History WhatCouldHaveBeen / LiveActionTV

** Creator/JackHaig was considered for the role of Jones, and did end up [[TheOtherDarrin taking over the role]] for part of the stage show tour while Clive Dunn had other commitments.

** John Le Mesurier was originally approached to play Mainwaring and Creator/ArthurLowe for Wilson, but it was decided they worked much better in the opposite roles.

* ''Beane’s of Boston'', an Americanization of the popular Britcom ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'', was developed by series creators Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft in collaboration with producer Creator/GarryMarshall. It never got past the pilot stage, and the pilot has never aired anywhere. The cast included John Hillerman (''Series/MagnumPI'') as Capt. Peacock, Tom Poston (''Newhart'') as Mr. Rumbold, Alan Sues (''Laugh-In'') as Mr. Humphries, Charlotte Rae (''The Facts of Life'') as Mrs. Slocombe and Lorna Patterson (the TV series version of ''Private Benjamin'') as Miss Brahms.

* Creator/JimBroadbent was originally slated to play the role of Lord Whiteadder in the ''Series/{{Blackadder}} II'' episode "[[Recap/BlackadderS2E5Beer Beer]]", but was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts. This would have had the pleasing symmetry of all Miriam Margoyles' roles (the Spanish Infantia in ''The Black Adder'' episode "[[Recap/BlackadderS1E4TheQueenOfSpainsBeard The Queen of Spain's Beard]]", Lady Whiteadder in ''Blackadder II'' and Queen Victoria in ''[[Recap/BlackadderSS2BlackaddersChristmasCarol Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'') being opposite Broadbent (who played the Infantia's interpreter and Prince Albert).

** Creator/LisaKudrow was originally cast as Roz, however after the first few days of filming the producers decided that her quirky humor didn't fit the part and they hired Peri Gilpin instead (according to Kudrow, Gilpin was their first choice, but switched her for Kudrow for some reason, then simply restored order by bringing Gilpin back.) Plus, imagine how this would have affected ''Series/{{Friends}}'' if Kudrow had remained on ''Frasier''.
** Frasier's brother Niles wasn't in the original concept and hadn't been mentioned on ''Cheers''. The inspiration for the character came after the producers saw a headshot of David Hyde Pierce and noted his brotherly resemblance to Kelsey Grammer.

** The original pilot script also did not include Sue Sylvester or any analogous character. She was written in because a higher-up suggested that the story needed an antagonist (a rare occasion of ExecutiveMeddling getting something right?) and was not originally intended to be a regular character until another project of Jane Lynch's fell through.

** The original iteration might not have had Bea Arthur at all. When the show was first pitched to her, Arthur declined, saying, with her as the DeadpanSnarker, [=McClanahan=] as the ditz, and White as the maneater, it sounded too much like "Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens." It was only after they decide to swap roles that Arthur said, "Now '''that''' sounds interesting."

* In 2007, NBC ordered a pilot for an American version of ''Series/TheITCrowd'' which failed to get picked up. While unsold pilots are commonplace, the American ''IT Crowd'' would have featured Joel [=McHale=] in the cast. If the show had gotten picked up and renewed through the 2009-2010 season, who would have played Jeff Winger on ''Series/{{Community}}''?

* ''Series/MenBehavingBadly'': In 2002 it was revealed that Simon Nye and the cast had agreed to revive the series for three further specials the following year, in which Beryl Vertue wanted the show to focus on how Gary and Dorothy were coping with parenthood. The idea was shelved the following year after Caroline Quentin became pregnant.

** Steve was originally supposed to be more of a typical JerkJock DomesticAbuser, pressuring Nancy into sex and eventually dying. It turned out that Joe Keery's acting made the character seem too nice, though, so those aspects kept getting toned down until they were gone.

* After the series ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' came to an end, its original producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who was forced out midway through season 2, released a "Coda" on his website detailing where he had planned to take the series in its planned five-year run. To say that his original vision was different to what made it onto screen is an understatement. So is saying that it was better.

* ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'' had several cast changes between the pilot and the first series. Mitchell was originally played by Guy Flanagan, Annie by Andrea Riseborough, Herrick by Adrian Lester, and Lauren by Dominique Mcelligott.

