Considering The Patty Duke Show having a pilot with different castmembers which I'm hoping will be included on a future dvd release, it got me thinking how many shows had pilots, usually used to sell the show, with different people playing characters.

All in the Family - (2 original pilots) had a different Gloria and Mike, and Mike even had a different name.

Three's Company-(2 original pilots) had different actresses playing Janet and Chrissy, and Stanley's name is George.

Leave it To Beaver - Different Ward and Wally.

That Girl - Different father of Ann Marie, and Don was a different character.

Gilligan's Island - Different Professer. Ginger and Maryann were secretaries named Ginger and Bunny, instead of a movie star and farm girl.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - was called Head of the Family with Carl Reiner in the role of Rob Petrie, and different actors playing Laura, Richie, Buddy, Sally, and Alan Brady.

Happy Days - (pilot an episode of Love American Style) with a different Howard and different little sister.

Rhoda (an episode of TMTMS, wasn't really the pilot) sister named Debbie instead of Brenda.

Full House's pilot had John Posey in Bob Saget's role of 'Danny Tanner'.

The Love Boat had three pilot movies.

The first one had these people in the following roles: Ted Hamilton (Captain), Dick Van Patten (Doctor), Teddy Wilson (Bartender), Sandy Helberg (Purser), Terry O'Mara (Cruise Director), Joseph R. Sicari (Steward), Richard Stahl & Kathryn Ish (Lounge Entertainers).

The second one had Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell & Ted Lange in the roles they had in the series with the exception of Bernie Kopell's character had a different name. Quinn K. Redeker and Diane Stilwell played the parts of the Captain and Cruise Director respectively.

The third pilot had the cast that we all know and love.

The original pilot for Freddie featured Megyn Price as the sister in law.
The original pilot for Charmed featured Lori Rohm as Pheobe.
The original pilot for Desperate Housewives featured Sheryl Lee as Mary Alice Young.

Perfect Strangers original pilot had Louie Anderson rather than Mark Linn-Baker.

Hope & Faith original pilot had the kids totally different and no Ted McGinley.

The original pilot for Seinfeld featured Lee Garlington as a diner waitress that was supposed to be sort of a voice of reason for Jerry, George and Kramer.

The Golden Girls' pilot had a gay cook named "Coco", played by Charles Levin, that was dropped for the series.

In the original pilot for "Eight is Enough" Mark Hamill played oldest sibling David. He left to star in an obscure movie called "Star Wars" and Grant Goodeve replaced him in the role of David Bradford.

In the original pilot for "Eight is Enough" Mark Hamill played oldest sibling David. He left to star in an obscure movie called "Star Wars" and Grant Goodeve replaced him in the role of David Bradford.

In addition to David, the characters of Nancy and Tommy were played by different actors, before Dianne Kaye and Willie Aames replaced them.

It happens all of the time. The Man From UNCLE pilot had Will Kuluva as the boss, not Leo G. Carroll. Imelda de Martin played the girlfriend in the Hank pilot, replaced by Linda Foster for the series. The Girl from UNCLE pilot, which aired on Man From UNCLE, had Mary Ann Mobley and Norman Fell as the leads.

In the pilot for I Love Lucy, Lucy and Desi played Lucy and Larry Lopez.
There was no Fred and Ethel, Vivian Vance and William Frawley weren't casted yet.

The pilot for Good Morning, Miss Bliss (the forerunner to Saved by the Bell) still had Haley Mills as Miss Bliss but entirely different students (among them, include Brian Austin Green, Jaleel White and Jonathan Brandis) and a different actor playing Mr. Belding.

The pilot for Growing Pains had a different Carol Seaver.

The pilot for Roseanne had a different D. J. Conner.

The pilot for Tabitha starred Liberty Williams, replaced by Lisa Hartmann for the series.

The pilot for Alice had a different Tommy Hyatt.

Loretta Swit played Cagney for the pilot movie for Cagney & Lacey. Sharon Gless played her in the series.

The pilot for Maude which was an episode of All in the Family, had a different Carol.

In the pilot for I Love Lucy, Lucy and Desi played Lucy and Larry Lopez.
There was no Fred and Ethel, Vivian Vance and William Frawley weren't casted yet.
Also Lucy and Rickies apartment was different, as was the Tropicana.

