Pilot Episodes, Ranked
Only including real pilot episodes (as opposed to simply just the first canon episode of a show).
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- DirectorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAnna GunnAaron PaulDiagnosed with terminal lung cancer, chemistry teacher Walter White teams up with former student Jesse Pinkman to cook and sell crystal meth.10/10
Pilot for Breaking Bad (10/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorMatt MaiellaroDave WillisStarsDave WillisMatt MaiellaroAndy Merrill9.5/10
Pilot for Spacecataz.
Series was scrapped on the grounds that the creators didn't know where to take it after the events of the pilot. - DirectorRich MooreGregg VanzoStarsBilly WestKatey SagalJohn DiMaggioA down-on-his-luck pizza delivery guy is accidentally frozen on New Year's Eve 1999 and wakes up in the year 3000.9/10
Pilot for Futurama (10/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - StarsDom JolyPatrick Moore9/10
Pilot for Trigger Happy TV (9/10).
Essentially an unaired pilot, but was aired as part of Comedy Lab, a series made up of Channel 4 pilots. - DirectorVince GilliganStarsBob OdenkirkJonathan BanksRhea SeehornStruggling public defender Jimmy McGill constructs an elaborate yet questionable plan for winning back a pair of wealthy potential clients.8.5/10
Pilot for Breaking Bad (9/10)
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorMichael CuestaStarsMichael C. HallJulie BenzJennifer CarpenterDexter's world is rocked when a rival serial murderer, dubbed the Ice Truck Killer by the media, privately contacts him and reveals that he knows Dexter's grisly secret. Meanwhile, Dexter's sister Debra is transferred to Homicide.8/10
Pilot for Dexter (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnJon BernthalSarah Wayne CalliesDeputy Sheriff Rick Grimes awakens from a coma, and searches for his family in a world ravaged by the undead.8/10
Pilot for The Walking Dead (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - 2011– 1h 30mTV-PG7.5 (94)TV EpisodeDirectorRichard van't RietStarsPenn JilletteTellerJonathan RossMagicians Ali Cook, Richard Bellars, Michael Vincent, John Archer, James More, and Benjamin Earl try to fool the veteran duo. Those who succeed win a trip to Las Vegas where they open for Penn & Teller's Vegas magic show. Hosted by Jonathan Ross.8/10
Pilot for Penn & Teller: Fool Us (7/10).
Aired as a TV special to gage audience reaction before the series was commissioned. - DirectorTodd HollandStarsJane KaczmarekBryan CranstonChristopher MastersonMalcolm has been labeled a boy genius and is moved, much to his chagrin, into the Krelboyne class, which is a class full of nerds and geniuses like himself.8/10
Pilot for Malcolm in the Middle (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsTina FeyTracy MorganJane KrakowskiLiz Lemon is called upstairs to meet the new network exec, Jack Donaghy, who instructs her to hire movie star Tracy Jordan to draw a young male audience to 'The Girlie Show'.8/10
Pilot for 30 Rock (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorMarcus MortimerStarsColin BakerPaul AllenSaskia MulderAn exuberant artist is found dead at home. The only suspect is the artist's wronged wife who was well aware of his affair with his model, but how could she have left her city office without her P.A. seeing her leave?8/10
Pilot for Jonathan Creek (9/10).
Was edited into the show's first two episodes "The Wrestler's Tomb: Part 1" and "The Wrestler's Tomb: Part 2". - StarsChristopher MorrisSteve CooganPatrick MarberA spoof of the British style of news broadcasting - including ridiculous stories, patronising vox pops, offensively hard-hitting research and a sports presenter clearly struggling for metaphors.(This represents the pilot which I couldn't find using the list search function)
8/10
Pilot for The Day Today (10/10).
