Growing Pains unaired pilot episode

[Hawkee]

When I was watching Growing Pains on DVD I discovered that on the DVD there was an unaired version of the pilot episode that I didn't know about until I got the DVD. The Growing Pains unaired pilot episode is virtually the same except some lines of Jason and Maggie Seaver are changed and some scenes are different. The other info I discovered about this episode is that actress Elizabeth Ward played Carol Seaver in the episode. Was this episode used by ABC to try to make Growing Pains a successful hit to sell to certain ABC stations in 1985? Do I have something rare?
Bestie

[MikeLutton]

wish season is that on good find

[Hawkee]

Originally Posted by MikeL

wish season is that on good find

The Growing Pains unaired pilot episode I found is on the Growing Pains The Complete First Season and I thought it was amazing that I had something rare of Growing Pains when I got the DVD set for my birthday
Thank you very much for your amazing reply Mike
Bestie

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by LaBestia

When I was watching Growing Pains on DVD I discovered that on the DVD there was an unaired version of the pilot episode that I didn't know about until I got the DVD. The Growing Pains unaired pilot episode is virtually the same except some lines of Jason and Maggie Seaver are changed and some scenes are different. The other info I discovered about this episode is that actress Elizabeth Ward played Carol Seaver in the episode. Was this episode used by ABC to try to make Growing Pains a successful hit to sell to certain ABC stations in 1985? Do I have something rare?
Bestie

Every TV series starts with a pilot episode. The pilots are then shopped around to the networks in hope one of them will buy the show. Once a network buys a show they can request cast changes, scripts changes or even request a whole new pilot be made before ordering a series. Sometimes the producers make a decision to re-cast a character after viewing the pilot episode. (which is what I believe happened in the case od Growing Pains. In the original casting process it came down to Elizabeth Ward and Tracey Gold for the part of Carol. After shooting the pilot with Elizabeth the producers viewed the episode and decided to cast Tracey instead.)

[Mr. Television]

The Cast with Elizabeth Ward.

[Marvo301]

I wonder if Elizabeth Ward is related to Jonathon Ward who played Douglas on the first season of "Charles in Charge"?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I wonder if Elizabeth Ward is related to Jonathon Ward who played Douglas on the first season of "Charles in Charge"?

This says yes. If that's so, the Wards really got screwed over by Hollywood.

[king of comedy]

Does anybody know where Elizabeth Ward is now?

[RetroGuy2000]

The link I shared above gives information about her name on Facebook.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

The Cast with Elizabeth Ward.

I hope people don't take this the wrong way, but I wonder Elizabeth Ward was dropped partially because she wasn't considered "ascetically pleasing enough" (especially if somebody as beautiful as Joanna Kerns is going to play her mother).