From Diane recovering from abandonment by finding a community in “Cheers,” to mobster Tony waiting for his psychiatrist appointment in “The Sopranos,” the pilot episode makes—or breaks—a TV series. These introductory episodes set the mood, introduce protagonists, and establish a show’s initial conflicts and goals. Keep reading to learn why they’re called “pilots” and how best to trek the pilot-to-TV show process.
“Abbott Elementary” Credit: ABC/Prashant Gupta
A TV pilot is a standalone episode used to test a series’ chance of success. The term “pilot” refers to the fact that this episode guides everything, from tone to main characters to overarching story. It’s also a marketing tool—pilots sell the show to executives and networks.
The different types of pilots include:
- Premise pilot: The world-builder that introduces the show’s primary characters and plot. If greenlit, it usually runs as the episode premiere.
- Proof of concept: A script set in the middle of a series so executives get an idea of what a typical episode might look like.
- Backdoor pilot: An episode of an already-existing series focused on supporting characters to advocate for a spinoff.
- Put pilot: A pilot episode that a network agrees to air without an official guarantee the show will get picked up.
- Test run: Several episodes that air as a short-run test series.
- Unsold pilot: A pilot that was produced and shot but never broadcast or turned into a series.
A pilot episode is essentially a test run of a TV series concept—but often, it also acts as the series premiere if the show makes it to air. Occasionally, though, a pilot will need to be reworked and redeveloped even after getting greenlit. This was the case with HBO's "Game of Thrones," which famously had to reshoot its original pilot, recasting some of its most iconic characters in the process.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” Credit: John P. Johnson/ HBO
Traditionally, pilot season runs from January until April or early May. The busiest time of year for those involved in TV production is when pilots for the upcoming TV season are produced, reviewed, and chosen—or denied.
What is pilot season, exactly?
The definition of a “pilot season” has changed drastically over the years. The set schedule now primarily applies to major networks with traditional weekly TV seasons, such as NBC, Fox, and CBS. Streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu have upended that concept by treating pilots throughout the year.
Everything You Need to Know About Booking a Pilot 
“Ghosts” Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS
You booked a pilot—congratulations. Too often, I’ve seen actors view booking a pilot as a jackpot win rather than simply an important milestone. It’s the equivalent of an invitation for a third date rather than a marriage proposal. When you get to the table read, for example, as with a third date, you still need to have a deft strategy and bring a tight game. This is not the time to be sloppy or leave anything to chance. To keep this attitude in mind, it’s helpful to understand exactly what to expect once you book a pilot—so here’s everything you should know about the process of going from pilot to TV show.
Be flexible
Before you start shooting, you’ll sit down for that table read. A tip when you’re in this room: Always hold the script with one hand, even if you’re the only person in the room doing so. Gripping the script with one hand means that you can be more in your body, less rigid, and less inclined to act from the neck up. This demonstrates your malleability and inherently positions you as an actor who can make adjustments.
That attitude is important for the pilot process overall, according to Annie Chang, an actor and producer who’s been a TV series regular. I asked her about the process after booking a major pilot.
“Remember what you did to get the part, but also remember to stay open. A pilot is very much a process in discovering what the show is going to be, so it is constantly changing,” Chang says. “Often the producers still have characters and plot points that they’re not sure about. There are still elements of the greater story they don’t know if they are going to keep or discard. Show that you are malleable to all notes or feedback. Demonstrate your ability to make adjustments: You can change as the show changes.”
Enjoy the present
Keep that in mind as the pilot moves on to shoot. Chang says actors should remember during the process to “be grateful for the experience and attempt to appreciate and enjoy the present.”
“It’s easy to get carried away and dream about the pilot going to series. But the reality is, the destiny of the pilot is out of your control, so make peace with this fact. The pilot might not get picked up, you might get recast, or you might start shooting Season 1, but then it never airs,” she adds. “Be grateful that you got the pilot and focus on the work. Getting the pilot alone means you are in the top percentile here. Enjoy it and give yourself credit for all it took for you to get there.”
What Is a Table Read? How Actors Can Thrive During the Process Be patient
Once the pilot is shot, it is cut and re-cut into a finalized version and screened repeatedly before executives, studio heads, producers, showrunners, and test marketing groups. It’s not uncommon for trusted family members and friends of these industry elites to be given private links or screeners to the pilot and asked to weigh in.
If all goes well, there is a series order. When a pilot makes it to a series order, you’ll shoot a set number of episodes. However, remember that your job still isn’t secure. You’re still being scrutinized and observed by producers and executives for how watchable, likable, and relatable you are onscreen.
Once a show is in the can, it needs to be edited and given a release date. Some pilots sit on the shelf forever and never see the light of day. Some series have release dates that are then postponed because of current events (for example, school shootings or acts of violence can delay the release of pilots). Actors will be given instructions about how much they can and cannot discuss or promote the show at this stage before it is—or is not—released.
Engage the public
Press is a must for a pilot that has gone to series. Actors should receive media training and will often be expected to promote the show on their own social media channels. Once the series is released the actors are subjected to a new level of scrutiny: what the public thinks of them and their characters. Much of how you are received is out of your control. The best you can do is be honest, authentic, and positive over social media and the press.
Have fun
At the end of the day, the pilot process should be enjoyable. Allow yourself to relish every moment of it by laying the groundwork you need to support you. It’s about more than just keeping your job (though that is a nice bonus). It’s about flexing your prodigious power as an actor so that this is yet another experience where you solidify your connection to your craft.
Now that you know what it takes to go from pilot to TV show, be prepared the next time you get this opportunity.
Ready to find your pilot? Check out Backstage’s TV audition listings!
