Not every TV show has found the right title on the first try — with some getting renamed after they already premiered.
CBS’ NCIS is currently the network’s longest-running TV franchise. It premiered in 2003 as a two-part backdoor pilot coming off JAG’s success. JAG aired on NBC from 1995 to 1996 before making the move to CBS and remaining on the network until 2005. From there, the show expanded to include spinoffs NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
NCIS, however, was originally named Navy NCIS a.k.a NAVAL Criminal Investigative Service. It was ultimately decided that Navy was repetitive and that was dropped from the title.
Another CBS show that saw a title change was Luke Grimes‘ Yellowstone spinoff. The Kayce Dutton centric series was initially referred to as Y: Marshals. Before its March 2026 premiere, CBS confirmed that it will now be known as just Marshals.
TV Shows That Changed Their Premise: From ‘Scrubs’ to ‘Saved by the Bell’
Keep scrolling for more shows that were renewed:
‘Marshals’
After being referred to as Y: Marshals, CBS’ Yellowstone spinoff dropped the Y before the show premiered.
‘NCIS’
Before NCIS grew into CBS’ biggest ongoing TV franchise, it was briefly referred to as Navy NCIS in 2003.
‘Scrubs’
The medical sitcom, which originally aired from 2001 to 2010, followed the lives of employees at the fictional teaching hospital Sacred Heart Hospital. The hit series starred Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins and John C. McGinley before it was brought back for a ninth season titled Med School.
The show’s final season moved the setting to a medical school to introduce new characters and Kerry Bishé became the show’s new narrator after Braff, but the concept only lasted one season.
‘Roseanne’
Roseanne Barr‘s sitcom originally aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997. After being briefly revived in 2018 — and after Barr’s eventual exit from the series amid controversial social media posts — the story transformed into The Conners. The spinoff, which was created without Barr’s involvement, concluded in April 2025 after seven seasons.
‘Little House on the Prairie’
The show premiered in the 80s and aired for eight seasons before being revamped into Little House: A New Beginning.
‘Saturday Night Live’
Before NBC’s sketch series became Saturday Night Live (or SNL), it spent its first season being referred to as NBC’s Saturday Night.
‘Saved by the Bell’
The first season of NBC’s sitcom set in Bayside High School focused on middle school teacher Carrie Bliss (Hayley Mills) and her students Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), Screech (Dustin Diamond) and Lisa (Lark Voohies). Good Morning, Miss Bliss was canceled after one season and reformulated into Saved by the Bell.
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‘Seinfeld’
By episode 2, Seinfeld found its groove after making several casting — and title changes — when it originally debuted as The Seinfeld Chronicles.
‘Ellen’
To avoid confusion with NBC’s Friends, Ellen DeGeneres‘ ABC sitcom became Ellen despite the first season being titled These Friends of Mine.
‘Two Guys and a Girl’
Ryan Reynolds‘ ABC sitcom Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place ultimately evolved into Two Guys and a Girl for its final two seasons.
‘8 Simple Rules’
John Ritter‘s final role was on ABC’s 8 Simple Rules … for Dating My Teenage Daughter, which shifted to just 8 Simple Rules. The change was only reflected in the third and final season following Ritter’s shocking death.
