The newest “Gold Rush” spin-off, “Hoffman Family Gold,” reunites longtime fans of the franchise with former cast member Todd Hoffman, as he tries to get back into the gold-mining business alongside his father, Jack, and his son Hunter. Throughout the first seven seasons of “Gold Rush,” the Hoffmans were an absolutely essential part of the series, with Todd Hoffman himself serving as the de-facto series lead prior to his abrupt departure from the series. Indeed, it’s not a stretch to say that without Todd Hoffman, there may never have been a “Gold Rush” at all.