Non-broadcast pilot, remade as episode "News". - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsJoel McHaleGillian JacobsDanny PudiAn ex-lawyer is forced to return to community college to get a degree. However, he tries to use the skills he learned as a lawyer to get the answers to all his tests and pick up on a sexy woman in his Spanish class.7.5/10
Pilot for Community (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsZach BraffSarah ChalkeDonald FaisonThree interns - two medical and one surgical - kick off their first day at Sacred Heart teaching hospital.7.5/10
Pilot for Scrubs (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorMichael Patrick JannStarsCedric YarbroughNiecy NashRobert Ben GarantThe seven Sheriff's Deputies of Reno introduce themselves to the new camera crew who are filming their every move--and revealing just how horribly wrong their every move really is.7.5/10
Pilot for Reno 911! (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorDrew GoddardStarsKristen BellWilliam Jackson HarperJameela JamilNewly-deceased Eleanor Shellstrop is sent to the Good Place but only by mistake; Eleanor is determined to become a better person in her afterlife with help from fellow dead person Chidi and not-a-robot Janet.7/10
Pilot for The Good Place (7/10)
Serves as the show's first episode. - 2005– 22mTV-MA8.1 (5.2K)TV EpisodeDirectorJohn FortenberryStarsCharlie DayGlenn HowertonRob McElhenneyThe guys hire Dee's friend as a promoter for the bar and get more than they bargained for. Charlie seeks black friends to prove he isn't a racist.7/10
Pilot for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (8/10).
Serves as the first episode. - DirectorWesley ArcherStarsMike JudgeKathy NajimyPamela AdlonA social worker mistakenly believes that Hank is abusing Bobby. When Bobby finds out what is happening, he takes advantage of the situation.7/10
Pilot for King of the Hill (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorLena DunhamStarsLena DunhamAllison WilliamsJemima KirkeHannah searches for a job in New York City after she is cut off financially by her parents.7/10
Pilot for Girls (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorPeter ShinRoy Allen SmithStarsSeth MacFarlaneAlex BorsteinSeth GreenAfter drinking too much at a stag party and falling asleep at work, Peter loses his job, signs up for welfare, and gets more money than expected.7/10
Pilot for Family Guy (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJon TurteltaubStarsSkeet UlrichAshley ScottLennie JamesA small Kansas town struggles with life after a nuclear attack destroys America.7/10
Pilot for Jericho (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJames GoldstoneStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyGary LockwoodThe flight recorder of the 200-year-old U.S.S. Valiant relays a tale of terror--a magnetic storm at the edge of the galaxy.7/10
Second pilot for Star Trek (9/10).
Serves as the show's third episode. - DirectorAdam DavidsonStarsKim DickensCliff CurtisFrank DillaneA highly dysfunctional blended family is forced together when they realize a reported virus is actually the onset of the undead apocalypse.7/10
Pilot for Fear the Walking Dead (7/10)
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorTrey ParkerMatt StoneStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneKarri TurnerCartman wakes up and realizes he was abducted by aliens after hearing it from his friends. He is in major denial at first though, but even Chef is a believer.7/10
Unaired pilot for South Park (10/10).
Was edited to create the show's first episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe". - DirectorJames BurrowsStarsJohnny GaleckiJim ParsonsKaley CuocoA pair of socially awkward theoretical physicists meet their new neighbor Penny, who is their polar opposite.7/10
Pilot for The Big Bang Theory (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsMike VogelRachelle LefevreNatalie MartinezIn Chester's Mill, Maine, a strange occurrence locks the town in under an invisible dome-like surface.7/10
Pilot for Under the Dome (4/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorRon HughartStarsSeth MacFarlaneWendy SchaalScott GrimesIn order to help him get a girlfriend, Stan rigs the school election to make Steve class president. Things go awry when the powers of his new position go to his head.7/10
Pilot for American Dad! (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorRobert ButlerStarsJeffrey HunterSusan OliverLeonard NimoyCapt. Pike is held prisoner and tested by aliens who have the power to project incredibly lifelike illusions.7/10
Unaired first pilot for Star Trek (9/10).
