to complete his mission of ending the eponymous games, in which people desperate for money face deadly competitions. It’s sure to be a shocking, emotional and heart-wrenching series finale.

Watch the final episodes of Squid Game on Netflix on Friday, June 27.

‘Sherlock & Daughter’ (2025)

The CW has gutted much of its programming over the last few years, so it’s been hard to know what’s worth watching on the network that once housed the Arrowverse and Vampire Diaries. You may have missed Sherlock & Daughter, a charming mystery series in which the famed detective Sherlock Holmes (David Thewlis in a role he was born to play) is approached by a young American woman named Amelia Rojas (Blu Hunt) who claims to be his daughter. Together, the unlikely duo attempt to solve a mystery while Amelia attempts to prove her paternity. With the finale about to air, now’s the perfect time to get hooked on this eight-episode series so you can watch the conclusion.

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Watch Sherlock & Daughter live on The CW on Wednesday, June 11 at 9 p.m. EST, or the next day for free on The CW website.

‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’ (2023-Present)

The Walking Dead has become its own sprawling universe, nearly on the scale of the MCU. Dead City is a great entry into its canon, especially for fans of Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in the original series.

In this spinoff, the duo ventures into a dystopian Manhattan in search of Maggie’s kidnapped son and finds a whole new universe of zombie-related horrors. During the second season, Maggie and Negan have been struggling to unite the warring gangs of New York against outside threats. If you’re missing the undead now that The Last of Us is over, fear not — there’s more zombie action to be found.

Watch The Walking Dead: Dead City on Sunday, June 22 at 9 p.m. EST/PST on AMC or AMC+.

‘The Cleaning Lady’ (2021-Present)

The fourth season of The Cleaning Lady, which has seen its fair share of shakeups over its four seasons (between the rotating roster of showrunners and the death of star Adan Canto), is coming to an explosive end this week. This season, Thony (Elodie Yung) has embraced her role as a cartel doctor, working for Jorge (Santiago Cabrera) and Ramona (Kate del Castillo) while trying not to lose herself. Can she keep her family safe and still stay true to herself?

34 Must-Watch Drama Shows on Netflix Right Now (April 2026)

The two-hour season finale of The Cleaning Lady airs Tuesday, June 3, on Fox at 8 p.m. PST/EST and will be available the next day on Hulu.

‘Godfather of Harlem’ (2019-Present)

This Forest Whitaker series focuses on Bumpy Johnson (played by Whitaker), the real-life New York City crime boss who earned that Godfather title. In the fourth season, Bumpy has been battling with the Italian mafia for control of the neighborhood while grappling with the tragic death of Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvell).

Meanwhile, his daughter Elise (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) has been getting more involved with the Black Panther Party. How will Bumpy maintain his grip on Harlem?

Watch the finale of The Godfather of Harlem on Sunday, June 15 on MGM+ at 9 p.m./8 p.m. CST.

Has anyone else noticed how TV shows have pivoted from spinoffs to prequels?

Usually when a show was popular, it would expand with a series based in the same time period. Now, networks and streaming services have instead decided to turn back time with prequels of your favorite programs.

Bridgerton is a perfect example with Netflix originally adapting each season on Julia Quinn’s book season. The hit series, which debuted in 2020, is expected to have eight seasons based on the eight novels written by Quinn about each Bridgerton sibling and their attempt to find love in 19th-century London.

After Golda Rosheuvel‘s portrayal of Queen Charlotte captivated audiences, the fan-favorite character received a prequel series of her own. Queen Charlotte premiered in 2022 and introduced the young Queen Charlotte’s (India Amarteifio) rise to prominence and power after she exchanged vows with King George III (Corey Mylchreest).

Shocking 2024 TV Moments: 'Bridgerton' Gender-Swap to 'Monsters' Backlash

In addition to exploring the characters originally brought to life by Rosheuvel and James Fleet, who played present-day King George, Queen Charlotte also focused on young Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas) and Violet Bridgerton (Connie Jenkins-Greig).

