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20 Side-By-Side Images That Show How These Popular TV Shows And Movies Were Named At First
The movies and TV shows that we know and love might have been named completely differently if producers went with their gut instincts and very first ideas. In a parallel universe, there’s no ‘Stranger Things,’ no ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, and ‘The Big Bang Theory’ would have been called ‘Lenny, Kenny, and Penny.’
It’s time to stroll through ‘The Twilight Zone’ and step into the ‘what if’ part of TV Land. So get settled in with some popcorn, put on your 3D glasses, and scroll down for Bored Panda’s newest feature about what movies and TV shows were originally called.
Don’t forget to upvote your fave pics and, when you’re done with this list, check our post about popular things that initially had very different names.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
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#2
That 70's Show
Thisleton Woodrow Amadeus Tunt 4 years ago
"Sally take my hand, we'll travel south cross land, put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder"
#3
Mr. Bean
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
Can't stand that character regardless... Rowan Atkinson is excellent in Black Adder though!
Who doesn’t love the hit TV show ‘Friends?’ Well, imagine having to look forward to an episode of ‘Six of One.’ Or ‘Insomnia Cafe.’ Weird, right? Even though I’m pretty sure that we’d get used to those names if we heard them over and over again over the years, they just sound plain bonkers right now, don’t they?
Would ‘Friends’ have become an iconic show if it was called something else? My mind says ‘probably,’ but my gut says ‘no.’ There’s a lot in a name. And it can make (or break) a project.
Finding the perfect title for your show or film is a delicate balancing act. And way, way harder than it sounds. The Hollywood Reporter stresses that you can’t be too witty, but you have to avoid being too generic, as well. Titles also can’t be too long, lazy, or too vague. With a list of advice that long, it’s no wonder so many shows fail to captivate their target audiences.
#4
The Big Bang Theory
#5
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Keeping titles simple and to-the-point yet dynamic seems to be the main goal. So if you’re unsure what to name your next visual masterpiece, consider giving it a single-word title.
But the words you use can’t just sound cool—they have to actually be related to your show. When somebody hears the title, they immediately have to understand more or less what the show’s going to be about. Is it serious? Goofy? Seriously goofy?
Humor and playing around with double meaning can also work wonders. As can ‘modernizing’ the name of your show to fit the current context of important events: you can draw inspiration from current social, political, and other issues to link your title to the audience.
#7
Friends
postboredom 4 years ago
it was also almost called insomnia cafe, across the hall and others ( 100 names altogether)
#8
Married With Children
#9
Stranger Things
AMANDA SERRANO-MORALES 4 years ago
if stranger things was called Montauk i've never have watched it
#10
Charmed
#11
Grey's Anatomy
#12
Saturday Night Live
Country Nana 4 years ago
I don't think it would have made any difference. I remember when it first came out. It didn't take long for the media, and the players, to call it NBC's Saturday Night.
#13
New Girl
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
"chicks and d***s" made me laugh... but who makes the "chick" plural, especially as it was meant to be about her and the boys...?
#14
This Is Us
#15
Happy Days
Final score:
37points
Joran Quinten 4 years ago
That name wouldn't have worked in the the song at all! Sunday, Monday, Cool! Tuesday, Wednesday, Cool! Thursday, Friday, Cool! Saturday, what a day Rockin' all week with you. ...on second thought
#16
Seinfeld
#17
Saved By The Bell
#19
Wizards Of Waverly Place
postboredom 4 years ago
their last name wasn't o'malley, was it? the amazing russos would sound more magicky too ;D
#20
One Tree Hill
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What do you think ?
Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago
Fox News is spelled incorrectly everywhere. It's spelled Faux News. (Source: Just watch the damn thing)
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Ray Martin 4 years ago
That's not really correct, but that was how the show concept was presented to studios.
Load More Replies... Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago
Fox News is spelled incorrectly everywhere. It's spelled Faux News. (Source: Just watch the damn thing)
Load More Replies... Ray Martin 4 years ago
That's not really correct, but that was how the show concept was presented to studios.
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