Pilot: Difference between revisions

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'''Jules''': Well, you know the shows on TV?
'''Jules''': Well, you know the shows on TV?
'''Vincent''': I don't watch TV.
'''Vincent''': I don't watch TV.
'''Jules''': Yes, but [[Deadpan Snarker|you're aware that there's an invention called television, and on that invention they show shows]]?
'''Jules''': Yes, but [[Deadpan Snarker|you're aware that there's an invention called television, and on that invention they show shows]]?
'''Vincent''': Yeah.
'''Vincent''': Yeah.
'''Jules''': Well, the way they pick the shows on TV is they make one show, and that show's called a pilot. And they show that one show to the people who pick the shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they want to make more shows. Some get accepted and become TV programs, and some don't, and become nothing.|''[[Pulp Fiction]]''}}
'''Jules''': Well, the way they pick the shows on TV is they make one show, and that show's called a pilot. And they show that one show to the people who pick the shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they want to make more shows. Some get accepted and become TV programs, and some don't, and become nothing.|''[[Pulp Fiction]]''}}


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** By the time of the spinoffs, the franchise was so large that any pilot was pretty much guaranteed a green light for a season. In fact, ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' was picked up for multiple seasons right off the bat.
** By the time of the spinoffs, the franchise was so large that any pilot was pretty much guaranteed a green light for a season. In fact, ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' was picked up for multiple seasons right off the bat.
* ''[[30 Rock]]'': Rather mediocre pilot and quite possibly the worst episode of the whole series. [[Tina Fey]] herself has said "if I never see that pilot again, it will be too soon". Also notable in that the scenes with Jenna were refilmed before it aired, [[The Other Marty|replacing Rachel Dratch with Jane Krakowski]].
* ''[[30 Rock]]'': Rather mediocre pilot and quite possibly the worst episode of the whole series. [[Tina Fey]] herself has said "if I never see that pilot again, it will be too soon". Also notable in that the scenes with Jenna were refilmed before it aired, [[The Other Marty|replacing Rachel Dratch with Jane Krakowski]].
** Ironically, ''[[Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip]]'', [[Dueling Shows|another NBC show that started in 2006 and takes place behind the scenes at a sketch comedy show]], is generally considered to have had a great pilot and quickly gone downhill from there.
** Ironically, ''[[Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip]]'', [[Dueling Shows|another NBC show that started in 2006 and takes place behind the scenes at a sketch comedy show]], is generally considered to have had a great pilot and quickly gone downhill from there.
* Incidentally, in her book ''Bossypants'', [[Tina Fey]], while proclaiming her own negative opinion of the ''30 Rock'' pilot, cited ''[[Cheers]]'' as an example of a sitcom with a great pilot.
* Incidentally, in her book ''Bossypants'', [[Tina Fey]], while proclaiming her own negative opinion of the ''30 Rock'' pilot, cited ''[[Cheers]]'' as an example of a sitcom with a great pilot.
* ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'' shot a pilot featuring most of the actors who become the first season cast but very different sets and a radically different format, using only the flimsiest of plots to link together not entire songs, but a series of medleys, mostly not by the main cast. The pilot was never aired, but it was intercut with some new footage in the form of bridging sequence with Rassan Patterson (who had not been cast for the pilot) and released as a direct-to-video feature with a framing story of how his character came to join the band—in the final sequence, quite obviously filmed much later than the rest of the episode, we're offhandedly told that three members of the pilot cast had suddenly moved out of town, leading to the Kid's invitation to join the band (No similar explanation is given for Stacy and Renee, who in the pilot had clearly been meant as supporting characters rather than band-members).
* ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'' shot a pilot featuring most of the actors who become the first season cast but very different sets and a radically different format, using only the flimsiest of plots to link together not entire songs, but a series of medleys, mostly not by the main cast. The pilot was never aired, but it was intercut with some new footage in the form of bridging sequence with Rassan Patterson (who had not been cast for the pilot) and released as a direct-to-video feature with a framing story of how his character came to join the band—in the final sequence, quite obviously filmed much later than the rest of the episode, we're offhandedly told that three members of the pilot cast had suddenly moved out of town, leading to the Kid's invitation to join the band (No similar explanation is given for Stacy and Renee, who in the pilot had clearly been meant as supporting characters rather than band-members).
