A backdoor pilot (tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PoorlyDisguisedPilot) in case you don't know, is an attempt to get a new show (https://www.metv.com/lists/11-forgotten-and-failed-backdoor-pilot-episodes) over with the target audience by introducing (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61621/15-backdoor-pilots-never-became-tv-shows) it in an episode (https://www.forcesofgeek.com/2017/03/pilot-errors-backdoor-pilots-best-left-forgotten.html) of an already existing show. A common feature of backdoor pilots (https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a846970/backdoor-pilots-scrapped-tv-shows/) is that established characters take a backseat to a new lineup and the themes, tone, or mood of the episode (https://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/149100-how-awful-do-you-find-backdoor-pilots-for-tv-series/) is markedly (http://leegoldberg.com/tag/magnum-pi/) different.

There was an episode of The Cosby Show called Mr. Quiet that starred Tony Orlando. He worked at a rec center that helped troubled kids. A boy that never talked was beat up by some other kids but by the end of the episode he finally talked. It was supposed to be the backdoor pilot for a show but never came to be.

There was an episode of Laverne and Shirley called Here Today, Hair Tomorrow. It was the last episode of the series and it was about Carmine going to New York to star in the musical Hair. It was a backdoor pilot for a show that never came to be.

There was an episode of Home Improvement, I can't remember the name or the season of the episode but it had Dave Chappelle in it. He and another guy befriend Tim on Tool Time, he gets them in trouble with their girlfriends and so he has them apologize on Tool Time.He ends up dropping the engagement ring of Dave Chappelle's friend down the drain. The episode was a backdoor pilot for a show called Buddies that never took off.

There was an episode of The Cosby Show called Mr. Quiet that starred Tony Orlando. He worked at a rec center that helped troubled kids. A boy that never talked was beat up by some other kids but by the end of the episode he finally talked. It was supposed to be the backdoor pilot for a show but never came to be.

There was an episode of Laverne and Shirley called Here Today, Hair Tomorrow. It was the last episode of the series and it was about Carmine going to New York to star in the musical Hair. It was a backdoor pilot for a show that never came to be.

There was an episode of Home Improvement, I can't remember the name or the season of the episode but it had Dave Chappelle in it. He and another guy befriend Tim on Tool Time, he gets them in trouble with their girlfriends and so he has them apologize on Tool Time.He ends up dropping the engagement ring of Dave Chappelle's friend down the drain. The episode was a backdoor pilot for a show called Buddies that never took off.

The Home Improvement episode was called Talk To Me and it was from Season 4.

Failed Kelly's Kids pilot on the Brady Bunch. That episode of The Twilight Zone with built in laugh track (Cavender Is Coming).

The Home Improvement episode was called Talk To Me and it was from Season 5.

Thank you! :D

Thank you! :D

You're welcome! :)

There was an episode of The Cosby Show called Mr. Quiet that starred Tony Orlando. He worked at a rec center that helped troubled kids. A boy that never talked was beat up by some other kids but by the end of the episode he finally talked. It was supposed to be the backdoor pilot for a show but never came to be.

There was an episode of Laverne and Shirley called Here Today, Hair Tomorrow. It was the last episode of the series and it was about Carmine going to New York to star in the musical Hair. It was a backdoor pilot for a show that never came to be.

There was an episode of Home Improvement, I can't remember the name or the season of the episode but it had Dave Chappelle in it. He and another guy befriend Tim on Tool Time, he gets them in trouble with their girlfriends and so he has them apologize on Tool Time.He ends up dropping the engagement ring of Dave Chappelle's friend down the drain. The episode was a backdoor pilot for a show called Buddies that never took off.


Oh yeah I forgot about that episode I am about to look at it on Amazon

That was the episode when he was trying to talk to the little boy and he kept looking in a different direction and tony orlando was like......."oh come on Im not that ugly"

:lol:

There was an episode of The Cosby Show called Mr. Quiet that starred Tony Orlando. He worked at a rec center that helped troubled kids. A boy that never talked was beat up by some other kids but by the end of the episode he finally talked. It was supposed to be the backdoor pilot for a show but never came to be.

