Dead Star Walking: Difference between revisions

* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'': [[Joss Whedon]] wanted to do this for Eric Balfour as Jesse in the first episode, but was denied permission by the network. He ultimately got his wish in Season 6, when after thirty-nine appearances as a guest star Amber Benson was finally promoted to the show's full credits - just in time for her character Tara to be shot dead.

* Elias Koteas's character in ''Conviction'' appeared to be major, but when he was billed as a guest star in the first episode, it made it pretty obvious he was getting killed.

* ''Almost'' happened on ''[[Lost]]''. The original plan was to have a reasonably well known movie actor, such as Michael Keaton, be cast as Jack. All the promotions, released information, cast photos, and interviews would indicate that Keaton (or whoever was cast as Jack) was a permanent part of the show and would be the main character throughout. Then, halfway through the pilot episode, he'd be killed by the monster, thus putting everyone on notice that ''[[Lost]]'' was a show where [[Anyone Can Die]] and where crazy stuff happens all the time. Kate (possibly played by Yunjin Kim) would then become the leader and the show's hero. The network [[Executive Veto|vetoed]] the plan, believing the audience would feel manipulated and resentful. As a result, Matthew Fox was cast as Jack and the character of the pilot (played by Greg Grunberg) was created to die in Jack's place.

* The ''[[General Hospital]]'' spinoff ''Night Shift'' had Pat Crawford Brown as a tapestry-sewing patient for the first 3 episodes, before having a [[Serial Killer]] [http://serialdrama.typepad.com/serial_drama/2007/07/nigh-shift-epis.html#more off her via IV]. Granted, Brown has rarely ever had a regular role on any TV show, but still...