Television pilot

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.