After two pilots starring Black, the series was commissioned.
The initial pilot for the series, made back in 1988, starred child actor Jason Marsden.
The pilot starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, who also served as an executive producer.
It was originally supposed to act as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series starring Wilson and focusing on Dwight.
The pilot only referenced the character names and starred none of the cast from the original film, contained no foul language, did not feature Silent Bob.
A second pilot starring Lisa Hartman was produced that interested ABC who bought the series.
The pilot starred Cheri Oteri as a local news reporter, and Arnett played her slacker brother.
He also tried American TV with a failed pilot starring Kelly McGillis.
The pilot also starred Gage Golightly, and Thomas Garner.
A second pilot starring The Tenderloins was named as an official selection of the 2009 New York Television Festival.