Was later edited and combined with newly shot bookend sequences to create the episodes "The Menagerie: Part I" and "The Menagerie: Part II". - DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsWill ForteKristen SchaalAlexandra DaddarioAfter a deadly virus wipes out humanity, Phil Miller searches the country for more survivors.7/10
- DirectorJames BobinStarsJemaine ClementBret McKenzieRhys DarbyTransplanted New Zealanders Bret and Jemaine--a.k.a. Flight of the Conchords--search for romance and gigs in New York City. At a bohemian party, Jemaine falls for Sally (who used to date Bret), but Bret spoils the moment back at their apartment.7/10
Pilot for Flight of the Conchords (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorRobert StevensStarsEarl HollimanJames GregoryPaul LangtonMike Ferris finds himself alone in the small Oakwood town and without recollection about his name, where he is or who he is. Mike wanders through the town trying to find a living soul. The tension increases and Mike has a breakdown.7/10
Pilot for The Twilight Zone (10/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - 2005–200920mTV-PG7.7 (506)TV EpisodeDirectorReginald HudlinStarsTerry CrewsTichina ArnoldTequan RichmondChris and his family move to Bed-Stuy and Chris attends a predominantly white middle school where he meets his new friend, Greg and ends up in the crosshairs of the school bully, Joey Caruso.7/10
Pilot for Everybody Hates Chris (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorDave LambertStarsKarl PilkingtonRicky GervaisGermaine Greer7/10
Unaired pilot for Karl Pilkington: Satisfied Fool.
Essentially an unaired pilot, but was aired as part of Comedy Lab, a series made up of Channel 4 pilots.
The series wasn't picked up. - 2007–8.1 (73)TV EpisodeStarsDavid CrossJohn FortuneWill ArnettPilot episode to a potential sitcom about an American advertiser (David Cross) who takes a job running the sales team at the London branch of his company trying to sell a new energy drink, but he has no experience of British culture, knows nothing about sales and has only one employee.7/10
Pilot for The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (7/10).
Essentially an unaired pilot, but was aired as part of Comedy Showcase, a series made up of Channel 4 pilots.
Was remade as the episode "In Which Claims Are Made and a Journey Ensues" of The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. - DirectorJason WinerStarsEd O'NeillSofía VergaraJulie BowenJay must adapt to his young new wife, Gloria and her son. Meanwhile, Claire deals with her own family. Mitchell and Cam decide to adopt a baby.7/10
Pilot for Modern Family (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorGreg DanielsStarsAmy PoehlerRashida JonesPaul SchneiderIn an attempt to beautify her town, Leslie Knope takes on the seemingly simple job of helping turn an abandoned construction pit into a park.7/10
Pilot for Parks and Recreation (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorStephen MerchantStarsStephen MerchantChristine WoodsNate TorrenceSeries Premiere. English transplant Stuart Pritchard (Stephen Merchant) is a web designer who owns a house and has an attractive tenant named Jessica (Christine Woods), a struggling actress and aspiring web-series writer/director. After learning that a pretty ingenue named Courtney (Sarah Wright), who is rehearsing with Jessica, is going to the opening of a posh nightclub, Stuart manages to get on the guest list.7/10
Pilot for Hello Ladies (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - StarsSteve CooganRebecca FrontPatrick MarberAlan Partridge hosts his own chat show on the BBC. He insults and belittles almost all of his guests and is humiliated by the rest.(This entry represents the pilot, not listed on IMDb)
7/10
Pilot for Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (9/10).
A non-broadcast pilot. It was only 15-minutes in length and was later released as a DVD special feature. - 1999– 24mTV-Y8.6 (2.6K)TV EpisodeDirectorAlan SmartPaul TibbittStarsTom KennyRodger BumpassClancy BrownSpongeBob attempts to fulfill his dream of working at the Krusty Krab; SpongeBob meets a squirrel named Sandy and goes to extreme lengths in an attempt to impress her.Specifically the segment "Help Wanted".
7/10
Pilot for SpongeBob SquarePants (8/10).
