7 TV Shows That Reshot Their Pilots For Success

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The first episode of a TV show, called the pilot, is crucial for its success. Sometimes, shows need to re-film their pilots to convince networks to order more episodes. While some of the most popular shows started strong with excellent pilots and continued to improve, others overcame weak first episodes and became hits later on.

It’s not uncommon for the first episode of a TV show, called the pilot, to be reworked before viewers see it. Pilots often undergo changes for different reasons. Sometimes creators need to refine characters or storylines, replace actors, or simply improve the overall quality of the episode before it airs.

Two and a Half Men

Two and a Half Men is a comedy series created by Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn. It originally starred Charlie Sheen, later replaced by Ashton Kutcher, alongside John Cryer and Angus T. Jones. The show ran for 12 seasons on CBS, from 2003 to 2015, and a key plot point almost played out differently due to a reshoot of the first episode.

The first episode of Two and a Half Men features Charlie (Charlie Sheen), Alan (Jon Cryer), and Jake (Angus T. Jones), along with their mother, Evelyn (Holland Taylor). Evelyn was a difficult woman – manipulative and self-centered – and while she caused a lot of family drama, Holland Taylor’s performance made her a truly memorable character.

Originally, Blythe Danner played Evelyn in the pilot episode. However, creator David E. Kelley felt she didn’t quite suit the role, and her portrayal was very distinct from how Christine Baranski eventually played it. If that first pilot had been shown, Evelyn would have been a much different character, and potentially less well-received.

The Big Bang Theory

CBS (via MoviesStillDb)

Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory is a comedy that aired on CBS for 12 seasons, from 2007 to 2019. The show centers around the lives of socially awkward, intelligent roommates Sheldon (played by Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki), along with their equally quirky friends Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar).

The sitcom The Big Bang Theory centers around four socially awkward male scientists and their new neighbor, Penny, an aspiring actress and waitress. The series kicks off with Leonard developing a crush on Penny and trying to win her over. While the show eventually became a hit, the original pilot episode was so weak that it likely wouldn’t have been successful if it had aired.

The very first version of The Big Bang Theory looked quite different! It didn’t feature Penny, Raj, or Howard, and instead starred characters named Katie (who was a harsher personality than Penny) and Gilda. The biggest shock, though, was Sheldon – he was portrayed as very openly sexual and even claimed to have had a romantic encounter with Gilda. Luckily, CBS decided against airing that pilot and asked the creators to make another one.

Charmed

In the 1990s, shows featuring witches became very popular, and one of the most successful was Charmed, created by Constance M. Burge. The show aired on The WB from 1998 to 2006, lasting for eight seasons. Charmed centers around the Halliwell sisters – Phoebe, played by Alyssa Milano, Prue, played by Shannen Doherty, and Piper, played by Holly Marie Combs.

In the show Charmed, three sisters discover they are the most powerful good witches ever born, each with unique abilities. They combine their powers – known as the “Power of Three” – to defend innocent people from various evil creatures and dark forces. While the first episode introduces their powers, it wasn’t actually the first episode filmed.

The original, unaired pilot episode of Charmed featured a different actress, Lori Rom, playing Phoebe. She didn’t continue with the series and was later replaced by Alyssa Milano. Interestingly, this first pilot wasn’t completely lost – it was included as a bonus feature on the complete series DVD set.

Sherlock

The BBC’s Sherlock is considered one of the most successful modern updates of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, and the show really benefited from reshooting its first episode. Created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, Sherlock ran on BBC One from 2010 to 2017, consisting of four seasons with three episodes each, plus a special.

The TV show Sherlock is set in present-day London and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his friend and colleague, Dr. John Watson. Together, they investigate challenging cases, beginning with “A Study in Pink,” which centers on a killer who forces victims to make a fatal decision.

The first version of the Sherlock pilot episode was an hour long and told the same story as the one we eventually saw, but it underwent major changes. According to The Guardian, the BBC was worried the show might fail, so they asked for a completely new pilot to be filmed – and that’s how the successful series we know today came to be.

Gilmore Girls

Credit: MovieStillsDB

Gilmore Girls is a beloved and highly-rated TV show from the 2000s, often considered a classic comfort watch. However, the show as we know it almost didn’t happen – the original pilot episode wasn’t well-received and had to be completely redone. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the series aired on The WB and later The CW for seven seasons, from 2000 to 2007.

Gilmore Girls is set in the charming town of Stars Hollow and centers around Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel). The show follows their daily adventures, including the joys and challenges of romance, friendships, and family – particularly Lorelai’s relationship with her parents, Emily and Richard.

The first episode of Gilmore Girls is considered one of the best pilots ever made, but it wasn’t the original one! The show had to reshoot the pilot, and the initial version featured different actors playing Sookie and Dean. While these characters eventually became supporting roles, they still played important parts in Lorelai and Rory’s lives.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Many consider Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be one of the greatest fantasy shows ever made. While the first episode isn’t its strongest, it could have been much worse. Created by Joss Whedon, the show ran for seven seasons on The WB and UPN, from 1997 to 2003. Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is the newest in a long line of chosen vampire slayers.

The first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduces Buffy as she and her mother move to Sunnydale. On her first day at the new high school, she meets her future friends Willow and Xander, and also encounters the popular Cordelia. Naturally, the episode also features Buffy fighting vampires, and Willow and Xander quickly discover what she’s up against.

Originally, Riff Regan played Willow in the pilot, but she didn’t quite capture the character’s shy and insecure personality. The team had trouble finding someone who could play the role and still be likable, but they finally cast Alyson Hannigan, who was a perfect fit.

Several other scenes were also refilmed, including the heated argument between Buffy and Giles in the library. While the pilot episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer wasn’t flawless to begin with, the reshoots definitely made it better.

Game of Thrones

Surprisingly, the first episode of Game of Thrones wasn’t the original version – it was completely reshot. The show, created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and adapted from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, ran for eight seasons on HBO from 2011 to 2019, though many fans prefer to forget about the final season.

As a critic, I can confidently say that Game of Thrones completely pulled viewers into the incredible world of Westeros. The show juggled multiple storylines, each focused on powerful families and groups all vying for control of the Iron Throne. It’s now considered one of the greatest TV shows ever made – though, let’s be honest, the finale remains a hot topic of debate! What many don’t realize is that the pilot episode we all know and love wasn’t actually the first attempt. They filmed a different version initially!

I remember hearing that the very first pilot episode of Game of Thrones wasn’t very good at all. Even though HBO decided to move forward with the series, they basically demanded a complete overhaul. Apparently, around 90% of it was reshot – new actors, different locations, and a revised story! Thankfully, all that work paid off, and the show went on to become a huge success. It’s amazing to think how different things could have been if they hadn’t made those big changes.

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2025-11-11 17:13