Sometimes, it feels impossible to imagine a TV show without the actor who made it famous. Yet behind many classic series, there were moments when networks, producers, or contract disputes nearly changed everything. Some stars had to prove themselves after a rough start, while others found themselves at odds with executives once success arrived. Looking back, it’s surprising how close television came to taking these familiar faces away from the roles that made them household names.
#1: Patrick Stewart — Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
At first, the captain almost bought it on the mission. Today, it’s hard to picture Star Trek: The Next Generation without Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. But during the first season, network execs worried he was too dour for TV viewers. The show tanked early on, and replacing him was a real possibility.
