What Is A Pilot? 

A pilot is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a TV network.

In an era of Netflix, where we log in and see the whole season of a show at once, this process seems old-fashioned, but big household networks are still currently run by commercials and so they still use this procedure; ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC.

Pilots are made so a network can evaluate whether it’s worth making an entire series out of the show; it’s essentially a test episode. If the pilot gets “picked up”, meaning the network has decided to finance the rest of the series, and the show will air as a series in the fall, the pilot typically ends up airing as first episode.

What is Pilot Season?

Pilot season is just industry jargon for the busiest time of the year in entertainment. Like Tax Season for accountants.  

Running January through May, pilot season is when pilots for the upcoming season are ordered, made, and then either picked up or fade into the abyss, crushing peoples hopes and dreams in the process. Harsh, I know, but so true.

Here’s the schedule breakdown;

Summer -> Fall
Writers pitch their script ideas to network & studio big wigs. Network & studio executives then decide which ideas they want pilot scripts written for. Insert large number here to represent how many pitches these executives have to listen to.

January
Meetings are held, and important discussions happen regarding which scripts are going to be chosen for pilot orders. Writers hearts are either broken or overjoyed at the life changing opportunity to make their vision a reality. Or version of reality, because you know, its TV.  

February -> April
Pilots are ordered and staffed, and the hustle of auditions goes into full swing. There is laughter, there are tears – depending on if it’s a drama or comedy (see what I did there). Contracts are signed, pilots are then filmed, and peoples hopes, dreams and literally their futures are hanging in the balance until May.

May
Network execs start ordering these pilots to series right before “upfronts”. Public announcements begin, people start pooping their pants because either their whole lives have just been uprooted or their show was canned, and they need to quickly focus on finding other work.

Pilot Season Upfronts

“Upfronts” are when the Networks head to New York to announce their Fall schedules, show trailers and snippets of shows and sell advertisers commercial slots at a discounted rate “upfront”.

Why I’m Pooping My Pants

Why do I suddenly care about Pilot Season? Because Oakley is in the game this year. She filmed her first pilot for Fox and now as we near the end of April in this 2019 pilot season, I am 50% excited and 50% terrified and 100% sure I’m pooping my pants either way it goes about the impending announcement Fox will be making regarding their Fall Comedy line up.

There ended up being 6 comedies this year and no one knows how many Fox will be picking up, if any. I can’t even breathe thinking about this process. I will definitely keep you all posted as I hear things. If you have any specific questions on pilots or the pilot process, feel free to message me!

2019 FOX COMEDY Pilots

ADAM & EVE
Writer(s): Jon Beckerman
Producer(s): Claude Meunier, Luc Wiseman
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Logline: Based on the French-Canadian format, ADAM & EVE follows one couple at three stages of their relationship — young and passionate, middle-aged with kids, and navigating retirement. It’s a comedy about the big questions: What makes a marriage last? Do people ever really change? And, after 40 years together, why can’t we pick a place for dinner without it turning into a whole, you know, “thing?” (Single camera)
Cast: Odette Annable, Ryan Hansen

BLESS THE HARTS — ordered straight-to-series
Writer(s): Emily Spivey
Producer(s): Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Seth Cohen, Kristen Wiig
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Logline: BLESS THE HARTS follows a group of Southerners who are always broke as a joke, and struggling for the American dream of status and wealth. What they don’t realize is that they’re already rich, in friends, family and laughter. (Animated)
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Jillian Bell, Ike Barinholtz

DUNCANVILLE — ordered straight-to-series
Writer(s): Mike Scully & Julie Scully
Producer(s): Amy Poehler, Dave Becky
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television/Universal Television
Logline: DUNCANVILLE follows Duncan, a spectacularly average 15-year-old boy, along with his friends and family. His high-strung mom, Annie, constantly is trying to prevent her son from ruining his life.
Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Wiz Khalifa

GENIUSES (W.T.)
Writer(s): Lon Zimmet
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Logline: A family comedy about a blue-collar couple in South Jersey trying to get by and raise four kids, three of whom just happen to be certified geniuses. (Multi-camera)
Cast: Maggie Lawson, Jason Biggs, Connor Kalopsis, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Jack Stanton, Ashley Boettcher, Oakley Bull

PATTY’S AUTO
Writer(s): Darlene Hunt
Producer(s): Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, Patrice Banks
Director: Betsy Thomas
Studio: Brownstone Productions/Warner Bros. Television
Logline: Inspired by Patrice Banks’ Girls Auto Clinic (an auto repair shop with all female mechanics), Patty’s Auto is an ensemble comedy centering on Patty and the eclectic women who work for her. (Multi-camera)
Cast: Carra Patterson, Joanna Adler, Sarah Levy, Paola Lázaro, Kyla Pratt, Jonathan Sadowski

RICHARD LOVELY
Writer(s): Billy Finnegan
Producer(s): Kat Coiro
Director: Alex Hardcastle
Studio: 20th Century Fox Television
Logline: Richard Lovely is the disgruntled author of the best-selling children’s book series, Mr. Mouse. He doesn’t hate children, but rather just everything about them. After a publicity fiasco involving an unexpectedly savvy 9-year-old kid, Mr. Mouse appears in Richard’s real life as he is forced into an unlikely father/son relationship that will change his life forever. (Single camera)
Cast: Thomas Lennon, Mason Shneiderman, Wendie Malick, Nicole Sun, Asif Ali, Nicole Richie