The original pilot for Seinfeld featured Lee Garlington as a diner waitress that was supposed to be sort of a voice of reason for Jerry, George and Kramer.
Also there was no Elaine, and the show was named "THE SEINFELD CHRONICLES"

the first pilot for "STAR TREK"-it also had 2. (it was the first show to do that) had a different captain, his name was Christopher Pike, and different crew members exept for Spock; who looked slightly different, the crew members exept for the bridge crew dressed in casual clothes, and the captains quarters looked different (includingng an item that wasn't used, but looked REMARKABLY like a T.V.!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: )
Jeffery Hunter (who played the captain) was replaced because his fiance who was also his agent, kept making these ridiculos demands like "My Jeff can only be photographed at such-and-such a time and only at such-and-such an angle so they said Man, if we have to work with this guy, we'll go nuts"!

IIRC The Wonder Years had a lost pilot that had Arye Gross as a narrator instead of Daniel Stern. I believe it aired 1/31/88 right before Super Bowl XXII, and Mr. Stern's version aired 3/15/88.

The orginal pilot of 'The Big Bang Theory' (Which didn't air) had a different actress playing Penny and her character was much more meaner to Sheldon and Lenord. There was also no Raj or Howard in the orginal pilot.

Loretta Swit played Cagney for the pilot movie for Cagney & Lacey. Sharon Gless played her in the series.

Actually, Meg Foster was the 1st Cagney for the TV Series.

When Meg Foster was given the pink slip, then Sharon Gless came aboard to play Cagney.


Empty Nest:
Empty Nest, which was initially an in-episode of The Golden Girls, featured a different family and characters and partially premise, too.

The only constant from that episode and the regular series was that the character Oliver (also played by David Leisure) was much like the Charlie character on the regular series in that he barged in the house unannounced and took food.


Hawaii Five-O:, which aired six days before the regular series started.

- the pilot on Five-O had a much different shot of Jack Lord in the opening credits.

- Tim O'Kelley played Danny "Danno" Williams, instead of James MacArthur. O'Kelley was axed for two reasons: 1). Many test audiences disliked him 2). He couldn't quite stand up to the intenstiy of Jack Lord, plus the fact that his portrayal of Danno came off as Danno looking like he's too eager at times.

- Lew Ayres played the governor, instead of Richard Denning, who played the governor in the regular series.

- None of the regular cast members appeared in the opening credits, although there is an extended scene of Kono (played by Zulu) charging through the bad guys.

- Wo Fat (Khiegh Dhiegh) appears in this episode, which is the only pre-S2 episode Wo Fat ever appeared on.

- Chin Ho Kelly comes off as slightly more humurous on the pilot, sucha as him saying "Chin Ho Kelly, strikes again!" and often being grilled by MacGarrett to "sit down and shut up!"

the pilot for "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" was named "THE HILLBILLIES OF BEVERLY HILLS" and the exterior of the Comerce bank was different; as were the interiors of the Clampett mansion.

The characters of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo were established in the unaired "I LOVE LUCY" pilot [creator/producer/head writer Jess Oppenheimer decided to change "Larry Lopez"'s name before production began], staged and "kinescoped" on March 2, 1951 for the benefit of CBS executives and potential sponsors; this explains the different sets, as the pilot was staged at Columbia Square in Hollywood, the network's facilities (recently converted radio studios) for live TV production at that time, before Television City was constructed in 1952. In any case, the network believed they were going to sell "I LOVE LUCY" as a live series, and stage it from New York while the coaxial cable linking both coasts of the United States was being completed (enabling "live" programming to be seen simultaneously on every virtually every TV station, "coast-to-coast"). Lucy, however, objected to moving to New York, and Desi was the one who suggested the show be filmed in Hollywood. He then hired Al Simon, who had been production manager on Ralph Edwards' 1950-'51 edition of "TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES", which had been filmed before a live audience, to see if he couldn't accomplish the same multiple camera set-up for "LUCY". Simon could, and the rest is TV history...

:tv:

The original pilot for The Middle from 2007 featured a different cast with Ricki Lake as Patricia Heaton's character.

I believe the only one in the old pilot and the current show is Atticus Shaffer as 'Brick'.

Barney Miller came out of an unsold pilot called, The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller. They only kept two actors from the pilot to the series, Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. I was hoping that the pilot would have been on the season 1 DVD, but no. :( They might not even have a copy of it anymore. It's too bad, I would love to see it.

Barney Miller came out of an unsold pilot called, The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller. They only kept two actors from the pilot to the series, Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. I was hoping that the pilot would have been on the season 1 DVD, but no. :( They might not even have a copy of it anymore. It's too bad, I would love to see it.
I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that the original pilot was destroyed. Abby Dalton (who went on to Falcon Crest) played Mrs. Miller and was replaced by Barbara Barrie when the series was sold. Also, Charles Haid (later of Hill Street Blues) played one of the detectives.

