The Pilot Thread

[Khan]

I felt like I was watching a National Airlines commercial.  ("Hi!  I'm Karen!  Fly me!")

[Franko]

The infamous Acting Sheriff from 1991, with Robert Goulet, John Putch, Hillary Bailey Smith, Ruth Kobart, Diane Delano and a young Lee Tergesen.

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[DRW50]

Thanks @Franko I had never heard of this pilot. Certainly, a decent cast even as I have little interest in Goulet's self-parody (which Will Ferrell later made a meal out of). I enjoyed Diane Delano on Northern Exposure, and I've long had a soft spot for Lee Tergesen (there used to be some early '10s pilot on Vimeo about a woman in New Orleans whose husband was killed in the line of duty, and she solves crimes - Tergesen pops up for one scene with an... interesting accent). And of course, HBS. It's a shame this just has a lot of loud sitcom "acting" and one-liners gone amok...and the laugh track is too loud.

Here's Lookwell, another pilot that got a lot of talk due to the pedigree of talent behind the camera, like Conan O'Brien. The show was prized by the outgoing head of NBC. The incoming head, not so much. It's actually a fun pilot, even as I also was never quite into Adam West's self-parody routine. He's put to good use here, and the pilot, while obviously absurd, has a few touches of reality that serve as good balance (namely, that his trusty assistants slowly become more and more horrified by how stupid and reckless he is).

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Edited June 27, 2024 by DRW50

[Khan]

It figures that former "Night Court" writers Gary Murphy and Larry Strawther wrote and produced that POS.  

[DRW50]

Dissensions, a pilot for a web series that never was, trying to generate interest based on "audience participation." Set in a greenscreen bar, there are a slew of stories, some of which grow increasingly deranged as they go along. You can feel the cheapness, but it's an interesting concept. I can't embed but just click on the link.

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Edited July 1, 2024 by DRW50

[DRW50]

I never knew of this show, but it's apparently a rare pilot for Nick show Taina that aired from 2001-2002. LaTangela Newsome, who played Maritza on the show, uploaded it.

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Edited July 13, 2024 by DRW50

[DRW50]

This was found a year or two ago, apparently. Carol Lawrence hosting Mike Douglas, cut down into a pilot for a talk show of her own. Robert Goulet, her husband at the time, is along for the ride. This is from summer/fall 1969 based on the fall preview comment at one point.

The best part is probably her fashion montage at about 7 minutes in.

At about 15 minutes, Carol talks with David Susskind about how permissive daytime soaps are compared to primetime. He calls them an "orgy of rape, incest, abortion," and says they get away with it because of housewives enjoying that type of material while their husbands can't see it.

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Edited July 24, 2024 by DRW50

[Paul Raven]

A Fine Romance CBS Aired July 20 1983

Based on the UK sitcom that starred Judi dench.

Cast Julie Kavner (Rhoda,The Simpsons) Leo Burmester, Kristen Meadows (OLTL,SB) and Kevin Conroy (SFT, Dyn)

An awkward romance b/w 2 'misfits'

[DRW50]

That would be interesting to see. The Judi version (with her real life husband) is charming. Kristen is likely playing Julie's sister.

[Paul Raven]

Some pilots spun off from movies

Bell, Book and Candle  NBC 9/8/76. Writer: Richard DeRoy, from John Van Druten’s 1950 play
and the 1958 feature film.

Gillian Holroyd is a young witch who'd like to forget her supernatural abilities and just work in her art gallery with her bumbling Aunt Enid.
Unfortunately, she is constantly hampered by her warlock brother Nicky and his get-rich-quick schemes—all of which depend for success on her superior ability at witchcraft. To make matters worse, Alex, a New York editor, moves into the apartment above the gallery—and falls in love with Gillian.

Starring:Yvette Mimieux, Doris Roberts, John Pleshette,Michael Murphy,

Captain Newman, M.D. NBC 8/19/72. 30 minutes.
Jim Hutton stars as an unorthodox Air Force psychiatrist along with Joan Van Ark and Bill Fiore, in this pilot based on the movie, which starred Gregory Peck and Tony Curtis.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. ABC 7/4/75. 30 minutes. 
A situation comedy, inspired by the 1967 film that starred Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Sidney Poitier, revolving around what happens when a socially prominent white girl marries an upper class black man and the two families become one.
Cast: Leslie Charleson (as Joanna Prentiss), Bill Overton (John Prentiss),
Eleanor Parker (Christine Drayton), Richard Dysart (Matt Drayton),
Lee Weaver (Ralph Prentiss), Madge Sinclair (Sarah Prentiss), Rosetta Le Noir (Tillie),

Holly Golightly. ABC 1969. 30 minutes.
Based on the 1961 Paramount film Breakfast at Tiffany’ s, adapted from Truman Capote’s book. In the pilot, Holly (Stefanie Powers) moves into a new apartment—and accidentally sparks an all-night party filled with dozens of strange people doing weird things. Also featured are George Furth, Jack Kruschen, and Jean-Pierre Aumont.

The Owl and the Pussycat. NBC 12/29/75. 30 minutes. 
A sitcom adaptation of Bill Manhoff’s 1964 play and the 1970 motion picture starring George Segal and Barbra Streisand. Buck Henry and Bernadette Peters take over the roles of a frustrated writer and a frustrated actress who become friends.
Cast: Buck Henry (Felix), Bernadette Peters (Doris), Liam Dunn (Mr.
Crumley), Dorothy Neuman (Mrs. Crumley), Val Basiglio (The Man).

What’s Up, Doc? ABC 5/27/78. 30 minutes. Warner Bros. Television.

