History FollowTheLeader / LiveActionTv

* While the degree to which ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' was inspired by/ripped off ''Series/BabylonFive'' is controversial ([[FandomRivalry to say the least]]), there is less doubt that the former's "Dominion War" [[StoryArc arc]] was inspired by the latter's intricate MythArc (although only the most rabid partisans of ''Babylon 5'' would claim that ''Deep Space Nine'' ripped it off outright). The ''B5'' myth arc was in turn inspired by story arcs used in foreign television series, and combining it with a long-time comic-book fan's [[ContinuityPorn love of continuity]] to take the concept UpToEleven.

* Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}'s ''Series/{{Double Dare|1986}}'' spawned a whole [[StealthPun mess]] of kids' {{Game Show}}s in the U.S. with the intent of getting kids (and in some cases adults) CoveredInGunge. Amongst some of them: ''Series/FunHouse'', ''Slime Time'', ''Treasure Mall'', ''Series/{{Skedaddle}}'', ''Uh Oh!'', ''Series/FamilyChallenge'', ''Series/WildAndCrazyKids'', ''Series/FigureItOut'', ''[[Series/WhatWouldYouDoNickelodeon What Would You Do?]]'', and countless others.

* In June 1996, ''Series/GuidingLight'' began a storyline that was clearly a rip-off of the show ''Series/TouchedByAnAngel'', which had become a smash hitat the time. A mysterious man named Zachary Smith appeared out of nowhere to rescue honeymooning SuperCouple Alan-Michael and Lucy, who were caught in a storm and trapped on their sinking yacht. For the next several months, he drifted through town, aiding various people with their troubles, finally vanishing after restoring the lighthouse which had been in disrepair for years. At this point, it was revealed that Zachary was in fact an angel. Unfortunately, unlike its inspiration, the storyline was poorly received, contrary to expectations, hence its abrupt end.

* The popularity of ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'', the show where ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' was first introduced to the USA, spawned a boatload of shows made for the sole intent of introducing an overseas series to American audiences, including ''The Fox Cubhouse'', ''WesternAnimation/SaltysLighthouse'', ''Series/BigBag'', ''Series/TheNoddyShop'', ''[[Series/CaptainKangaroo Mister Moose's Fun Time]]'', the 1997 version of ''WesternAnimation/TheMrMenShow'', ''Series/HolaSproutitos'', and the 30-minute version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}''.

* The popularity of ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'', the show where ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends'' was first introduced to the USA, spawned a boatload of shows made for the sole intent of introducing an overseas series to American audiences, including ''The Fox Cubhouse'', ''WesternAnimation/SaltysLighthouse'', ''Series/BigBag'', ''Series/TheNoddyShop'', ''[[Series/CaptainKangaroo Mister Moose's Fun Time]]'', the 1997 version of ''WesternAnimation/TheMrMenShow'' and the 30-minute version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}''.

*** The new Disney Channel series, [[Series/TheVillainsOfValleyView The Villains of Valley View (2022)]], is about a family of supervillains (two supervillain parents and four supervillain children) who have to go undercover living normal lives when they relocate to a Texas suburb, and they have to learn how to hide their superpowers while trying to make friends with their new peers and try to live normal lives. [[Series/TheThundermans Sound familiar? Like another certain Nickelodeon series about a family of superheroes who also have to live undercover in a new city they move to?]]

** It's been pointed out that both shows, along with several others, including the aforementioned ''Monk'', ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'', and even ''Series/{{House}}'' and ''Series/{{Life}}'' are all really based off of ''Franchise/SherlockHolmes''--an extremely intelligent yet quirky detective solves mysteries by [[SherlockScan noticing the little details]]. The only things that ''Psych'' and ''The Mentalist'' specifically have in common are the "fake psychic" thing and being set in California, and both shows use both of those elements very differently.

* The success of the pithy, sarcastic ''Series/JudgeJudy'' spawned a whole slew of pithy, sarcastic judge shows: ''Series/JudgeMathis'', ''Judge Joe Brown'', Magazine/{{Playboy}} Channel's ''Judge Julie'' etc. Even the venerable ''Series/ThePeoplesCourt'' replaced Judge Wapner with sarcastic, saucy Latina Judge Marilyn Milian (after brief stints by former New York Mayor Ed Koch and Judge Judy's husband). To be fair, Jerry Sheindlin was a judge in his own right.

