History Main / SecondEpisodeSubstitute

* The {{Pilot}} of ''Series/NewGirl'' had Coach as the third roommate to Nick and Schmidt. However his actor Damon Wayans Jr. was already committed to another TV show on a different network, ABC's ''Series/HappyEndings'', so the second episode of ''New Girl'' had him replaced with Winston.

This often happens because pilots are often produced well before the full series is picked up; episode two is prime time for characters to get dropped, recast, or replaced... sometimes even [[NonIndicativePilot big chunks of the premise and tone]] don't make it to the regular series.

The intersection of SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and SecondEpisodeIntroduction. This trope is when a character featured in the pilot episode (and clearly meant to be a main player in the series) [[DroppedAfterThePilot is missing from the second episode]], replaced by a similar character for the rest of the series' run. Note that this is not a case of TheOtherDarrin occurring between the first and second episodes, the substitute is explicitly a different character.

The intersection of SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute and SecondEpisodeIntroduction. This trope is when a character featured in the pilot episode (and clearly meant to be a main player in the series) is missing from the second episode, replaced by a similar character for the rest of the series' run. Note that this is not a case of TheOtherDarrin occurring between the first and second episodes, the substitute is explicitly a different character.

Contrast DecoyProtagonist.

!!Examples

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is a complicated case, as it had two pilot episodes ("The Menagerie" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before"), and though they both formed part of the series' first season, neither was the first episode aired.

** Communications Officer Alden in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is replaced by Uhura in the series.

** Dr. [=McCoy=] is an interesting example in that he is basically this trope in reverse: Gene Roddenberry always wanted DeForestKelley for the Doctor, all the way back to the first pilot, but was overruled by each pilot's director (Robert Butler favoured John Hoyt as Dr. Boyce, and James Goldstone preferred Paul Fix as Dr. Piper). Only when the show went to series could Roddenberry cast Kelley without interference. A straighter example of this trope is the Captain's Yeoman: Colt in "The Cage" (played by Laurel Goodwin) was replaced by Smith (played by Andrea Dromm) in "Where No Man Has Gone Before". Dromm declined to continue with the series to pursue a film career, and so was replaced by Grace Lee Whitney as Yeoman Rand for "The Corbomite Maneuver" (which also introduced Bones and Uhura).

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is a complicated case, as it had two pilot episodes, and though they both formed part of the series' first season, neither was the first episode aired. If "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the successful pilot, had aired as the first episode, the replacement of Dr. Mark Piper with the younger but otherwise very similar Dr. Leonard [=McCoy=] would be a straightforward example of this trope. (The wholesale replacement of the regular cast, except Spock, between the first, unsuccessful, pilot, and the second, successful, pilot is probably a different trope.)

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!!Examples:

* In the pilot''Series/{{Elementary}}'' Captain Gregson has a Hispanic partner named Detective Javier Abreu who was skeptical of Holmes' deductive skills and questioned the necessity for his consultation. From the second episode on, Captain Gregson has an African American partner named Detective Marcus Bell who is skeptical of Holmes' deductive skills and questions the necessity for his consultation.

* In the pilot''Series/{{Elementary}}'' Captain Gregson has a Hispanic partner named Detective Javier Abreu who was skeptical of Holmes' deductive skills and questioned the necessity for his consultation. From the second episode on, Captain Gregson has an African American partner named Detective Bell who is skeptical of Holmes' deductive skills and questions the necessity for his consultation.

* The Pilot of ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' has Detective Javier Abreu as [[InspectorLestrade Captain Gregson's]] assistant. The second episode replaces him with Marcus Bell

* The Pilot of ''Series/{{Elementary}}' has Detective Javier Abreu as [[InspectorLestrade Captain Gregson's]] assistant. The second episode replaces him with Marcus Bell

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is a complicated case, as it had two pilot episodes, and though they both formed part of the series' first season, neither was the first episode aired. If "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the successful pilot, had aired as the first episode, the replacement of Dr. Mark Piper with the younger but otherwise very similar Dr. Leonard [=McCoy=] would be a straightforward example of this trope. (The wholesale replacement of the regular cast[[hottip:*:except Spock]] between the first, unsuccessful, pilot, and the second, successful, pilot is probably a different trope.)

* The pilot of ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' has Jerry and George interact with Claire, the DeadpanSnarker waitress at Pete's Luncheonette, originally meant to be the female role of the series. In the second episode, "The Stake Out", Claire is gone, the diner is Monk's Cafe, and the female role is Jerry's ex-girlfriend, Elaine (though she appears at the end of "Male Unbonding", the second episode produced, to help Jerry come up with ideas to avoid a childhood friend). Creator/{{NBC}} felt the show was too "male-centric" and demanded that there be a female role ([[FridgeLogic although if Claire was meant to be the female role, one might wonder why she was dropped in the first place]]).

