Can you match these classic TV shows to their original titles?

Wait, which beloved sitcom began as 'Head of the Family'??

Some people say that your first idea is always your best. Nah. Several classic TV shows have proven that false. 

Name changes can be for the good. But not always.

Whatever title you might prefer, the fact is some television series changed their name after production began. A few rethought the title immediately after the pilot episodes — some others waited until the second, third, fourth season.

See if you can match these before-and-after titles from TV history.

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  1. A fan letter campaign saved Battlestar Galactic from cancelation. It returned for a second season titled…?
  2. The Danny Thomas Show originally went by this title.
  3. The 1980s Jason Bateman sitcom The Hogan Family began under this title.
  4. Wonder Woman changed networks… and changed its title to this for its second and third seasons.
  5. Saved by the Bell began in a different setting under this alternate title.
  6. Sebastian Cabot hosted the spooky anthology series Circle of Fear. What was it originally called for its first 13 episodes?
  7. The Ed Sullivan Show began under this title.
  8. The pilot episode of this cherished family sitcom aired as "It's a Small World" on the anthology series Heinz Studio 57.
  9. The pilot for this classic sitcom had a different title — Head of the Family — and a different lead actor!
  10. In its sixth season, this 1980s sitcom was retitled The Ted Knight Show. What was it originally called?
  11. This unlikely detective show spin-off was retitled Kate Loves a Mystery in its second season. What was it originally called?
  12. Which 1990s sitcom was called These Friends of Mine in its first season.

Can you match these classic TV shows to their original titles?

Your Result...

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61 Comments

Cougar90 4 months ago
12 out of 12. I had to guess on two of them.
Tim 25 months ago
Never heard of that Sebastian Cabot show.
DerekBird 33 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Well, are you the head of the family… or was this quiz more of a circle of fear?

I hate SBTB but I guessed right.
Dario 33 months ago
9 out of 12. 😁😁😁😁😁
TheDavBow3 47 months ago
7/12. Should've done better.
EllisClevenger 49 months ago
You got 10 out of 12
Well, are you the head of the family… or was this quiz more of a circle of fear?
Missed #9 and #12.
Jeremy 49 months ago
There's another show that had a name change. It happened after one of it's lead characters left. In the beginning, it was called "The Aquanauts" and after that lead character left, it was called "Malibu Run."
MikefromJersey 49 months ago
Bonus Question:
What classic 1960's CBS series was originally titled The Searchers? Warner Brothers objected to it's title as it had previously produced the immortal Duke Wayne western "The Searchers".
texasluva MikefromJersey 49 months ago
Best thing that could've of happened. Changed to Route 66. Very good trivia. I doubt that one in a 1000 people knew this. Since I got it right (I looked it up though) Give us more like this instead of Ole Barnaby showing at 4 a.m in the morning. The Searchers and Route 66 is some good stuff.
JDnHuntsvilleAL 49 months ago
The pilot for this classic sitcom had a different title — Head of the Family — and a different lead actor!

And that different lead actor was????


Drum roll please.


CARL REINER.
Wiseguy 49 months ago
These Friends of Mine was a better show than Ellen. Better theme song, better opening credits (reminiscent of the Friends opening which premiered that fall. Coincidence?), better cast. Then one female friend left before the 13-episode first season was over and the other female friend left after the season was over (for some reason two of these episodes were held over to the third season). Then the title was changed to Ellen for the reruns putting more emphasis on the star than the ensemble. Finally, a couple of seasons later the male friend left. None of the replacements was an improvement and in two of the cases the replacement was an obnoxious unfunny character. I stopped watching it long before the "gay" revelation.
Tim Wiseguy 25 months ago
Season 2 on of Ellen was completely painful. Truly unwatchable. Every character was an idiot. I bailed early as well but returned for the gay revelation and completely regretted it.
HopeDuchaine 49 months ago
7/12. I don't remember most of these.
DavidBarker 49 months ago
You got 6 out of 12
Well, are you the head of the family… or was this quiz more of a circle of fear?
This was a tough one for me...
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