My Two Dads: Why the Spin-Off Failed

Remember "My Two Dads"? The hit '80s sitcom featured Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan, Staci Keanan and a young Giovanni Ribisi. But did you know it almost had a spin-off? Find out why the spin-off never happened on the latest episode of the Atomic Abe series Behind the Backdoor Pilot.
Watch more episodes of Behind the Backdoor Pilot: • Behind the Backdoor Pilot
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Narrated by Kevin Maher
Written by Nick Nadel
Edited by Frank Reynolds
Produced by Kevin Maher and Nick Nadel
Executive Produced by Tim Finn
Thumbnail by Colton Ogburn ( / coltonogburn )
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[@michaelmcdermott9008]

The 80’s were wild. We didn’t ask questions, just enjoyed the ride

[@RafaelSale]

Yep, it was the decade growing up for me.

[@deskish3930]

i just realised that Joey was the go-to name for a character in a 80's/90's sitcom

[@Nabinut]

It didn't help that Joey Lawrence was in three series during that era, always playing a character named...Joey.

[@deskish3930]

@@Nabinut i like the sitcom where his brother matthew and andrew play also play characters called matt and andy respectively

[@Lboogie0711]

This sitcom is so good, the girl who played Nicole was in the “Lisa” movie in 1990 and she was in step by step.

[@JennaLeigh]

He says that in the video toward the end when he mentions her current career! What a crazy career change!

[@shanellsplace]

I just watched Lisa on Tubi and that is what made me look up the show 💖📺

[@gregschell1094]

Obviously this show came out before Maury aired.

[@mannyja]

It’s funny to hear Giovanni Ribisi’s voice crack on a few episodes during the first season.

[@LizC1213]

I also noticed Brandon Cruz's voice cracking during Bad News Bears in 1976. He was almost 14 then.

[@WesMoast]

The My Two Dads theme song was one of the best of the 80s ... the best of course being the theme to "Perfect Strangers". I will die all day on that hill 🤣

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

I agree Perfect Strangers has the best TV theme song of all time

[@censorshipsucks9493]

False. Anything by Mike Post, and/or Pete Carpenter: The A Team, Riptide, Hardcastle and McCormick.....the list goes on.

[@MJC_227]

Nah, the best theme song of the 80's was Cheers with Golden Girls in second place.

[@WesMoast]

@MJC_227 good choices for sure but Golden Girls doesn't count in my opinion since it was a cover of a pop song released in the 70s.

[@MamaMOB]

I'd honestly have to argue for Cheers. I'm sorry but that one's freaking iconic!

[@tvforeverus]

This history of “My Two Dads” is a video that I never knew I needed!

[@atomicabe]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrYac-ie8ie]

so weird to me that this show was only on 3 seasons, i remember it airing forever.

[@vinnym5607]

I think I remember it airing on USA after the show ran.

[@MrYac-ie8ie]

@@vinnym5607 yeah, its just one of those weird shows i always remember being on but rarely actually watched.

[@littletom1978]

@@vinnym5607 Thats where I saw as a kid, probably why seems lasted longer the 3 seasons, it was always semingly on.

[@DW3010]

I wish they’d just release season three on DVD. It’s frustrating only owning the first two seasons.

[@MrYac-ie8ie]

@@DW3010 i hate that so much, when a DVD set just never completes.

[@trinaq]

Rest in peace, Dick Butkus. He could have led a sitcom, who knew? I never knew that a young Giovanni Ribisi appeared in this show.

[@paladro]

he's a scientologist, he's been a shoehorned in projects because of his affilation.

[@FrenkTheJoy]

The premise of My Two Dads would be so effed up in real life - imagine if you were dating two guys at the same time and knew they hated each other so you write in your will that they both have to take care of your daughter who might be their kid even though you know they hate each other and never told them you were pregnant

[@yoavallon]

DNA

[@ttintagel]

Meanwhile, the real father was some asshole from Newark.

