Narrowly avoided casting mistakes

[71dude]

William Devane and Julia Duffy as Sam and Diane on Cheers
Doris Roberts as Vivian on Maude
Mandy Patinkin as Alex on Taxi (he probably would have quit after a year or two)
Carolyn Jones as Helen Roper on Three's Company
Matthew Broderick as Alex on Family Ties
Harold Gould as Howard on Happy Days

 

[Bob1370]

"According to the 1981 book "Up The Tube", about Fred Silverman and 1970s television, Jackie Gleason was also offered the role, but turned it down."

As mentioned elsewhere, Gleason was an excellent actor, as he would prove in films like The Hustler, Gigot and his final film (with Tom Hanks), Nothing In Common. He'd have handled the role of Archie Bunker well, and probably drawn on his own blue collar New York background to make it work. He might have done it, too, if he wasn't winding down from a long 8 year run with his weekly comedy-variety hour, having just turned down CBS' offer of a ninth season renewal for 1970-71.

But there's no denying he'd have put his own spin on the role---probably different from the indelible impression Carroll O'Connor made as Archie Bunker over more than a decade.

 

[LKellerIII]

"According to the 1981 book "Up The Tube", about Fred Silverman and 1970s television, Jackie Gleason was also offered the role, but turned it down."

As mentioned elsewhere, Gleason was an excellent actor, as he would prove in films like The Hustler, Gigot and his final film (with Tom Hanks), Nothing In Common. He'd have handled the role of Archie Bunker well, and probably drawn on his own blue collar New York background to make it work. He might have done it, too, if he wasn't winding down from a long 8 year run with his weekly comedy-variety hour, having just turned down CBS' offer of a ninth season renewal for 1970-71.

But there's no denying he'd have put his own spin on the role---probably different from the indelible impression Carroll O'Connor made as Archie Bunker over more than a decade.

"You wanna go to da moon, Edith? One a dese days, Edith...POW! Right in da kisser!"

 

[KyDXIn]

And how can we forget that John Wayne was offered the role of
Matt Dillon when "Gunsmoke" moved from radio to television? The Duke
didn't want to be tied down to a weekly series so he suggested a protege
named James Arness. And as I'm sure most of you know, Wayne introduced
the first episode on September 10, 1955.

Can you believe William Conrad, the voice of Matt Dillion on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" was discussed at playing the role on TV. Here is a photo of the radio cast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gunsmokeradio.jpg

 

[bpatrick]

ALLY McBEAL was planned as a TV vehicle for Bridget Fonda.
Lyle Waggoner was one of the first choices for Batman.
Billy Gray was supposed to played "Tagg" on ANNIE OAKLEY (the part went to Jimmy Hawkins).
Jay North was first choice as "Packy" on FURY (Roger Mobley got the part).
Sharon Tate lost out as one of the PETTICOAT JUNCTION girls because she'd posed for a nude photo.
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was the odds-on favorite to play Perry Mason until Raymond Burr auditioned.
Both Van Heflin and Van Johnson were considered as Elliot Ness on THE UNTOUCHABLES before the producers even got to Robert Stack.
And here's an obscurity...GUESTWARD HO, a 1960 sitcom about a dude ranch starring Joanne Dru and Mark Miller (father of Penelope Ann Miller), was to have been Vivian Vance's first post-I LOVE LUCY starring series.

William Holden, Richard Egan, Fred MacMurray, and a little-known sci-fi actor named Jack Carlson were also considered for the role of Perry Mason; in fact, some advance publicity in 1956 named MacMurray as the choice to play Mason. But to show how identified with the role Raymond Burr became, does anyone remember Monte Markham as Mason in 1973? Didn't think so. "The New Perry Mason" debuted in September and was canceled in January. Later, Raymond Burr revived the role in a series of TV-movies to great success.

One other note about William Conrad as Matt Dillon: he was given an audition for the TV series, mainly as a courtesy, but the producers had no intention of using him.

And for trivia fans: Joanne Dru is the sister of Peter Marshall of "Hollywood Squares" fame; Mark Miller went on to co-star with Patricia Crowley in "Please Don't Eat The Daisies."

 

[jwk1979]

And how can we forget that John Wayne was offered the role of
Matt Dillon when "Gunsmoke" moved from radio to television? The Duke
didn't want to be tied down to a weekly series so he suggested a protege
named James Arness. And as I'm sure most of you know, Wayne introduced
the first episode on September 10, 1955.

Can you believe William Conrad, the voice of Matt Dillion on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" was discussed at playing the role on TV. Here is a photo of the radio cast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gunsmokeradio.jpg

Why are the cast members DRESSED in CHARACTER for a Radio show? Unless it was done in front of a LIVE AUDEINCE, no one can see if William Conrad was dressed in western wear during the show.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Why are the cast members DRESSED in CHARACTER for a Radio show? Unless it was done in front of a LIVE AUDEINCE, no one can see if William Conrad was dressed in western wear during the show.

Publicity photos for newspapers and magazines...

I always heard that Raymond Burr was Erle Stanley Gardner's personal choice to play Perry Mason on TV, but I wonder if John Larkin was ever considered? He played Perry on radio, and was the original Mike Karr on "The Edge Of Night".

 

[KyDXIn]

And how can we forget that John Wayne was offered the role of
Matt Dillon when "Gunsmoke" moved from radio to television? The Duke
didn't want to be tied down to a weekly series so he suggested a protege
named James Arness. And as I'm sure most of you know, Wayne introduced
the first episode on September 10, 1955.

