10 Characters From Famous TV Shows Who Were Swept Under The Carpet

4. Dr. J. Loren Pryor - The Simpsons

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening originally intended Dr. J. Loren Pryor, the school psychologist at Springfield Elementary, to be a major part of the series. He thought that the series would focus almost exclusively on the antics of the young trouble-maker, Bart Simpson. Pryor, voiced by Harry Shearer, was slated to team up with Principal Skinner on multiple occasions as the two conspired to find ways to remove Bart from the school, essentially making Pryor a sidekick to Skinner. Pryor was written as a know-it-all who didn't really know much at all and even once mistakenly read Millhouse's file believing it was Bart's. Pryor only made a few appearances during the first season before being written out of the series when it was realized the writers wouldn't be able to do as much with him as they initially thought. The Simpsons was already seeing a change in direction, especially as Homer became more of a focus character, and the running subplot of Skinner looking for ways to have Bart expelled was forgotten. The role Pryor was intended to fill was largely taken over by Superintendent Chalmers in later episodes. Pryor would later make a minor appearance during the ninth season, but fans have mostly forgotten him.