Top 10 TV Recastings That Saved a Show

#10: John Posey, “Full House” (1987-95)Replaced by Bob Saget

Bob Saget might’ve seemed like an unusual choice to play Danny Tanner. Saget was a risqué standup, but as the clean-cut Danny, he’d have to keep things G-rated. Nevertheless, he played the role with comedic sincerity for eight seasons, followed by a sequel series. Despite being the top casting pick, Saget couldn’t shoot the original pilot as he was busy working on CBS’s “The Morning Program.” Thus, the producers turned to John Posey, who filmed a pilot that went unaired. With “The Morning Program” ending that same year, Saget’s schedule cleared up. There wasn’t anything wrong with Posey’s performance. He even got along well with his young co-stars. Yet, he lacked the huggable “America’s dad” energy that Saget ultimately brought to the iconic character.

#9: Lisa Kudrow, “Frasier” (1993-2004)Replaced by Peri Gilpin

One of Lisa Kudrow’s earlier gigs was a guest spot on “Cheers.” She landed a more substantial role on that sitcom’s spinoff, “Frasier.” Kudrow was cast as Roz Doyle, the producer of Frasier’s radio show. This big break gave Kudrow the confidence to quit her job at her father’s office. When rehearsals started, though, it was clear that Kudrow wasn’t right for Roz. Although the producers liked her quirky humor, they realized that Roz needed to be more “forceful.” This didn’t fit Kudrow, who wasn’t surprised when she was let go over the phone. The role went to Peri Gilpin, which freed up Kudrow to play Phoebe Buffay in “Friends” shortly after. In that sense, this recasting saved not one, but two shows.

#8: Jordan Reid, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2005-)

Replaced by Kaitlin Olson

Rob “Mac” McElhenney was an out-of-work actor when he shot the proof of concept for what would become “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The cast included his friends Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, but Sweet Dee was played by McElhenney’s then-girlfriend, Jordan Reid. It was around the time FX expressed interest that McElhenney and Reid’s relationship fell apart. According to Reid, McElhenney said, “If I did not stay in the relationship, I would be off the show.” Despite this alleged ultimatum, they broke up, the show got picked up, and Reid was replaced with Kaitlin Olson, who later married McElhenney in real life. Whatever your thoughts on the behind-the-scenes drama, Olson breathed new life into Dee, making her less sweet and more of a sociopath.

#7: Riff Regan, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

Replaced by Alyson Hannigan

Over several seasons, Alyson Hannigan matured Willow Rosenberg from Buffy’s adorkable best friend to a confident Wiccan to be reckoned with. Willow changed in more ways than one, as Riff Regan played her in the original, roughly half-hour pilot. Most of the “Buffy” mainstays like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicholas Brendon were there, but Regan’s presence makes this feel like a parallel universe. While Regan conveyed Willow’s awkward insecurity, the character’s optimism and comedic side didn’t quite shine through. The network requested a change, with Melanie Lynskey being considered at one point. When Hannigan read for the part, she tried to make Willow endearing rather than someone you feel sorry for. As Hannigan cast a spell on the producers, they cast her.

#6: Amanda Walsh, “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)

Replaced by Kaley Cuoco

As Penny, Kaley Cuoco played the quintessential girl next door who can be firm with her nerdy neighbors, but also understanding and upbeat. Penny wasn’t like this in the original pilot. In fact, there was no Penny. The female lead was named Katie, played by Amanda Walsh. Katie has a rough exterior, eventually showing her softer side. For test audiences, Katie still came off as too mean, making it hard to believe she’d ever be friends with Leonard and a more sexual Sheldon. CBS felt the premise showed promise, but Katie had to go along with Walsh. Tara Reid, Elizabeth Berkley, and even Marisa Tomei had auditioned. Cuoco was seen as too young to play Katie, but with the character becoming Penny, she was perfect.

