Good TV Pilots

Dream Team on Sky One. I was hooked on that after the pilot episode. Probably shit by todays standards, but still good entertainment for 1997!
 
Tbf, before it blew up over the past year, the first year of Breaking Bad didn't exactly get the same overwhelming response it gets now. I guess marathoning the whole thing kinda helps hide some of the flaws of it from the writers strike meaning it was shorter than expected. It's definitely grown and matured with each passing season.

Mind you, I still really really enjoyed the first season.
 
I watched BB from the get go (started after only 3 had aired in US) and loved it from the very first episode. Probably one of the few who rate season 1 as better than second. I loved the dark comedy elements in S1.
 
In fact, I completely forgot about New Girl. Despite having a cast member drop out after the pilot, that was actually a good episode. Because there isn't much of an apparent storyline like with HIMYM, they could focus more on the comedy, and it worked. A shame Coach didn't last though.
 
Person of Interest had a great pilot. It got the best pilot test rating since 15 years apparently.
 
Big Bang Theory started pretty consistently and hit the ground running. Not a knock your socks off pilot, but looking back at the first episode now the characters, acting and writing were already strong and it doesn't have that "wtf" sea change you get from watching first episodes of shows like Friends, Simpsons etc.
 
Prophet_of_Doom said:
Big Bang Theory started pretty consistently and hit the ground running. Not a knock your socks off pilot, but looking back at the first episode now the characters, acting and writing were already strong and it doesn't have that "wtf" sea change you get from watching first episodes of shows like Friends, Simpsons etc.
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That's one of the worst of the lot for me. With Sheldon, they added so many mannerisms, such as germophobia, yet early on he was shaking hands with Gablehauser. I know it's only a small thing, but continuity errors bug me. And in the very first scene when they're going to 'donate sperm', how exactly was Sheldon going to do that? Then he tried to impress Penny in that episode, something he'd just never try to do. I'd say Leonard was the only one who hardly changed at all. Also when Raj starts drinking, would say that he has literally never spoken to a woman in his entire life. Season 2 onwards was much better though.
 
Liam147 said:
That's one of the worst of the lot for me. With Sheldon, they added so many mannerisms, such as germophobia, yet early on he was shaking hands with Gablehauser. I know it's only a small thing, but continuity errors bug me. And in the very first scene when they're going to 'donate sperm', how exactly was Sheldon going to do that? Then he tried to impress Penny in that episode, something he'd just never try to do. I'd say Leonard was the only one who hardly changed at all. Also when Raj starts drinking, would say that he has literally never spoken to a woman in his entire life. Season 2 onwards was much better though.
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Can't argue with the 'continuity errors' but would still argue that the pilot holds its own against later episodes/series far better than most series. The only thing that has changed is some of the backstory.
 
Prophet_of_Doom said:
Big Bang Theory started pretty consistently and hit the ground running. Not a knock your socks off pilot, but looking back at the first episode now the characters, acting and writing were already strong and it doesn't have that "wtf" sea change you get from watching first episodes of shows like Friends, Simpsons etc.
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That show has faded really badly but the pilot imo was very good.
 
Nick 0208 Ldn said:
Well tHat pilot did see a changes in the regular cast, two in fact.
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Just rewatched the pilot and I forgot about the changes
Franklin and Ivanava were much better than the ones in the pilot.
Still stands up very well, apart from the dreadful cheesy music
The opening titles and music are possible the best if any sci- fi series.

I have to watch it all again now.
 
Prophet_of_Doom said:
Big Bang Theory started pretty consistently and hit the ground running. Not a knock your socks off pilot, but looking back at the first episode now the characters, acting and writing were already strong and it doesn't have that "wtf" sea change you get from watching first episodes of shows like Friends, Simpsons etc.
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Big Bang Theory pilot was crap, I thought. Also had a different actress playing Penny.
 
The shield was brilliant.
 
DoctorEvil said:
House had a good pilot. The characters personalities were a bit off compared to how they were presented later, but the show was good from the start.
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The way Wilson was basically a plot device, designed to introduce House as a brilliant diagnostician with a talented team on his hands, always looked a bit... awkward to me, Robert Sean Leonard was a little lifeless with some of his lines through no fault of his own.

But otherwise yeah, the pilot introduced the structure, the format that carried House through the first three seasons and never disappeared fully.
 
The Homeland pilot really had me at "...has turned." Since then, I have been a fan. Great season so far.
 
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