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
1978–79 United States network television schedule The "NBC Novels for Television" segment "The Innocent and the Damned" was a rerun of the 1977 television miniseries "Aspen". Note: "Coasttocoast" was supposed to air Thursdays 10:00-11:00PM, but NBC's new boss Fred Silverman canceled the show. 1978–79 United States network television schedule This was the television schedule on all three commercial television networks in the United States for the fall season beginning in September 1978. All times are Eastern and Pacific. New fall series are highlighted in bold. Series ending their original runs are in "italics". Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating