TV Pilots That Didn't Make The Cut

 It's upfront week, which in the world of Hollywood is when networks and streamers announce new show lineups. They also announce what shows are not returning This is to entice sponsors to buy ad time and start building promotion for the coming shows. While it's still a pomp and circumstance week, it's nowhere near the spectacle it once was.

All the debuting shows that make it, were given the go ahead based on their respective pilots. A pilot is simply a prototype episode of a series, to gauge the potential of it attracting an audience and being a success. So I started thinking about all of the pilots filmed, and came up with ten you may not know existed. Or know it existed but didnt know the story behind it

10. Powerpuff Girls

This live action adaption of the Cartoon network classic, was set for a fall 2021 debut on the CW network. Chloe Bennett, Yana Perrault, Dove Cameron rounded out the trio. While Donald Faison and Robyn Lively also were members of the cast. 

The pilot received negative reviews, and after several attempts to rework it. The show was officially considered DOA in 2023. Clips of it have found their way to YouTube.

9. Sisqo/Bob Newhart Pilot

                                                      

Back in 2021, Sisqo was still kind of on top of the world. Still riding strong from his solo debut album Unleash The Dragon and it's hit song Thong Song. Around this time, if a network thought they could make some money off your star appeal they would try. So, a pilot was developed with Sisqo at NBC with Bob Newhart co-starring.

The two would star as an odd couple business partners. The show wasnt picked up, and internet lore says the pilot was honestly horrible. Which probably tracks since there is no trace of footage online anywhere.

8. Marvel's Most Wanted

A spin-off of Agents Of Shield, this 2015 pilot featured Adrianna Palicki and Nick Blood reprising their characters from the series. It would focus on two separated from the spy agency, and on the run from various parties. Presumably to clear their names from something, but details about the series other than they would be on the run are scant.

7. Wonder Woman 

Another Adrianna Palicki failed superhero pilot, 2011's Wonder Woman. Filmed for NBC, this pilot was supposed to bring Wonder Woman into the 21st century. Written by David E. Kelly who created and wrote beloved dramas like Doogie Howser, Picket Fences, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, The Practice and Chicago Hope to name a few. With Pedro Pascal who later starred in the 2020 Wonder Woman '84 movie, Cary Elwes, Elizabeth Hurley, Tracie Thoms, and Edward Herrman rounded out the cast.

Switching up Wonder Woman's origin story a bit, the pilot followed the typical superhero trope of being a public figure running a corporation and a superhero. Far cry from what Wonder Woman is, and apparently it did not go over well. Clips of the pilot can be found on YouTube, and you can quickly see why it was cancelled.

6. Problem Child

An adaptation of the 1990 film which spawned 2 sequels and a cartoon, this planned 2015 pilot was set to bring the story to the 2010's. 

Matthew Lillard and Erinn Hayes were attached to star in the pilot. Playing the roles made famous by John Ritter and his wife Amy Yasbeck. The series was intended to be a single camera comedy (filmed like other comedies such as Modern Family, Bernie Mac Show etc.) The plot would of course feature the couple trying to prevent their mischievous son from getting into trouble. This actually could have worked and it's a shame it was not picked up.

5. Cruel Intentions 

Before Prime Video bought Cruel Intentions to the screen as a TV series last year. NBC filmed a pilot back in 2016 that was an continuation of the original film. Set 17 years after the film, Sarah Michelle Gellar reprised her role as Kathryn Mertueil. She would have the villain in the series trying to wrest control of the family company, from her step-nephew Sebastian and Annette's son Bash. Bash find's his father's old journal which introduces him into a strange world as he learns more about his father he never knew.

This was the second attempt at a series for Cruel Intentions, Fox tried in 2000. Just like that one, this series was not picked up. The actually had a good foundation to be an engaging series continuing the legacy of the original film.

4. Bow Wow Pilot

Many may see him as a clown, but at one time Bow Wow was one of the biggest stars walking the planet.  He had conquered the music demographic of teenage girls and stepped into the movie world already. So it only seemed right that in 2005 he tried to follow in the foot steps of Will Smith and Eve, and star in his own comedy series. He filmed a pilot for the WB network simply titled Bow, with Hollywood veterans like Kim Fields and Joey Lawrence joining the cast. The series followed Bow Wow as he was transitioning from a child star to an adult, which mirrored his life at the time.

The pilot is available on YouTube and actually had potential. With a lot of viewers leaving comments that they would have watched the show had it aired.

3. Supernatural: Bloodlines

The CW's long running and successful show Supernatural was planned to start a franchise. In 2014 the network conducted a "backdoor pilot" which is an episode of the original series, meant to introduce the characters for a new series. That episode occurred in season 9, episode 20 featured two characters Ennis Ross and Freddie Costa who are in the world of hunters and monsters in Chicago. It wasn't well received when it aired, likely because the Dean brothers weren't the focus of the series. Thus CW decided against making it a TV series and passed on the pilot.

2. Beverly Hills Cop TV series

In 2013 CBS network decided to revive The Beverly Hills Cop franchise. Brandon T. Jackson was tapped to lead the show as the son of Axel Foley. Unable to make a name for himself in the Detroit Police department, he decides to move to Beverly Hills where he still lives in his dad's shadow. The pilot featured Judge Rheinhold returning to the franchise, and Eddie Murphy himself passing the torch. Fortunately I think everyone realized a network TV show was not the right platform for this series, and without Eddie Murphy regularly appearing no one would likely tune in. 

The pilot is available on YouTube, while it had potential it was wisely passed over.

1. Aquaman

In the mid-2000's before the MCU kicked off and the Arrowverse ruled the CW network, the WB network aired Smallville. The origin story of Superman which was highly successful, the network decided to try the formula again and in 2006 produced Aquaman for a pilot. Starring Justin Hartley who later played Green Arrow in Smallville and became famous for This Is Us as Arthur Curry/Aquaman. Ving Rhames and Lou Diamond Phillips provided the veteran steady hands for the pilot. It took the Smallville formula, updating the source material and applying the "good looking" lead to bring in female fans. 

The pilot was not picked up but was offered through itunes to purchase, which was a huge deal back in 2006. The pilot shows that the series actually had potential and you could tell money was put into it to really sell the show. The pilot was on YouTube for years but seems to be taken down, however the trailer which got you looking forward to the series is still available.