What Is a Pilot Episode? 7 Notable TV Show Pilots

A television pilot episode is a standalone episode of a TV series used to sell the proof of concept of a new show to television network executives in hopes of receiving a green light to produce an entire series.

In Hollywood, networks produce TV pilots during pilot season, which runs from January until April. During this time, network executives decide which pilots will get an entire series order; The rest remain unsold pilots. With streaming services like Netflix making pilot episodes year-round, the traditional pilot season applies only to major TV networks such as NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS.

The term “pilot” comes from the scientific world, in which researchers launch “pilot studies” to prove the efficacy of a larger-scale (and more expensive) research project. Similarly, an original pilot acts as a test run for television networks, helping them decide whether to invest in the “pick up” of the rest of the series, which requires a more significant financial commitment than a single television episode.

If the pilot episode proves successful, the show’s creators can use it as the first episode of the series or sometimes a later episode, decreasing the cost of the new series.

The pilot episode of a potential series must achieve several objectives, some having to do with the production side and others with the experience of the story for the viewing audience. These jobs include:

• Introducing the world: In terms of screenwriting, the pilot episode must present the world, main characters, setting, and themes to the viewing audience. In many ways, the pilot episode provides a blueprint for the rest of the series, setting up questions and situations that evolve as the show progresses.
• Provide a test run for a full series: The pilot episode allows the network to determine if the show will work financially and often serves as the first episode of a series.
• Serve as a backdoor pilot: Showrunners and producers create a backdoor pilot when they want to center a storyline around supporting characters in hopes of creating a spinoff. The success of these pilots shows the network that the supporting characters can carry a television series separate from the original show.

Out of the thousands of shows produced since the advent of television, some pilot episodes stand out:

1. 1. Game of Thrones: HBO’s Game of Thrones earns its place in the pilot hall of fame as the most expensive show ever made, with each episode costing the network $10 million. After the original pilot failed to excite the network, HBO recast the main characters and reshot the pilot.
2. 2. Grey’s Anatomy: The pilot episode of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy solidified Shonda Rhimes as one of the greatest storytellers in television. More than 16 million viewers watched the pilot episode, and the show continues to run after 17 years.
3. 3. Lost: Until Game of Thrones came along, the ABC sci-fi show Lost boasted the most expensive pilot episode of the time. The network divided the pilot episode into two parts, aired a week apart, and both episodes remain critically acclaimed.
4. 4. Modern Family: ABC shared the pilot episode of Modern Family with advertisers before the show aired, considered a risky move in the entertainment industry, but they were confident they had a hit. Their gamble worked out, and Modern Family earned a slew of Emmy Awards and aired for 11 seasons.
5. 5. Star Trek: NBC scrapped the original pilot for Star Trek and reshot a new version, feeling that the original lacked action. They also recast the leading role of Captain Kirk in the second version of the pilot, cementing William Shatner’s fame as the crew’s leader.
6. 6. Twin Peaks: The pilot episode for ABC’s Twin Peaks originally ran two hours, and the network planned to release it as a feature film if the TV series failed. Twin Peaks proved to be a groundbreaking show with David Lynch’s unique storytelling approach and became one of the most celebrated and awarded shows in television history. Learn more about David’s creative process.
7. 7. The West Wing: Aaron Sorkin’s pilot episode of NBC’s The West Wing kicked off one of the most successful television shows of all time. Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes suggests aspiring TV writers dissect a show they love before writing their pilot. “For me, I did The West Wing,” she says. “I’m obsessed with The West Wing.” Sorkin developed the show from unused plot elements from his film The American President.

All you need is a MasterClass Annual Membership and our exclusive video lessons from prolific multi-hyphenate Issa Rae, the creator and leading lady of the hit HBO series Insecure (not to mention a bona fide music video star, executive producer, author, etc.). With Issa’s help, you’ll be writing, polishing, and pitching your pilot; finding your voice, and more in no time.