Webster: Why the Spin-Off Failed

Every ’80s kid remembers “Webster,” the sitcom about an adorable orphan (Emmanuel Lewis) and his adopted parents (Alex Karras and Susan Clark). But did you know that “Webster” almost had a spin-off? Find out why the spin-off never happened, and why Webster visited “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” on the latest episode of the Atomic Abe series Behind the Backdoor Pilot.

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Narrated by Kevin Maher
Written by Nick Nadel
Edited by Mike Schuster
Produced by Kevin Maher and Nick Nadel
Executive Produced by Tim Finn
Thumbnail by Colton Ogburn (https://twitter.com/ColtonOgburn)

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Every 80s kid remembers Webster the sitcom about an adorable orphan and his adopted parents make a pretty neat family Webster was one of many 80s sitcoms about orphans and often compared to Different Strokes you got to help me I thought I was buying Different Strokes the show ran for six seasons and

Made a huge star out of Emanuel Lewis so it makes sense that a spin-off was attempted with a back pilot episode and Shocker the spin-off was also about orphans fine why didn’t the spin-off happen What familiar TV faces would have starred opposite this new group of Plucky orphans and why is Webster

Hanging out with Warf from Star Trek the Next Generation I did not say I was enjoying it find out on behind the backd door pilot Webster [Applause] Webster was a hit with kids and families running for Four Seasons on ABC with two seasons in first run syndication the show made Emanuel Lewis a fixture of the 1980s he went on to the Grammys with Michael Jackson and appeared in holiday specials opposite Bob Hope and Mr T

Merry Christmas he scored his own Prime Time special and starred in the TV movie Lost in London opposite Ben Vine but Emanuel Lewis almost wasn’t in the sitcom that made him famous yes we almost got Webster without Webster the sitcom began Life as a vehicle for co-stars and real life married couple

Alex Caris and Susan Clark lazy boy there’s only one unless of course you count Alex that’s cute Susan originally called another Ball Game the show was going to be an old-fashioned romantic comedy with Carris playing a retired football player and Clark his socialite wife is there anything I can do to help you

Unwind other than that the concept Drew from the couple’s life Alex Caris was an NFL player before displaying his comedy chops as in Blazing Saddles with wife Susan Clark he starred in everything from TV movies to the 80s hit porkys the couple had a production company and developed projects like the

TV movie Jimmy B and Andre Caris played a bartender who becomes a father figure to a young orphan just like Webster Carris and Clark developed another ball game with Creator Stu silver whose credits include it’s a living and soap the plan was for the sitcom to be a

Frothy romantic comedy in the style of Katherine heurn and Spencer Tracy films but while the pilot for another ball game was being developed TV was hit with a cuteness bomb I like them flame Royal in the early ‘ 80s Emanuel Lewis appeared in commercials for Burger King

And other brands the ads were so popular they scored Lewis a spot on The Tonight Show and he killed what did you find most interesting about Japan well most of them were short like me most ABC programming Chief Lou erck saw sitcom gold in Emanuel Lewis and tried

To get a TV show going for the budding Young Star but the network had to act fast lest Lewis grow another inch and diminish his cuteness quotient instead of taking the time to develop a vehicle for Emanuel Lewis ABC exec decided to shoehorn the youngster into a sitcom that was already greenlit suddenly

Another ball game went from being a show about newlyweds to a show about newlyweds who also adopt a precocious orphan and it wasn’t just the premise that changed the title went from another ball game to then came you just like the theme song during production it became clear

Who ABC saw as the real star of the show prior to its fall 1983 Premiere the show’s title was changed again from then came you to Webster don’t you want to know who we are the premise was also changed to work in Emanuel Lewis in the pilot George and cine adopt the

Precocious tyke after his parents die in a car accident as a way to EXP explain the couple’s connection to this random kid it’s revealed that George is Webster’s Godfather when your best friend says we’re having a little baby we want you to be the Godfather what am

I supposed to do fun fact the title of the pilot is another ball game really adding insult to injury there supporting characters like Katherine’s assistant Jerry and George’s pal peanut butter Bowski were also diminished in favor of more Webster screen time M what the early seasons were fraught with onset tension the network wanted the show to feature kid-friendly Webster plot lines while Clark and Caris wanted scripts that focused on their characters every time we make plans to be alone together something gets in the way the couple was upset that their romantic