Was attached to the segments "Reef Blower" and "Tea at the Treedome" to create the show's first episode. It ran slightly shorter than usual segments, meaning that the first episode contains three segments rather than the usual two, with one ("Reef Blower") being very short in length. - DirectorMarc BucklandStarsJason LeeEthan SupleeJaime PresslyEarl, a petty criminal, is hit by a car and loses his $100,000 lottery ticket. Drugged, he signs divorce papers. He now believes in Karma and makes a lists of wrongs to right, starting with Kenny.7/10
Pilot for My Name Is Earl (8/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorRobert MandelStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonCharles CioffiAgent Dana Scully is instructed to debunk an FBI project dubbed "The X-Files," paranormal cases that have been reopened by Agent Fox Mulder.7/10
Pilot for The X-Files (8/10)
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorLauren MacMullanStarsWallace LanghamVicki LewisScott MenvilleAndy's perfect life is suddenly a perfect mess: Nerdy teen brother Kevin moves into his loft apartment.7/10
Pilot for Mission Hill (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAdam ReedStarsH. Jon BenjaminJudy GreerChris ParnellArcher goes to great lengths to cover up discrepancies in his ISIS expense account as he attempts to access the agency's mainframe computer. Cyril and Lana's Friday night dinner date is interrupted by work.7/10
Pilot for Archer (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorVincent WallerMike KimStarsWill FerrellJean SmartPamela AdlonWhile Bob searches for a second job to pay for excessive medical expenses, Milo falls in love with "Debbie", who is actually an alien.7/10
Pilot for The Oblongs... (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsJason BatemanPortia de RossiWill ArnettAfter his father fails to promote him within the family business, Michael accepts a job in Arizona -- until his dad is arrested for shady bookkeeping.6.5/10
Pilot for Arrested Development (10/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. Running time was trimmed for TV broadcast. - 2003–201822mTV-147.0 (489)TV EpisodeDirectorChristopher McCullochStarsJames UrbaniakPatrick WarburtonChristopher McCullochDr. Venture, his teen sons Hank and Dean, and their bodyguard Brock head to New York to unveil Dr. Venture's new invention. They are pursued by a ninja intent on acquiring the device.6.5/10
Pilot for The Venture Bros (9/10).
Unaired pilot. - DirectorKen KwapisStarsSteve CarellRainn WilsonJohn KrasinskiThe premiere episode introduces the boss and staff of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania in a documentary about the workplace.6.5/10
Pilot for The Office (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorDan CurtisStarsRobert BurtonJohn KarlenGeorge GaynesThree bizarre horror stories, all of which star Karen Black in four different roles playing four tormented women.6.5/10
Pilot for an anthology series featuring Karen Black.
Show wasn't picked up, but the pilot aired as a TV movie. - DirectorLoren BouchardStarsBrendon SmallH. Jon BenjaminPaula PoundstoneBrendon's mother Paula announces her plans to go on a date with Brendon's soccer coach, Mr. McGuirk.6.5/10
Pilot for Home Movies (9/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsWill ArnettKeri RussellRobert Michael MorrisSteve Wilde is a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy Kadubic, the über-liberal humanitarian who got away. Given the chance to reconnect with Emmy, Steve pulls out all the stops to win her heart.6.5/10
Pilot for Running Wilde (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - 1990–199623mTV-PG7.9 (1.6K)TV EpisodeDirectorDebbie AllenStarsWill SmithJames AveryJanet HubertA streetwise teenager is sent by his mother to live with wealthy relatives in an upper-class California neighborhood, where he must adjust to a new lifestyle.6.5/10
Pilot for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorThomas SchlammeStarsMatthew PerryAndrea AndersJames LesureOn what would have been just a typical day at work -- trying to get rid of a hockey rink that won't melt so the circus can go on that night, looking for an elephant lost in the building and arranging an impromptu press conference to repair one of his boss's PR nightmares -- Alice ends her casual relationship with Ben to commit to another man. This happens on Ben's 40th birthday, just as he's realizing he doesn't want to be alone.6.5/10
Pilot for Mr. Sunshine (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorKevin SmithStarsBret HarrisonTyler LabineMissy PeregrymA young man learns on his 21st birthday that his parents have sold his soul to the devil.6.5/10
Pilot for Reaper (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorCharles McDougallStarsMindy KalingChris MessinaEd WeeksMindy is a 30 something Ob/Gyn whose love life hits a snag after a messy break up with her long term boyfriend. After getting drunk and making a scene at his wedding, Mindy vows to put the past behind her, find the perfect man and get her life on track.6.5/10
Pilot for The Mindy Project (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorBoris SagalBarry ShearSteven SpielbergStarsJoan CrawfordOssie DavisRichard KileyA seemingly haunted painting drives a greedy man insane. A rich blind woman gets a new pair of eyes that allow her to see for only one brief ironic moment. An idyllic painting gives a Nazi war criminal in hiding some fleeting comfort.6/10
Pilot for Night Gallery (6/10).
Aired as a TV special prior to the show getting the green light. Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorSteve BendelackStarsJulian BarrattNoel FieldingRich FulcherHoward and Vince travel to the arctic seeking the Egg of Mantumbi.6/10
Pilot for The Mighty Boosh (8/10).