* In ''Series/BigBrother 12'' US, there was a fourteenth houseguest named "Paula" who quit during sequester and wasn't replaced. It's likely this is why the first head of household competition had to have Andrew sit out as the odd-man out. (He got immunity for the first week, though.)
** And in ''Series/BigBrother 8'' US, Jessica had a completely different nemesis who quit and was replaced with Carol. This nemesis was actually a dance rival of hers; rather than Carol who was an ex friend from high school and not as much of a nemesis compared to the other two. (i.e., Carol's response was just a shrug when she saw Jessica, and Jessica had to ''think'' of what they had against each other.)

* ''Series/BlakesSeven'' was slated to continue into a fifth season, with the first episode revealing that the only character to die in the dramatic shoot-out at the end of Season 4 was Blake himself. Everyone else would merely have been stunned (aside from any actors who didn't wish to return) and the season would start with the crew as prisoners of the Federation. However, it was generally felt that the series had gone as far as it could go and rather than face the cost of building new sets (since the crew's starship and base had been destroyed at the end of Season 4) the BBC decided to can the show, although ratings were still decent. As a result, [[EverybodyDiesEnding everyone dies]].

** At the time of its cancellation, ''Farscape'' was contracted for two additional seasons. Part of this would have included the resolution of the Scarran-Sebacean conflict covered by the ''Peacekeeper Wars'' miniseries/TV movie. [=SciFi=] originally offered the Henson company a 13-episode miniseries to wrap up the show, however the Henson company declined in an attempt to retain the (previously contracted) 5th and 6th seasons, citing 13 episodes was insufficient to wrap up all their outstanding plot-lines.
*** Reported possibilities for the aborted seasons: Return appearances by previous villains Furlow and Natira, and the long-awaited Chiana-centric plot arc picking up on the Nebari and their plan for galactic domination through VD.

* Apparently Creator/NeilPatrickHarris was considered for the role of Simon Tam on ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. That's right, [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Neil Patrick Harris]] starring opposite Creator/NathanFillion, five years earlier.
** And they'd still be a doctor and a captain! But with HoYay!
** Also, judging from the shooting script of the first episode, Simon (and possibly, by extension, River) was supposed to have an English accent (Simon uses the word "maths" instead of the American "math"). But, this could also be attributed to show creator and pilot writer Joss Whedon's upbringing and education in the UK.

** Speaking of unfortunate material, there was a proposed episode (that never made it to air) where the audience learns what was in the needle Inara was toting in the pilot during the flight through Reaver territory. Turns out it's a biological weapon that kills anyone who tries to touch her... which is discovered when Inara is gang-raped. Yikes.

* ''Series/Forever2014'' creator Matt Miller revealed several planned developments for the second season.

** Also, this original iteration might not have had Bea Arthur at all. When the show was first pitched to her, Arthur declined, saying, with her as the DeadpanSnarker, [=McClanahan=] as the ditz, and White as the maneater, it sounded too much like "Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens." It was only after they decide to swap roles that Arthur said, "Now '''that''' sounds interesting."
** Additionally, the series was supposed to be about the three ladies and a gay cook named Coco, with Sophia only supposed to be a recurring DropInCharacter. However, the positive reaction to Creator/EstelleGetty as Sophia led to them writing her in as a regular and writing Coco out (hence the reason he [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome disappears without a word]] after the pilot episode.)

*** Fuller has mentioned that, assuming everything lined up properly, Creator/ChiMcBride would be his top choice for the role of [[AlmightyJanitor Barney]] [[HypercompetentSidekick Matthews]]. He has expressed interest in working with a number of actors with whom he has past experience, specifically naming [[Series/PushingDaisies Anna Friel]] and Kristin Chenoweth. Fuller wanted Friel to appear in Season 2 (likely as Margot Verger), but she had already signed onto an adaptation of ''The Odyssey'' at the time.

** Also, Creator/RonPerlman auditioned for the part of Duncan. He did show up in season 5's "The Messenger" as the false Methos.

-->'''Peter Jackson:''' They asked me if I wanted to be involved — [writer-producer Fran Walsh] and I — and I said, "That's an impossible question to answer without seeing a script." So they said, "As soon as we get the first couple scripts, we'll send them to you." And the scripts never showed up.

* ''Series/Numb3rs'':
** Speaking after the cancellation, producer Creator/TonyScott said that his dream story for the show was an episode where "everything fell into the margin of error that Charlie always supplied." Scott explained that in giving his mathematical solution, Charlie would always leave a margin of error, no matter how small, saying things like "there is a 99.8 percent probability." The proposed episode would have the ultimate solution fall into the 0.2% probability, thus living it to actual police work to solve. It never went anywhere, however.