Gregory Sierra's later series AES Hudson Street (created by the same people who did Barney Miller) had a pilot which was made in the summer of 1977 but I don't know if it ever aired or not. The main role was played by F. Murray Abraham, who was let go and replaced with Gregory Sierra. F. Murray Abraham had the last laugh, as he won an Oscar several years later for Amadeus.

In addition to David, the characters of Nancy and Tommy were played by different actors, before Dianne Kaye and Willie Aames replaced them.
That's right - Kimberly Beck and Chris English played those roles in the pilot.

The 2004 series "Married To The Kelly's" had Meredith Monroe playing the wife in the original pilot, fresh off the cancelation of "Dawson's Creek" (although she had departed a few seasons before the show was cancelled), and then Kiele Sanchez took over the role in the series.

Considering The Patty Duke Show having a pilot with different castmembers which I'm hoping will be included on a future dvd release, it got me thinking how many shows had pilots, usually used to sell the show, with different people playing characters.

All in the Family - (2 original pilots) had a different Gloria and Mike, and Mike even had a different name.

Three's Company-(2 original pilots) had different actresses playing Janet and Chrissy, and Stanley's name is George.

Leave it To Beaver - Different Ward and Wally.

That Girl - Different father of Ann Marie, and Don was a different character.

Gilligan's Island - Different Professer. Ginger and Maryann were secretaries named Ginger and Bunny, instead of a movie star and farm girl.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - was called Head of the Family with Carl Reiner in the role of Rob Petrie, and different actors playing Laura, Richie, Buddy, Sally, and Alan Brady.

Happy Days - (pilot an episode of Love American Style) with a different Howard and different little sister.

Rhoda (an episode of TMTMS, wasn't really the pilot) sister named Debbie instead of Brenda.
also, the 2 pilots for "ALL IN THE FAMILY" had different names. One was titled "JUSTICE FOR ALL", and the other one was called "THOSE WERE THE DAYS". (Idon't know which one came first) In "JUSTICE FOR ALL" the familys name was Justice, and in both of them the house was slightly different, the kitchen didn't have a wall seperating it from the rest of the house.
In "THOSE WERE THE DAYS" there was a slight difference in the opening, before Archie and Edith started singing Archie said "All right, all right"! and he was wearing a jacket and tie.

In the "HAPPY DAYS" pilot (called "LOVE AND THE HAPPY DAY") there was no Ralph or Fonzie, the Cunninghams house was different, as was Arnolds-and it wasn't called Arnolds (Iforget the name of it)

In "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" pilot, their name was PEEtrie, there was no Mel, or Jerry and Milly Helper, the house was different, as was Rob, Buddy and Sallys office, and Alan Brady was named Alan STURDY-and he also had a different office.

For my old favorite, "Mr. Terrific," the situation's a bit different. The show itself is nearly as obscure as the "lost" pilot.

Still, the lost pilot was VERY different from the actual series.

In the pilot Stanley "H." Beamish (I don't believe he's ever given a middle initial on the final series itself.) was played by Alan Young: direct from his successful run on "Mr. Ed." He has a fiance; not a best friend. He works as a shoe clerk/salesman in a Department Store; not as part owner of a service station. He's also less of a Gilliganesque man-child; more of a Wilbur Post-like everyman.

The government agency that developes the "power pill" is the Office of Special Assignments; not the Bureau of Secret Projects. The pill lasts for more than 4 hours, but he must wait 1/2 hour between pills. His powers are just a watered down imitation of Superman's abilities.

The cast, and all of the characters aside from Stanley, are completely different.

the "I LOVE LUCY" pilot was considered lost for years, until it was found, and CBS showed it in, I think, 1990 or 91.

The Flintstones long lost pilot, The Flagstones Fred has a different voice, so does Betty, and Betty looks completely different.

Although it wasn't exactly a sitcom, the original pilot for Lost In Space had no Robot and no Dr. Smith.

Although it wasn't exactly a sitcom, the original pilot for Lost In Space had no Robot and no Dr. Smith.
That's so odd because I can't picture LIS without either the Robot OR Dr. Smith!

That's so odd because I can't picture LIS without either the Robot OR Dr. Smith!

Yeah, very true... we have S1 of LIS and it has the pilot ep... and I think all LIS episodes are available at Hulu...

In fact, here's a link to the pilot episode:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/148/lost-in-space-no-place-to-hide#x-0,vepisode,1,0

In that episode, their spaceship was called Gemini 12, rather than Jupiter 2. And IIRC, the ship did not have a "lower" deck, as it did in the regular run of the series.