Unaired pilot, was later remade as "Tundra". - DirectorBlake BedfordStarsRicky GervaisNicholas HutchisonAmelia CurtisClive, a video shop chain owner and David Bowie fanatic, is determined to appear as his idol on celebrity singing soundalikes show Stars in Their Eyes (1990), and spends his whole time bigging himself up to everyone else.6/10
Pilot for Golden Years.
The series wasn't picked up, but the pilot was aired as part of Comedy Lab - a show made up of Channel 4's comedy pilots. Much of the script of this episode was recycled into the pilot for the original The Office. - DirectorMatt MaiellaroDave WillisStarsDana SnyderCarey MeansDave WillisDr. Weird invents a robot rabbit that escapes and destroys Carl's car. So now it's up to Aqua Teen Hunger Force to find out who did it.6/10
Pilot for Aqua Teen Hunger Force (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorDevin ClarkStarsMatt ObergDevin ClarkPete HolmesA young man helps supernatural creatures adapt to life in the city.6/10
Pilot for Ugly Americans (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorBill LawrenceStarsCourteney CoxChrista MillerBusy PhilippsAfter her recent divorce, Jules decides to put herself "out there" again, much to the embarrassment of her teenage son.6/10
Pilot for Cougar Town (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJames BurrowsStarsJennifer AnistonCourteney CoxLisa KudrowMonica and the gang introduce Rachel to the "real world" after she leaves her fiancé at the altar.6/10
Pilot for Friends (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorTodd Strauss-SchulsonStarsJeffrey TamborChristopher MastersonAja Naomi KingThe journalists at the Onion News Network will do anything to stay at the top of their game. And if they can't find a great story, they'll create one.6/10
Pilot for Onion News Empire.
The series wasn't picked up. - DirectorWesley ArcherStarsMike JudgeNancy CarellLinda CardelliniWe are introduced to the politically correct Goode family. Helen believes it's time to discuss sex with Bliss, and she is upset when Bliss associates with the abstinence crowd.6/10
Pilot for The Goode Family (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - StarsAdeel AkhtarDan Renton Skinner6/10
Pilot for The Angelos Neil Epithemiou Show.
Essentially a TV special used to gage reactions to the premise. Aired as part of Comedy Showcase, a series made up of Channel 4's comedy pilots. - DirectorRicky GervaisStarsRicky GervaisKerry GodlimanKarl PilkingtonKindly, ever-cheerful caretaker Derek Noakes introduces himself and the hard-working staff of the nursing home where they are employed.5.5/10
Pilot for Derek (5/10).
Initially intended as a non-broadcast pilot, it was later decided to show it as a TV special to build hype before the debut of the first series.
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorPamela FrymanStarsJosh RadnorJason SegelCobie SmuldersIt's the year 2030 and an older Ted Mosby is telling the story to his son and daughter about how he met and will eventually marry their mother. This is where we meet for the first time Ted, Lily, Marshall, Barney and Robin.5.5/10
Pilot for How I Met Your Mother (7/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAllen CoulterMichael DinnerStarsCharlie HunnamKatey SagalMark Boone JuniorA rival gang steals the Sons' stockpile of assault rifles, while Jax's ex-wife's drug overdose leads to an emergency c-section and life-threatening surgery for their baby.5.5/10
Pilot for Sons of Anarchy (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorEli CraigStarsKirk WardTyler RossMaiara WalshFour survivors are killin' zombies and searching for a place to call home. At least they have each other.5.5/10
Pilot for Zombieland.
The show wasn't picked up. - DirectorPaul LiebersteinStarsRainn WilsonJohn KrasinskiJenna FischerDwight's brother and sister return to the farm for an aunt's funeral. Meanwhile, Todd Packer returns to make amends to his former co-workers, but Pam is skeptical.5.5/10
Pilot for The Farm.
The show (a spin-off of The Office) wasn't picked up, so the pilot was trimmed so that a subplot involving the rest of the main cast of The Office could be inserted for broadcast as an episode of The Office. - DirectorDwayne Carey-HillRich MooreGregg VanzoStarsWill ArnettJason BatemanKristin ChenowethMeet the faculty and staff of Knob Haven High on the series premiere.5.5/10
Pilot for Sit Down Shut Up (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorMark BrooksStarsJameeliah GarrettLily SparksJames AdomianTwo outspoken divas are humanity's last line of defense against the supernatural, when they're not working at the mall.5.5/10
Pilot for Supanatural.
