From "GCB" to "S#*! My Dad Says" network shows have been undergoing multiple name changes, pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable to say on TV.
Show names changes used to happen quite often in the past—if a show didn't do well, it was common practice for networks to reboot the show with another title in hopes of a longer shelf life.
Whether it be profanity in the title, plot changes or too long of a name, popular series didn't always start out the way we have all grown to love them.
From "Saturday Night Live" to "Seinfeld," check out some of the shows that have undergone name changes over the years.
"Seinfeld" — "The Seinfeld Chronicles"
The pilot episode of Seinfeld that aired in July of 1989 wasn't actually Seinfeld. Although, it looked like Seinfeld, and felt like Seinfeld (including the current characters), it was a pilot called "The Seinfeld Chronicles."
A pilot that almost didn't make it.
NBC originally passed on the quirky sitcom after focus groups found the pilot "weak," as EW reported. However, senior VP of specials prime time and late night, Rick Ludwin, felt so positively about the show that he decided to budget four more episodes himself. So, thank Ludwin for Seinfeld. (Makes you wonder how many other potential shows we've missed out on.)
Interestingly enough, the first episode of Seinfeld is often credited as premiering May 31, 1980, not 1989, in books and IMDB. TV Guide acknowledges the show's presence in 1989.
Also, the show shortened its title to "Seinfeld" due to similarly titled "The Marshall Chronicles," which only lasted one season.
Note: On the pilot, Kramer was originally Kessler (addressed in Season 9, "The Betrayal"). The episode also had a different theme song.
Watch parts of the pilot here and here.
(via Entertainment Weekly / "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows")
"GCB" — "Good Christian Belles" — "Good Christian Bitches"
This ABC show that premiered last week has already gone through three name changes.
The TV series is based on the novel, "Good Christian Bitches" by Kim Gatlin but the current "GCB" sounds like the show is trying way to hard to reach the younger text-savvy "LOL" generation.
"Saturday Night Live" — "NBC's Saturday Night"
NBC's popular comedy sketch show wasn't always titled "SNL."
Before there was "Saturday Night Live" there was "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell," which premiered September 20, 1975. Because of the similarities that would have been caused, NBC went with a slight variation in their title until Howard Cossell's show was canceled in January 1976.
So, from October 11 1975 to July 1976 the show was known as "NBC's Saturday Night." From September 1976 to March 19 of the following year, the show dropped the network name so it was just "Saturday Night."
After 41 episodes of the show, on March 26, 1977, the late-night variety finally made one final name change to its current incarnation.
(via TV.com/TV Guide/"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows")
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