Except for the children and Grandma Walton, The pilot for The Waltons (The Homecoming) had a different cast including:

Andrew Duggan as John Walton (Series - Ralph Waite)
Patricia Neal as Olivia Walton (Series - Michael Learned)
Edgar Bergen as Grandpa Zebulon Walton (Series - Will Geer)
Dorothy Stickney as Miss Emily Baldwin (Series - Mary Jackson)
Josephine Hutchinson as Miss Mamie Baldwin (Series - Helen Kleeb)
David Huddleston as Sheriff Epp Bridges (Series - John Crawford)
Woodrow Parfrey as Ike Godsey (Series - Joe Conley)

Yeah, very true... we have S1 of LIS and it has the pilot ep... and I think all LIS episodes are available at Hulo...

In fact, here's a link to the pilot episode:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/148/lost-in-space-no-place-to-hide#x-0,vepisode,1,0

In that episode, their spaceship was called Gemini 12, rather than Jupiter 2. And IIRC, the ship did not have a "lower" deck, as it did in the regular run of the series.
Cool - thanks for that info!! :cool:

...."No Place To Hide" was different from the series that followed: the "Robot" and Jonathan Harris' "Dr. Smith" weren't added to the cast until production of the series was about to begin, and the various sections from the unaired pilot [which unfolded like a brief version of producer Irwin Allen's later disaster movies- spaceship crash! giant monster! earthquake! whirlpool!] were "extended" and reworked within the first five episodes (a specialty of Allen's: he always used everything twice). The pilot and the majority of the first season were "serious" in tone, except for certain scenes involving Smith and the Robot, which, of course, eventually dominated season two, turning the whole thing into a slightly exaggerated "situation comedy".

:tv:

Soap actress Amelia Heinle was "Jack" in the original pilot for Jack & Jill. Amanda Peet took over for the series.

Soap actress Amelia Heinle was "Jack" in the original pilot for Jack & Jill. Amanda Peet took over for the series.
Wow, I never knew that. You really do learn something new every day!! :lol:

Soap actress Amelia Heinle was "Jack" in the original pilot for Jack & Jill. Amanda Peet took over for the series.

Wow, i never knew that! had she starred in the series i may have actually watched it! i was a fan of hers on "Loving" and "The City" (on which she made brief guest appearances) and would have tuned in for her. Never have been a big fan of Amanda Peet, whose bland and boring imho.

The pilot for Good Morning, Miss Bliss (the forerunner to Saved by the Bell) still had Haley Mills as Miss Bliss but entirely different students (among them, include Brian Austin Green, Jaleel White and Jonathan Brandis) and a different actor playing Mr. Belding.

Miss Bliss also had a new husband (though she still wanted to be called Miss Bliss) played by Charles Siebert.

Three's Company-(2 original pilots) had different actresses playing Janet and Chrissy, and Stanley's name is George.


...and Helen's name was Mildred. The landlords in the British series were named George and Mildred and had a spinoff that lasted longer than the original series.


Leave it To Beaver - Different Ward and Wally.


...and Richard Deacon (later Fred Rutherford) played a different character altogether.

Pilot Recasts: Five Best Friends That Never Were
by Chris Harnick
posted May 21st 2010


In a bizarre alternate reality, your favorite TV character may have been played by somebody else. Recasting is a fact of life for shows, most of it happens during the time between the pilot episode is shot and the series goes to air.


In honor -- or mourning -- of the recasts that will take place from now until the fall 2010 season officially kicks off, here's a look back at best friends that never were.





1. Merrin Dungey as 'Naomi Bennett' on "Private Practice"


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/MerrinD1.jpg


"Grey's Anatomy" has a special episode that served as a backdoor pilot for "Private Practice".

When Addison went to California and met up with her old best friend from college, Naomi, she was played by "Alias" veteran Merrin Dungey.

However, when "Private Practice" hit the air as its own series, Audra McDonald filled the role.









2. Riff Regan as 'Willow Rosenberg' on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/Riff.jpg


Alyson Hannigan was not the lovable and geeky Willow Rosenberg in the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" pilot. That role belonged to Riff Regan.

The brunette actress had a recurring role on "Sisters" as the younger version of Georgie and had bit parts on "Blossom", "Roseanne" and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman".

Her last credited role was in 2000 as part of a TV project, "The Theory of Everything".









3. Rachel Dratch as 'Jenna de Carlo' on "30 Rock"


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/RachelD.jpg


Liz Lemon's self-obsessed best friend, Jenna Maroney, wasn't originally played by Jane Krakowski.

Rachel Dratch originated the role of Jenna de Carlo in the "30 Rock" pilot and even appeared in early promotional images, but something happened after NBC saw the pilot.