The show wasn't picked up. - DirectorMartin DennisStarsRhys DarbyDarren BoydAlex Macqueen5.5/10
Pilot for The Amazing Dermot.
The show wasn't picked up, but the pilot aired on Comedy Showcase - a show made up of Channel 4 comedy pilots. - 1983–198830mTV-147.0 (651)TV EpisodeDirectorBob BalabanStarsBarnard HughesI.M. HobsonMax WrightTown miser Gideon Hackles spends Halloween hiding IOU's in his house, which he then rigs as haunted and invites local kids to search for the IOU's so he can scare them. This year, he gets his comeuppance.5.5/10
Pilot for Tales from the Darkside (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAnthony ChunStarsH. Jon BenjaminDan MintzEugene MirmanOn top of watching his dysfunctional family crumble around him, Bob faces the wrath of a jealous health inspector who cooks up a nasty rumor about the restaurant's choice of meat.5/10
Pilot for Bob's Burgers (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorRoss ShumanStarsJohn Ross BowieKevin SussmanClancy BrownTwo slackers try to make a paycheck working an intergalactic warship.5/10
Pilot for Dark Minions.
Essentially the show's first episode, released ahead of completion to gage public reaction. - DirectorAdam BernsteinStarsJohn GoodmanClark JohnsonMatt MalloyFollows four senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC.5/10
Pilot for Alpha House.
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJuno John LeeStarsCarlos AlazraquiLiz BenoitCorey BurtonOur ass-kickin-friend-of-the-community, Black Dynamite, takes on his childhood mentor and surrogate father: That Frog Kurtis, a Puppet TV educator turned super villain!5/10
Pilot for Black Dynamite: The Animated Series (7/10).
Aired as the show's eleventh episode. - DirectorTerry HughesStarsTopher GraceMila KunisAshton KutcherPoint Place, Wisconsin, May 17, 1976. Nerdy teenager Eric, who smokes weed with some classmates in the basement, is in heaven when his dad Red decides to hand him the keys of his flashy Vista Cruiser, at the price of extra chores and forbidding him to take it out of town, knowing that won't be obeyed anyway. The gang, which just adopted foreign exchange student Fez, is excited about a Todd Rundgren concert- Jackie uses her female charms to make sure skirt-chaser Michael Kelso would take her too.5/10
Pilot for That '70s Show (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorBernard DerrimanStarsJonah HillNat FaxonWill ForteSince his family has fallen on hard times, Allen Gregory De Longpre, one of the most pretentious 7-year olds of our time, is forced to face his greatest challenge - attending elementary school. His mature ways make it hard for him to fit in and his struggle to adjust is not limited to his classmates. As Allen Gregory makes his rounds with the faculty, his first meeting with his much-older principal takes a special turn.5/10
Pilot for Allen Gregory (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorAnthony LioiAlbert CallerosStarsMike HenrySanaa LathanKevin Michael RichardsonAfter losing his house in a divorce settlement, Cleveland moves to Virginia and marries his high school sweetheart.5/10
Pilot for The Cleveland Show (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorChristian NybyStarsJesse WhiteCarol BurnettHoward SmithInept guardian angel Harmon Cavender is given a chance to earn his wings by helping an unconventional big city woman, the young, awkward Agnes Grep.5/10
Pilot for Cavender.
The show was passed on, so the pilot was presented, with some opening and closing narration, as an episode of The Twilight Zone. - DirectorRobert B. WeideStarsJason AlexanderLarry CharlesCarol LeiferMock documentary about Seinfeld writer Larry David featuring contributions from his friends and colleagues. Larry makes a return to stand-up comedy and prepares to film a television special for HBO.5/10
Pilot for Curb Your Enthusiasm (7/10).
