10 Best TV Characters who Only Appear in the Pilot

The vast television landscape has a few cases of characters who only appear in the series premiere. The quick exit makes sense for some of them because they only existed as a bridge between two plots. Others simply vanished, yet viewers had warmed up to them and looked forward to more of their adventures. Regrettably, in most cases, there were no explanations for why the characters were cut after their pilot.

Such on-screen developments are normally tied to several behind-the-scenes factors. Since pilots (for pitching purposes) are shot months before other episodes with no guarantee of the series getting picked up, some actors normally decide to move on to other projects.

There are also cases of showrunners being advised to switch things. Consequently, they drop some of the minor characters. Besides that, budget cuts can influence the decision to drop cast members who were intended to be around for a long time.

Here is a list of characters who made a mark, despite only appearing in the series premiere.

10 Emilio Koyama

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Breaking Bad has one of the greatest pilots of all time, with a perfect plot and strong characters, notably, Emilio Koyama, the right-hand man for Jesse Pinkman’s former meth-dealing partner, Krazy 8. Upon learning that Jesse has a new cooking buddy named Walter White, Koyama insists on being taken to the man so that he can kill him.

While in the RV, Walt convinces Koyama to spare his life in exchange for teaching him the new meth formula. The trick works, and Walt deliberately causes a phosphine gas explosion that kills Koyama.

A Necessary Demise

Koyama showed signs of being a great villain, but as tragic as his death was, it was essential for the plot since it marked Walter White’s true transmutation from a chemistry teacher to a criminal.

After killing Koyama, Walter became willing to commit more murders and break more laws. Koyama’s path also cleared the path for even better antagonists like Tuco Ramirez to walk. Once Koyama was out of the way, Walter and Jesse believed they could rule the streets, only to bump into better criminals.

9 Claire

Seinfeld (1989–1998)

Pete’s Luncheonette is one of the locations seen in the pilot episode of Seinfeld’. It is a diner frequented by Jerry and George, though the two switch to Monk’s Cafe for the remainder of the series. While still customers of Pete’s Luncheonette, the two banter with the waitress Claire (Lee Garlington). She goes as far as to throw shady burns, confirming a friendship. Surprisingly, in the second episode, Claire disappears and Elaine is introduced as the new main female character.

A Controversial Exit

The book Seinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia with Biographies, Character Profiles & Episode Summaries addresses Lee Garlington’s exit. It explains: “After the pilot, her character was dropped to add more sex appeal to the only female supporting role.” However, actor Jason Alexander had a different story, claiming that Garlington insisted on rewriting her dialogue. The move created bad blood.

Seinfeld is a humor-driven show and Claire proved capable of dropping gems of dialogue in the pilot. She might have improved, but her absence didn’t leave a major void, since Elaine turned out to be an intriguing character too. Because Elaine wasn’t restricted to diner scenes, she was able to spend more time with the rest of the characters.

8 Alex Mahaffey

The Sopranos (1999–2007)

Borrowing money from the mob is never a good idea, and the gambling addict, Mahaffey (Michael Gaston), learns that the hard way in the pilot of The Sopranos. He tries to flee, only to be caught and beaten. Tony then forces him to set up fake claims at the insurance company he works for, so that he can clear the debt.

To show him what would happen if he doesn’t comply, mobsters Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero and Hesh Rabkin dangle him over a bridge while threatening him. Mahaffey thus goes to work and begins the process.

An Unintentionally Funny Guy

Mahaffey isn’t a funny character, yet his futile attempt sto dodge the mob results in some of the show’s best slapstick moments. Only the critically acclaimed bottle episode, “Pine Barrens,” offers similar thrills. Regrettably, his story was never followed up on. It’s unclear if he did what Tony had told him, or if he tried to skip town.

For a mob show, a longer insurance fraud plot, with Mahaffey at the center of it, might have been ideal. After all, Tony is the kind of person who would have continued tapping into this reservoir even after the debt had been paid.

It’s unclear if Gaston left voluntarily or was booted from the show. His filmography shows that he didn’t have any other major projects lined up when The Sopranos was starting. Despite that, he has remained an on-demand actor, appearing in shows like Prison Break, Mad Men, 24, and Chicago P.D.

7 Mei Zheng

Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)

Mei is introduced in the pilot episode of Peaky Blinders as the only daughter of Mr. Zhang, the owner of a laundry-cum-brothel in Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter. She is revealed to be a fortune-teller, evident when Tommy Shelby brings his horse, Monahan Boy, to her so that she can cast a spell on it. After Mei blows red powder on it, the horse goes on to win two races, hence giving the Shelby betting business a strong start.

Fantasy Elements in a Realistic Show

Mei’s inclusion is interesting since Peaky Blinders is generally a realistic show. However, betting is a key storyline throughout the show, so she wouldn’t have been entirely out of place. Mei would have remained an essential character if Tommy Shelby wanted to stay ahead of his competitors.

Still, it could be presumed that showrunner Steven Knight dropped her to avoid the “fantasy drama” label. Apart from that, the show strongly focuses on the lives of immigrants, and as an English citizen of Chinese descent, Mei would have fit perfectly into the storylines.

