tv
feb 20
2012

Maybe Panther Town

In a recent episode of the WTF podcast, Bill Lawrence (the creator of Scrubs, Cougar Town, and Spin City) talks about how he hates the name of his show Cougar Town so much that he considered changing it this season. One of the main reasons he didn't is that DVRs aren't equipped to understand a name change, so the show would essentially lose any audience that had a season pass in TiVo.

Anyway, it got me thinking: Has there ever been a successful show that changed its name?

10 comments

Valerie to the Hogan Family.

posted by Ethan at 12:44 PM on February 20, 2012

Oh yeah, I knew there was a big example like that.

Any others?

posted by Rex at 12:47 PM on February 20, 2012

"House" still can't decide if it's "House" or "House, M.D." (In France, I think it's "Dr. House")

posted by Lawrence at 12:49 PM on February 20, 2012

I think the Ryan Reynolds career-starter "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Shop" became "Two Guys and a Girl" before getting cancelled.

posted by Tarek at 12:51 PM on February 20, 2012

Talk Soup became The Soup, although if you look up the history of the show, it's allegedly a totally different show.

posted by Mike D. at 12:54 PM on February 20, 2012

Saved By The Bell started out as Good Morning, Miss Bliss

posted by Chris M at 12:56 PM on February 20, 2012

I just remembered that All in the Family morphed into Archie Bunker's Place. And I Love Lucy became The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

posted by Rex at 1:04 PM on February 20, 2012

These Friends of Mine -> Ellen

posted by lindseykai at 1:05 PM on February 20, 2012

The John Ritter show 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter became just 8 Simple Rules. And then John Ritter died and Kaley Cuoco went on to The Big Bang Theory.

posted by Chris at 3:11 PM on February 20, 2012

A British example: Yes, Minister became Yes, Prime Minister.

posted by Robert at 4:13 AM on February 22, 2012




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