* The day ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' premiered on ABC to massive ratings, Fox ordered ''Series/{{Gotham}}''. And then after ''Gotham'' premiered to massive ratings, Creator/{{Syfy}} ordered ''Krypton'', a similar prequel built around the Franchise/{{Superman}} mythos.

* Creator/ComedyCentral created in Argentina a show with five comedians, each from a different Latin American country, ''La culpa es de Colón'' ("Blame It On [[Usefulnotes/ChristopherColumbus Columbus]]''). Its sucess made the channel start versions in other countries, each changing the historical figure in the title: Mexico's ''La culpa es de [[UsefulNotes/HernanCortez Cortés]]'', Colombia's ''La culpa es de [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_Declaration_of_Independence Llorente]]'' and Brazil's ''A Culpa é do [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_%C3%81lvares_Cabral Cabral]]'' (which like the Mexican and Argentinian version, received a DistaffCounterpart, but one that changed the name instead of just adding a "Women's version" subtitle: ''A Culpa é da [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlota_Joaquina_of_Spain Carlota]]'').

* ''Series/JupitersLegacy'' is Creator/{{Netflix}}'s response to the adult-oriented Superhero media boom that started with ''Film/Deadpool2016'' and exploded in popularity with Amazon Prime's ''Series/{{The Boys|2019}}'' with the show being a [[DarkerAndEdgier dark]] and [[BloodierAndGorier gory]] look to superheroes and superheroics in a modern, selfish and cynical world.

* While ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' creator Iginio Straffi has had interest in making a more serious Live-Action adaptation of the Winx since 2011, ''Series/FateTheWinxSaga'' seems to take a lot of notes from the modern [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, edgier]] and [[HotterAndSexier risque]] re-imaginings of children and teen-oriented properties such as ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'', ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'', Series/{{Titans|2018}} and ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'' with a dysfunctional cast of protagonists, a lot of violence, swearing, sex and drugs alongside some good'ol modern slang.

* The success of Creator/TheBBC's ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', a show about Franchise/SherlockHolmes [[SettingUpdate in the present day]], has inspired Creator/{{CBS}} to make their own modern-day Sherlock show titled ''Series/{{Elementary}}''. The BBC is considering taking CBS to court and has claimed that CBS had originally offered to remake ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' for American audiences. Possibly to avoid legal action, CBS turned their Watson into "Dr. [[GenderFlip Joan]] Watson" played by the [[RaceLift Asian-American]] Creator/LucyLiu (though WordOfGod is that Joan's casting was race neutral).

* The heavily character-driven, strangers-in-a-strange-land suspense formula of ''Series/{{Lost}}'' inspired plenty of other shows, such as ''Series/{{Invasion}}'', ''Series/{{Jericho}}'', ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', ''Surface'', and ''Series/{{Threshold}}''. Many of these were cancelled before they barely even began to delve in their MythArc. Coincidentally, there is a ''Lost'' episode titled "Follow the Leader."

* The success of ''Series/{{Guardian}}'' led to the creation of ''Series/TheUntamed''. The latter series became an even bigger success than the former and led to the creation of other {{Live Action Adaptation}}s of ''[[BoysLove danmei]]'' novels, including ''Series/WordOfHonor'' and ''Series/{{Immortality}}''.

* ''Series/JupitersLegacy'' is Creator/{{Netflix}}'s response to the adult-oriented Superhero media boom that started with ''Film/Deadpool2016'' and exploded in popularity with Amazon Prime's ''Series/TheBoys'' with the show being a [[DarkerAndEdgier dark]] and [[BloodierAndGorier gory]] look to superheroes and superheroics in a modern, selfish and cynical world.

* The popularity of ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'', the show where ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' was first introduced to the USA, spawned a boatload of shows made for the sole intent of introducing an overseas series to American audiences, including ''The Fox Cubhouse'', ''WesternAnimation/SaltysLighthouse'', ''Series/BigBag'', ''Series/TheNoddyShop'', ''[[Series/CaptainKangaroo Mister Moose's Fun Time]]'', the 1997 version of ''WesternAnimation/TheMrMenShow'' and the 30-minute version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}''.