Meanwhile on CBS, The Big Bang Theory aired from 2007 to 2019 and starred Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch as a group of friends made up of scientists and their significant others. The Big Bang Theory spawned a prequel series, Young Sheldon, which inspired a spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

Keep scrolling for a guide to other recent — and past — prequel shows over the years:

‘Andor’

The Disney+ series serves as a prequel to the 2016 film Rogue One, which introduced Diego Luna as thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor. (Rogue One was actually a prequel to the original Star Wars from 1977.) Andor followed the five years that led to him being radicalized against the Galactic Empire while the wider Rebel Alliance was formed.

‘Bates Motel’

The A&E series, which ran from 2013 to 2017, worked as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1960 film Psycho. Based on Robert Bloch‘s 1959 novel of the same name, both the show and the movie focused on Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and the motel that later serves as the backdrop for his murders.

Bates Motel, however, sets up the story by introducing Norman as a teenager who makes the move to Oregon with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga). The duo attempt to start fresh after his father’s sudden death but Norman’s deteriorating mental health causes complications.

‘Better Call Saul’

The AMC series was part of the Breaking Bad franchise but took place several years before Breaking Bad while following an aspiring lawyer and former con artist Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) who subsequently becomes criminal-defense attorney Saul Goodman.

‘The Carrie Diaries’

The CW series, which premiered in 2013, served as a prequel for Sarah Jessica Parker‘s character Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. The HBO hit ran for six seasons and was based on Candace Bushnell‘s bestselling Sex and the City anthology book series that took inspiration from her column in the New York Observer.

The Carrie Diaries followed Carrie as she balanced her suburban life in high school with her first internship in the city.

Most Memorable TV Spinoffs Over the Years

‘Dexter: Original Sin’

The role of Dexter was originally brought to life by Michael C. Hall in Showtime’s series, which ran from 2006 to 2013. After the original show came to an end, Hall returned to TV screens as Dexter in a 2021 spinoff titled New Blood.

Original Sin is set in 1991 and is focused on Dexter’s (Patrick Gibson) transition from student to avenging serial killer and member of the Miami Metro Police Department. With help from his father, Harry (Christian Slater), Dexter slowly begins his search to find and kill people who he believes deserves to be eliminated from society.

‘Dune: Prophecy’

The prequel takes place 10,000 years before Denis Villeneuve‘s films Dune and Dune: Part Two. It draws upon — but is set after — the Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

‘Fear the Walking Dead’

While The Walking Dead dropped Us in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, Fear the Walking Dead took viewers back to when society started to collapse.

‘Gotham’

The Fox show follows Jim Gordon’s (Ben McKenzie) early days at the Gotham City Police Department following the murder of Bruce Wayne’s (David Mazouz) parents. Gotham served as an origin story before Bruce became Batman. It also paved the way for Pennyworth, which was a prequel focused on a younger version of Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon).

‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’

Set four years before the events of Grease, the Paramount+ prequel followed misfit students who band together to become the founding mothers of the first female high school gang a.k.a the Pink Ladies.

‘House of the Dragon’

House of the Dragon is a prequel that took inspiration from George R. R. Martin‘s 2018 novel Fire & Blood. The series is set hundreds of years before the events of Game of Thrones and focuses on the ancestors of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).

Meanwhile, Game of Thrones aired from 2011 to 2019 and was an adaptation of a series of Martin’s fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire.

‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms’

Based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, viewers will be introduced to Peter Claffey in the role of the titular hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall while Dexter Sol Ansell is a prince of the Targaryen known as Egg.

‘It: Welcome to Derry’

Pennywise the Dancing Clown was originally introduced in Stephen King‘s 1986 novel It, which followed seven children who get terrorized by an evil entity in the form of a dancing clown. Throughout the book, readers were offered a glimpse into Pennywise’s multiple reigns of terror since the monster only appears every 27 years before disappearing again.

The source material was recreated in It and It Chapter Two, with Bill Skarsgård in the role of Pennywise. After the film franchise came to an end, Max announced plans to tell Pennywise’s origin story in prequel form.

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‘Kildare’

Outer Banks creator Jonas Pate revealed in December 2024 that he was writing a prequel titled Kildare. The series would feature a whole new set of young actors and focus on the founding of each group in the show’s fictional Figure 8 town.

