Why Sony’s original actress was replaced after the pilot

Kaitlin Olson is known for playing the role of Sweet Dee in The It’s always sunny in Philadelphia cast, but the original pilot for the series featured Jordan Reid in the role. Olson played Dee Reynolds throughout every season of the television show, with her being one of the funniest members of the show’s gang of five. however, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia was almost very different, with Olson not joining the show until after the series was greenlit.

It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Follow Charlie, Mac, Dee, Dennis and Frank, the five owners of a rundown bar in Philadelphia called Paddy’s Pub. The gang gets into all kinds of wacky situations, with their horrible personalities getting them into trouble in almost every episode. Despite the show’s popularity, the origins of It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Show that the series was almost completely different, with it originally focusing on a group of actors in Hollywood. However, the story is not the only detail that has been switched in the show, as the pilot has a completely different de.

Sweet Dee Reynolds was played by Jordan Reid in the pilot

Reid left the show after the pilot

The recasting of Sweet Dee in the It’s always sunny Cast goes back to the original pilot for the series. Although Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney were in the original episode, it was actually played by an actress named Jordan Reid. Reid was the girlfriend of Mac actor Rob McElhenney during the early years of the show’s developmentLeading to you and the group of friends all starring in the original It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Pilot.

with It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Wrap up Season 16, it’s hard to imagine anyone but Kaitlin Olson in the role of the. However, Jordan Reid could have appeared in the final show if it wasn’t for some behind-the-scenes drama. By the time the series was green-lit, Jordan Reid and Rob McElhenney broke up, prompting Reid to leave the series. While Reid has made several small appearances in shows like Law & OrderShe is not nearly as present on screen as the cast of It’s always sunny in Philadelphia.

Kaitlin Olson’s DE is better for always sunny in Philadelphia

Olson made the role her own

Although Jordan Reid is the original dee of the show, Kaitlin Olson is so much better for it It’s always sunny in Philadelphia. In the pilot, Reid’s performance is much more subdued than Olson’s take on the characterWith her manic and deranged line readings that make the character who she is today. Although Dee Reynolds is often sidelined, Olson manages to bring so much personality to the character, making her integral to the show’s success.

On top of that, keeping Reed around after the breakup would probably hurt the show. The behind-the-scenes emotions could have hindered the show’s comedy, possibly making it not work nearly as well as it does now. Although Jordan Reid probably could have pulled off a big D, the decision to bring in Kaitlyn Olson was the right choice for It’s always sunny in Philadelphia.

The reason why Jordan Reid left it is always sunny

While the casting was good for the show, the recasting of Dee on It’s always sunny Casting has some unpleasant history too. Reid has addressed her role in the pilot and her removal from the show in the past and suggested she was forced out because her relationship with Rob McElhenney was coming to an end. After the end of their relationship, Reid claims (via Spacious glam):

“He told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t stay in the relationship, I would be off the show.”

Reid eventually broke up with McElhenney after the pilot was shot with FX. Soon after, Reid’s manager “Let me know that although Rob, Glenn, and Charlie were picked up for the series, I was not.”

Although these It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Cast has not commented on the casting, Reid later says she holds no grudge against them and reveals that she and McElhenney are friends again (by The New York Times). Reid also admits that Olson is funnier and perfect for the role, revealing that she looks back on her role in the story of It’s always sunny in Philadelphia With a gracious attitude given the circumstances.

Other shows that changed an original cast member after the pilot

Game of Thrones and The Big Bang Theory made big changes after the pilot

While the recasting of Dee in It’s always sunny in Philadelphia Is a surprising behind-the-scenes fact for fans of the show, it is not as unusual on television as people might think. Pilot episodes are designed to be the proof of what a show could potentially be before the network commits to making anymore. As such, there are times when certain elements of the show don’t work, and need to change before things move forward. It happens often and it happens to some of the most popular shows on television.

The Big Bang TheoryThe original Penny was played by Canadian actor Amanda Walsh in the original pilot. However, while the showrunners praised Walsh’s performance as written, they realized that they were making the character too negative towards Sheldon and Leonard, making her unlikable. The character was rewritten in a softer tone and Kaley Cuoco was cast in the role.

The original Game of Thrones Pilot is something of a legend in television at this point. While the show was a massive hit, the first episode was deemed a disaster in the beginning and had to be almost completely reshot. This also led to some of the main cast members being recast in the series. Tamzin Merchant was originally cast as Daenerys Targaryen but was replaced by Emilia Clarke. Meanwhile, Jennifer Ehle was cast as Catelyn Stark, only for Michelle Fairley to take over when the pilot was reshot.

Even future stars had to suffer through recasts after a pilot was made. Ray Romano became one of the highest paid sitcom stars of all time Everybody loves RaymondBut earlier in his career, he was hired for the role of Joe Garelli. However, when the pilot was picked up, he learned that they decided to go in a different direction with his part and Joe Rogan was cast (via Vulture). Although these are dramatic recastings, none of them have the added awareness of relationships becoming involved as with these It’s always sunny Situation.