* The success of ''Series/RebeldeWay'' prompted more Argentinian tween shows like ''Series/PatitoFeo'', ''Series/CasiAngeles'' and ''Series/{{Floricienta}}'' Also this, combined with the success of ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'', prompted the Argentinian remake of that movie.

* The ''Series/RupaulsDragRace'' tradition of eliminated queens started when Shangela was eliminated at the beginning of Season 2. After that, ''everyone'' did it.

* The success of ''Series/{{Guardian}}'' led to the creation of ''Series/TheUntamed''. The latter series became an even bigger success than the former and led to the creation of other LiveActionAdaptations of ''[[BoysLove danmei]]'' novels, including ''Series/WordOfHonor'' and ''Series/{{Immortality}}''.

** Almost every actress to come from Disney will be the Music/HilaryDuff or Music/MileyCyrus model while looking like a previous star to boot! Nicole Anderson is a clone of Music/DemiLovato, who along with Music/SelenaGomez, is a Music/VanessaHudgens lookalike. Tiffany Thornton, Creator/ChelseaStaub, and Music/BridgitMendler are ringers for Music/AshleyTisdale (who is a Hilary Duff lookalike), and so forth. The Ultimate clone is Creator/DebbyRyan, who is Miley Cyrus with Selena Gomez's facial features. Website/TheOnion parodies this in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZgXg_7kVI8 this video]].

** In 2020, the show produced the special ''Elmo's Playdate'' as a response to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. It was so successful that other specials aimed at families would be produced in response to this, including ''The Disney Family Sing-Along'' (which did well enough to get a sequel), the ''Series/DangerForce'' episode "Quaran-kini", ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse The Loud House and]] [[WesternAnimation/TheCasagrandes Casagrandes Hangin' At Home]]'', ''Group Chat With Annie and Jayden'', ''[[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants The Stars of [=SpongeBob=] Fan Favorites]]'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/DanielTigersNeighborhood Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Won’t You Sing Along with Me?]]''. It also may have lead to a ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' PublicServiceAnnouncement on handwashing being inserted into ''One World: Together At Home''. Even ''Sesame Street'' themselves did more specials after the success of ''Elmo's Playdate'', including ''The [=ABC's=] of COVID-19'', ''Elmo's World News'' and Abby Cadabby appearing during the aformentioned ''One World'' concert.

** ''Series/QuincyME''.

** Among the ''Friends''-inspired: ''{{Partners}}'', a rather similar show about the lives, loves, and careers of 20somethings; ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' (the British ''Friends''); and later possibly ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.

* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' (Fox) seems to have set off a bunch of [[Franchise/TheDCU DC Universe]] live-action TV adaptations in the wake of its hype: ''Series/{{Lucifer|2016}}'' (Fox), ''Series/{{Constantine}}'' (NBC), ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'' (NBC), ''ComicBook/{{Hourman}}'' (CW), ''Series/{{Titans}}'' (Creator/DCUniverse), and the above-mentioned ''Krypton'' (Creator/{{Syfy}}), plus ''Series/{{Arrow}}''[='s=] spinoff ''Series/TheFlash2014'' (CW). And of course this is arguably part of the general resurgence of live-action comic book dramas that ''Arrow'' (CW) and ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' (AMC) helped kick off. Non-DC properties include ''Comicbook/{{Powers}}'' (PSN), ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}'' (AMC), ''Series/{{Daredevil 2015}}'' and the other Marvel shows (Netflix), ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' (ABC), ''Series/AgentCarter'' (ABC), ''Series/IZombie'' (CW), and ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'' (CW).

* The aforementioned ''Series/{{Titans}}'', a DarkerAndEdgier superhero show released on the Creator/DCUniverse streaming service, was also clearly inspired by the success of the DarkerAndEdgier Marvel shows created for the Creator/{{Netflix}} streaming service, such as ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'' and ''Series/{{Jessica Jones|2015}}''.

* ''Britannia High'' is just ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' except, as the name suggests, set in Britain. It fared rather badly -- so badly in fact that even among its target demographic, it lost in the ratings war to ''[[http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/11/younger_viewers_prefers_antiques_to_britannia_high.html Antiques Roadshow]]''.

