I remember in the 80s and 90s when sitcoms would start out with a pilot episode. Then after that things would change either a change of person, or change of set, or etc. On Today sitcoms I noticed they don't really do that I know writers are already lazy with sitcom writing.
shareYes, all TV shows have pilot episodes (it is just the first episode of the series) - although the "pilot episode" is seen a lot more in America than the UK. For example, I don't know if you have ever seen LOST, which began in 2004 and has now ended, but that had two pilot episodes, basically just to test the water and see how big of an audience it attracts.
P.S. if you haven't seen LOST, I highly recommend it!!
I've heard about LOST I've never seen it.
Thanks for the responses I guess that make sense.
Yes, they do. A pilot is nearly always part of the development process. Here's how it usually goes: showrunner pitches the idea to the network. The network likes the idea and orders a pilot. The network likes the pilot, so they order several episodes. Very rarely does a network order a season of a show without even seeing a pilot. And very rarely is someone going to invest in filming more than one episode of a show without a network planning to run it.
There's nothing good about running the pilot, then making a major change for the rest of the series. That is actually lazy writing. These days, there is more concern about continuity, so if a change is needed, they will usually film a new first episode. The original pilot will not be shown, but sometimes is included on the DVD release.
Yes they do
shareWere can I see the other pilot for Lost?
shareOf course. Every TV show has a pilot episode. That's they call the very first episode.
Volker Flenske: (While torturing David) I don't know why you're doing this to yourself!
The Pilot for Lost is actually the first two episodes if I remember correctly.
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Person of Interests pilot has a different set than the series plus the equipment gets more sophisticated.
BBC's Sherlock had an unaired pilot that's available to see on Netflix. It's a good example of how much more a production company can do with better finances.
The Walking Dead's pilot is the entire first season.
Justified's pilot was shot in Pennsylvania while the rest of the series is in Kentucky. Ava's house and other exteriors changed.
Supernatural changed subtly. The two brothers and the car didn't change but the scripts got tighter and the mythology evolved in the first season.
Burn Notice's Gabrielle Anwar lost her accent and her character softened after the pilot.
House, M.D.'s Hugh Laurie's accent improved audibly between the Pilot and the second episode.
Those are the only ones I can recall right now. Most series have some changes but when it's an independent production that's been ordered by a cable channel you won't notice them so much because the first season seems to have been shopped ordered and bought before much if any production has happened.
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