* ''Series/TheOfficeUS'' had several actors audition for parts, including Creator/SethRogen as Dwight, [[Series/ModernFamily Eric Stonestreet]] as Kevin and Creator/JohnCho as Jim (which was later referenced by one of Jim's pranks). It's also worth noting that two actors who ended up on the QuietlyPerformingSisterShow ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'', Adam Scott and Kathryn Hahn, also auditioned. Creator/ZooeyDeschanel was offered a role in season 8, but turned it down to star in ''Series/NewGirl''.

* Creator/PattyDuke mentioned in a number of interviews that had ABC been able to convince United Artists to invest in transitioning ''Series/ThePattyDukeShow'' [[ItWillNeverCatchOn from black & white to color]] (an expensive process in 1966-67), the series would have likely carried on for one or more extra seasons, as it was still pulling in high ratings. The next season very likely would have concentrated on the Patty Lane/Richard Harrison relationship had it been produced.

* A Venezuelan one: the (in)famous [[TheNineties early nineties]] SoapOpera ''Por Estas Calles'' originally was, and was promoted in the pre-air sales as, a typical pink soap named "Eva Luna", about a WronglyAccused girl who had to hide and change her name, taking the titular name for herself. They even had filmed several chapters when the 1992 coup attempt against the president happened and suddenly there wasn't the right atmosphere for a "normal" soap. Then the head writer decided to retool the story to take place in ThePresentDay instead of the atemporal Soap Opera Time, and go for [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism realism and cynicism]], expanding the cast and introducing many characters. The Executives loved it so much that they immediately ordered the erasure of the already filmed chapters. The only things that survived from the original were the already cast actor, and the plot about the heroine being wrongly accused and changing her name while hiding, now made gritty and dark.
** More fun: one of the characters of ''Por Estas Calles'' was "El Hombre de la Etiqueta" (The Tag Man), a ex-policeman turned vigilante SerialKiller after the murder of his son, going for common crooks and placing a morgue tag with the word "Irrecuperable" ("unreedemeable") on his victims. Despite being the main enemy of the heroine (whom he mistakenly believed the real murderer of his son), the character gained a MisaimedFandom of his own. Had the soap not had enough ExecutiveMeddling to make the original head writer resign, he would have had a RedemptionEqualsDeath destiny, instead of the KarmaHoudini ending he eventually got.

** Also, a ''lot'' of ideas were considered for Series Four which never came to fruition. Half of ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'''s "The Sarah Jane Companion: Volume Three" is devoted to what might have been for the series one way or another.

* Prior to starring in ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', Music/SelenaGomez would have been cast in a ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' spin-off series called ''What's Stevie Thinking?" as the titular Stevie, Miranda Sanchez's sister a pilot episode was filmed, but not picked up.
** She was also cast in a "''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]''" spinoff called ''Arwin'', following the misadventures of the ManChild repairman. Again, a pilot episode was filmed, but the show was not picked up.

* ''Series/{{Sliders}}'': The idea was thrown around of revealing that Maggie's biological parents were Colonel Rickman and her universe's version of Wade (this would have meant Maggie's universe was in the future compared to ours).

** Actually, thanks again to the Writer's Strike, the whole plot for Season 1 had to be dropped and canceled. The Jeep explosion was supposed to be the halfway point. Remember that blonde chick, Cheri Westin who was mysterious, "broken goods" (as Morris called her) and seemed like she'd play a big part, but then suddenly vanished in Season 2, never to be mentioned again? Yeah, she was supposed to have a sub-plot about being the victim of blackmail from the same person who made Jordan Cowan (the cheerleader who killed herself near the beginning) commit suicide. Because John got to know her, he unwittingly got dragged into a similar type of situation where his identity would be compromised. Guess we'll never know who made poor Jordan kill herself, or what dark secrets Cheri had…

** The Ultra N Project (''Series/UltramanNexus'' and ''Film/UltramanTheNext'') was intended to be a complete, DarkerAndEdgier {{Deconstructi|on}}ve reboot of Creator/TsuburayaProductions's Ultraman, which was having older audiences as their target demographics similar to what they used in ''Series/UltraQDarkFantasy''. However, with ''Nexus'' getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, the project abruptly ended and this led to the development of [[LighterAndSofter more family-friendly]] ''Series/UltramanMax'', and Tsuburaya wouldn't make another adult-oriented ''Ultra'' show until [[Series/UltraSevenX three years later]] while ''Nexus'' would end up being abandoned completely.
*** The failure of the Ultra N Project also led to ''Ultraman Nexus'' getting cancelled early, with a 12-episode story arc centered on Nagi becoming the new host of Nexus, BigBad Dark Zagi becoming a OneWingedAngel called Dark Lucifer, and even a movie being completely scrapped.