[@vinnym5607]

​@@ttintagel Wait, really?

[@vinnym5607]

If this came back in the modern, no doubt in my mind it would've been a threesome and at least one of the guys would be bi, if not gay. Hell, maybe the original premise was that.

[@Mew_Mokuba_Akari]

​@@vinnym5607 No at the end they did a proper DNA test to determine the father. But they decided they don't care and don't want to know so they literally put the results in the freezer. They never revealed the father

[@MsDisneylandlover]

The lady reading the will is the voice of the grandmother from the dinosaurs.. #DisneyDiva ❤

[@1talldaddy]

yeah that's her. She had a very distinctive voice.

[@QuasarSniffer]

"A change in leadership" killed more network sitcoms than the Black Plague.

[@atomicabe]

ha!

[@mattm7798]

I wonder if that change was Brandon Tartkekoff? Who funny enough IIRC championed saved by the bell. That said, I honestly don't think the spinoff would have done well. The characters weren't really strong enough. They worked better on the main show as side characters.

[@westholmes2001]

One of the writers that worked on My Two Dads was Chuck Lorre. Lorre would evolve the concept further with two shows he would create: Dharma & Greg (The families of the couple were similar to the two dads from My Two Dads came from different social/economic backgrounds.) and Two and a Half Men (The idea of two men, who are brothers with a kid, which is the son of one of the brothers.).

[@mattm7798]

Huh, good point. Dharma and Greg is criminally underrated. Jenna Elfman should have become a mega star, she had so much talent and Mitch Ryan and Alan Rachins were side splittingly hilarious!

[@alexubel]

@@mattm7798 Dharma and Greg wasn't underrated.

[@mattm7798]

@@alexubel Not at the time but now I think it is.

[@rb5078]

Stacy is a DA?? I love that for her. She was one of my favorites growing up.

[@WesMoast]

Giovanni Ribisi was a standout on the Wonder Years a few years later

[@mattm7798]

Haha, right! That's where I first saw him. Ah the wonder years, the classic case of an A+++++ show before the star grew up, then became really annoying :) (while funny enough, Wayne became less annoying)

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

3 seasons but My Two Dads must have had 4 of 5 different intro sequences LOL!

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I remember Giovanni, or sorry "Vanni" Ribisi from the New Leave It To Beaver.

[@amcaesar]

Wow, that Greg Evigan sure was charismatic.

[@Makoto03]

Great video. I love your Backdoor pilot series. Its always hilarious when the main characters of the show take a backseat, so that we get a completely unrelated plot for the rest of the episode. lol

[@atomicabe]

Thanks!! Yeah, the backdoor pilots find so many ways to move the main characters out of the way for an episode.

[@Drew791]

I can’t get enough of your Backdoor!

[@MeganKoumori]

5:37 Two Face just dragged Ethyl into a room. _That's_ the crossover I never expected.

[@1983jcheat]

I just finished watching My two dads on Tubi. 😊

[@COMPFUNK2]

I think Marsha Warfield and John Larroquette are the only actors from Night Court who are still alive.

[@stingrey1571]

Yes and in the reboot they have addressed some of the deaths.

[@vinnym5607]

Yes. Marsha Warfield is one of the random people I follow on Facebook and she mentioned it.

[@mcribs7811]

There are a few people left (Didn’t care for Bret Spiner’s return ) that could possibly bring back if they can officially get renewed for a 3rd season. But the smaller roles are slim as some of those actors have passed as well. Hell, John Astin just turned 94. He could be the long lost grandfather. Just sayin’

[@COMPFUNK2]

@@mcribs7811 We’ll see. Nowadays NBC seems to cancel comedies after two seasons (Kenan; Mr. Mayor; American Auto; Grand Crew (or as I called it, Living Single Jr)…).

[@mattalan6618]

Bull is dead?

[@MJC_227]

I'm begging you to please do a failed spin-off video about The Facts of Life, that show had SO MANY failed spin-off attempts...

