Television pilot

A pilot is a test show. It is one single episode. It helps a network see if a show is good.

Making a pilot can be hard. Many actors try out for the roles. One show called Friends had many actors try out. They wanted the best people for the show.

Some pilots become the first part of a series. Other pilots are never shown on TV. Some are made into a single movie instead.

There are also backdoor pilots. These use characters from a show you already know. They help start a new show with those same people.

Only a few pilots become full shows. This is because networks want to find the best ideas. It is a way to test new stories.

A television pilot is a single test episode. It helps a network see if a show will work. Making a pilot is a big job. Writers and producers share many ideas each summer. In the United States, networks may get 500 ideas. They pick about 70 to write scripts for. Then, they order about 20 pilot episodes to make.

Actors must work hard to get a part. Casting is a very tough way to find talent. For the show Friends, one person looked at 1,000 photos. Many actors go to Los Angeles to try out. They hope their pilot is chosen for a full series. If it is not picked, they may lose money.

Some pilots introduce a new world. These are called premise pilots. Others show what a normal episode feels like. These are called proof of concept pilots. There are also backdoor pilots. These use characters from a show you already know. They help start a new show with those same people. Only a small part of pilots become full shows. Many are never even shown on TV.

A television pilot is a special standalone episode. It is used to sell a new show to a broadcaster. Think of it as a testing ground for a big idea. Producers use it to see if a series will be successful. Some pilots become the very first episode of a show. Others might be used much later in the series. Sometimes, a pilot is never even shown on TV at all.

Making a pilot follows a very busy schedule. Every summer, major American networks receive many new ideas. For example, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox get about 500 pitches. In the fall, networks ask for scripts for about 70 of those ideas. By January, they order about 20 pilot episodes to be made. Actors travel from all over the world to Los Angeles to audition. By spring, the crews are ready to start filming.

Finding the right actors is a very hard job. This is called casting, and it is very competitive. For the 1994 pilot of Friends, casting was a huge task. Ellie Kanner looked at over 1,000 head shots for each role. She called 75 actors to audition for every single part. Then, the creators and executives had to pick the final few. Network executives usually have the final say in who is chosen.

There are different ways to make these test episodes. A premise pilot introduces the characters and their new world. Sometimes, these pilots must be rewritten or re-shot later. For example, the pilot for Gilligan's Island had to be changed. Three roles were recast before the show started. A proof of concept pilot shows how a normal episode feels. The show Lassie used both types of pilots. A backdoor pilot uses characters from a show you already know.

Not every pilot becomes a long-running series. In fact, only about a quarter of American pilots succeed. Many pilots are called "unsold pilots" if they are not picked. Some networks use a "test run" instead of one pilot. They might air a few episodes to see if people watch. Other networks use a "10/90" model for their shows. This means they air ten episodes before ordering ninety more. This helps them decide if a show is worth the cost.

A television pilot, often called a pilot episode, is a standalone episode created to sell a new series to a broadcaster or distributor. It serves as a critical testing ground to gauge whether a creative concept can be successful. Much like a pilot study in science, this episode acts as a precursor to larger activity. If a pilot is successful, it might serve as the series premiere or a later episode. However, many pilots are never aired at all. Some shows are commissioned straight-to-series without a pilot, though many modern series still use the term for their first episode. In certain cases, an unsold pilot might be broadcast as a standalone television film or a special.

The production of pilots follows a highly structured and competitive cycle. Each summer, major American broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and others receive approximately 500 brief elevator pitches from writers and producers. By the fall, networks request scripts for about 70 of these pitches. In January, they order around 20 pilot episodes for production. This process involves intense casting, where actors travel to Los Angeles from across the globe to audition. By spring, the production crews are assembled to film the episodes. This cycle ensures that networks only invest heavily in ideas that show significant promise.

Casting is a lengthy and difficult part of the pilot process. Because networks have the ultimate authority over casting, the competition is fierce. For the 1994 pilot of the series Friends, casting director Ellie Kanner reviewed more than 1,000 head shots for each of the six main roles. She summoned 75 actors for each role to audition. These actors then auditioned for the show's creators, and subsequently for Warner Bros. Television executives. Finally, a small group auditioned for the network executives. Because all networks work on the same shared schedule, actors must choose their pilots carefully. If a pilot is not picked, the talent may have wasted time and missed other career opportunities.

There are several distinct types of pilots used in the industry. A premise pilot introduces the characters and their world to the viewer. It is designed to function as the first episode of a series. If major changes occur after the pilot is greenlit, the footage may need to be re-shot or rewritten. For example, the pilot for Gilligan's Island required three roles to be recast. This resulted in the second episode being aired as the premiere, using the pilot's story as a flashback. A proof of concept pilot differs by taking place chronologically further into a series. This helps executives see how a typical episode would feel. The series Lassie used both a premise pilot and a proof of concept pilot.

Another method is the backdoor pilot, which functions as a way to introduce new characters. This can be a standalone film or an episode of an existing series. In a series backdoor pilot, supporting characters or guest stars are featured heavily to see if they can carry their own spin-off. For instance, an episode of The Goldbergs served as a backdoor pilot for the series Schooled. Some pilots are also categorized as "put pilots." A network agrees to broadcast a put pilot as a special or a series. If they decide not to air it, they must pay substantial monetary penalties to the studio. This agreement almost guarantees that the pilot will be picked up.

Success rates for these productions are quite low. Variety estimates that only slightly more than a quarter of all pilots made for American television proceed to the series stage. When a pilot is produced but not picked up, it is known as an unsold pilot or a "busted pilot." The survival rate for new series is also low, as typically only one or two survive for more than one season. To manage risk, some networks use a "test run" approach. This involves airing a small number of episodes as a short-run series to test audience interest. This is common for talk shows and certain reality formats.

Some networks use even more specific production models to manage costs and risks. The 10/90 model involves broadcasting ten episodes of a new program without ordering a pilot first. If these ten episodes reach a specific ratings level, the network orders 90 more episodes. This brings the total to 100, allowing the show to enter syndication quickly. Series like Tyler Perry's House of Payne have used this model. Other networks have experimented with 13-episode pilot runs. In the late 1980s, Disney Channel used this for shows like Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which later became Saved by the Bell on NBC. These various methods all aim to solve the same problem: determining if a show is worth the investment.