Can you believe William Conrad, the voice of Matt Dillion on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" was discussed at playing the role on TV. Here is a photo of the radio cast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gunsmokeradio.jpg

Why are the cast members DRESSED in CHARACTER for a Radio show? Unless it was done in front of a LIVE AUDEINCE, no one can see if William Conrad was dressed in western wear during the show.

That picture was taken at Knott's Berry Farm when the radio cast was attempting to become the television cast. The rest is history. Actually the radio program continued for 3 or 4 years after the television show began.

 

[LKellerIII]

And how can we forget that John Wayne was offered the role of
Matt Dillon when "Gunsmoke" moved from radio to television? The Duke
didn't want to be tied down to a weekly series so he suggested a protege
named James Arness. And as I'm sure most of you know, Wayne introduced
the first episode on September 10, 1955.

Can you believe William Conrad, the voice of Matt Dillion on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" was discussed at playing the role on TV. Here is a photo of the radio cast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gunsmokeradio.jpg

If you'll notice, Howard McNear ("Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show) played Doc. Very cool.

 

[Tim L]

http://www.otrsite.com/gunsmoke.html

I linked to this earlier in the thread:A whole set of pictures done at Knott's Berry Farm in 1953..Just as the Gunsmoke TV series was in it's planning stages..The cast was trying to convince CBS executives to cast them in the TV version..Full explanation of the pictures in on the front page..

 

[Corky Marlowe]

If you'll notice, Howard McNear ("Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show) played Doc. Very cool.

And Parley Baer, who played the mayor of Mayberry, was Chester on radio.

 

[LKellerIII]

If you'll notice, Howard McNear ("Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show) played Doc. Very cool.

And Parley Baer, who played the mayor of Mayberry, was Chester on radio.

Good catch. I didn't Google Parley Baer, but was thinking he was Ozzie Nelson's neighbor. Of course, he was that too, in addition to playing hundreds of character roles over the years.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

If you'll notice, Howard McNear ("Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show) played Doc. Very cool.

While loafing around the marshal's office, ya think Doc ever told Matt that
"the dingo is indigenous to Australia"? ;D

 

[cowboybud]

Again, this is from movies, not TV; for Caddyshack, a young Mickey Rourke was originally cast as Danny Noonan, and the Rodney Dangerfield role was intended for Don Rickles.

 

[ixnay]

I remember reading in The Flintstones: A Modern Stone Age Phenomenon by T.R. Adams, where Daws Butler was orignally considered to voice Fred back in 1960 before Alan Reed was picked.

ixnay

 

[anotherguyTN]

In movies, Richard Pryor was considered for the part of Sheriff Bart on Blazing Saddles. (He was also one of the writers.) But he already had a reputation for being on drugs, so the part went to Cleavon Little.

 

[Stanislav]

I remember reading in The Flintstones: A Modern Stone Age Phenomenon by T.R. Adams, where Daws Butler was orignally considered to voice Fred back in 1960 before Alan Reed was picked.

Daws Butler voiced both Fred and Barney in the pilot (known then by the title "The Flagstones"), and June Foray voiced Betty. Jean Vander Pyl's Wilma was the only voice casting that survived the pilot into the regular series. Also, Butler took over Barney's voice in a few early episodes while Mel Blanc was recuperating from his near-fatal auto accident.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

In movies, Richard Pryor was considered for the part of Sheriff Bart on Blazing Saddles. (He was also one of the writers.) But he already had a reputation for being on drugs, so the part went to Cleavon Little.

And the original choice for The Waco Kid? Gig Young. Can't imagine anyone but Gene Wilder in that role.

 

[ixnay]

I remember reading in The Flintstones: A Modern Stone Age Phenomenon by T.R. Adams, where Daws Butler was orignally considered to voice Fred back in 1960 before Alan Reed was picked.

Daws Butler voiced both Fred and Barney in the pilot (known then by the title "The Flagstones"), and June Foray voiced Betty. Jean Vander Pyl's Wilma was the only voice casting that survived the pilot into the regular series. Also, Butler took over Barney's voice in a few early episodes while Mel Blanc was recuperating from his near-fatal auto accident.

The Flagstones became The Flintstones, after the owners of Mort Walker and Dik Browne's Hi and Lois (Flagston) threatened legal action. Just as Peanuts would have had the name of Charles Schulz's biweekly strip in a Twin Cities paper (Li'l Folks) except that the owner of a defunct strip called Little Folk surfaced at the last minute, lawyers in tow. Schulz's strip was renamed by the syndicate after the peanut gallery on Howdy Doody. Schulz never liked the name and apparently took that disgust to his grave.

ixnay

 

[mleach]

Schulz never liked the name and apparently took that disgust to his grave.

ixnay

Very true about Schulz hating the name "Peanuts". If one is to believe the stuff that pops up on the forums on the many theme/amusement park sites ( always take it with a grain a salt since some of those posters are under 13 years old ), when Schulz had got into the amusement park game with Cedar Fair, at first Cedar Fair wanted to call those Peanuts attractions including the indoor park at Mall of America..THE LAND OF PEANUTS !!! But Schulz didn't like that name so it became Camp Snoopy instead. Even though Peanuts/Camp Snoopy have since been replaced by Nickelodeon at Mall of Ameirca, Camp Snoopy has actually expanded in recent years since Cedar Fair has taken over the Paramount parks such as Ohio's Kings island and Virginia's Kings Dominion.