Tony and Carmela Soprano in series five of the Sopranos. Will he survive the end of the show? Photograph: Channel 4
The Sopranos is about to enter its final installments in a couple of months with its conclusion a closely guarded secret. Whether Tony Soprano makes it to the final episode alive or not is open to debate, but already at HBO there is talk about the possibility of an afterlife for the portly mob boss. In an interview for New York magazine, show creator David Chase revealed that he'd proposed a spin-off show based on the series but was unsure if the broadcaster had taken him seriously.
"I thought there could be a good sitcom of Janice and Bobby Bacala," he said. "What's also occurred to me is a prequel with Tony. But the problem is that Jim Gandolfini is such a genius, frankly, that it would be a real challenge to find someone who would be believable as a young Tony."
Is this really such a good idea? Personally I hate to see the greatest drama series ever (according to a recent Channel 4 poll) fade out but shouldn't it go out with some dignity ("not in the face, please")? It's not as if spin-off shows often particularly work - for every Frasier or Angel there are a dozen Joeys and Tucker's Lucks. In recent memory I can't think of one worthwhile spin-off from a drama series - unless we're counting the CSI franchise, which we're not.
But maybe spin-offs come from the wrong shows. Perhaps instead of Dr Who or Inspector Morse there should be spin-offs from ER or Robin Hood. Surely I can't be alone in finding appeal in a series dedicated to Lillian from Shameless? And if we're allowed to re-ignite an old programme, how good would a sequel to Our Friends In The North be? They'd all be living down south for starters.
What shows past or present would you like to see developed into spin-offs and what are the best and worst examples of the phenomenon? And if Sopranos does carry on in another form who should survive being whacked?