-->'''William Winckler:''' Adam was willing to do it, we were several years before Saban’s Americanized ''Franchise/PowerRangers'', but the project never happened. Years later I saw Adam backstage at a taping of the ''Tonight Show'' at NBC, and he said to me, ‘Billy, ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' stole your idea!’ We laughed! That’s showbiz!

* ''Series/{{V 1983}}'': The original plan was for a mini-series every year for the foreseeable future. NBC decided that they wanted the story to conclude in the second mini-series; Kenneth Johnson countered with a proposal for a TV series, which NBC turned down. While making The Final Battle, after Kenneth Johnson left for creative reasons, they decided they wanted a TV series after all. However it now took place after the Visitors had been defeated, and even though it was walked back in the first few episodes the menace was gone since they'd lost their foothold on Earth and no one trusted them, leading to a perpetual guerilla war occurring off-screen.

* Creator/AaronSorkin and company originally had Creator/SidneyPoitier in mind for the role of the President on ''Series/TheWestWing''. One can easily imagine the line, "They call me ''Mister'' President ..." However, Poitier's agent quoted a salary figure that was so massive Sorkin figured it was a backhanded way of saying "not interested," so they turned to Creator/MartinSheen instead.
** The original plan was also for the President to be more or less a supporting character, appearing for only a scene or two each week. This idea died as soon as Martin Sheen knocked his first scene right out of the park.

* One of the first things that comes to mind when one mentions ''Series/WheelOfFortune'' is longtime hostess Vanna White — she was ridiculously popular in the 1980s, and no doubt helped entrench it as one of the longest-running game shows ever. One wonders how things would've panned out if original hostess Susan Stafford hadn't quit. (Interestingly, ''Wheel'' was not originally intended to have a hostess. The board was supposed to be mechanical and self-revealing like the original ''{{Series/Concentration}}'' board, but they didn't have time to finish it before taping of the {{pilot}}s, so they simply brought Susan in to turn the letters.) Furthermore, host Pat Sajak took over from Chuck Woolery about a year prior; one wonders where the show would've ended up today had Chuck stayed.

* ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'': Justin was originally meant to be a friend of Alex, and not her brother. This isn't mentioning the thousands of Jalex fics, a fandom that supports this incestuous pair in a children's show, a bunch of viewers who obtained unwanted NoYay, and two teenage actors who can't help their {{U|nresolvedSexualTension}}ST.

** [[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/12/21/canadian-writer-for-anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-addresses-fan-backlash.html According]] to producer Adam O'Byrne, Thomas Antony Olajide (who was cast as Jonah Macon) had originally auditioned for the lead role of Louis de Pointe du Lac, and his performance was strong enough that he was asked to do a virtual chemistry test with Creator/SamReid (the actor who plays Lestat de Lioncourt, the boyfriend of Louis). Olajide and Creator/JacobAnderson were the two finalists, and the producers ultimately chose Anderson.

* Creator/{{Fox}} at one point had plans to turn Creator/MyNetworkTV into an over-the-air version of Creator/{{Fox News|Channel}}. Is it no surprise that this didn't happen?

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': [[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2022/12/21/canadian-writer-for-anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-addresses-fan-backlash.html According]] to producer Adam O'Byrne, Thomas Antony Olajide (who was cast as Jonah Macon) had originally auditioned for the lead role of Louis de Pointe du Lac, and his performance was strong enough that he was asked to do a virtual chemistry test with Creator/SamReid (the actor who plays Lestat de Lioncourt, the boyfriend of Louis). Olajide and Creator/JacobAnderson were the two finalists, and the producers ultimately chose Anderson.

** Peggy Mitchell was planned to have an affair with a much younger man: initially Alfie, but it was then decided to set him up with Kat and have Peggy get together with Dennis Rickman instead. However, the whole storyline was dropped when Barbara Windsor left the show for health reasons.

