Successful TV Shows That Were First Rejected

In 2008, Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of 'Squid Game,' wrote the script for what would become the world's most famous TV show of 2021. Originally intended as a film, he finished the first draft in 2009. Despite spending nearly six months on just the first two episodes, studios rejected it for ten years.

Hwang faced financial hardship, living with his mother and grandmother at one point. He even had to halt writing the script and sell his laptop due to financial struggles, which may explain why the themes of money resonate so deeply in his show. In 2021, the show skyrocketed to the top spot in 90 countries, becoming the most-watched show in Netflix history. It's reportedly valued at almost US$900 million in impact value, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg.

'Breaking Bad' was first turned down by HBO, a network known for edgy content. Despite its eventual success, HBO didn't see the potential.

AMC eventually picked up the show, and it turned out to be a monumental success. The decision to pass on it is surely regretted by those networks, especially considering the success of its spin-off series, 'Better Call Saul.'

'The Sopranos' (1999-2007) -

Before landing on HBO, David Chase pitched 'The Sopranos' to various networks, including CBS. Surprisingly, it wasn't the violence or explicit language that posed an issue; rather, networks struggled with the concept of Tony Soprano seeking therapy, preferring a more traditional mob drama approach.

After being rejected by other networks, 'The Sopranos' found its home on HBO, where David Chase had the creative freedom to shape it into the groundbreaking series it became. With its complex characters and unconventional storytelling, the show revolutionized television and garnered widespread acclaim, ultimately reshaping the landscape of television viewership in the 2000s.

When the Duffer brothers pitched 'Stranger Things', major networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, and more passed on the opportunity, citing concerns about viewer interest in young kids and the '80s setting. However, Netflix saw potential in the concept and the idea of releasing all episodes at once. The gamble paid off, making 'Stranger Things' one of Netflix's biggest hits, launching the careers of its young stars, and earning critical acclaim and numerous awards.

'The Queen's Gambit' (2020): It took co-creator and producer Allan Scott 30 years to get this show into production! Scott bought the TV and film rights to the epic chess drama novel in the late 1980s, and after that he'd rewritten the story nine times and approached several studios.

Initially planned as a film, the project was disrupted by the untimely passing of Heath Ledger, who was slated to direct. TV networks initially rejected the show, doubting the appeal of a seemingly dull subject like chess. However, within the first 28 days of its release on Netflix, the series shattered records for viewership, attracting over 62 million accounts to watch at least part of an episode, establishing its status as a cultural phenomenon.

'The Big Bang Theory': The producers shifted the focus of the show to highlight the two nerds and introduced Penny as a contrasting character. Despite a slow start, CBS persisted with the series, and it eventually became a smash success.