The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase unoriginal, poor television writing and references and parodies many television series. When Troy McClure mentions that Fox can only fill up three slots for the next season, the three series are "Melrose Place", "The X-Files" and "The Simpsons" itself. In the museum of television, Troy walks by posters of spin-offs, such as "The Ropers" (spun off from "Three's Company"), "Laverne & Shirley" (spun off from "Happy Days"), "Rhoda", a show that Julie Kavner, the voice of Marge, once starred in, (spun off from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and "Fish" (spun off from "Barney Miller"), to demonstrate the power of
Richard Masur Masur studied acting at The Yale School of Drama and appeared on stage before acting in movies and television shows during the 1970s. He appeared on an episode of "The Waltons" as well as in an episode of "All in the Family" in late 1974 and had recurring roles in "Rhoda" from 1974 to 1978; "One Day at a Time" from 1975 to 1976; "Hot l Baltimore" in 1975; and the pilot to an NBC sitcom, "Bumpers", in 1977. In 1981, Masur played the role of a child molestor armed with a camera in the television film "Fallen Angel". His