The conflict was initially introduced in Outer Banks, which premiered in 2020. The hit Netflix series followed the conflict between two groups of teenagers in a coastal North Carolina town. The social divide was focused on the Kooks, a.k.a. the wealthy residents, and the working-class crew known as the Pogues.

‘Mixed-ish’

Black-ish introduced Us to Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Ross) while Mixed-ish took viewers back in time to her childhood. The prequel was a second series based off Black-ish with Grown-ish airing on Freeform.

‘NCIS: Origins’

NCIS: Origins, which premiered in 2024, follows a young Gibbs — a role originated by Mark Harmon — years prior to the events of NCIS. The new series picks up less than one year after Gibbs’ (Austin Stowell) wife and daughter were killed.

Harmon, meanwhile, made his NCIS debut as Gibbs in 2003 and played the lead role for 18 years. His final appearance aired in late 2021, and Harmon hasn’t returned to the flagship show since. He does, however, narrate and produce the prequel.

‘Queen Charlotte’

Bridgerton‘s success inspired a prequel series titled Queen Charlotte, which introduced the young Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power after she exchanged vows with King George III.

‘Ratched’

Ryan Murphy‘s psychological thriller served as a prequel to Miloš Forman’s 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which was based on Ken Kesey‘s 1962 novel of the same title. Ratched told the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson).

‘Smallville’

The hit superhero series, which premiered in 2001 and ran for 10 seasons on the WB and later the CW, followed a teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling) in his early days as a kid living on a farm with his adoptive parents Martha (Annette O’Toole) and Jonathan Kent (John Schneider). Smallville served as a prequel that built up to Clark’s eventual stint as Superman, which has been the focus of multiple movie franchises.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’

Rings of Power is set thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings novels from J. R. R. Tolkien. The Prime Video series specifically depicts the major events of Middle-earth’s Second Age.

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‘Walker: Independence’

The initial Walker series on The CW was a reboot of the 1990s western drama television series Walker, Texas Ranger, with Jared Padalecki in the lead role. The short-lived Walker: Independence expanded on the universe as a prequel set in the late 1800s which served as an origin story for the Walker family.

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’

Set 1,200 years before the events of The Witcher television series, Blood Origin depicted the creation of the first Witcher and the events leading to the Conjunction of the Spheres. The ancient Elven civilization Xin’trea is explored as well before their eventual demise.

The World of ‘Yellowstone’

Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. While some viewers came for Kevin Costner’s portrayal of family patriarch John Dutton — and stayed for the show’s other leads including Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Gil Birmingham, Cole Hauser and Kelsey Asbille – others were drawn to the dramatic story lines and surprising twists.

Since Yellowstone became a hit series, spinoffs such as 1883, 1923 and The Madison were picked up by the network.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ Universe

The Big Bang Theory created a franchise when it branched out with a prequel titled Young Sheldon. The universe got even bigger with Sheldon’s older brother, Georgie (Montana Jordan), scoring a spinoff with Mandy (Emily Osment) on CBS titled Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage.

‘Vought Rising’

According to the synopsis, Vought Rising is a prequel about Jensen Ackles‘ character with the show being set up as “a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s and the early exploits of Soldier Boy.”

Could love finally be in the air for The Walking Dead’s Carol and Daryl?

“I think she would be happy [for him] to find love. It’s a tough world,” Melissa McBride, 59, exclusively told Us Weekly when asked how her character, Carol Peletier, would feel about seeing her pal Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) finally find love at the PaleyFest NY red carpet for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol.

It looked like Daryl might have finally found happiness with someone when he and Isabelle (Clémence Poésy) kissed in episode two, but her death killed any hopes that Daryl’s love life would start thriving.

McBride and Reedus, 55, have both played Carol and Daryl since the flagship AMC show’s first season, which aired in 2010. And there are layers to Carol and Daryl’s complicated relationship. They have a very loyal and almost sibling-like relationship. However there have been flirtatious moments between the characters over the years — Carol jokingly asks Daryl to “screw around” in season 3 — causing fans to yearn for them to fall into the popular friends-to-lovers trope.

Stars Who Left 'The Walking Dead': Where Are They Now?

When the original series ended in 2022, McBride was supposed to star opposite Reedus in the first season of the spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon but backed out due to location logistics.