Aired as a TV special to test the water. Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorArt WolffStarsJerry SeinfeldMichael RichardsLee GarlingtonJerry and George argue whether an overnight visitor Jerry is expecting is coming with romantic intentions.5/10
Pilot for Seinfeld (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJ.J. AbramsStarsMatthew FoxEvangeline LillyTerry O'QuinnForty-eight survivors of an airline flight originating from Australia, bound for the U.S., which crash-lands onto an unknown island 1000 miles off course, struggle to figure out a way to survive while trying to find a way to be rescued.5/10
Pilot for Lost (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorDavid FrankelStarsKevin ConnollyAdrian GrenierKevin DillonVincent Chase is a young, hot, up-and-coming actor living in Hollywood. Tonight, he must attend the opening of his latest movie "Head On," but first he and his three best friends from back home (Queens, NY) have lunch and discuss their upcoming 10-year high school reunion. Vince is reluctant to go but his buddies urge him to go with them. At the post-premiere party, Vince's agent, Ari, hassles Eric about getting Vince to read the script for a possible new project. Over breakfast, Vince says he's not going to do "Matterhorn" on Eric's advice. The foursome goes to meet with the director where Vince impresses him so much that Ari calls later to tell him that they've offered $4 million for the part. While Turtle and Drama celebrate, Vince lets him know that Eric is not too enthused about the script. Later, Ari and Eric share a rather confrontational dinner while discussing the future of their star's career. After Vince decides to take Eric's advice not to do the movie, the boys leave for their reunion. Before they can drive off, though, they get a call with some bad news: Colin Farrell has taken the part.5/10
Pilot for Entourage (6/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJake KasdanStarsZooey DeschanelJake JohnsonMax GreenfieldAfter breaking up with her two-timing boyfriend, schoolteacher Jess Day moves in with three single males: a bartender, a womanizer, and a personal trainer.5/10
Pilot for New Girl (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorKevin BrightStarsMatt LeBlancAndrea AndersPaulo CostanzoJoey moves to Los Angeles to try his luck in Hollywood. His nephew, Michael, is thinking about living with him to get out of his mother's house, Joey's sister Gina.4.5/10
Pilot for Joey (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonS.H.I.E.L.D. puts together a special team, led by Agent Phil Coulson, to track down a mysterious man with special abilities and the young computer hacker that's encouraging him to reveal himself to the world.4.5/10
Pilot for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (5/10).
Serves as the show's first episode - DirectorButch HartmanStarsTara StrongJames Arnold TaylorRichard Steven HorvitzSprig Speevak is leaving his parent's farm for an intergalactic academy where he will learn to be a space hero. But first, he has to learn to survive space high school.4/10
Pilot for Crash Nebula.
The show (an intended The Fairly OddParents spin-off) wasn't picked up, so the pilot was placed within short The Fairly OddParents bookends for broadcast as an episode of The Fairly OddParents. - DirectorBryan SingerStarsJerry O'ConnellPortia de RossiCharity WakefieldGrandpa Sam Dracula is essentially Dracula who assembled Herman because no man was good enough for his daughter Lily, a sexy vampiress. Lily's niece Marilyn the freak is actually normal and Lily and Herman's only child, Eddie, has his werewolf tendencies surface in puberty, forcing the family to relocate to their famous 1313 Mockingbird Lane address.3.5/10
Pilot for Mockingbird Lane. Wasn't picked up. - DirectorJeff MelmanStarsCraig BierkoChris EigemanJane LeevesThe adventures of the last human on earth, an evolved cat, a hologram and a senile computer stuck three million years in deep space.3.5/10
First pilot for the US remake of Red Dwarf.
The show wasn't picked up. - DirectorJeff MelmanStarsCraig BierkoChris EigemanJane LeevesThe adventures of the last human on earth, an evolved cat, a hologram and a senile computer stuck three million years in deep space.(This represents the second pilot, currently not listed on IMDb)
3.5/10
Second pilot for the US remake of Red Dwarf.
The show wasn't picked up. - DirectorDavid SantStarsAmy YamazakiAlex KewDani HarmerJas uses an unusual technique with a piccolo to persuade Ollie to tell his mum about their relationship. Meanwhile, Chloe gives Matt an unexpected night time treat and DK gets pulled over for drink driving.2.5/10
Pilot for Coming of Age (3/10).
A pilot that was shown as a TV special prior to the show getting the green light. It was remade as the show's first episode. - DirectorElliot HegartyStarsKevin BishopJim HowickKatie Males1.5/10
Pilot for The Kevin Bishop Show (2/10).
A non-broadcast pilot that was shown on Comedy Showcase, a show made up of Channel 4's comedy pilots.