Comedy sitcom had turned into the Emanuel Lewis show and the poor youngster blamed himself for the drama behind the scenes of Webster was a lot like a very special episode of Webster but a hit show has a way of settling Troubled Waters the cast eventually bonded and Webster became a family

Comedy staple when it premiered on ABC in September of 1983 premiering September 16th H got anything room in a family family he’s the little guy who’s going to steal your heart Webster the show had celebrity guest stars like Ben Vine who played Webster’s Uncle Phillip plus appearances by hot musical acts

Like the Jets and the Four Tops who actually appeared on the show three times they were friends with Webster for some reason and it wouldn’t be an 80s sitcom without very special episodes it’s a very special Webster when Webster was being bullied they called in McGruff

The crime dog always glad to lend a helping paw so it makes sense that the Webster producers would want to use the show to launch another familyfriendly sitcom about orphans as the third season of Webster Drew to a close the producers tried to launch a spin-off with a

Backdoor pilot called almost home it’s like Webster with the cuteness meter turned up to 11 gazillion instead of one adorable orphan the spin-off would feature several the Webster producers followed their hit shows formula a step further when it came to Casting the lead just like how

Alex Caris had come to Fame in the NFL almost home would have been a vehicle for country singer turned movie star ma Davis Davis penned songs for Elvis and scored hits of his own like baby don’t get hooked on me he brought his down home charm to the big screen whether it

Was a hit like North Dallas 40 or a Doug like the sting to in the attempted Webster spin-off almost home Davis is the George I Proclaim this the summer of George no not that George this George Davis plays Jake Tyler a musician who gives up life on the road to take care

Of some Scrappy orphans in a foster home he’s the cuddly father figure with a fictional TV job that reflects his real life career just like Alex kris’s George Papadopoulos the back door pilot kicks off with Webster heading to the Big Apple to visit a brand new never-before mentioned character his uncle Jake

Webster I just spoke to your uncle Jake there was a problem at home nothing serious he’s going to have somebody else pick you up uh Charlie Sans how will he know me don’t worry unaccompanied minor a stranger will be here to get you soon fun fact the

Airport attendant is played by BJ Ward a veteran of Animation voiceover who you might recognize as the voice of Scarlet from GI Joe don’t tell me you’re actually going to be sensible and surrender this scene Echoes the opening of the first episode where Webster flies solo to Chicago to meet his new parents

I sure hope he likes me poor Webster he must have had serious trauma regarding flight attendance back to the backdoor pilot Webster explains that Jake isn’t actually his uncle I just called him that because he went to school with George and my daddy old College buddy is

A go-to sitcom trick for introducing a new character connected to the show’s main characters Family Ties pulled this move when it crossed over with fellow NBC sitcom dayby day Steven Keaton was suddenly revealed to be former College roommates with the dad on that short-lived show we then meet Charlie

Played by Mr rer yes Norman Fel aka Mr Roper from thre’s company stars in this failed Webster backdoor pilot fell is no stranger to spin-offs having starred in the shortlived Threes Company spin-off The Ropers as you can probably guess he’s a comedic highlight of this backdoor pilot your Webster give me that

We then meet Uncle Jake and the adorable orphans at the foster home there’s StreetWise PJ who looks like he stepped out of Newsies PJ is played by Billy Lombardo who regular viewers of behind the backd door pilot will recognize from the failed Punky Brewster spin-off Fenster Hall spoiler alert Lombardo

Played a tough talking orphan named TC on that failed backdoor pilot he’s the Brando of Orphans with twetter names you Pops we then meet Mandy and Sandy whose whole deal is that they’re twins you don’t need bster anymore yeah tell them not to C now wait a minute wait a minute

Webster’s not coming here to take your place there’s also young science geek Michael played by Larry O Williams you might remember him as young George Jefferson on the Father Christmas episode of The Jeffersons boss and what would a Webster spin-off be without a cutesy mopet Sherman is played by Edon

Gross a child actor who appeared on tons of 80 sitcoms he’s also the voice of the good guy doll in the Chucky movies hi I’m Oscar and I’m your friend to the end Webster arrives and we get the first of the episode’s many racy jokes he was a

Half an hour late and he picked up a strange boy I approached a young child and I offered him candy is that a crime oh my God weird fit for a family sitcom aimed at kids what would Mrs Roper think Charlie is Jake’s agent and he’s understandably confused about why his