McBride, however, shocked fans with her return to the franchise in the finale of Daryl Dixon season 1. She then signed on to be a series regular in the second season titled, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol.

With Carol and Daryl reuniting in episode four, we can’t rule out the possibility of love for them.

“I think just things that I love the most: telling Carol’s story,” McBride told Us about what she was excited about in returning to The Walking Dead universe. “Finding new elements in her life and in her journey of exploration of the world that we can tell a whole new story. That’s exciting. And also, working with Norman.”

Even though McBride has played Carol for over a decade, she believes the writing “keeps it fresh,” and she still has more she wants to explore within Carol’s journey.

“[Carol] had never really tapped into the guilt, all that stuff. When is there time? You’re always trying to survive and save your life. And then when it gets quiet. They’re in a safe place like Commonwealth, where she’s got a day job and a desk job. It’s a little too quiet,” McBride said. “She misses her friend and then that triggers up some stuff. It just kind of makes sense that we explore those uncharted things inside of herself.”

A Guide to Every 'The Walking Dead' Spinoff Over the Years

And as another season in The Walking Dead universe airs, the series continues to do what it does best: show lots of blood, gore and more brutal deaths. After working on the show for over a decade, McBride remembers what has grossed her out the most was having lunch with the “Walkers” in full costume and prosthetics during season 3.

“We would share the lunchroom with the Walkers, and they would open their face holes to get food inside their walker mask,” McBride told Us. “Then you see there’s like an actor person under there, but still, it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s so nasty!’”

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol airs on AMC and AMC+ Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

As The Walking Dead universe continues to expand, Norman Reedus is reflecting on special memories he made with his costars on the original series.

“I really liked working with Jon [Bernthal] and Andy [Lincoln] back in the day because everybody was so in it,” Reedus, 55, told Us Weekly exclusively at PaleyFest NY red carpet for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol on Saturday, October 19. “Everybody read all the scripts, instead of just their lines.”

Reedus continued, “Andy would call me in the morning on the way to work and say, ‘look at the scene we’re doing today. What if we try this? What do you think about this, about that?’ And then as soon as the scene, as soon as the day was over, I’d get back in my car and he’d call me immediately before I even got outta the parking lot. ‘Do you think we hit that? Do you think we hit that? I missed that sort of camaraderie.”

The actor, who’s first appearance was on episode three of the AMC flagship series, has played Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead universe since the horror franchise originated — making him one of the longest-running actors in TV history.

Stars Who Left 'The Walking Dead': Where Are They Now?

When the show premiered in 2010, it followed a group of individuals at Atlanta Survivor Camp trying to get through the zombie apocalypse. The group was led by Lincoln’s Rick, along with Bernthal’s Shane and included Melissa McBride’s Carol, among others. The nine seasons Daryl and Rick were together on screen, viewers saw their relationship evolve from combative to forming mutual respect for each other. By the end of Rick’s run on the show, he was the person Daryl could trust most for standing by decisions — good or bad.

Reedus and Lincoln, 51, also had a close relationship off screen, along with Bernthal, 48, who was killed off after the first two seasons. Bernthal even gave a speech when Reedus received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.

While Reedus also counts his The Book of Carol costar McBride, 59, among those he creatively thrived with, he acknowledged that as the seasons went on and the cast grew bigger, connecting with new costars became difficult.

“Towards the end of what we were doing in Georgia, it wasn’t so much like that,” Reedus said. “There’s a lot of new characters and you join a show that’s so big, you’re an action figure in the first 10 minutes and you’re a T-shirt and we put a lot of effort into getting where we got, you know what I mean? I miss that with those guys.”

A Guide to Every 'The Walking Dead' Spinoff Over the Years

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol picks up where Season 1 of the series left off. Daryl is still struggling with his decision to stay in France as their safe haven — the Nest — is under attack. The intensity also ramps up when Daryl and his friends learn that the “Walkers” can now run.

On the original The Walking Dead series, Reedus and McBride’s characters had a strong sibling-like bond and have called each other their “best friends.”

Now back with his longtime pal and ever evolving, Reedus said Daryl is trying not to be “such a hotheaded character” on the spinoff — which has already been renewed for a third season — and is instead attempting “to be more diplomatic, more restrained.”