#5: Harold Gould, “Happy Days” (1974-84)Replaced by Tom Bosley

The network initially passed on the pilot “New Family in Town,” which later became “Happy Days.” The most notable difference between the original pilot and subsequent series is that Harold Gould played Howard Cunningham rather than Tom Bosley. One face you’ll surely recognize is Ron Howard as Richie. While Howard had been a successful child star, it was unclear if he’d cut it as an adult actor until “American Graffiti” became a hit. With “Grease” increasing the demand for '50s nostalgia, ABC revisited the pilot, which did air as part of the “Love, American Style” anthology. When “Happy Days” moved forward, Gould was committed to doing a play. He didn’t want to lose his beard either, paving the way for a clean-shaven Bosley.

#4: Tamzin Merchant, “Game of Thrones” (2011-19)Replaced by Emilia Clarke

“Game of Thrones” had a few alternative casting choices. Jennifer Ehle played Catelyn Stark in the original pilot before being replaced with Michelle Fairley. While Cat doesn’t make it past the Red Wedding, Daenerys Targaryen plays an integral role for eight seasons. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Emilia Clarke as the Mother of Dragons, but Tamzin Merchant of “The Tudors” was the first choice. That initial pilot had numerous issues, Merchant being one of them. While executive producer Bryan Cogman felt “Tamzin did a really good job,” fellow executive Michael Lombardo said, “Her scenes with Jason [Momoa] just didn’t work.” Elizabeth Olsen was also considered, but Clarke emerged victorious. Tamzin wasn’t too disappointed, as she wasn’t very comfortable in Daenerys’s exposed skin anyway.

#3: Fred Dryer, “Cheers” (1982-93)

Replaced by Ted Danson

Sam Malone was a ballplayer before tending bar. So, we get why the “Cheers” creators considered casting a real-life athlete. They drafted football star Fred Dryer, who played for the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. Dryer had much in common with Sam, who was initially written as a retired football player before switching to baseball. Yet, he was relatively new to acting, which was apparent in his scenes with Shelley Long. It was decided that they needed somebody who came from an acting background and possessed a younger look. William Devane and Danson were also tested, with the latter securing the role. The producers didn’t forget about Dryer, though, giving him a recurring role as Sam’s former teammate turned sportscaster Dave Richards.

#2: Jeffrey Hunter, “Star Trek” (1966-69)

Replaced by William Shatner

If you ask fans what the first episode of “Star Trek” was, you’d get multiple answers. Some might say “The Man Trap,” as it was the first to air. If we’re going back to the very beginning, they’d say the original pilot, “The Cage,” which was later reedited into the two-parter “The Menagerie.” While Leonard Nimoy’s Spock is present, there’s no Captain James T. Kirk. Christopher Pike helms the USS Enterprise with Jeffrey Hunter in the role. When another pilot moved ahead, Hunter wasn’t interested in returning, wanting to focus on movies. William Shatner won the new lead role over Lloyd Bridges and Jack Lord. Christopher Pike remained part of the “Star Trek” universe, being reworked as Kirk’s predecessor. Yet, Hunter never played him again.

#1: Carl Reiner, “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66)Replaced by Dick Van Dyke

We know what you’re thinking. How could Dick Van Dyke not have been the original star of this classic sitcom? His name is the title! Well, that wasn’t the first title. Initially, it was called “Head of the Family.” Rob - or “Robbie” - Petrie was to be played by the show’s creator, Carl Reiner. Being based on his own life as a comedy writer, the role was literally tailor-made for Reiner. The pilot didn’t go over well, although producer Sheldon Leonard liked Reiner’s script. The key was getting a new lead. Several other roles were recast, with Mary Tyler Moore replacing Barbara Britton as Laura Petrie. However, it’s safe to say that “The Dick Van Dyke Show” wouldn’t have been the same without Dick Van Dyke.

Can you think of any other TV roles that were recast for the better? Let us know in the comments.