Sitcoms that had long lost pilots - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

McGillicuddy · 11-20-2009, 03:40 PM

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.

JamesG · 11-20-2009, 03:53 PM

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

Heidi Dawn · 11-20-2009, 07:08 PM

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.

browneyes106 · 11-20-2009, 07:10 PM

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.

Pavan · 11-20-2009, 07:14 PM

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.

browneyes106 · 11-20-2009, 07:19 PM

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.

JamesG · 11-20-2009, 07:27 PM

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

Marvo301 · 11-20-2009, 07:28 PM

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.

McGillicuddy · 11-20-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

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.

bencasey · 11-20-2009, 10:07 PM

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.

McGillicuddy · 11-20-2009, 10:30 PM

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.

TMC · 11-20-2009, 10:34 PM

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.

McGillicuddy · 11-20-2009, 10:55 PM

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.

treky · 11-21-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

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.

treky · 11-21-2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browneyes106

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"

11-20-2009, 03:40 PM	#1
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Sitcoms that had long lost pilots 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.

11-20-2009, 07:08 PM	#3
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	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.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

11-20-2009, 07:14 PM	#5
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,815	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.
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11-20-2009, 07:28 PM	#8
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	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.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

11-20-2009, 10:55 PM	#13
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	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.
	Last edited by McGillicuddy; 11-20-2009 at 11:51 PM.

11-20-2009, 03:53 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,011	Full House's pilot had John Posey in Bob Saget's role of 'Danny Tanner'.

11-20-2009, 07:10 PM	#4
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	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.

11-20-2009, 07:19 PM	#6
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	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.

11-20-2009, 07:27 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,011	The Golden Girls' pilot had a gay cook named "Coco", played by Charles Levin, that was dropped for the series.

11-20-2009, 10:07 PM	#10
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	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.

11-20-2009, 10:30 PM	#11
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	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.

11-20-2009, 10:34 PM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,088	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.