In the Unaired ‘Gilmore Girls’ Pilot, Different Stars Play Your Favorite Characters
Gilmore Girls fans, you’ve probably seen the entire series multiple times (I sure have), but did you know there was an original pilot that never saw the light of day? Luckily for us, the unaired pilot found its way on the internet somehow, and even if you’ve seen the series multiple times, you’ll be shocked — because there are some unfamiliar faces in it. The original pilot follows the same storyline as the pilot that we know and love, but two of the characters are played by completely different actors; there are other small changes, as well.
Dean (played by Jared Padalecki in the series) was originally supposed to be played by an actor named Nathan Wetherington. He does seem uncomfortable in the role, so it makes sense that he was recast. He later admitted in an interview that he was feeling unprepared and uncomfortable, and wasn’t surprised that he was recast and another pilot was shot.
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In addition, Sookie is not played by the beloved Melissa McCarthy but the still-hilarious Alex Borstein. You may recognize her as the grumpy harp player that pops up during the series and it seems that this recast was probably for the best as well. Borstein has said that she had to give up the role due to her MadTV contract at the time, but her husband Jackson Douglas ended up getting cast as Sookie’s husband Jackson. Borstein later went on to collaborate with the Sherman-Palladinos, playing Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
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Other minor changes include different costumes, with Lorelei wearing a grey suit; Sheryl Crow’s “Every Day is A Winding Road” was used as the theme song instead of “There She Goes” by The La’s. Some scenes were changed or cut altogether, including a scene between Lorelai and Sookie outside Lorelai’s house, where Sookie suggests Lorelai seek Richard and Emily’s help. Even some of the dialogue seems slower or not as funny as it does in the aired pilot.
Fans on Reddit found the unaired version and have chatted about the differences. One fan shared in the Gilmore Girls subreddit about Wetherington, “That guy could not act. I have faith that Alex Borstein would have gotten better, but Melissa was pretty perfect as Sookie. She’s much more natural with the physical comedy.”
Warner Bros. Television/ Everett Collection
Another said, “The lack of ‘there she goes’ in the opening scene just throws me. It feels like an impersonation of the one we know and love. Some of the scene changes are also kinda jarring, not sure if it’s because this is an unfinished pilot or just the general feel of the whole episode.” If you’d like to watch the unaired pilot and be a part of the conversation, check it out on Reddit.
You can watch the real pilot and more as Gilmore Girls is coming to Start TV on May 12; they will begin by airing “The Pilot” at 5pm ET, and show the series in order in the same time slot, Monday-Friday. Starting Saturday, June 14, 2025, Start TV will also start airing a block of five episodes from 5-10pm ET/PT, continuing every Saturday. Get more information here:
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