It could have been a totally different show.

@AmbiePam (127104)
United States
July 25, 2026 10:40pm CST
Did you know Courteney Cox was wanted to play Rachel on Friends, but instead fought to get the role of Monica? On The Big Bang Theory, the role of Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, was offered to Marissa Tomei, and she turned it down. In The Golden Girls, Betty White was wanted to play Blanche, and Rue MaClanahan was asked to play Rose. However, Betty White didn’t want to play another man crazy role like in Mary Tyler Moore, so she fought to play Rose instead. Good changes!
11 people like this
13 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (178399)
• United States
26 Jul
Nope. Didn't know any of those things.
3 people like this
Michelle Renee Kidwell
@Michellekidwell (29964)
• Sonora, California
27 Jul
Glad they were cast the way they were!
2 people like this
J.N.R Dutton
@jnrdutton (3507)
• United States
26 Jul
It's amazing how what seem like minor changes can totally rewrite the direction and feel of something.
2 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (212825)
• United States
26 Jul
Those parts are so iconic it is hard to imagine anyone else in the roles.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (127104)
• United States
26 Jul
It sure is!
1 person likes this
Traceyjayne
@Traceyjayne (13827)
• United Kingdom
26 Jul
I knew the first and last of those. I don’t watch The Big Bang Theory so didn’t know that fact. Plus ….showing off now ….i met the Golden Girls when they came to London.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (127104)
• United States
26 Jul
Lucky!!
Aparna Sen
@Dreamerby (10389)
• Calcutta, India
26 Jul
The Big Bang theory has been my favorite.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (127104)
• United States
26 Jul
I absolutely love The Big Bang Theory.
Michael
@Wrexxo (7404)
•
26 Jul
I still watch friends till today. It's a funny soap. I want to start watching the golden girls too. I hear its interesting
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (127104)
• United States
26 Jul
It’s quite hilarious.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (52133)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Jul
Hmmm... Rue as Rose, Betty as Blanche? They do have the same initiials...
1 person likes this
Stacey
@xstitcher (40272)
• Petaluma, California
27 Jul
Didn't know that, but never watched Friends or the Big Bang Theory, either.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (140501)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Jul
Didn't know those
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (15342)
• Ireland
26 Jul
@ambiepam Oh Monica could never have been a Rachel.
1 person likes this
MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (92199)
• United States
27 Jul
It would be hard to imagine any of those people in a different role other than the one we're familiar with.
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (125310)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 Jul
Good thinking that Betty White chose to play the role of Rose on the Golden Girls since she wanted to get away from playing a previous character on a previous show.
April
@thislittlepennyearns (70491)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
26 Jul
While Melissa Tomei is a good actress, I think that would have ruined the show for me. That’s like the two actresses who played Becky on Roseanne and the Conners
1 person likes this