There was an episode of Laverne and Shirley called Here Today, Hair Tomorrow. It was the last episode of the series and it was about Carmine going to New York to star in the musical Hair. It was a backdoor pilot for a show that never came to be.

There was an episode of Home Improvement, I can't remember the name or the season of the episode but it had Dave Chappelle in it. He and another guy befriend Tim on Tool Time, he gets them in trouble with their girlfriends and so he has them apologize on Tool Time.He ends up dropping the engagement ring of Dave Chappelle's friend down the drain. The episode was a backdoor pilot for a show called Buddies that never took off.



David Chappelle always reminded me of a crack addict so Im not surprised

David Chappelle always reminded me of a crack addict so Im not surprised
So I guess I can already confirm that you’re not a fan of Chappelle’s Show lol

So I guess I can already confirm that you’re not a fan of Chappelle’s Show lol

I was turned off from the day I first looked at him

The Home Improvement episode was called Talk To Me and it was from Season 5.Slightly before that, it was season 4 episode 20.

https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/50071/home-improvement-4x20-talk-to-me

The Facts of Life had so many of these. The worst were Brian and Sylvia, The Academy, and Jo's Cousin. The Academy even had a second episode the following season where it was all about the Stone Academy students dealing with a fight match and barely featured any of the FOL cast. I'm not a fan of backdoor pilots if the show's cast isn't featured.

The last two episodes of Green Acres. Instead of focusing on a memorable series finale, Henning instead wasted energy and effort trying to pitch two outdated and bland sitcom concepts to a network that was moving in a more modern direction.

The Gary Seven pilot on the last season 2 episode of Star Trek. Again, it felt like Gene Roddenberry thought the show might be cancelled, so instead of focusing on a great story arc to convince NBC the show was worth a third season, he instead sells out the Enterprise crew for a lame Americanized attempt at Dr Who.

Slightly before that, it was season 4 episode 20.

https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/50071/home-improvement-4x20-talk-to-me

Whoops. I'm sorry.

I'm kind of surprised that nobody has yet mentioned (https://screenrant.com/golden-girls-worst-episodes-imdb/) the "Empty Nests" (https://goldengirlsnfriends.freeforums.net/thread/548/moreno-discusses-empty-backdoor-pilot) episode (http://emptynesttv.com/home/show-info/series-history/series-history-original-pilot/) of The Golden Girls (http://www.rickstexanreviews.com/2019/08/the-golden-girls-empty-nests-review.html) with Rita Moreno (https://www.reddit.com/r/odaat/comments/bxrm5p/throwback_remember_that_time_when_rita_moreno_was/).

Wasn't the last episode of one day at a time a backdoor pilot with Schneider?

The first one that came to mind was the one with Matt LeBlanc and Joe Bologna on Married with Children that eventually became "Top of the Heap".

I think there was another backdoor pilot on Married with Children that was going to follow Bud and his girlfriend in their college years, with Steve Rhodes back on the show as the college dean. I don't know if it was one but it definitely felt like one.

There's another sorta-cringey backdoor pilot that I saw a few months ago for a 1980s show, but I can't remember which sitcom it was on. It might have been Night Court or some other show from that period. The backdoor pilot involved a bunch of immigrants going to night school to study for their citizenship, and there's this whole drama about one of them about to be deported or something because they're afraid of the authorities (?). It was so cringe because they made immigrants look so cute, dopey and naive (like three year olds), like Moscow on the Hudson or Perfect Strangers.

Wasn't the last episode of one day at a time a backdoor pilot with Schneider?

Yup Another Man Shoes and was never picked up

Post 4, Kelly's Kids. Has to rate as one of the worst.

Going way back, there was a really bad episode of the Donna Reed show about some bumpkins who lived in a cabin. Also, the Stage to Yuma episode of Father Knows Best, placing Robert Young in a western, must have been an effort. Then maybe Eugene Rodney would use another actor in RY's place (???) (This season 2 episode isn't syndicated.)

