Ubiquitous
2017-02-23 13:59:06 UTC
You only get one chance to make a first impression and a
surprising number of TV shows managed to blow that chance with a
pilot episode that just didnt deliver. Still, while many shows
deliver first episodes that dont necessarily entice us to keep
watching, there are plenty of great shows that had terrible
beginnings.
Believe it or not, some of your favorite series got off to rough
starts. Whether its that they failed to set the tone for what the
series would become, or the quality just wasnt there, or watered
down, sometimes things simply dont add up. Luckily, they managed to
make the most of it by correcting course and becoming modern
classics.
Looking back on far too many shows, Screeners come up with our 10
favorite TV shows that had bad pilots. We truly love each and every
one of these but it cant be denied, their introductions to the
world just dont work.
The Office
The US version of The Office went on to become one of TVs most
beloved comedies and introduced the world to the likes of Michael
Scott (Steve Carell), Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Pam Beasly
(Jenna Fischer) and Jim Halpert (John Krasinski). But if you revisit
the first episode, its tonally a very different show. Its Michael
is actually rather mean, and the charisma of the rest of the cast
just isnt as good as it would become without the accents and
trimmings of its UK predecessor, co-created by Ricky Gervais, it all
just feels rather hopeless.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an iconic genre show that launched a
number of careers, but the pilots still a little tough to watch.
Creator Joss Whedon clearly hadnt figured out the Angel (David
Boreanaz) character yet, and everything else from the stylized
language to the look of the show itself still come off too over-
the-top. (Its not the last time things would get weird with Angel,
though.)
30 Rock
Before 30 Rock became the zany comedy juggernaut it was, it had a
very uneven pilot that barely made sense within the confines of the
show. The chemistry between the characters isnt there, the jokes
bounce from mean to too-random, and overall its just not that
funny. Of course, once they figured out the formula, it was game on.
Arrow
The word schmaltzy comes to mind when you think of the Arrow
pilot. The cast is clearly loaded with good actors, of varying
degrees of experience but so much of the dialogue hits with the
emotional impact of a soap opera parody. Once Oliver suited up as
the Hood, and began killing no end of people, it brought the stark
realization this wasnt going to be another Smallville, and fans
took a while to catch up. In the end, of course, were grateful: The
show Arrow would grow to become has launched a whole universe.
Parks and Recreation
The problem with the pilot (and first season) of Parks and
Recreation is how hard its trying to be The Office. You cant
blame them for waning to copy a wildly successful show but the
beauty of Parks as we remember it now is how different the cast,
and characters, are from anything else on TV. Even Leslie Knopes
(Amy Poehler) natural, inspiring charm is largely absent but we
are so happy it was installed for Season 2.
Angel
Another pilot ruined by Buffys Angel, who as the lead of this
spinoff was essentially rebuilt from the ground up as the lead
complete with Irish demon buddy Doyle (Glenn Quin) and fellow
Buffy transplant Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). Unfortunately, the
pilot cant seem to decide if Angel is Batman or just an everyday
guy who happens to kill vampires at night. The problem is, of
course, that he was neither. Luckily, the show eventually found the
right balance for Angel himself, and surrounded him with a stellar
cast of newbies and Buffy veterans.
The 100
The 100 pilots only true fault is that it was not very indicative
of where the show was heading. The first episode has a very
rebellious teens in space vibe that it pretty swiftly drops in
favor of life-or-death stakes, gruesome acid burns, and mass murder.
Going by the pilot alone, its comparable to watching an episode of
My Little Pony slowly devolve into Game of Thrones its not
that it isnt awesome, its just not exactly what you signed up for,
you know?
Seinfeld
The show about nothing had a pilot that was also about nothing but
not in a good way. While Seinfeld was known for its lightning-
quick humor, the pilot feels like its happening in slow motion. And
the characters as we meet them just dont hold a candle to the icons
theyd become.
surprising number of TV shows managed to blow that chance with a
pilot episode that just didnt deliver. Still, while many shows
deliver first episodes that dont necessarily entice us to keep
watching, there are plenty of great shows that had terrible
beginnings.
