All in the Family (1971)
The show was originally called Justice for All and the family's last name was Justice. Kelly Jean Peters and Tim McIntire played the daughter and her husband named Richard.
◄ IMDb Polls
Poll: The Pilots You Never Saw
When TV creators try to get a new show on the air, they shoot a sample episode called a pilot. Often these pilots become the first episode of the show. Occasionally the shows are retooled completely before airing. In those cases the first episode is reshot, often with different actors and storylines. And sometimes the initial pilot is never seen by the public.
Which of these original pilots would you most like to see?
Make Your Choice
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All in the Family (1971)
Norman Lear took another shot at All in the Family with another pilot called Those Were the Days, this time featuring Candice Azzara and Chip Oliver as Gloria and her husband Dickie. -
The Big Bang Theory (2007)
The original pilot had Iris Bahr playing scientist Gilda and Amanda Walsh playing tough girl Katie. Raj, Penny and Howard weren't on the show. Sheldon was into women and dance. And the theme song was Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science." -
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Riff Regan played Willow (and was replaced by Alyson Hannigan), Stephen Tobolowsky played Principal Flutie (and was replaced by Ken Lerner) and the kids attended Berryman High, not Sunnydale. -
Charmed (1998)
In the first pilot for Charmed Lori Rom, not Alyssa Milano played the youngest sister. Andy Trudeau was played by Chris Boyd instead of TW King and the show was originally filmed in the signature pink house, at that time called Warren Manor, whereas the actual show was filmed entirely on a sound stage. -
Desperate Housewives (2004)
Before Brenda Strong joined the cast, Sheryl Lee played Mary Alice Young. Michael Reilly Burke played Rex Van De Camp and was replaced by Steven Culp and Kyle Searles played John Rowland and was replaced by Jesse Metcalfe. -
Game of Thrones (2011)
The original pilot featured Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn and Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys. -
Gilligan's Island (1964)
The Professor, Ginger and Mary Ann weren't in the original pilot; instead Kit Smythe and Nancy McCarthy played secretaries named Ginger and Bunny. And the famous theme song wasn't part of the show. -
The Munsters (1964)
The original pilot was in color, not black and white, featured a surf rock theme song and a different credit sequence. Yvonne De Carlo replaced Joan Marshall as the mother, originally named Phoebe. And Butch Patrick replaced Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie. -
30 Rock (2006)
Originally the lead role of Jenna DeCarlo was played by Tina Fey's close friend Rachel Dratch but the NBC executives didn't like her. Jane Krakowski took the role and the character was renamed Jenna Maroney. Dratch had to settle for several small guest parts throughout the show's run.