Bob and Carol for Three's Company:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Also there was a My Three Sons episode toward then end of season 11, which had Rob (Don Grady) and Katie moving away. The episode reeked, and Don Grady left the show and was not in season 12. In season 12, Katie was back, with no explanation.

Bob and Carol for Three's Company:lol::lol::lol::lol:
God, how I hated that TC episode/backdoor pilot. Who was even going to watch that sh*t?

There's another sorta-cringey backdoor pilot that I saw a few months ago for a 1980s show, but I can't remember which sitcom it was on. It might have been Night Court or some other show from that period. The backdoor pilot involved a bunch of immigrants going to night school to study for their citizenship, and there's this whole drama about one of them about to be deported or something because they're afraid of the authorities (?). It was so cringe because they made immigrants look so cute, dopey and naive (like three year olds), like Moscow on the Hudson or Perfect Strangers.

I think that was for Diff'rent Strokes.

Chips had one called Force Seven. It debuted at a crummy moment in the series as Larry Wilcox was leaving the show and it would have been nice to see Jon and Ponch in one more get the bad guys episode. Instead there were all these ninja guys running around trying to stop nuclear arms smuggling.

Post 4, Kelly's Kids. Has to rate as one of the worst.

Going way back, there was a really bad episode of the Donna Reed show about some bumpkins who lived in a cabin. Also, the Stage to Yuma episode of Father Knows Best, placing Robert Young in a western, must have been an effort. Then maybe Eugene Rodney would use another actor in RY's place (???) (This season 2 episode isn't syndicated.)

Sort of curious about these older pilots. Anywhere I can go to read more about them?

God, how I hated that TC episode/backdoor pilot. Who was even going to watch that sh*t?

They just appeared out of nowhere and I was like.........................."who the f&ck is Bob and Carol?":lol::lol::lol:

The first one that came to mind was the one with Matt LeBlanc and Joe Bologna on Married with Children that eventually became "Top of the Heap".

I think there was another backdoor pilot on Married with Children that was going to follow Bud and his girlfriend in their college years, with Steve Rhodes back on the show as the college dean. I don't know if it was one but it definitely felt like one.

There's another sorta-cringey backdoor pilot that I saw a few months ago for a 1980s show, but I can't remember which sitcom it was on. It might have been Night Court or some other show from that period. The backdoor pilot involved a bunch of immigrants going to night school to study for their citizenship, and there's this whole drama about one of them about to be deported or something because they're afraid of the authorities (?). It was so cringe because they made immigrants look so cute, dopey and naive (like three year olds), like Moscow on the Hudson or Perfect Strangers.


Season 3 episode of Different Strokes

They just appeared out of nowhere and I was like.........................."who the f&ck is Bob and Carol?":lol::lol::lol:
The writers must’ve been REALLY desperate if they thought THAT mess would be a successful spinoff.

Chips had one called Force Seven. It debuted at a crummy moment in the series as Larry Wilcox was leaving the show and it would have been nice to see Jon and Ponch in one more get the bad guys episode. Instead there were all these ninja guys running around trying to stop nuclear arms smuggling.
It was the last episode of season 5, that episode also starred Fred Dryer who would go onto the crime drama Hunter, whats weird about the episode is that it featured actor Tom Reilly who in season 6 would replace Larry Wilcox as Bobby Nelson.

Another bad spin-off episode in season 5 is 'Mitchell & Woods' in which two female cops are on the trail of a murder suspect, I think Jon and Ponch are in it for beginning and end.

Bob and Carol for Three's Company:lol::lol::lol::lol:
It had all of the TC cast even down to Larry and Mr. Furley which is a rarity if this episode was ever intended as a spin-off I've always wondered.

It had all of the TC cast even down to Larry and Mr. Furley which is a rarity if this episode was ever intended as a spin-off I've always wondered.

Since they was never mentioned again I wonder too

I think that was for Diff'rent Strokes.

Oh, thank you! That might've been it.

ETA: Just noticed it was confirmed by another poster and was in season three. Thanks, guys!