Client would give up the wild musician life for a bunch of precocious orphans Jake drops the backd door Pilot’s big plot Point Sherman’s mom is coming to take him home for good meanwhile Webster feels left out of his own show hi remember me what along nice short

Cute we then find out why Jake is literally attached to Sherman yeah I know he looks just like your little boy before he oops yes Jake’s son is dead as if that isn’t depressing enough Jake’s also a Sad Sack divorce you know after we lost little Davey well it just was kind of

Rough on Barbara and me hey it wouldn’t be an 8 sitcom without some tragic backstory much like how Danny Tanner created a Full House of friends and family following the death of his wife Jake surrounds himself with foster kids in an effort to get over his deep-seated

Trauma you know just like you found George and Catherine well I found me a brand new family right here and it’s for Keeps too on the sitcom trauma meter that’s pretty [Applause] hot Jake tries to cheer up Sherman with some good old-fashioned whatever this is look at this a grown man playing with

Himself yikes Hey where’s Webster oh there he is web where are your clothes PJ Tau me a new card game I’m not very good at it yet PJ get Webster back his clothes a strip poker joke this episode should be rated tvma Jake is not happy about Sherman

Leaving the foster home Theo I’ve already lost one son I don’t intend to lose another one Jake this this is a foster home and decides to bail on the foster kids and go back on tour yeah it’s me look the tour is on harsh time for a dose of cheesy 8s kids cuteness

Just in time for the commercial break take me with you Webster comes up with an obvious solution to this episode’s nonpr it is an easy when a child leaves here yeah but new one’s always come right so Theo orders up another orphan like she’s calling for a Domino’s Pizza about that

Youngster we discussed can you get him over here today great 30 minutes or less or your orphan is free Sherman’s mom shows up and hey it’s Faith Ford from Murphy Brown and Hope and Faith did I tell you I papered his wall with clowns Sarah you’re going to do just fine great

I got another orphan coming get this urchin the hell out of here in case you’re wondering where George and Catherine are don’t bother they’re not in this episode and Webster mostly sits out of this back door pilot but I’m weer the orphans are understandably upset about Jake throwing a fit and piecing

Out just because one kid is going back to their birth mother who needs him all he cared about was Sherman time for Norman Fel to bring some levity with another joke that’s more appropriate for the friar Club you Charlie she’s a foster child not a hatack girl obviously you weren’t at the

Rumble room last night what just kidding forget about it that one is just confusing the twins beg Charlie to get Jake to stay and Billy Lombardo delivers an Emmy worthy orphan tantrum stop it don’t beg I hate it when they beg I never begged I never Lombardo also

Showed off his orphan acting shops in the Punky Brewster back door pilot we lived in this trailer one day I come home from school and the trail is gone congrats Billy Lombardo you’re a failed spin-off Allstar Sherman pulls a classic Webster move and runs away from his mom and Jake

Is a total jerk to this poor kid who couldn’t possibly understand grief transference go on get out of here but you said you love me well I lied okay you were just a job to me Bleak stuff even by Webster standards and this is a show that had an episode where Webster

Accidentally burned down his apartment George Jake eventually mans up and apologizes to the other children who are in desperate need of a father figure I guess I just figured if if you’ve been hurt once I’m sorry meanwhile Webster is ready to leave this backdoor pilot I’m already Uncle Jake what a crummy visit

To Uncle Jakes he didn’t even get to see the Empire State Building but before Webster can go back home to his own show Jake sees the new kid Theo ordered up from 1 1900 rent an orphan wait a minute web only in the ‘ 80s could a sitcom

Problem be solved by swapping one orphan for another I’m going to live here now the new orphan convinces Jake to stay Uncle Jake please stay we need you and Jake forgets all about Sherman presumably having found a new surrogate for his dead son nice work Steve and meline sunshine and congrats on your

Awesome 80s sitcom writer names in a case of real life mimicking backdoor pilot ma Davis was excited to trade his musician Road life for a steady TV gig he told The Paris News after 15 years of 250 days a year on the road I’d like to

Stay at home more the series will be a great way to do it but as the saying goes if you want to make a network executive laughed make plans to star in a Webster spin-off ABC passed on picking up almost home for the fall 1986 season