“I’m trying to play it [now] in a way where Daryl’s maturing,” Reedus told Us. “He’s trying to make decisions based on other characters that he’s met along the way.”

Reedus reflected on Daryl’s growth over the years, telling Us, “I think early Daryl wasn’t much of a negotiator, and now I’m trying to come into situations and think, what would Hershel do? What would Rick do?”

New episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon — The Book of Carol air on AMC on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Lincoln, who starred on The Walking Dead from 2010 to 2018, refused to watch himself on the show.

“I kind of step back from it all. The fun bit for me is doing it. I love that. That’s the exciting thing for me,” he told Entertainment Weekly in August 2013.

Lincoln explained that his job is to “be as truthful as I can in this role,” which could be compromised if he watched the episodes back and became critical of his performance.

“I don’t think it’s that unusual if you ask a lot of actors,” he said.

Keep scrolling to see which stars chose not to watch some of their biggest movie and TV hits:

The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus is paying tribute to his onscreen canine companion.

The hit AMC show confirmed via its official Instagram page on Thursday, June 13, that Seven, the animal actor who played Daryl Dixon’s trusted sidekick, Dog, has died.

“Rest in peace, Seven. #TWD’s best boy,” the show’s Instagram captioned a series of photos of Seven.

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Reedus led tributes to his onscreen best pal via his own Instagram.

A Guide to Every 'The Walking Dead' Spinoff Over the Years

“7,” Reedus, 55, captioned a photo of him and Seven hanging out on set. “Will miss u buddy,” he commented under the post.

Reedus also shared behind-the-scenes pictures with Seven on his Instagram Stories, writing: “Gonna miss u seven. 💔Best tv buddy ever.”

Seven appeared in multiple seasons of The Walking Dead beginning with season 9. In the final episode of The Walking Dead, which aired in November 2022, Daryl (Reedus) entrusted Dog to his adopted niece, Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming), as he left Alexandria to search for his friends, Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira).

Reedus had petitioned for a dog for Daryl for several seasons before Dog was introduced in season 9.

Former Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang told Entertainment Weekly in 2018: “It’s this thing that’s kind of been batted around for a long time, and it never happened.”

Kang said that Reedus helped pick his four-legged costar, who was introduced to help Daryl deal with Rick’s presumed death.

“So we were talking about, how can we show the state that Daryl’s in? And I thought that it would be great that he’s been off for a while after Rick’s presumed death. Daryl just went off. And Daryl is somebody who hunts and goes about and does things, and it seemed like a dog is a good companion,” Kang said. “It shows that there’s still a desire for him to have a connection somehow. And so the dog is his faithful companion.”

Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus’ Relationship Timeline

Reedus gushed over working with Seven back in 2018, too.

“It’s so good. I love it. I think he’s the smartest cast member we got,” Reedus told ComicBook.com. “We just did a scene the other day that ended up being the opposite of what it was supposed to be because the dog just wanted to do something else, and it came out so much better. He’ll probably be running the show. It’s great! I love it. He loves me, too.”

Anna Faris announced in September 2020 that she was leaving CBS’ Mom after starring as the lead character on the show for seven seasons.

“The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” she said in a statement at the time. “I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience.”

Nina Dobrev , for her part, shocked fans in 2015 when she revealed she would not be returning to The Vampire Diaries after season 6 concluded.

Scroll through the gallery below for more shocking TV exits over the years:

For a hit show like Beverly Hills, 90210, the next chapter was a reboot that followed the original characters — but had a special twist. The original show aired for ten seasons from 1990 to 2000 and then continued with a new series, titled BH90210, that allowed the actors to play heightened versions of themselves.

“It’s like a big therapy session with our writers, Chris [Alberghini] and Mike [Chessler],” Tori Spelling exclusively told Us Weekly in August 2019. “We were, like, just telling them stories so they could get our voices and then make fictionalized versions of us, but also we would just tell, like, the craziest stories. It’s really fascinating to hear all of us together try to tell a story because everyone had different perceptions of how it happened, but we have definitely utilized all those little stories throughout the season, the first season. And some things are completely made up.”

While the cast couldn’t have been more excited to return to their old characters, the 2019 series was panned after just one season.