Season 3 episode of Different Strokes

Thanks! I must have seen it in first run, but blotted it out from memory because seeing it against recently was like seeing it for the first time. :crazy:

You guys just reminded me of another backdoor pilot. I think it was on Archie's Place and was going to have Gloria working at a vet's office, with Burgess Meredith as her boss? I'm not sure becaue the whole thing was so cringe that I was barely paying attention. :lol:

The final episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" featured an Italian family moving to Mayberry. It was very odd. The family was not even mentioned on "Mayberry RFD".

You guys just reminded me of another backdoor pilot. I think it was on Archie's Place and was going to have Gloria working at a vet's office, with Burgess Meredith as her boss? I'm not sure becaue the whole thing was so cringe that I was barely paying attention. :lol:

That got picked up and it lasted for one season. It actually got decent ratings, but when Archie Bunker's Place got cancelled so did Gloria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_(TV_series)

Wasn't there one with the Brady Bunch- Where Ken Berry was a neighbor and had a wife and 3 kids with different nationalities?

Thanks! I must have seen it in first run, but blotted it out from memory because seeing it against recently was like seeing it for the first time. :crazy:

You guys just reminded me of another backdoor pilot. I think it was on Archie's Place and was going to have Gloria working at a vet's office, with Burgess Meredith as her boss? I'm not sure becaue the whole thing was so cringe that I was barely paying attention. :lol:

Yeah its one pilot with Archie and another without him that was picked up and lasted for a season

The final episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" featured an Italian family moving to Mayberry. It was very odd. The family was not even mentioned on "Mayberry RFD".

A pilot hidden inside of a pilot. Stupid color episodes.

Wasn't there one with the Brady Bunch- Where Ken Berry was a neighbor and had a wife and 3 kids with different nationalities?

Kelly's Kids.

Right now, I only remember two backdoor pilots.
There's a second example from "The Cosby Show", that is about a couple who are Cliff's patients.
John Ritter plays the husband, I think.
And I also remember one from "The Nanny" about a beauty parlor.
They aren't so bad, but you want to follow the regular cast and not some random new characters.
So in that way, they fail to keep most viewers interested.

They aren't so bad, but you want to follow the regular cast and not some random new characters.
So in that way, they fail to keep most viewers interested.

There are only so many episodes of a classic show, so it usually sucks when one of the episodes is wasted on a backdoor pilot. The only time backdoor pilots works is when the original show is sort of mediocre. Think TAGS spinning off from The Danny Thomas Show.

Right now, I only remember two backdoor pilots.
There's a second example from "The Cosby Show", that is about a couple who are Cliff's patients.
John Ritter plays the husband, I think.
And I also remember one from "The Nanny" about a beauty parlor.
They aren't so bad, but you want to follow the regular cast and not some random new characters.
So in that way, they fail to keep most viewers interested.

What season is that with cliff patients?

What season is that with cliff patients?

7
The episode is Total Control.

7
The episode is Total Control.

Ok thanks I will check that out tonight

Chips had one called Force Seven. It debuted at a crummy moment in the series as Larry Wilcox was leaving the show and it would have been nice to see Jon and Ponch in one more get the bad guys episode. Instead there were all these ninja guys running around trying to stop nuclear arms smuggling.

..and when Force Seven wasn't picked up Tom Reilly was cast as Jon's replacement the following season. Thus appearing in two consecutive episodes in different roles.

The final episode of "The Andy Griffith Show" featured an Italian family moving to Mayberry. It was very odd. The family was not even mentioned on "Mayberry RFD".

I forgot about that one. Absolutely awful, unwatchable, and totally unneeded.

Sort of curious about these older pilots. Anywhere I can go to read more about them?

From Metacritic.com re Stage to Yuma, S2 Ep 14 of Father Knows Best--unlike most backdoor pilots, this one was withheld from syndication.

Summary: Not a FKB episode at all. Robert Young tells us at the beginning that "the family is on vacation this week"(lucky them) and then proceeds to introduce what is clearly meant to be a Western pilot for an entirely different show. The Western craze had just hit American TV at about this time, and Young wanted to get aboard the stagecoach. In this case, however, it's a good thing he missed it because this pilot stinks.