[@atomicabe]

It's definitely in the works. Thanks for watching!

[@stitchgroover]

I loved BJ and The Bear when I was in my single digits!

[@atomicabe]

Great show and even greater theme song

[@CyclopsWasRight616]

these are my favorite type of videos on KZbin. Yours are always so great !

[@atomicabe]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@johnkimball9716]

I love this series!

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

liked this 1, although I can kind of see why it wasn't picked up. Greg Evigan also went on to TekWar with William Shatner.

[@robshimer]

I watched this show on USA. I remeber they also hosted the Saturday cartoons. I was sure that if anyone was going to be a movie star from that show it would be Chad Allen.

[@greenkoopa]

I don't know how many people work on these videos, it seems at least 2 because there's a lady narrator sometimes but regardless I appreciate you. Thank you for making this pure nostalgia content, I love it 🐢

[@atomicabe]

Thank you so much!! We really appreciate it.

[@shanedittmar2524]

Very cool video!!!

[@vinnym5607]

I definitely saw this episode somewhat recently on AntennaTV.

[@LizC1213]

Staci Keanan's Step by Step costar Christopher Castile was a guest star on My Two Dads during Season 3. He also guest starred on Empty Nest twice before joining the cast of Step by Step and Going Places.

[@anthonyrowland9072]

43% of kids in the 80s had a dad that looked like Kenny Loggins.

[@atomicabe]

ha! I love how specific this statistic is.

[@iamstu33]

I loved my two dad's when I was young. Yes I am old and watched it on TV. I was in love with the daughter. Then I grew up and fell in love with her sister on Step by Step. Then a few seasons later fell in love with her step sister in the same show.

[@kim_fd8938]

I really like your channel very entertaining

[@atomicabe]

Thanks so much!

[@NoelComiX]

I loved this show

[@COMPFUNK2]

1:37-1:39 - I’m an 80s baby and I have never heard of Our House.

[@ttintagel]

Yeah, when I think of Chad Allen I think of St. Elsewhere or Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

[@atomicabe]

Good show! Wilford Brimley, Deidre Hall, Chad Allen and Shannon Doherty.

[@wesleybush8646]

Sundays 7pm Eastern on NBC 1986-1988.

[@pisto30]

Great show. I watched it every Sunday with my parents. I recently found the entire series on KZbin about a month ago. (the channel's called JarlenaFan if you ever want to check it out)

[@jaymz010]

1987!? 😳 Didn’t air here in the U.K til like 1990 6:22 Hey, it’s Phillip from Dream Warriors 😄

[@markjamesmeli2520]

I'da rather watched THIS than MY TWO DADS!! I also thought that Lauren Tewes vanished out of show biz as she left THE LOVE BOAT. So, thanks for showing me an aspect of the show that I almost missed, if it hadn't have been for your video.

[@shanellsplace]

I used to love My Two Dads. The first time I saw an upside down Christmas Tree was on the show. I loved Roy and Corey. My little butt was upset when it didn’t get picked up 😊 💖📺💖📺💖📺💖

[@BishopWalters12]

This is a show that I haven't thought about in a long time, but I was a big fan as a kid.

[@FrenkTheJoy]

I'd love someone to explore the child actor to lawyer pipeline. With this video I only have three examples, but it's wild that child actors either become adult actors or lawyers apparently.

[@atomicabe]

Yeah, Charlie Korsmo also went into law. And Chunk from Goonies is an entertainment lawyer.

[@mattm7798]

Haha, good question. A number of child actors also become serious scientists like Blossom and Winnie Cooper(and Dolph Lungren) .

[@theskyybay420]

I know Bull as the gym teacher from the BEST Chuck Norris movie ever, *"SIDEKICKS.'* #RipJonathanBrandis

[@mysticloverfairy1]

There’s a Taiwanese adaptation of this show called “Two Fathers” it’s on Netflix, there’s 73 episodes, it’s set in modern times (2013) . A few changes that the girl was much younger than her American sitcom (she’s seven) . Funny thing is I don’t know if people even know about this show. If you like “My Two Dads” you would probably like the Taiwanese version.

