What Is a TV Pilot? The Test Episode of a Series

Pilot season and the upfronts

US broadcast networks have traditionally worked on a calendar known as pilot season. Pilots are cast and shot between January and April so the networks can choose their new shows by May. That’s when the upfronts happen: a week of presentations in New York where each network unveils its new shows to advertisers, who buy commercial time “up front” for the new season. The shows that get picked up go into production over the summer for a fall premiere.

The calendar has loosened over the years. Networks cast some pilots in the fall to get a head start, while cable and streaming projects are cast throughout the year. And right after the pickups, some shows recast roles before production starts.

How a pilot gets made

A pilot usually goes through these stages, which can take months or even years:

1. Script: the creative team writes the episode, which has to introduce the world, the characters and the tone of the series.
2. Casting: the main cast is chosen. It’s a key stage, because it defines the characters who will carry the whole series.
3. Shoot: the pilot is filmed as a real production, with sets, wardrobe and a full crew.
4. Evaluation: the network, the platform or the investors watch it and decide whether the project has a future.
5. Decision: if it gets picked up, the season goes into production. If it doesn’t, the pilot may never air, although some unaired pilots are released later on.

What booking a pilot means for you

Pilot casting is among the most demanding and, at the same time, the most promising. The people choosing know they aren’t casting someone for one episode but someone who can carry a character for years, so they look at every detail.

For series regular roles, the process usually runs through a pre-read, a callback and a producer session. Before the final round, your agent negotiates your rate and you sign a test deal: the contract that kicks in if you’re cast. Then you test for the studio executives and, if they choose you, for the network.

There are roles of every size. Besides the series regulars, a pilot has guest stars and co-stars, the small speaking parts we explain in what is a booking. And if TV is your goal, read how to get cast in TV shows.

Even if the pilot isn’t picked up, the experience counts: it’s a professional shoot for your acting resume, it leaves you with contacts on the production team and, if you can get the footage and are allowed to use it, material for your acting reel. If you want to try, check the open TV and series casting calls and apply to the ones that fit your profile.

Tip: If you’re called in for a pilot, prepare as deeply as you would for any confirmed project. The team is deciding whether they want you in that role for the long haul, not just for one episode, and your commitment and preparation should show it.

What’s the difference between a pilot and a teaser?

A pilot is a full episode, with a script, a cast and a real production, that shows what the series would be like. A teaser, also called a sizzle reel in this context, is a short promotional piece, usually just a few minutes long or less, that condenses the world of the project to spark interest from investors, networks or platforms.

Both are meant to show a series’ potential, but the pilot is longer and more complete. Keep in mind that “teaser” also means the short preview released before a premiere, aimed at the audience.

Frequently asked questions

What is a TV pilot?

It’s the test episode, or first episode, of a series. It lets the network, the studio or the streaming platform judge whether the project has the potential to be ordered for a full season. It’s shot with a real cast and production, as a sample of what the series would look like.

If I’m cast in a pilot, am I cast in the whole series?

That’s the most likely outcome if the pilot is picked up: in general, the cast stays on when the project moves forward. But keep two things in mind. A pickup is never guaranteed, and sometimes the production recasts a role before shooting the season.

What is pilot season?

It’s the stretch, traditionally from January to April, when US broadcast networks cast and shoot most of their pilots before choosing their new shows in May, at the upfronts. Networks also cast some pilots in the fall, and cable and streaming projects are cast year-round.

What’s the difference between a pilot and a teaser?

A pilot is a full episode, with a script, a cast and a real production, that shows what the series would be like. A teaser or sizzle reel is a short piece, a few minutes long at most, that presents the world of the project in condensed form. Both show a series’ potential, but the pilot is longer and more complete.

Is it worth auditioning for a pilot?

Yes. If the project moves forward, it can mean work for one season or several. And even if the pilot isn’t picked up, you add a professional shoot to your resume and make contacts on the production team who may keep you in mind for future projects.

Does every series start with a pilot?

It depends on the project and on who pays for it. Sometimes a pilot is shot to convince a network or a streaming platform, and other times the series is ordered straight from the scripts, the team and the plan for the season, with no test episode. Streamers have long relied on these straight-to-series orders.