The Donna Reed Show, S4 Ep 25 -- The Wide Open Spaces -- from Imdb:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0564326/plotsummary

7
The episode is Total Control.

The episode with John Ritter :lol::lol::lol:

From Metacritic.com re Stage to Yuma, S2 Ep 14 of Father Knows Best--unlike most backdoor pilots, this one was withheld from syndication.

Summary: Not a FKB episode at all. Robert Young tells us at the beginning that "the family is on vacation this week"(lucky them) and then proceeds to introduce what is clearly meant to be a Western pilot for an entirely different show. The Western craze had just hit American TV at about this time, and Young wanted to get aboard the stagecoach. In this case, however, it's a good thing he missed it because this pilot stinks.

The Donna Reed Show, S4 Ep 25 -- The Wide Open Spaces -- from Imdb:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0564326/plotsummary

Just finished watching this episode on the Shout Factory site. Yeah, it was not any good. He was doing a cowardly impression of Wayne's Hondo character. This makes it look like Young was ready to move on from FKB pretty early in the shows run.

I had recently posted this in the Donna Reed thread - but it seemed relevant here:

One interesting thing about Donna season 4 is all those unsold backdoor pilots: the one with Miyoshi Umeki as a wise Hawaiian nurse... the one with William Windom and his farm family (including Jimmy Hawkins as the ranch hand)... the one with Roberta Sherwood and her singing sons (plus uncle Gale Gordon).. no winners, but they sure make Donna Reed's show look even more irreplaceable!

I'd forgotten all of those. They were pretty awful, esp. that Sherwood one.

On an episode of Welcome Back Kotter, it was a backdoor pilot for a spinoff. Apparently Arnold Horshack was one of the more popular characters, (besides John Travolta's Vinnie Barbarino) who would've thought? So they wrote an episode of Welcome Back Kotter that heavily featured Horshack and a lot of his weird family because the network had decided to do a spinoff series with Arnold Horshack. But the episode did so badly in the ratings the network immediately dropped the idea of doing the spinoff and Arnold Horshack stayed on Welcome Back Kotter.

Ed.

Thanks! I must have seen it in first run, but blotted it out from memory because seeing it against recently was like seeing it for the first time. :crazy:

You guys just reminded me of another backdoor pilot. I think it was on Archie's Place and was going to have Gloria working at a vet's office, with Burgess Meredith as her boss? I'm not sure becaue the whole thing was so cringe that I was barely paying attention. :lol:

That became an actual series, I remember it, it was simply titled Gloria. I think they let it go for about a season before they cancelled it. The boy who played Gloria's son Joey, went on to star in some children's show as an adult, I think it was called Aquabats if I remember, it sounds weird but I never saw it but it guess it was on for at least a couple years.

Ed.

That became an actual series, I remember it, it was simply titled Gloria. I think they let it go for about a season before they cancelled it. The boy who played Gloria's son Joey, went on to star in some children's show as an adult, I think it was called Aquabats if I remember, it sounds weird but I never saw it but it guess it was on for at least a couple years.

Ed.

CBS passed on that version. It was retooled without any 'Lear' people. Guntzelman/Marshall (WKRP, later Growing Pains) were brought aboard. Also the show production was moved from CBS Television City over to Universal Studios. Carol O'Connor was ticked off and 'washed his hands' of it.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_(TV_series)

On an episode of Welcome Back Kotter, it was a backdoor pilot for a spinoff. Apparently Arnold Horshack was one of the more popular characters, (besides John Travolta's Vinnie Barbarino) who would've thought? So they wrote an episode of Welcome Back Kotter that heavily featured Horshack and a lot of his weird family because the network had decided to do a spinoff series with Arnold Horshack. But the episode did so badly in the ratings the network immediately dropped the idea of doing the spinoff and Arnold Horshack stayed on Welcome Back Kotter.

Ed.

The wedding episode?

Here are two episodes from Too Close For Comfort aired back to back in its 3rd season when ABC cancelled it and was renewed for first run syndication:

"Dont Rock The Boat" - Henry and Muriel travel to the Oxnard marina to visit his old Navy buddy Arthur, who is finally getting remarried after losing his wife 17 years ago. Henry convinces Arthur to cancel the wedding when he discovers Arthur's bride-to-be is only 26 years old, but he has a hard time breaking the news to her.

