13 Popular Characters Who Went into the Pilot a Little Undercooked
![13 Popular Characters Who Went into the Pilot a Little Undercooked](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/6/8/892268_320x180.jpg)
Nice! These shows didn’t pull a Danny Tanner and replace these actors after the pilot. The characters had something to work with, but they just needed some serious tweaks. After all, great shows with serious longevity are all about the characters. If we love them, we’ll come back week after week to delve deeper into their lives. So, whether it was directly after the pilot, or within the first few episodes, these now-beloved characters got a serious course-correction.
Luckily for the actors, their characters didn’t need to die, and they kept their jobs for years to come. They lived to act another day, and (in some cases) they got to work with the writers and producers to help round out their characters. It was a tad harder to see drastic changes when we had to wait an entire week for the next episode. Now, when we want to give an entire series another once over, seeing the pilot and the second episode back-to-back can sometimes be pretty jarring. Honestly, sometimes the entire first season feels like a world of its own. Today, we’ll just focus on the characters. Specifically, these 13 popular characters who went into the pilot a little undercooked. Thankfully, they got a few more minutes in the oven.
Anybody remember Conrad Kessler?
![CRACKED SEINFELD COSMO KRAMER Originally named Kessler, he had some of the mannerisms, but didn't have the hair, the entrance, or feel light and bubbly. Не also had a dog, and writer Larry Charles said that, originally, his first name was Conrad.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/6/3/891763.jpg)
Spock lost the smile and the limp.
![CRACKED STAR TREK SPOCK In the original pilot, Spock smiles, giggles, shows emotional depth, and has a youthful energy. Не also looked quite different, and walked with a limp (at Gene Roddenberry's request).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/6/1/891761.jpg)
Sheldon Cooper: The “ass man.”
![CRACKED THE BIG BANG THEORY SHELDON COOPER In the pilot, the soon-to-be socially inept, borderline asexual being is making a deposit at a sperm bank, and is later described by his friend as an ass man.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/9/891759.jpg)
Flanders was indeed Flanderized.
![CRACKED THE SIMPSONS NED FLANDERS Not all that devout, and kind of a jerk in pilot, he quickly became religion obsessed, and a kind-at-all-costs pushover. Не was deliberately changed to satirize the growing influence of Christianity in politics.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/7/891757.jpg)
The remake quickly realized how different American and UK audiences were.
![CRACKED THE OFFICE MICHAEL SCOTT Beginning as a replica of David Brent, he was a darker, less likable nuisance. Carell and the writers made him kinder and more innocent, so his offensive, cringeworthy behavior was much more forgiving. And that hairline got a solid revamp.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/5/891755.jpg)
Family Guy recognized that Stewie needed more than one note.
![CRACKED FAMILY GUY STEWIE GRIFFIN Не was a super-genius hell-bent on world domination that became a tame, flamboyant Niles Crane-type to help him relate to other characters. Proving the contrast, Season 10's Road to the Pilot has modern-day Stewie meet his pilot-self.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/8/891758.jpg)
Where did the accent go?
![CRACKED LAVERNE&SHIRLEY SHIRLEY FEENEY In the first 2 episodes, Shirley has a thick Brooklyn accent (and sassy attitude). Wanting to appeal to the midwest, the show had her drop the accent and act more proper.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/6/891756.jpg)
Thankfully, they liked Chris Pratt enough to develop Andy.
![CRACKED PARKS & REC NDIAN ANDY DWYER In the pilot (and most of Season 1), Andy was a lazy, kind of unlikable slob. Because they loved Chris Pratt, Andy got the shoe-shine job in city hall, and became the funnier, more lovable fan favorite.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/3/891753.jpg)
Rachel Bilson was nothing like her superficial character.
![CRACKED THE OC SUMMER ROBERTS In another case of We like the actor, so let's develop them, she was only meant to be Marissa's ew-spouting, boy-crazy Valley Girl friend. She became a level-headed animal rights activist who married the geeky boy.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/6/2/891762.jpg)
Happy Days didn’t need Fonzie-light.
![CRACKED HAPPY DAYS RALPH MALPH Не originally dated cheerleaders and dressed more hip. In only the 4th episode of Season 1, he lost his slight Fonzie-esque traits and became the nerd he'd be for the next 250 episodes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/2/891752.jpg)
Daphne had two disheveled episodes.
![CRACKED FRASIER DAPHNE MOON In the first 2 episodes, her hair was messy, she wore bright clothes and shared her even more oddball views. In episode 3 they toned that all way down, including her more sassy attitude.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/5/4/891754.jpg)
Kelly Kapoor actually became a character.
![CRACKED THE OFFICE KELLY KAPOOR The emotionally charged, celebrity-obsessed drama queen who annoyed Jim with her ramblings was initially portrayed as a buttoned-up, borderline extra (which made slapping Michael in Diversity Day all the more shocking).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/6/0/891760.jpg)