[@CrazyCooter-ld6sz]

Stacey was a doll.

[@gomerhanger2285]

My Two Gay Dads ended prematurely🐱

[@instantlife]

It's interesting that Butkus was a monster Hall of Fame linebacker and became this lovable character on TV.

[@Stephen-to7jx]

Also Mad About You and Dinosaurs.

[@kevin10001]

I remember the show’s first run syndication on USA when they got some shows first run in syndication since I was born in 84 I don’t really remember it’s network run but loved it in syndication when I saw it

[@fionaraeburn9080]

I always enjoyed the series

[@bobfleet74656]

I remember Dick B. from the BLUE THUNDER tv series

[@fromthesidelines]

"A Friend of the Family", burned off on August 14, 1988.

[@TheHomeman]

I liked it. Unique idea, best cast, excellent acting. I didn't think either one of them was her father her mother just trusted both of them.

[@aph1976]

I think either Michael or Joey was Nicole's father and i'm wondering if Nicole's mother knew which of them was the father but she loved them both and wanted both of them to raise her daughter.

[@AmyThopeBumgarner]

İ would've definitely watched both these shows and the spin off would have been awesome

[@afriend9428]

*I use to watch this and record this on tape at High school in 90's* 💡

[@cubedtothex]

Never heard of this show until just now 😂

[@DW3010]

I love your backdoor pilot episodes. Do you remember the episode of MacGyver where MacGyver is only in it at the first, and then the rest of the episode just on the Colton brothers? I think MacGyver shows up at the end of the episode. I’ve always wondered if this was supposed to be a backdoor pilot, or just a one off episode focusing on the Colton’s.

[@atomicabe]

Yes! An episode on the Macgyver backdoor pilot is in the works!

[@atomicabe]

And thanks for watching!

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@atomicabe How about the Knight Rider backdoor pilot Code Of Vengeance aka Dalton's Code Of Vengeance. 🚗💥📺📼

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

I knew that I recognized Florence Stanley's voice! She played Bertha Packard: elderly, sarcastic, chain-smoking radio operator. in Disney's 2001 animated film named Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

[@darkgardenrecords9264]

Dan Fielding, true role model

[@mattm7798]

My two dads actually holds up pretty well despite being very 80s. The actors have great comedic timing and it's generally pretty well written. Stacy Kennan would basically go straight from this to Step by Step(playing a completely different type of character) so for about a decade straight, she was on TV.

[@HeretixAevum]

Is that the guy that ED209 blasted in the board room in RoboCop?

[@otisroseboro5613]

80s & 90s Movie's & TV Show's Are The Best 💯

[@p1sstoph3]

That X-Files episode is one of the best

[@lukewright9031]

I loved this show ❤ Also, I always thought "Friend of the Family" was one of those special episodes and not a pilot spinoff 😅

[@SuperBrooklynite007]

Dana was my biggest crush growing up

[@epoytoy]

Young Giovanni ribisi looks like Shia labeouf

[@mattalan6618]

did the show ever mention how the mother died?

[@davidponseigo8811]

I am and always will be a huge fan of Dick Butkus.

[@amazingeric97]

My Two Dads looks like an interesting show. I know Staci Keanan more from Step By Step. Staci was a guest on an episode of the Pod Meets World Podcast. She still has a similar voice. Unfortunately My Two Dads is currently not on any streaming service. It is a Sony Television property. Streaming rights could be sold anywhere. However the show might have to be up converted to widescreen HD since 4:3 SD might not be popular.

[@johnfire3194]

It's on Tubi

[@mattalan6618]

a show like this would no way work on television today

[@aquatarkus2022]

Loved Stacy Keanan. So beautiful.