Spinoffs aren’t solely for scripted shows, however. The Hills, which was created as a spinoff of Laguna Beach, was brought back to life years after originally going off the air. The series ran from 2006 to 2010, only to return in 2019 with multiple members of the original cast — including Spencer Pratt, Stephanie Pratt, Heidi Pratt, Audrina Patridge, Whitney Port and Brody Jenner.

Stephanie revealed that the drama factor only increased with the new version of The Hills.

“I’m dying to watch it, and we haven’t seen anything. No one can even comprehend this series,” Stephanie told Us Weekly exclusively in June 2019 about her expectations for the revival, The Hills: New Beginnings. “If they thought the original Hills was, like, drama and the best show ever, this is just — it’s 2020 Hills, 2019/2020. It is just on fire.”

Stephanie added that not seeing one another in a while helped add to the conflict between the cast during filming. “I think everyone’s going to be shocked by how many falling outs, fights and story lines there are,” she told Us.

The show ran for two seasons before it was canceled by MTV.

Scroll down for more TV shows that inspired popular spinoffs:

The Walking Dead fans are about to get the reunion they’ve been waiting for. 

TWD stars Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira surprised fans at Comic-Con in 2022 to announce that The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live was officially on its way. The six-episode limited series — which will air on AMC — catches up with Rick Grimes (Lincoln) and Michonne (Gurira) after they both exited the OG series in seasons 9 and 10, respectively. 

“We … have been cooking something up for you all because we missed you and we owe you the conclusion of this story of Rick and Michonne,” Gurira told the Comic-Con crowd, to which Lincoln added: “I personally can’t wait to get my cowboy boots back on and get the band back together.” 

The spinoff — which premieres in February 2024 and is helmed by showrunner Scott Gimble — will focus on an “epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world,” according to Deadline. The pair will face multiple challenges as they try and find their way back to each other, from human and zombie threats alike.

Both Lincoln and Gurira returned for the TWD series finale in November 2022, sharing brief glimpses into their situations after departing the show. While Rick was previously assumed dead, the finale confirmed that he is — barely — still alive and attempting to escape a mysterious threat. Michonne, meanwhile, is gathering clues as she continues her search for her husband. 

“I think of the dead all the time,” Rick writes in a letter during the last few minutes of the finale as the faces of past friends appear on screen. “And about the living. Who I lost. I think about them all every day. Their faces. What I learned from them. How they made me who I am. So much more than all of this made me who I am.”

What Is ‘The Ones Who Live’ About?

The six-episode limited series, which was announced in July 2022, sees the return of Rick and Michonne as they attempt to reunite after years of separation. Rick exited the OG series after being presumed dead during season 9, while Michonne left to go find him in the midst of season 10. They both made brief cameos during the series finale in November 2022, revealing that they are still alive — but very much apart. 

When Will It Premiere?

The series is set to premiere on AMC in February 2024. 

Is There a Trailer?

San Diego Comic-Con attendees were treated with a first look at the series in July 2023, where viewers can hear Michonne saying she “lost someone years ago” — and “found out that he’s alive.”

A Guide to Every 'The Walking Dead' Spinoff Over the Years

A second teaser dropped in October 2023,  which features flashes of Rick and Michonne, who are still separated, fighting walkers and looking defeated. This time, Rick narrates, seemingly speaking to his lost love. “I tried to get away. Please know I tried. I tried, but I failed. Just know I love you,” he says. 

The first full trailer (which you can watch above) for the series dropped in January 2024, giving a closer look at Rick and Michonne’s estranged journeys. As Michonne flees from various threats, including what appears to be a chemical weapons attack, Grimes questions his purpose as he links up with the Civic Republic Military.

“I’m just going to ask you a question, Grimes. Look in your eyes. Why are you here? Do you want to kill, or do you want to die?” Major General Beale (O’Quinn) says to Rick, to which Rick replies, “Look at my eyes, sir. You tell me.”

Elsewhere, there are building explosions, a city being destroyed and, of course, both Rick and Michonne killing walkers at every turn as they continue their search for one another.

Who Is in the Cast?