* The success of ''Series/RebeldeWay'' prompted more Argentinian tween shows like ''Patito Feo'', ''Casi Angeles'' and ''{{Floricienta}}'' Also this, combined with the success of ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'', prompted the Argentinian remake of that movie.

** And from ''Glee'' to other musical movies such as ''JoyfulNoise'' and shows like ''Series/{{Smash}}''.

* ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' inspired a slew of tv shows set in perfect suburban settings, such as ''Series/{{Weeds}}'', ''Series/TheGates'', and ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'', being touted as "''Series/DesperateHousewives'' for teens." While this is a concept that has been around for years, many more premiered when DH did.
** ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' also inspired a series of reality series about actual housewives and their social circles called ''Real Housewives'' (of Orange County, Atlanta, etc.). Most of them run on the RuleOfDrama.

* Creator/AnimalPlanet has given ''Series/RiverMonsters'' this treatment by creating another fishing show called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xztvUuonHuI&feature=channel_video_title Hillbilly Handfishing]].
** It also led to the creation of ''Monster Fish'' on Creator/NationalGeographicWild. The show's follow-the-leader status was made even more blatant by the tendency to do episodes on fish that were featured on the previous season of ''River Monsters''.

* ''Series/DocMartin'' was shortly followed by the [[DuelingShows similar program]] ''Distant Shores'', staring Creator/PeterDavison as a fish-out-of-water city doctor on the Northumbrian island Hildasay.

* While ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' creator Iginio Straffi has had interest in making a more serious Live-Action adaptation of the Winx since 2011, ''Series/FateTheWinxSaga'' seems to take a lot of notes from the modern [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, edgier]] and [[HotterAndSexier risque]] re-imaginings of children and teen-oriented properties such as ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'', ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'', Series/{{Titans}} and ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'' with a dysfunctional cast of protagonists, a lot of violence, swearing, sex and drugs alongside some good'ol modern slang.

* While ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' creator Iginio Straffi has had interest in making a more serious Live-Action adaptation of the Winx since 2011, ''Series/FateTheWinxSaga'' seems to take a lot of notes from the modern [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, edgier]] and [[HotterAndSexier risque]] re-imaginings of children and teen-oriented properties such as ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'', ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'', Series/{{Titans}} and ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'' with dysfunctional protagonists, a lot of violence, swearing, sex and drugs alongside some good'ol modern slang.

* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' (Fox) seems to have set off a bunch of [[Franchise/TheDCU DC Universe]] live-action TV adaptations in the wake of its hype: ''Series/{{Lucifer|2016}}'' (Fox), ''Series/{{Constantine}}'' (NBC), ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'' (NBC), ''ComicBook/{{Hourman}}'' (CW), ''Series/{{Titans}}'' (Creator/DCUniverse), and the above-mentioned ''Krypton'' (Creator/{{Syfy}}), plus ''Series/{{Arrow}}''[='s=] spinoff ''Series/TheFlash2014'' (CW). And of course this is arguably part of the general resurgence of live-action comic book dramas that ''Arrow'' (CW) and ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' (AMC) helped kick off. Non-DC properties include ''Comicbook/{{Powers}}'' (PSN), ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}'' (AMC), ''Series/{{Daredevil 2015}}'' and the other upcoming Marvel shows (Netflix), ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' (ABC), ''Series/AgentCarter'' (ABC), ''Series/IZombie'' (CW), and ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'' (CW).

* While ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' creator Iginio Straffi has had interest in making a more serious Live-Action adaptation of the Winx since 2011, ''Series/FateTheWinxSaga'' seems to take a lot of notes from the modern [[DarkerAndEdgier darker, edgier]] and [[HotterAndSexier risque]] re-imaginings of children and teen-oriented properties such as ''Series/{{Riverdale}}'', ''Series/{{Titans}}'' and ''Series/EmeraldCity''.

*** The success of ''Series/TheXFiles'' even caused the producers of a show of a ''completely unrelated genre'' (''BaywatchNights'', a crime show ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'' spinoff) to ''[[GenreShift be turned into]]'' an X-Files ripoff ''between seasons''.