10 TV Shows That Became Unrecognizable from Their Pilot Episode

Some of the world’s most celebrated television staples experienced a massive retooling following their pilot episodes, with many of these changes helping the shows become the beloved hits they were. With any Hollywood creation, it can take some time for a project to find its identity and discover its unique niche, and often the introductory episodes are a far cry of what the programs would ultimately become.

No one could have imagined that the U.S. version of The Office would become the cult classic hit it was, as critics were initially less than impressed when its pilot was a shot-by-shot replica of the original. Just like no one could have anticipated Steve Urkel becoming the breakout character of the ‘90s in Family Matters, despite not even being featured in the pilot. Here are 10 shows that became unrecognizable from their pilot episodes.

10 New Girl

Audiences all across the world couldn’t get enough of Zooey Deschanel’s endearing performance as the plucky teacher Jess Day in the smash hit sitcom New Girl, which revolved around her kooky character as she moves in with a trio of mismatched men in a Los Angeles loft. The series followed Jess and the many hijinks and misadventures she gets swept up in with Nick, Schmidt, and Winston, as the delightful misfits develop an unbreakable bond over the course of its seven seasons.

Jess’ Roommate Re-Do

Fans of New Girl know that the roommate situation in the pilot episode looked quite a bit different than the dynamics they would go on to know and love, as the good-natured, cat-loving Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris) was absent from the apartment. Instead, Damon Wayans Jr.’s cocky athlete character Coach was a member of the main group before he ultimately left, thus making the way for the fan-favorite Winston.

Wayans Jr. departed the series after the pilot when his other comedy Happy Endings was picked up for a second season, and instead of recasting the character they simply wrote him out. It’s hard to imagine New Girl without the fun-loving Winston, as he perfectly meshed with his other zany roommates, and because they chose not to recast Coach, Wayans. Jr. was able to return to the series later on. Stream on Hulu

Related: 20 TV Shows Like New Girl to Watch Next

9 The Office

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most beloved sitcoms of all time, The Office is based on the British masterpiece of the same name and centers on the quirky and colorful workers at Dunder Mifflin and their incompetent-yet-well-meaning boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell). The comedy ran for nine seasons and featured popular stars like John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Mindy Kaling and won countless accolades, including four Primetime Emmys, a Peabody, and a Golden Globe.

Shot-by-Shot Remake

Since The Office was adapted from the Ricky Gervais-led original, the premiere episode was almost an exact scene-by-scene duplicate of the British version, though it was re-scripted in an effort to “Americanize” it. Although it proved to be a ratings success, critics were unimpressed and felt it was an exact copy of its counterpart and failed to establish its own identity. Of course, fans know it didn’t take long until The Office found its own unique humor and entertaining characters and infused it with American style and sensibility. Stream onPeacock.

8 The X-Files

The constant will-they/won’t-they dynamic between Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) in the groundbreaking sci-fi series The X-Files is part of the reason fans fell in love with the show and characters, and they anxiously watched as their slow burn relationship unfolded. The dynamic duo investigated paranormal phenomena all across the country, facing a wide array of unforgettable “monsters of the week” throughout its sensational run.

Overly Intimate Dynamic

Audiences may have forgotten that the pilot put off quite a different energy between the two lead investigators, as the on-screen dynamic between Mulder and Scully was a lot more intimate. The pair were far more cozy with one another and at one point Scully is even inspected by Mulder in just her undergarments, with the series fully leaning into their potential attraction in the opener.

She also calls him by his first name Fox, though for the rest of the show they address each other by their last names. Producers pulled back on the sexual tension and instead opted for a drawn-out build-up over its ensuing seasons. Stream on Hulu.

7 Riverdale

Based on the Archie Comics characters of the same name, the mystery teen drama Riverdale transports viewers to the ominous titular town where darkness and secrets lurk in every corner, and focuses on the unforgettable friends Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead as they attempt to navigate the growing pains of adolescence, love, and life. It serves as a reimagining of the popular comics and was given a moody and edgy transformation, often venturing into supernatural territory.

An Outlandish TV Spectacle

Though it has now garnered a reputation for its over-the-top campy attitude and outlandish plots, the adaptation’s pilot episode and first season were actually well-received and more true to its subject source.

The love triangle between Archie, Veronica, and Betty was established, and it evoked a vintage vibe while sprinkling in a little murder and mayhem. In the ensuing seasons, Riverdale became more and more far-fetched and completely deviated from the comics, becoming an outrageous caricature and completely going off the rails by the time its final curtain dropped. Stream on Netflix.

6 Family Matters

Audiences everywhere couldn’t escape the pop culture icon Steve Urkel during the 1990s, who skyrocketed to stardom and popularity and effectively stole the show on the sitcom Family Matters. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, the acclaimed series went on to become the second longest-running live-action U.S. sitcom led by a primarily African-American cast, spawning a whopping 215 episodes and 9 seasons.

Pop Culture Phenomenon

Family Matters followed the Chicago-based family the Winslows and their everyday lives, with Reginald VelJohnson starring as police officer and patriarch Carl, who raises his three children with his quick-witted wife Harriette (Jo Marie Payton). The series premiere surprisingly showed no signs of the Winslows’ pesky nerdy next-door-neighbor Urkel (Jaleel White), despite the character going on to become the face of the sitcom and one of the most recognizable figures of the decade.