[@travellfitzpatrick711]

What about the MacGyver back door pilot with the three brothers and their mom are private detectives. Cuba Gooding Jr is the baby brother and Della Reese is the mom.

[@philipjay2099]

I dunno bout no spin off, but I got a My Two Dads reboot pitch that will blow your mind... and mine LOL

[@ThatJohnKillion1970]

A blond kid named "Zack"? Hmm... Make a note of that.

[@jimthar17]

I don't see it going anywhere. What could possibly come of it?

[@jimmyju76]

i so would've watched that show

[@user-er7uq4mt8t]

This title would have a whole new meaning nowadays.

[@carmelosgro6413]

I would have watched it, if it got picked up

[@candacecherry2846]

I remember this stell wach it today

[@tylerhughes9090]

Who can forget the cult classics of Kinjite forbidden subjects and Lisa !

[@PassiveAgressive319]

How long was this pilot? Wow, a lot happens

[@CallousCoder]

A former friend (named here too) of mine was a regular and it was a terrible experience for him and most people on this set, it was very toxic and borderline volatile.

[@mathieuduval7544]

Loved that show, i re watched it a couple of years ago since it 1st aired and i really enjoyed it but it sucks it was only 3 seasons!!??.... i had no idea this was an attempt for a spin off, im also watching married with children for the 1st time and when i saw the ep. with Matt Leblanc and his dad i immediately guessed it was an attempt at a spin off!!!... why did 80s and 90s show always pushed for that!?.... well we got a couple of goods ones.... Family Matters and Different World

[@raulzavala9061]

The reason for sitcom spin-offs I'm guessing the networks wanted more viewers while the producers wanted more hits which equaled more money for them.

[@THE_bchat]

The original Star Trek and The Brady Bunch had backdoor pilot episodes in the 1960s & 70s, so it's not an 80s or 90s trend. Spin-offs have always been a thing, going back to the radio era of the 1940s.

[@sejejo7565]

That woulda been a kickass show

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

Remember The New Monkee's from 1987?🎸🧑‍🎤🎤📺

[@JoeDatorCartoonist]

It’s obvious what went wrong here: Dick Butkus minus Bubba Smith = a recipe for failure.

[@stvojay]

Before looking up the actress, is the Judge the voice of grandma in Dinosaurs? 🤣 Edit: The answer is yes, Florence Stanley did!

[@atomicabe]

Yes good call! Another Michael Jacobs show. Florence Stanley has an amazing voice.

[@stvojay]

@@atomicabe thanks for the reply! And I almost forgot Michael Jacobs did Dinosaurs as well. Great stuff!

[@sarahhey7804]

Hey hey

[@delorme9]

11:39 is that Kato Kaelin?

[@ArtByDesign80]

3:21 How could the father be indeterminate?!? Does that mean neither were the father? 🤔

[@1talldaddy]

no it was never revealed who the father was.aka not ruin the plot of the show.

[@marcuswalton2922]

what ever happenwd to D.N.A. tests? Was one of the dads one half of starsky and Hutch?

[@1talldaddy]

they actually do that.but at the last minute they decided it would be better to just leave things they way they were.

[@paladro]

all the things you forget about, until someone mentions them...

[@MsDisneylandlover]

I thought show was about u know what although I never saw the show. But just hearing the title.

[@babatunjiebell6743]

What about Blossom?

[@christopherbaker9676]

I didn't think anybody watched it. And Nicole was one of my crushes

[@justindenney-hall5875]

Funny to think that before we had shared cinematic universes, we had shared TV universes🤣

[@victorialawhon2251]

Basically her mom slept around and didnt know who fathered her kid. Classy.

[@justyouraveragegeek548]

The closest thing we got to a remake is Baby Daddy

[@blimy01maynard30]

Times have changed. This show was getting 18 million viewers in its last season and that was considered poor. If a show had 18 million viewers today, the suits at the network would Randy Marsh all over themselves.

[@arfriedman4577]

I love lauren Tewes on love boat. We loclved night court and 227.