Believe it or not, some of your favorite series got off to rough
starts. Whether its that they failed to set the tone for what the
series would become, or the quality just wasnt there, or watered
down, sometimes things simply dont add up. Luckily, they managed to
make the most of it by correcting course and becoming modern
classics.
Looking back on far too many shows, Screeners come up with our 10
favorite TV shows that had bad pilots. We truly love each and every
one of these but it cant be denied, their introductions to the
world just dont work.
The Office
The US version of The Office went on to become one of TVs most
beloved comedies and introduced the world to the likes of Michael
Scott (Steve Carell), Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), Pam Beasly
(Jenna Fischer) and Jim Halpert (John Krasinski). But if you revisit
the first episode, its tonally a very different show. Its Michael
is actually rather mean, and the charisma of the rest of the cast
just isnt as good as it would become without the accents and
trimmings of its UK predecessor, co-created by Ricky Gervais, it all
just feels rather hopeless.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an iconic genre show that launched a
number of careers, but the pilots still a little tough to watch.
Creator Joss Whedon clearly hadnt figured out the Angel (David
Boreanaz) character yet, and everything else from the stylized
language to the look of the show itself still come off too over-
the-top. (Its not the last time things would get weird with Angel,
though.)
30 Rock
Before 30 Rock became the zany comedy juggernaut it was, it had a
very uneven pilot that barely made sense within the confines of the
show. The chemistry between the characters isnt there, the jokes
bounce from mean to too-random, and overall its just not that
funny. Of course, once they figured out the formula, it was game on.
Arrow
The word schmaltzy comes to mind when you think of the Arrow
pilot. The cast is clearly loaded with good actors, of varying
degrees of experience but so much of the dialogue hits with the
emotional impact of a soap opera parody. Once Oliver suited up as
the Hood, and began killing no end of people, it brought the stark
realization this wasnt going to be another Smallville, and fans
took a while to catch up. In the end, of course, were grateful: The
show Arrow would grow to become has launched a whole universe.
Parks and Recreation
The problem with the pilot (and first season) of Parks and
Recreation is how hard its trying to be The Office. You cant
blame them for waning to copy a wildly successful show but the
beauty of Parks as we remember it now is how different the cast,
and characters, are from anything else on TV. Even Leslie Knopes
(Amy Poehler) natural, inspiring charm is largely absent but we
are so happy it was installed for Season 2.
Angel
Another pilot ruined by Buffys Angel, who as the lead of this
spinoff was essentially rebuilt from the ground up as the lead
complete with Irish demon buddy Doyle (Glenn Quin) and fellow
Buffy transplant Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). Unfortunately, the
pilot cant seem to decide if Angel is Batman or just an everyday
guy who happens to kill vampires at night. The problem is, of
course, that he was neither. Luckily, the show eventually found the
right balance for Angel himself, and surrounded him with a stellar
cast of newbies and Buffy veterans.
The 100
The 100 pilots only true fault is that it was not very indicative
of where the show was heading. The first episode has a very
rebellious teens in space vibe that it pretty swiftly drops in
favor of life-or-death stakes, gruesome acid burns, and mass murder.
Going by the pilot alone, its comparable to watching an episode of
My Little Pony slowly devolve into Game of Thrones its not
that it isnt awesome, its just not exactly what you signed up for,
you know?
Seinfeld
The show about nothing had a pilot that was also about nothing but
not in a good way. While Seinfeld was known for its lightning-
quick humor, the pilot feels like its happening in slow motion. And
the characters as we meet them just dont hold a candle to the icons
theyd become.
--
The liberal media's agenda is to make Trump as hated and distrusted
as they are.
The liberal media's agenda is to make Trump as hated and distrusted
as they are.