* Juliette O'Hara replaced Lassiter's original partner in the second episode of ''Series/{{Psych}}''.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' is a complicated case, as it had two pilot episodes, and though they both formed part of the series' first season, neither was the first episode aired. If "Where No Man Has Gone Before", the successful pilot, had aired as the first episode, the replacement of Dr. Mark Piper with the younger but otherwise very similar Dr. Leonard [=McCoy=] would be a straightforward example of this trope. (The wholesale replacement of the regular cast between the first, unsuccessful, pilot, and the second, successful, pilot is probably a different trope.)

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' changed the lead of the series between the first and second (recorded) episodes, even though the network didn't air them in production order.
** Other changes between the first pilot, "The Cage", and the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before":
*** Number One (Majel Barrett) was replaced by Commander Spock, who went on to star in the series as well.
*** Ship's doctor Dr. Phillip Boyce is replaced by Dr. Mark Piper. Piper is himself replaced by Dr. Leonard [=McCoy=] for the series.
* ''Series/BabylonFive's'' chief surgeon, Doctor Kyle, was replaced by Doctor Franklin. The Resident Telepath, Lyta Alexander, was replaced by Talia Winters (who was later written out and replaced with [[TheBusCameBack Lyta Alexander]])
** The ''Babylon 5'' pilot movie featured a first officer called Laurel Takashima. In the actual series she was replaced by First Officer Susan Ivanova.

* ''[[HogansHeroes Hogan's Heroes]]'' featured a Russian POW named Vladmir in its pilot episode, though when the series was picked up, actor Leonid Kinsky refused to renew his contract, as he disliked [[ThoseWackyNazis how lightly the Nazis were portrayed]]; so saying, Larry Hovis as Carter was promoted to full-time regular, after initially appearing as a one-shot guest character in the pilot.

* ''Series/StarTrek'' changed the lead of the series between the first and second (recorded) episodes, even though the network didn't air them in production order.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. Other changes between the first pilot, "The Cage", and the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before":

* ''Series/{{Babylon5}}'s'' chief surgeon, Doctor Kyle, was replaced by Doctor Franklin. The Resident Telepath, Lyta Alexander, was replaced by Talia Winters (who was later written out and replaced with [[TheBusCameBack Lyta Alexander]])

* In ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'' Kelsey, a female school chum character in the first episode is repalced by Clyde, a male school chum character in the second.
* In the original ''Series/CSI'' the AudienceSurrogate character, Holly Gribbs was quickly replaced with the eerily similar Sara Sidle because she was generally hated by test audiences... the creators had anticipated as much. As a result, they decided for Holly to die (rather than recover) in the second episode.
* ''NightCourt'' changed defense attorneys several times, but the first time was between the pilot and second episode where Gail Strickland as Sheila Garnder was replaced with Paula Kelly as Liz Williams.

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]
* ''BlackMoonChronicles'' has Wis' elf girlfriend KilledAndReplaced by the succubus Helleyna three books in. Granted, the succubus is a lot more useful, and they genuinely fall in love later, but there's a definite StuffedInTheFridge feel to it.

* * The pilot of ''{{Seinfeld}}'' has Jerry and George interact with Claire, the DeadpanSnarker waitress at Pete's Luncheonette, originally meant to be the female role of the series. In the second episode, "The Stake Out", Claire is gone, the diner is Monk's Cafe, and the female role is Jerry's ex girlfriend, Elaine (though she appears at the end of "Male Unbonding", the second episode produced, to help Jerry come up with ideas to avoid a childhood friend). NBC felt the show was too "male-centric" and demanded there be a female role ([[FridgeLogic although if Claire was meant to be the female role, one might wonder why she was dropped in the first place]]).
* The {{Pilot}} of ''Series/NewGirl'' had Coach as the third roommate to Nick and Schmidt. However his actor Damon Wayans Jr. was already committed to another TV show on a different Network, ABC's ''Series/HappyEndings'', so the second episode of ''New Girl'' had him replaced with Winston.

* ''[[HogansHeroes Hogan's Heroes]]'' featured a Russian POW named Vladmir in its pilot episode, though when the series was picked up, actor Leonid Kinsky refused to renew his contact, as he disliked [[ThoseWackyNazis how lightly the Nazis were portrayed]]; so saying, Larry Hovis as Carter was promoted to full time regular, after initially appearing as a one-shot guest character in the pilot.
* In the pilot of {{Eureka}}, the head of Global Dynamics was a character named Warren King. He was replaced by Nathan Stark (offscreen) starting in the second episode.

** ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. Other changes between the 1st pilot "The Cage" and the 2nd pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before":

** The ''Series/{{Babylon5}}'' pilot movie featured a First Officer called Laurel Takashima. In the actual series she was replaced by First Officer Susan Ivanova.

