Cancelled TV Shows that had ideas or changes if show continued

[roadman65]

Many shows on TV were cancelled for various reasons over time but some if continued plans of revamps or changes would have taken place.

The Brady Bunch cancelled due to low ratings in 1974, if picked up for season 6, would have had a Mike Brady recast as Robert Reed had serious conflict with show's production staff in the end. In fact Reed was not in the shows final episode of the series because of the tension of those conflicts.

Quantum Leap if continued would have had Dean Stockwell promoted to co lead with Scott Bakula as the character of Al Calavicci would have been another leaper with Sam.

Welcome Back Kotter was cancelled as actors portraying high school kids were reaching their 30s in real life, but producer Jimmy Komack was planning a continuation spin off series continuing  the life of Arnold Horseshack hence why Arnold was married in the penultimate episode and the finale was Arnold and Mary working in a mailroom with minimum showing of other cast members.

Any others you personally heard of?

[vdeane]

I remember reading interviews with producers saying that Jeffery Combs (Shran) would have become main cast on Star Trek: Enterprise had season 5 happened.

[Stephane Dumas]

There was also some plans for a 4rd season of Gilligan's Island had the series not been cancelled in favor of Gunsmoke.
http://www.gilligansisle.com/4th.html

[CapeCodder]

Radar from M*A*S*H* was supposed to have his own spinoff called W*A*L*T*E*R* in which he was a St. Louis cop. The pilot was partially shown, but was preempted for one of the political conventions.

[Takumi]

In an example of the opposite, had How I Met Your Mother been cancelled in the first two season, the character of Victoria would have been the mother.

[zzcarp]

Veronica Mars, had it been picked up for its fourth season right away, would have jumped ahead four years with Veronica joining the FBI. A ten-minute teaser of this proposal was included in the DVD sets of Season 3. Instead, it was cancelled.

When both the Kickstarter movie and subsequent season 4 released the following decade, the FBI plot was entirely abandoned.

[kevinb1994]

Veronica Mars, had it been picked up for its fourth season right away, would have jumped ahead four years with Veronica joining the FBI. A ten-minute teaser of this proposal was included in the DVD sets of Season 3. Instead, it was cancelled.

When both the Kickstarter movie and subsequent season 4 released the following decade, the FBI plot was entirely abandoned.

Gee, talk about a missed opportunity right there!

[Henry]

In what turned out to be the Mike & Molly series finale, Carl and Victoria had gotten back together after a messy breakup earlier in the season. Who knows whether they would've made it this time around in Season 7?

[Route66Fan]

Family Matters was supposed to have a 10th season where Steve Urkel & Laura Winslow would have gotten married.

[vdeane]

I think the creator of the Big Bang Theory said that Raj was supposed to finally find love and get married had the show continued for a couple more seasons.

[Big John]

The Brady Bunch cancelled due to low ratings in 1974, if picked up for season 6, would have had a Mike Brady recast as Robert Reed had serious conflict with show's production staff in the end. In fact Reed was not in the shows final episode of the series because of the tension of those conflicts.

I also thought tat the children were making more demands to make their music talents more prominent.

[renegade]

"Musical talents."   LOL!

[Henry]

Family Matters was supposed to have a 10th season where Steve Urkel & Laura Winslow would have gotten married.

They did get married, at the end of the 9th season.

I think the creator of the Big Bang Theory said that Raj was supposed to finally find love and get married had the show continued for a couple more seasons.

Well, he was going to get married before Anu changed her mind, and that was all she wrote.

[nexus73]

The original "Star Trek" had an episode titled "Assignment: Earth", which was supposed to be a spinoff show with "Star Trek" providing the introduction.  After just 3 seasons. NBC cancelled "Star Trek" and never did go any further in developing "Assignment: Earth".

Rick

[TheHighwayMan3561]

The original "Star Trek" had an episode titled "Assignment: Earth", which was supposed to be a spinoff show with "Star Trek" providing the introduction.  After just 3 seasons. NBC cancelled "Star Trek" and never did go any further in developing "Assignment: Earth".

Rick

Robert Lansing was the only TOS guest actor to receive on-screen billing following the title cards rather than in the end credits for that reason. For some reason it was never one of my favorite episodes of the show anyway.

[Route66Fan]

Family Matters was supposed to have a 10th season where Steve Urkel & Laura Winslow would have gotten married.

They did get married, at the end of the 9th season.

Actually, they just got engaged. The 10th season was supposed to start with them getting married. The last episode was actually a two-parter where Steve Urkel was invited by NASA to go into outer space to test out a anti-gravity device that he invented.

[roadman65]

Benson too was supposed to become governor if it went further. Gene Gatling was to become a Senator or another political title.

[Laura]

The Office had an episode in its 9th and final season called "The Farm"  that was supposed to be a back door pilot for a Dwight Schrute spinoff that NBC didn't pick up.

[cwf1701]

Had Star Trek: Enterprise been picked up for season 5, we would have gotten closer to the Romulan War (first described in "Balance of Terror"), and had another return to the Mirror Universe, as well as the return of the Kzinti, first seen in the TAS.

[SP Cook]

If you remember the military-lawyer drama JAG, the actors were all at the end of their contracts and the last season brought in three younger characters and set many shows in San Diego, with the idea of continuing the show with these new (and lower paid) actors, they had already replaced the JAG himself for season 10.  With some of the minor characters carrying over and the main characters showing up as guest stars.  Unfortunately CBS passed on the concept.

The NCIS set of shows takes place in the same fictional universe as JAG, and last year had the two protagonists show up there, still in their same roles and ranks from 2005, when the show ended.   Both would have long since been out of the military in real life.

[roadman65]

Laverne and Shirley bombed after Cindy Williams was fired from the show. Also Betty Garret and Michael McKean both departing, though the latter appeared in a few episodes, didn't help either to keep ratings up either.

However, Garry Marshall did make the last episode out to become a back door pilot for supporting star Eddie Mekka to have a continuing spin off of his Carmine Character living his dream as an entertainer on Broadway.

None of the networks liked the concept and the show ended like it did.