No which is probably for the best the hit 80s sitcoms about orphans typically had one wise cracken kid almost home lacks a compelling Central character M Davis and the orphans are somewhat cute together but Norman Fel is doing a lot of the comedic heavy lifting in this backdoor pilot Webster call me we’ll

Have lunch ABC canceled Webster in 1987 after the fourth season ratings took a tumble turkeys the show moved to first run syndication for its final two seasons in season five George’s nephew Nikki moved in with the Papadopoulos family while his parents were in Africa cousin Nikki was played by Corin neik

Who you might remember from the great Fox sitcom Parker Lewis Can’t Lose but the sixth and final season of Webster is where things get weird remember how the final seasons of Family Matters sent urel back in time the pl really guys the plank is so overdone and into outer

Space we made it oh my God it’s a miracle I can’t believe this the nerd’s okay Webster got equally bizarre in its final season as the writers ran the clock out with some wacky episodes there’s the web touchables where Webster imagines himself in his Pals as cops and

Robbers in the days of Elliot Ness and alcapone Webster long gang Buster the Epic two-part episode features musical numbers you got stay clean up this town and deadly shootouts Webster please I don’t want to have diet for nothing nothing nothing it’s Webster meets Bugsy Malone all this plus a Webster spin on

Suddenly Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors sud West is standing it’s very strange but things get even weirder in the final episode of Webster the episode flood of memories the Final Chapter was supposed to be the series finale in the episode a basement flood causes Webster and the Gang to reminisce

About all their fun times together yes it’s a clip show oh this from when I first came to live with you it’s all yours doing a clip show your final episode is a bit of a copout but the episode is a nice trip down memory lane

Yeah that was a great night and it’s called the Final Chapter seems pretty definitive right wrong the next episode web Trek is actually the final episode of Webster and it’s easily one of the weirdest sitcom finales of all time you do not enter the time continuum at the

Appropriate moment you will arrive home 85 years too late I knew I should have seen r rabbit last weekend yep it’s a Webster Star Trek the Next Generation crossover when Webster is Zapped by lightning while playing a video game he gets beamed onto the deck of the Starship Enterprise there he meets

Lieutenant War you look like an Earthling but your style of dress is puzzling and teaches the Klingon how to get funky Warf learns all about Earth Customs from Webster is a fun waste of time who Reg him with highlights from his life I remember this game where I

Was pitching for my little L team yes this episode is also a clip show except this time Warf has to hear about the time Webster played baseball or whatever must have been a slow day on the Enterprise I know after teaching Warf about what we humans call fun do

You want to hear some more about fun no Webster beams back home with his magic joystick why not use the Enterprise transport supporter that would make sense was it all a dream or did Webster actually visit the Enterprise we’ll never know for regular Webster viewers this series finale was very odd George

And Catherine aren’t even in the episode at all and Webster hangs out with characters from another show if Twitter had been around in 1989 it would have exploded but there are some good Warf moments I understand challenges we Klingons used to use them in our courtship rituals so why does this

Episode exist the most obvious explanation is that both Webster and Star Trek TNG were both produced by Paramount Television and filmed on the same Studio Lot the blog Trek core posits that the producers of Webster needed one more episode for syndication so the cast and crew of Webster walked

Over to the Star Trek set and slapped together a crossover episode of course you’re probably wondering is Webster teaching Warf how to dance Star Trek Cannon a Reddit post argues that this episode is Trek Cannon because quote it is produced by the rights holders paramont it appears on television or in

A film it is clearly set within the Star Trek Multiverse told you in another odd connection the episode has a clip of Ben verine Dancing With Webster and Ben verine played jordy’s dad on Star Trek the Next Generation is Uncle Phillip the Mirror Universe version of Commander

Edward leforge let us know in the comments if you think the Webster series finale is part of official Star Trek Cannon or a weird 8s fever dream after Webster ended Emanuel Lewis made cameos on everything from Family Matters look it’s Webster it’s Webster to the David Spade movie Dicky Roberts former Child

Star today you can find him on social media and doing the occasional podc interview Alex Caris sadly passed away in 2012 so a Webster reunion seems unlikely if we cing on SW such a fierce race that would bring a tear to my eye but hey maybe Emanuel Lewis can bring Webster to Broadway Webster thanks for watching subscribe to Atomic AE for more episodes of behind the back door pilot like our look at the failed spin-offs of Charles in charge I am good at something I’m good at Surviving