* The pilot of ''{{Seinfeld}}'' has Jerry and George interact with Claire, the DeadpanSnarker waitress at Pete's Luncheonette, originally meant to be the female role of the series. In the second episode, "The Stake Out", Claire is gone, the diner is Monk's Cafe, and the female role is Jerry's ex girlfriend, Elaine (though she appears at the end of "Male Unbonding", the second episode produced, to help Jerry come up with ideas to avoid a childhood friend). NBC felt the show was too "male-centric" and demanded there be a female role ([[FridgeLogic although if Claire was meant to be the female role, one might wonder why she was dropped in the first place]]).

* BlackMoonChronicles has Wis' elf girlfriend KilledAndReplaced by the succubus Helleyna three books in. Granted, the succubus is a lot more useful, and they genuinely fall in love later but there's a definite StuffedInTheFridge feel to it.

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Not to be confused with a character being {{The Other Darrin}}ed between the first & second episodes.

* ''Series/StarTrek'' changed the friggin' lead of the series between the first and second (recorded) episodes, even though the network didn't air them in production order.
* ''NightCourt'' changed defense attorneys several times, but the first time was between the pilot and second episode where Gail Strickland as Sheila Garnder was replaced with Paula Kelly as Liz Williams.

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[[AC: Live Action TV]]
* ''[[HogansHeroes Hogan's Heroes]]'' featured a Russian POW named Vladmir in its pilot episode, though when the series was picked up, actor Leonid Kinsky refused to renew his contact, as he disliked [[ThoseWackyNazis how lightly the Nazis were portrayed]]; so saying, Larry Hovis as Carter was promoted to full time regular, after initially appearing as a one-shot guest character in the pilot.

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In the pilot of {{Eureka}}, the head of Global Dynamics was a character named Warren King. He was replaced by Nathan Stark (offscreen) starting in the second episode.

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The ''BabylonFive'' pilot movie featured a First Officer called Laurel Takashima. In the actual series she was replaced by First Officer Susan Ivanova.

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^^^^ ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. Other changes between the 1st pilot "The Cage" and the 2nd pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before".
** Number One (Majel Barrett) was replaced by Commander Spock, who went on to star in the series as well.
** Ship's doctor Dr. Phillip Boyce is replaced by Dr. Mark Piper. Piper is himself replaced by Dr. Leonard [=McCoy=] for the series.

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Babylon 5 gave a similar treatment to two other characters. The chief surgeon, Doctor Kyle, was replaced by Doctor Franklin. The Resident Telepath, Lyta Alexander, was replaced by Talia Winters (who was later written out and replaced with [[TheBusCameBack Lyta Alexander]])

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BlackMoonChronicles has Wis' elf girlfriend KilledAndReplaced by the succubus Helleyna three books in. Granted, the succubus is a lot more useful, and they genuinely fall in love later but there's a definite StuffedInTheFridge feel to it.

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Isn't this also a leading cause of re-filming the pilot?

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In ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'' Kelsey, a female school chum character in the first episode is repalced by Clyde, a male school chum character in the second.

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In the original CSI the AudienceSurrogate character, Holly Gribbs, was generally hated by test audiences - and the creators had anticipated as much. As a result, they decided for Holly to die (rather than recover) in the second episode and replaced her with an eerily similar Sara Sidle.

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* The pilot of ''{{Seinfeld}}'' has Jerry and George interact with Claire, the DeadpanSnarker waitress at Pete's Luncheonette, originally meant to be the female role of the series. In the second episode, "The Stake Out", Claire is gone, the diner is Monk's Cafe, and the female role is Jerry's ex girlfriend, Elaine (though she appears at the end of "Male Unbonding", the second episode produced, to help Jerry come up with ideas to avoid a childhood friend). NBC felt the show was too "male-centric" and demanded there be a female role ([[FridgeLogic although if Claire was meant to be the female role, one might wonder why she was dropped in the first place]]).

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The original pilot of ''TheBigBangTheory'' involves a girl named Katie that Leonard & Sheldon meet on the street who had just been kicked out of her apartment. The boys take her in; the implication is they're going to pull a semi-PygmalionPlot on her (and vice-versa). In addition, Sheldon & Leonard only have one DropInCharacter friend, and she's a girl! Who Sheldon has had sex with!! Whereas, he first episode as aired has Penny moving in next door, Howard & Raj as Sheldon & Leonard's friends, and Sheldon is pretty asexual.

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See also DecoyProtagonist.

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Actually, on the StarTrek example, Spock was the only character left standing. Everybody else was a Second Episode Substitute.

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^^^ Can we agree that this trope doesn't apply to unaired pilots?

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There is an avalanche of NotATrope (especially trivia) drafts. This is not a storytelling device. It is just something that happens.

Tropes are not "any pattern or event". They have meaning.

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