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[South Park]]'' has three pilots. In the first one, Cartman is called Kenny, [[No Name Given|no name is given to the other three]], and both "Kenny" (Cartman) & Nameless Kenny die. In the second pilot, used with the signature cutout animation, the town of South Park is firmly established and the characters have personalities, to the point where Kyle is Jewish. All of the characters have the names they currently have, and Kenny's the only one who dies. Kyle even starts the [[Catch Phrase]], "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!", although "You bastards!" had not yet come into existence. This could be considered [[Canon]], but in Season 4, the kids made it themselves, to provide example of something kids would make. [[Comedy Central]] saw the second pilot, and they asked Trey Parker & Matt Stone to make a 22-minute pilot. They made it with cutout animation, and it was accepted (although alterations were made before it actually aired, such as dropping Kenny's [[Back From the Dead]] stunt from the ending). Later episodes used Maya instead for [[Conspicuous CG]].
* ''[[South Park]]'' has three pilots. In the first one, Cartman is called Kenny, [[No Name Given|no name is given to the other three]], and both "Kenny" (Cartman) & Nameless Kenny die. In the second pilot, used with the signature cutout animation, the town of South Park is firmly established and the characters have personalities, to the point where Kyle is Jewish. All of the characters have the names they currently have, and Kenny's the only one who dies. Kyle even starts the [[Catch Phrase]], "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!", although "You bastards!" had not yet come into existence. This could be considered [[Canon]], but in Season 4, the kids made it themselves, to provide example of something kids would make. [[Comedy Central]] saw the second pilot, and they asked Trey Parker & Matt Stone to make a 22-minute pilot. They made it with cutout animation, and it was accepted (although alterations were made before it actually aired, such as dropping Kenny's [[Back from the Dead]] stunt from the ending). Later episodes used Maya instead for [[Conspicuous CG]].
* [[Executive Meddling]] forced the Pilot Episode of ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' to be broadcast as the 11th Episode.
* [[Executive Meddling]] forced the Pilot Episode of ''[[Robot Chicken]]'' to be broadcast as the 11th Episode.
* The Pilot Episode of ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' was 16Min instead of the usual 11. Frylock was more robotic & subservient to Shake.
* The Pilot Episode of ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' was 16Min instead of the usual 11. Frylock was more robotic & subservient to Shake.
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* The pilot for ''[[Comic Book/The Amazing Screw On Head|The Amazing Screw On Head]]'' animated series. Though the series was not picked up, the (awesome) pilot is avaliable online and on DVD.
* The pilot for ''[[Comic Book/The Amazing Screw On Head|The Amazing Screw On Head]]'' animated series. Though the series was not picked up, the (awesome) pilot is avaliable online and on DVD.
* ''[[Futurama]]'''s pilot had a notable title, "Space Pilot 3000". (The second episode was named "The Series Has Landed".)
* ''[[Futurama]]'''s pilot had a notable title, "Space Pilot 3000". (The second episode was named "The Series Has Landed".)
* ''[[Ka Blam!]]'' had "Your Real Best Friend!" for Sniz and Fondue, Prometheus and Bob, and Henry and June, "[[Ka Blam!]]! Gets Results!" had the Life with Loopy pilot, and the [[Action League NOW]] pilot aired as part of ''[[All That]]''.
* ''[[KaBlam!]]'' had "Your Real Best Friend!" for Sniz and Fondue, Prometheus and Bob, and Henry and June, "[[KaBlam!]]! Gets Results!" had the Life with Loopy pilot, and the [[Action League NOW]] pilot aired as part of ''[[All That]]''.