* Most of the cast of ''Series/{{Moonlight}}'' was different in the original pilot. Josef was supposed to have been played by Rade Šerbedžija and have a more older-and-wiser look (plus an Eastern European accent fitting an Old World vampire), rather than Creator/JasonDohring's snarky young-looking businessman with a [[Film/WallStreet Gordon Gekko]] feel. To be fair, though, Dohring does a good job nonetheless. Also, Beth and Coraline were originally played by Shannon Lucio and Amber Valletta, respectively, before being replaced by Creator/SophiaMyles and Shannyn Sossamon. Alex O'Loughlin is the only main actor to avoid being recast.

* Prior to the creation of ''Podcast/{{Rifftrax}}'', former ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' alumni Mike Nelson, Bill Corbet and Kevin Murphy attempted to create a SpiritualSuccessor known as ''Series/TheFilmCrew'', portraying the three as temp workers working in a warehouse and making fun of bad movies. However, Jim Mallon, who originally held the rights to ''[=MST3K=]'' at the time, forced Shout! Factory to back off, leading to Rifftrax's creation.

* Late in ''Series/{{Castle}}'s'' eighth season, the producers announced that Kate Beckett would be written out if the show was renewed for a ninth season as a cost-cutting measure. Cue ''huge'' uproar from the fans who thought that the show's entire point was Castle's relationship with Beckett. Apparently, the executives at ABC agreed because they decided not to renew the show for a ninth season.

* The version of ''Series/ThreesCompany'' we know was actually the third iteration of the concept. The first (set in New York City) was scripted but never filmed. The second got as far as a pilot episode (set in North Hollywood and starring Creator/JohnRitter as "David", along with Valerie Curtin as "Jenny" and Suzaene Zenor as "Samantha"), which went Network/{{ABC}} passed on. [[https://youtu.be/GokbXQqeYZ0?si=Z0_U8ElrVT7Nn1o1 The intro for the second pilot]] can be seen on YouTube.

* ''Series/DonkeyHodie'':
** According to [[https://variety.com/2021/artisans/production/puppeteers-donkey-hodie-pbs-series-1234978242/ a article published by Variety]], the show was going to be animated instead of using puppetry, to the point where character designs were made. Some of these designs show up on a photo frame inside Purple Panda's spaceship.
** Instead of having no in-between episodes segment, [[https://www.fredrogers.org/2020/01/10/pbs-kids-announces-donkey-hodie-premiering-winter-2021/ the show was supposed to have one]]. It's unknown what this was supposed to be about.
** One part in the "Meet Donkey Hodie!" book was supposed to be different from the final product. Donkey was supposed to call her friend Harriett an "udderly adorable pal of hers" and comment that [[DreadfulMusician she is a terrible singer, but nobody admits that to her]] and that everyone in Someplace Else loves her. In addition, the facts that she is a scientist, musician and poet were ommitted. The final book has Donkey describe her by describing her dress, and her comment on her is instead replaced with one about her inventions and the advice she gives to her and her friends.
** [[https://twitter.com/ItsPeeebs/status/1348790827917602816?s=20&t=Y5A8Vsuz1G3lb6ODN0k-fQ An image exists]] featuring a different-looking Donkey Hodie puppet, most notably having hair that's closer to pink than magenta. This is most likely a prototype puppet.
** [[http://forums.delphiforums.com/toughpigs/messages/17749/1 According to this event report,]] the creators considered hiring voice actors to portray the characters rather than having the puppeteers provide the voices.

* ''Series/SoWeird'' had its arc all planned out (including episodes about Fi's mom coming to terms with her alcoholism, one about Jack discovering that he was a knight in a past life (with help from Rebecca, who had known his past life), one about Fi helping a wandering spirit get to Heaven, and one where Fi finds a portal to Hell and goes there to rescue her dead father). Sadly, the lead actress left midway through, a replacement was cast, and the show --while still keeping its weird stories and characters -- got LighterAndSofter (making it more like a Disneyfied version of ''Goosebumps'') instead of DarkerAndEdgier.

* ''[[WhatCouldHaveBeen/{{UltraSeries}} Ultra Series]]''

* ''WhatCouldHaveBeen/TheWalkingDead2010''

* ''WhatCouldHaveBeen/{{UltraSeries}}''

** Originally, the SeriesFinale "The Last One" was intended to [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture take place in 2017]] and feature futuristic medical equipment and costumes. Dr. Daniel Auschlander, by now a centenarian, would have been kept alive using bionic implants. In one respect, this would have been turned out to be AccidentallyCorrectWriting as Norman Lloyd is still alive in 2019 at 104.