According to interviews, Dratch was told the direction of the show was changing and there wouldn't be as much emphasis on the sketches of the fictional 'Girlie Show,' so the role would be more acting, less characters.

Dratch was kept on to appear as various characters during the first season.









4. Alex Borstein as 'Sookie St. James' on "Gilmore Girls"


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/AlexB.jpg


Lorelai Gilmore's best friend and fellow inn employee wasn't originally played by Melissa McCarthy.

Alex Borstein, known for her role on "MadTV" and voicing Lois on "Family Guy" originated the part in the pilot.

Borstein's "MadTV" contract prevented her from staying on the show in the series regular role of Sookie, but she went on to make appearances throughout the series.









5. Brook Kerr as 'Tara Thornton' on "True Blood"


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/BrookKerr.jpg


The role of brassy Tara wasn't originally Rutina Wesley's. Brook Kerr originated the role in an early version of the hit HBO series.

Kerr, a veteran of "Passions", went on to appear in an episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" and the TV movie Flower Girl. Prior to her "True Blood" recasting, Kerr made appearances on "Cane", "CSI: Miami" and "City Guys".

Many reviewers critiqued Kerr's attitude as Tara, saying it wasn't believable.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/21/pilot-recasts-five-best-friends-that-never-were/

...."No Place To Hide" was different from the series that followed: the "Robot" and Jonathan Harris' "Dr. Smith" weren't added to the cast until production of the series was about to begin, and the various sections from the unaired pilot [which unfolded like a brief version of producer Irwin Allen's later disaster movies- spaceship crash! giant monster! earthquake! whirlpool!] were "extended" and reworked within the first five episodes (a specialty of Allen's: he always used everything twice). The pilot and the majority of the first season were "serious" in tone, except for certain scenes involving Smith and the Robot, which, of course, eventually dominated season two, turning the whole thing into a slightly exaggerated "situation comedy".

:tv:
Also in the unaired pilot the spaceship was called the Gemini 12 and the theme was used from the movie The Day The Earth Stood Still. The unaired pilot had a movie feel to it imo.

The orginal pilot of 'The Big Bang Theory' (Which didn't air) had a different actress playing Penny and her character was much more meaner to Sheldon and Lenord.

That was Amanda Walsh.
She was in the short-lived "Sons & Daughters" and the film Disturbia.

Figured I put this here as it was just announced...



According to the Ausiello Files, ABC has ordered a casting change for the new series "Edgar Floats" because the pilot is being completely re-conceived from the ground up.


Dropped from the original pilot are:

Tom Cavanagh
Alicia Witt
Derek Webster
Alex Solowitz
Raoul Trujillo

...with Robert Patrick being the only remaining original cast member.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/15/abc-replacing-almost-entire-cast-of-edgar-floats-pilot/

The Munsters had a different pilot before it originally aired. Joan Marshall played Phoebe Herman's wife. Her name was not Lily and also she was compared to Morticia Adams. Nate "Happy" Derman played Eddie. His version of Eddie was more of a brat than Butch Patrick's Eddie. The pilot was filmed in color.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Munsters

I seen the pilot and that version of Eddie grated on my nerves, the growling. I'm glad they reshot that version.

I seen the pilot and that version of Eddie grated on my nerves, the growling. I'm glad they reshot that version.

I have seen only a little bit of the unaired pilot but I agree that version of Eddie got on my nerves too.

Barney Miller came out of an unsold pilot called, The Life and Times of Captain Barney Miller. They only kept two actors from the pilot to the series, Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. I was hoping that the pilot would have been on the season 1 DVD, but no. :( They might not even have a copy of it anymore. It's too bad, I would love to see it.

Thankfully, it was found AND included on the complete series set!! :cool: :D

the pilot of "THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN" had a different actor playing Oscar Goldman.

Where would you be able to see some of the unaired pilots? I remember seeing All in the Family, Gilmore Girls and Married with Children on youtube but I dont know if there still there.

The lost in space pilot had a newsy type plot. I may have indeed seen it back in the day. It looked as though it could have been a 20/20 special. If it kept that feel I don't if I would have continued. I prefer the lighter feel they later did.

And,the 2-hour NBC pilot made for TV movie "Diary of a Perfect Murder"which was the pilot for Andy Griffith's"Matlock"series featured Andy Griffith (Attorney Ben Matlock),Keene Holliday(Det.Tyler Hudson),who both went on to do the series,but the movie pilot had a different Attorney Charlene Matlock(Matlock's daughter).Lori Lethin(what happened to her,by the way?)played Charlene in the movie,Linda Purl played Charlene on the first season episodes.