* Sniz and Fondue's REAL pilot is a rarely-seen short called "Psyched For Snuppa", directed by [[Courage the Cowardly Dog|Jon R. Dilworth]]. Aside from starring Snuppa and Bianca and featuring Sniz and Fondue (called "Squeaky") as supporting characters, it pretty much is identical to the eventual show.
* Sniz and Fondue's REAL pilot is a rarely-seen short called "Psyched For Snuppa", directed by [[Courage the Cowardly Dog|Jon R. Dilworth]]. Aside from starring Snuppa and Bianca and featuring Sniz and Fondue (called "Squeaky") as supporting characters, it pretty much is identical to the eventual show.
* The pilot for ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'' was shown on ''[[Oh Yeah Cartoons|Oh Yeah! Cartoons]]''. It was known as ''My Neighbor Was a Teenage Robot'' and had a different art direction. It was eventually remade as the episode "It Came from Next Door".
* The pilot for ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'' was shown on ''[[Oh Yeah Cartoons|Oh Yeah! Cartoons]]''. It was known as ''My Neighbor Was a Teenage Robot'' and had a different art direction. It was eventually remade as the episode "It Came from Next Door".
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** Joe Murray intended for Rocko to be a light yellow, and animated him as such in the pilot. However, [[Merchandise-Driven]] - based [[Executive Meddling]] forced him to change him to his final beige color, which required the pilot to be recolored digitally.
** Joe Murray intended for Rocko to be a light yellow, and animated him as such in the pilot. However, [[Merchandise-Driven]] - based [[Executive Meddling]] forced him to change him to his final beige color, which required the pilot to be recolored digitally.
* The pilot of ''[[Regular Show]]'' was created for [[wikipedia:Cartoonstitute|Cartoonstitute]]. In July 2011, the pilot was extended slightly and became the episode "First Day".
* The pilot of ''[[Regular Show]]'' was created for [[wikipedia:Cartoonstitute|Cartoonstitute]]. In July 2011, the pilot was extended slightly and became the episode "First Day".
* ''[[Kirby of the Stars]]'' had a four-minute clip made to celebrate the release of ''[[Kirby]] Air Ride'' in Japan. The pilot can be viewed [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXHME5248pM here].
* ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'' had a four-minute clip made to celebrate the release of ''[[Kirby]] Air Ride'' in Japan. The pilot can be viewed [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXHME5248pM here].
* The ''[[Recess]]'' pilot, "The Break In" was made in 1996 and was aired as the first episode in 1997...at least the altered version. The "pilot" version had ''very'' different character designs, such as no one wearing their main outfit (except Mikey and the non-main six cast), T.J. being tall and skinny, Vince looking like a teenager, Spinelli looking like a kindergartener, and Gretchen with black hair (Gus wasn't in the pilot). When it aired as the first episode, it was re-drawn to look more like the series proper. Clips of the pilot version were seen in an ABC Saturday Mornings promo on the 1997 VHS to ''[[101 Dalmatians]]'' (live-action), as well as certain station identifications for [[One Saturday Morning]] (depending on the ABC station). The pilot gave a good example of the show's setup and character personalities while ''not'' giving clunky exposition dialogue.
* The ''[[Recess]]'' pilot, "The Break In" was made in 1996 and was aired as the first episode in 1997...at least the altered version. The "pilot" version had ''very'' different character designs, such as no one wearing their main outfit (except Mikey and the non-main six cast), T.J. being tall and skinny, Vince looking like a teenager, Spinelli looking like a kindergartener, and Gretchen with black hair (Gus wasn't in the pilot). When it aired as the first episode, it was re-drawn to look more like the series proper. Clips of the pilot version were seen in an ABC Saturday Mornings promo on the 1997 VHS to ''[[101 Dalmatians]]'' (live-action), as well as certain station identifications for [[One Saturday Morning]] (depending on the ABC station). The pilot gave a good example of the show's setup and character personalities while ''not'' giving clunky exposition dialogue.


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[[Category:Episodes]]
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[[Category:Pilot]]
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