In addition to Lincoln and Gurira, Pollyanna McIntosh will return as Jadis after previously appearing in three seasons of TWD. Newcomers Lesley-Ann Brandt and Terry O’Quinn will play Pearle and Beale, respectively, while Matt Jeffries rounds out the cast as another new character. Gurira will also serve as co-producer.

Fans of Abbott Elementary looking forward to more episodes of the sitcom will be in for a bit of a surprise. Production on season 3 was initially put on pause as the writers and actors unions negotiated for fair pay with the major studios.

Despite both strikes coming to an end in fall 2023, creator and star Quinta Brunson confirmed that the work stoppages played a role in a smaller episode count.

“How do we justify losing half a season, half a year? Our season will still be on the school calendar. [But] last year, we started airing in September, when school started. We’re not doing that this year,” she told Deadline in October 2023. “It’s not like coming back to a family show where you can pop in on that family on any sitcom-y thing. It’s really like, what’s going on in the school?”

Brunson added: “We did 22 [episodes] last season, and that’s a lot of TV, in particular for me because I’m writing and producing and starring in it. So, for me, I welcomed a shorter season because it was tiring, exhausting work.”

Reality TV viewers, meanwhile, have less to stress about, as unscripted entertainment is more popular than ever. In January 2024, ABC will return with season 28 of The Bachelor, which follows Joey Graziadei’s search for love after he previously vied for Charity Lawson’s heart.

“[It’s] definitely surreal. It is sinking in very slowly, but I am trying my best just to stay present, enjoy it,” Joey said during the August 2023 After the Final Rose special. “But it’s crazy, I’ll be the first person to say. I never expected this at all. [I] didn’t know this is what my life was turning into. Crazy stuff! … I put [looking for The One on] the back burner for a while, [but] I’m ready to prioritize it again.”

Scroll on for more new and returning shows this winter:

The Walking Dead star Erik Jensen is fighting for his life after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The actor, 53, has stage 4 cancer, according to a GoFundMe page created by his wife, Jessica Blank. Stage 4 means the disease is in an advanced state and has spread to different areas of his body. The diagnosis comes after Jensen survived a brain aneurysm early in 2022.

Jensen appeared in season 5 of The Walking Dead as recurring character Dr. Steven Edwards and his credits also include The Equalizer, The Blacklist, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The cancer has spread to his liver, however his supporters are optimistic about his future.

“Erik is young and strong (cutting a film during chemo, working full-time as a director and writer throughout) and his doctors think they have a shot at shrinking the tumors enough to do two very major surgeries and get them all out,” the GoFundMe post stated. “He can make it through this. But Erik and his family are in for the fight of their lives, and they need your support.”

Summer House’s Jesse Solomon Opens Up About Testicular Cancer Journey

Jensen and Blank, 48, have been married for 23 years. They have a daughter, Sadie, 13. They all appear together in a photo on the GoFundMe page.

The couple has worked together often. In 2017, Jensen codirected the film Almost Home with his wife based on her novel of the same name. In 2020, two plays they cowrote, Coal Country and The Line, both premiered at The Public Theater in New York City.

Celebrity Health Scares Through the Years

The GoFundMe account is hoping to raise $300,000 to “make it through the next year, pay for treatment to fight his cancer, keep their home, and maintain some sort of stability for Sadie.”

The Walking Dead cast and crew members are giving full support to their colleague.

Stars Who Left 'The Walking Dead': Where Are They Now?

The franchise’s chief content officer, Scott Gimple, posted a link to the fundraiser, and wrote on Tuesday, October 23, via X (formerly known as Twitter), “One of TWD’s own could use a little help. Erik Jensen, who played Dr. Steven Edwards in S5 was just diagnosed with cancer, and it’s a time of great uncertainty for him and his family. If you want to send something his way.”

Series star Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrays Negan, also posted on X on October 23, “Never had the chance to work with Erik… until now anyway. Only have heard many things about what a great guy he is. I do know he and his could use some help…. Of any and all kind.’

The account post ends with hope for Jensen’s recovery: “Erik has a beloved young family, and has so much more good work to do in the world. Jess is being a warrior–a full time caregiver, full time artist, a mom, and as you can imagine, ‘producing’ the hell out of his care team at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Erik can survive this– but they won’t be able to make it through without support. We are so grateful in advance for whatever you can give.”