Note: This episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a proposed spinoff series titled Don't Rock the Boat, about a 52-year-old man who owns a boat repair business at a marina with his two adult sons, who marries a 26-year-old woman despite the objections of his sons and friends.

"Family Business" - After Iris is mugged in the garage of her condominium complex, Henry agrees to go along with Muriel's and Iris' plan to sell the condo and use the proceeds to add a third floor to the Rushes' apartment building. Unfortunately, they select a remodeling company that is going through a personnel transition.

Note: As with the previous episode, this episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a proposed spinoff series; Family Business was to have revolved around two Italian brothers, an aspiring violinist and an aspiring professional athlete, who reluctantly take over their deceased father's remodeling business at the request of their mother. ABC did not pick up the series for the 1983-84 television season, especially as Too Close for Comfort was cancelled by ABC after this episode aired and was picked up for first-run syndication the following year.

The “Chatterbox” episode of “The Nanny” was on COZI a week or two ago. It’s unwatchable.

Speaking of Fran Drescher, anyone remember “Charmed Lives,” with Fran and Donna Dixon as mismatched models/roommates? It played as a episode of “Who’s the Boss?”

The Gruesomes got a lot of attention from their Flintstones appearances, including some print items. I wonder why they didn't spin-off to Saturday mornings? Seems a natural for the time.

Here are two episodes from Too Close For Comfort aired back to back in its 3rd season when ABC cancelled it and was renewed for first run syndication:

"Dont Rock The Boat" - Henry and Muriel travel to the Oxnard marina to visit his old Navy buddy Arthur, who is finally getting remarried after losing his wife 17 years ago. Henry convinces Arthur to cancel the wedding when he discovers Arthur's bride-to-be is only 26 years old, but he has a hard time breaking the news to her.

Note: This episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a proposed spinoff series titled Don't Rock the Boat, about a 52-year-old man who owns a boat repair business at a marina with his two adult sons, who marries a 26-year-old woman despite the objections of his sons and friends.

"Family Business" - After Iris is mugged in the garage of her condominium complex, Henry agrees to go along with Muriel's and Iris' plan to sell the condo and use the proceeds to add a third floor to the Rushes' apartment building. Unfortunately, they select a remodeling company that is going through a personnel transition.

Note: As with the previous episode, this episode was intended as a backdoor pilot for a proposed spinoff series; Family Business was to have revolved around two Italian brothers, an aspiring violinist and an aspiring professional athlete, who reluctantly take over their deceased father's remodeling business at the request of their mother. ABC did not pick up the series for the 1983-84 television season, especially as Too Close for Comfort was cancelled by ABC after this episode aired and was picked up for first-run syndication the following year.

Who played Arthur's buddy on 'Dont Rock the Boat'? Sounds like a role for Robert Mandan or Gordon Jump. Maybe even Harold Gould.

The wedding episode?

I don't know maybe. I was a kid back then but I can somewhat remember the episode and then I eventually read at some point it was meant as a backdoor pilot for the Arnold Horshack spinoff (which was to be titled The Horshacks, how imaginative LOL).

Ed.

The last episode of Facts of Life was a backdoor pilot for a continuation/reboot with Eastland becoming mixed gendered and Blair becomes headmistress. Seth Green and Miyam Bialik would've been students. Scott Bryce from As the World Turns would've played romantic foil to Blair.

Scott Bryce had been introduced as Jo’s eventual husband earlier that season. It was Sam Behrens from “General Hospital” who played a teacher/Blair’s love interest in the pilot.

The “Chatterbox” episode of “The Nanny” was on COZI a week or two ago. It’s unwatchable.
It actually grew on me until I rather liked it.

Who played Arthur's buddy on 'Dont Rock the Boat'? Sounds like a role for Robert Mandan or Gordon Jump. Maybe even Harold Gould.
Dick Van Patten played Arthur.