Urkel wasn’t actually introduced until the fourth episode, and the rest was television history. Stream on Max.

5 Sex and the City

Darren Star’s sensational HBO romantic dramedy Sex and the City made quite the splash when it debuted in 1998 and was lauded for its fearless approach to showcasing sex from a female perspective, and for pushing television boundaries. Set in the streets of New York City, the bold show chronicled the friendship between longtime pals Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte as they explored their romantic and platonic relationships while searching for Mr. Right.

Carrie’s Fourth Wall Breakdown

The celebrated series’ first episode took a more experimental approach to introducing the characters, and opted to embrace a documentary style to the storytelling. Within just five minutes, Carrie Bradshaw breaks the fourth wall and talks directly into the camera, doing so throughout the episode as her friends are also interviewed and discuss their messy love lives.

It can take a while for a show to find its footing, and many fans would agree that the documentary approach was not the right fit to showcase the legendary ladies’ romantic highs-and-lows. Stream on Max.

4 Seinfeld

Lauded as one of the most influential and revered television shows of all time, Seinfeld was notably created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, in which the comedian portrays a fictionalized version of himself as he lives and thrives in Manhattan and hangs out with his friends George, Elaine, and Kramer. Famously described as “a show about nothing”, the sitcom was a ratings juggernaut in the ’90s and ran for 9 seasons, with its series finale being watched by a massive 76 million viewers.

Character Shake-Ups

The pilot episode looked vastly different from what fans know and love today, as the fiery and friendly Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) wasn’t even present in the opener, with the character instead being introduced in the second episode. Claire the waitress was supposed to be the main female lead, but she was swiftly written out and Elaine was introduced as someone who could keep up with the guys.

Michael Richards’ Cosmo Kramer was extremely different in the pilot, as he was named Kessler and was far-less eccentric and over-the-top; instead of bursting through the door he simply knocked, appearing before Jerry sans his signature crazy hair and colorfully printed shirts. It didn’t take long until Seinfeld found its identity and niche and became the bona fide trailblazing classic it did. Stream on Netflix.

As is the case with many comedies, it can take a little time for shows of the genre to find their groove and establish their own sense of humor, as was the case with Community. Characters were fleshed out and given a makeover after the pilot, which took place at a community college in the fictional town of Greendale, Colorado and chronicled the lives of its eclectic students. Joel McHale appeared as the sarcastic former lawyer Jeff Winger alongside a stacked cast including Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Alison Brie.

Massive Character Overhauls

In the premiere, Glover’s character, Troy Barnes, is first introduced as a stereotypical jock but swiftly becomes the nerdy, carefree best friend of the pop-culture-loving Abed by the follow-up episode. Similarly, Gillian Jacobs’ counterpart begins the sitcom as Jeff’s social activist love interest but ultimately transforms into a ditzy hypocrite with self-serving motives, who becomes an easy comedic target for her friends. The Community pilot had a very different tone, as it eventually became a hilariously chaotic and screwball sitcom. Stream on Hulu.

2 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Part of the reason Brooklyn Nine-Nine has become some a groundbreaking comfort show is because of its lovable cast and characters, as fans couldn’t get enough of the eccentric detectives and personalities working at New York City’s 99th Precinct. With a stellar ensemble cast led by Andy Samberg, Terry Cruz, and the late and great Andre Braugher, the comedy quickly emerged as a feel-good fan-favorite that ran for eight seasons after surviving a shocking cancellation.

Tweedledee & Tweedledum

Though there is no denying the wholesome friendship between Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle is arguably the greatest in the sitcom, the unbreakable (and downright strange) bond between department buffoons Hitchcock and Scully kept audiences constantly laughing. Throughout the course of the show, the lazy, inefficient, not-so-dynamic duo cared more about their next meal than solving crimes, and in the pilot, there was, surprisingly, a third person in their group.

In the pilot, Detective Daniels was also on team Hitchcock and Scully and was simply described as someone better at making coffee and doing desk duties than her actual job. She was completely gone by the second episode, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine instead focused solely on the bumbling pair. The uptight and no-nonsense Captain Holt also lets loose and becomes just as wild and uninhibited as his peers by the end of the series. Stream on Peacock.

Related: 10 Canceled TV Shows Saved by the Fans

1 Cougar Town

Friends alum Courteney Cox made her highly anticipated return to the comedy scene when she headlined the sitcom Cougar Town, starring as the recently divorced 40-something Jules Cobb as she navigates life as a single woman while attempting to raise her teenage son and deal with her slacker ex-husband. While the name itself is a pretty good indicator of what the series was supposed to be about, producers actually had a major creative change of heart following its pilot episode.

Major Name Change Debate

In the opening episode, Jules was supposed to embrace being a “cougar” and have fun being single by dating younger men, yet showrunners swiftly realized the magic lied in her endearing bond with the supporting characters and wanted to capitalize on female friendship. The producers of Cougar Town even entertained the idea of completely renaming the show because it had deviated so far from its original premise, yet nothing ever came from it, as the sitcom had already established a loyal fan base. The title then became the nickname for the Florida town Jules lived in instead. Stream on Hulu.