6 Javier Abreau

Elementary (2012–2019)

By presenting a contemporary version of the Sherlock Holmes story, Elementary separated itself from other popular police procedurals. Among the key officers introduced in the pilot is Detective Javier Abreau (Manny Perez). He is the second-ranking officer after Captain Thomas Gregson and is seen helping him solve cases throughout the episode. Surprisingly, Javier Abreau was replaced by Marcus Bell in the second episode.

Manny Perez Couldn’t Commit

Detective Javier Abreau was meant to be the fourth-recurring character on the show, but by the time a full series order was being made, actor Manny Perez had already gotten another job, hence he couldn’t commit. It’s disappointing, given that he was depicted as a meticulous and vocal cop who wasn’t afraid to question his superiors.

He arguably had the potential to become one of television’s best-supporting characters. Perhaps Perez should have stuck to this role since he has mostly played minor characters in most of the shows he has appeared in. Still, he is unlikely to regret it because he has never been out of work.

5 Liv Aberdine

Constantine (2014–2015)

In Constantine’s series premiere, Liv’s (Lucy Griffith) world gets turned around when strange supernatural forces linked to her family’s past begin hunting her down. The demon slayer, John Constantine, offers to help her, and during this time, he also considers bringing her under his wing. Given such proceedings, Liv seems like she is destined to be the show’s main female character. Surprisingly, she was replaced in the following episode by Mary “Zed” Martin.

Wasted Potential

Replacing Liv felt like a waste of the world-building that had already been established in the pilot. So much of Liv’s backstory had been given, only for her to be dropped. She was the kind of character that would have served as a perfect sidekick. And as a True Blood alum, Lucy Griffith was used to this kind of show. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress was forced to exit the show after the writers opted to go in a different direction with the story.

4 Conrad Sheehan

Covert Affairs (2010–2014)

Covert Affairs is a perfect spy show for casual viewers as it often complements the dark world of espionage with humor and romance arcs. One of the notable pairings forms in the pilot episode between the main character, Annie Walker, and Conrad Sheehan (Eric Lively). Conrad is depicted as the charming and handsome, telenovela kind of lover who sweeps Annie off her feet. Strangely, he never shows up again.

A Better Replacement?

Conrad was replaced in the second episode by the second-generation CIA officer Jai Wilcox, who is considered a better character by many fans. However, he is way too tough and work-obsessed, hence he isn’t as ideal for a romance arc as Conrad was. There is no news as to why Eric Lively left his role, but there is the likelihood that he simply grew tired of acting. The actor hasn’t taken up any role since 2014 and is now technically retired, despite being only 42.

3 Lieutenant Yoshi Tanaka

Magnum P.I. (2018–present)

In the pilot of the Magnum P.I. reboot, Sung Kang (best known for playing Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise) stars as Lieutenant Yoshi Tanaka, an antagonistic Honolulu Police Department officer who hates the titular private investigator and aims to make his life difficult. As Magnum tries to solve a case involving the disappearance of a friend, Tanaka keeps throwing obstacles his way.

Sung Kang Was Never Meant to Stick Around for Long

As detestable as Lieutenant Yoshi Tanaka is, his presence is important in the show because it gives the protagonists more problems to solve. After his exit, Magnum is mostly seen dealing with Detective Gordon Katsumoto, who is way too friendly and keeps agreeing to every request he makes. This makes Magnum a less interesting character. since he never has to cut too many law enforcement corners.

Sung Kang only appeared in the pilot as a favor to his friend Justin Lin, who directed the episode. The two had worked together on several projects, including the Fast & Furious movies. Kang was also a regular cast member of Power when Magnum P.I. premiered, hence it would have been hard to tie him down to the show.

2 Lucinda Barry

Psych (2006–2014)

Lucinda Barry (Anne Dudek) is introduced in the premiere Psych as a Junior Detective in the Santa Barbara Police Department. She is later persecuted for being in a romantic relationship with Head Detective Carlton Lassiter before being transferred. According to her superiors, this is done for her own good to avoid a scenario where Lassiter might hesitate to recommend her for a higher rank for fear of being accused of favoritism. In the second episode, the character is replaced by Juliet O’Hara.

Fierce and Focused

Lucinda was a great character who knew how to balance work and pleasure, hence her exit was heartbreaking. Early signs pointed to her and Lassiter having a great relationship in the future, so it’s a shame that fans were denied such an arc. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that she was later reported to have died. In “Santabarbaratown 2” Shawn and Gus head to a shooting range and spot a specific award for the Lucinda Barry Memorial Tournament.

1 Callie “Cece” Cartwig

The 100 (2014–2020)

The pilot episode of The 100 introduces viewers to a dystopic universe, set 97 years after a nuclear attack has destroyed the Earth’s surface. The only survivors are 400 people living on 12 national space stations that were in orbit at the time. Callie (Kelly Hu) appears in the episode as an officer in one of the stations named The Ark. Despite being one of the key characters in the premiere, she doesn’t appear in the rest of the episodes.

Budget Cuts Had to Be Made

In a show full of mean characters, Callie stands out because of her compassion and sense of responsibility. She goes as far as to fight for the rights of a friend who is about to be executed by a senior council member. Thankfully, there was an explanation for the character’s exit. In a tweet, showrunner Jason Rothenburg explained that budget cuts had resulted in several cast members being axed. Kelly Hu was among the unfortunate people who the axe fell on.