Based on the 1972 movie, which starred Ryan O’Neal as a stiff geology professor who, although engaged to an uptight woman (Madeline Kahn), falls in love with a wild, carefree, fun-loving incarnation of Bugs Bunny (Barbra Streisand) while on a trip to San Francisco. In the pilot version, Barry Van Dyke is the professor, Caroline McWilliams is his
former fiancée, and Harriet Hall is his free-spirited new love.
Cast: Barry Van Dyke (as Howard Bannister), Harriet Hall (Judy Maxwell), Caroline McWilliams (Claudia), Don Porter (Urban Wyatt), Neva Patterson (Amanda Wyatt), Jeffrey Kramer (Fabian Leck).

 

[DRW50]

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@Vee You might be interested in this. It has among others Brooke Langton (later of Melrose), William McNamara (very good in Texasville), and the lovely Dana Ashbrook, saddled with the Caesar cut I never liked on any man.

[Vee]

Oy vey, not Brooke Langton.  But I do like the other two. McNamara was so creepy in Copycat.

[Khan]

That has to be one of the most low-budget, low-energy openings and pilots I have ever watched.

[Paul Raven]

Some pilots in contention for ABC's Fall 79 schedule. Shows that were picked up for Fall and later in the season in bold.

Benson stars Robert Guillaume as the Man Friday of an inexperienced governor. His duties include management of the governor's mansion and his 8- year -old daughter. Producers: Susan Harris, Tony Thomas and Paul Junger Witt for Witt /Thomas /Harris Productions. 

Bizarre stars Richard Dawson as the host of this half -hour collection of off -center sketches and celebrity interviews. Producers: Alan Blye and Bob Einstein for Blye /Einstein Productions. Camp Grizzly concerns the adventures of an oddball camp counselor and his feisty campers. Producers: Nick Vanoff and Bob Klane for Nick Vanoff Productions.

Detective School -One Flight Up concerns *. night school for aspiring private detectives. Pro ducers: Bernie Kukoff and Jeff Harris for Boiney Stoones Productions.

For Heavens Sake stars Ray Bolger as Simon Amister, a wise old angel who assumes various physical identities to intervene in people's lives at crucial turning points. Executive producers: Bill Blinn and Jerry Thorpe for Bline /Thorpe/ Viacom Productions.

Redd Foxx is both the title and star of this series about a bartender whose friendship with leaving him his fortune. Executive producer: Redd Foxx for Redd Foxx Productions.

Hart In San Francisco concerns a San Francisco'police officer who sends a bumbling detective to Scotland Yard and gets an Inspector Clousseau -type in return. Producers: Arnie Salton and Chris Hayward -(Sultan /Hayward Productions) for Universal.

Hart To Hart stars R.J. Wagner and Stephanie Powers as a well -to -do couple who work together as private investigators. Executive producers: Aaron Spelling and Len Goldberg for Spelling /Goldberg Productions.

Hot Stuff is a variety program 'featuring Lisa Hartmanh and Ricci Martin. Producer: George Schlatter for George Schlatter Productions.

I Do, I Don't stars John Considine as a con- firmed ex- bachelor who finds himself married yo a woman with two teen -age children. Pro - Áucer: Joe Hamilton for Joe Hamilton Productions.

Lazarus Syndrome stars Lou Gossett Jr. as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair, a heart surgeon who saves the life of.Joe Hamill, a tough reporter. Fate surprises them both and they end up running the hospital together. Executive producers: Bill Blinn and Jerry Thorpe for Blinn /Thorpe Productions.

Man with the Power stars Art Hindle as Chris, a Vietnam vet who develops superstrength and a wide range of electrical powers when he is struck by lightning. Executive producers: Aaron Spelling and Doug Kramer for Aaron Spelling Productions.

Marie stars Marie Osmond as a warm- hearted Midwestern girl who goes to New York to seek stardom. Producer: Dennis Johnson for Osmond Productions.

Maxx is about a young divorced father suddenly faced with raising his daughter when her mother unexpectedly turns over custody to him. Producer: James Komack for James Komack Productions.

A New Kind Of Family concerns two divorced mothers forced to pool their resources to survive. Producers: Margie Gordon and Jane Eisner for Gordon /Eisner Productions.

Nightside is a realistic look at the emergencies that arise from dusk to dawn in a major metropolis and how professionals from police to disk jockeys handle them. Executive producers: Glen Larson and Steve Cannell for Universal.

People of the Book is an anthology series focusing on emotional conflicts portrayed in an ecumenical spirit. The pilot features "The Story of Esther." Executive producer: David Victor for 'Universal:

The Ropers features Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as the upstairs couple from Three's Company who move to a new condominium development whose owner is less than thrilled at having them as next -door neighbors. Producers: Don Nichol, Michael Ross and Bernie West for Nichol /Ross /West Productions.

Samurai stars Joe Penny as Lee Cantrell, a Eurasian who by day is a San Francisco D.A. and by night is a fierce warrior for justice. Executive producers: Danny Thomas /Ron Jacobs /Fernando Lamas for Universal.

Second Time Around is a domestic comedy starring Edward Winter and Marlette Hartley as husband -and -wife marriage counselors who agree to live together again after a two -year legal separation. Producer: Jerry Tokofsky for Jerry Tokofsky Productions.

Semi - Tough, taken from the motion picture, focuses on the relationship between two professional football players and the daughter of the team's owner. Producer: Bud Wiser for Universal.

S.S. Casino concerns a former CIA operative turned gambling ship proprietor who becomes involved in the intrigues of his high -powered clients. Executive producer: Aaron Spelling for Aaron Spelling Productions.

Stone stars Dennis Weaver as a police officer turned writer who continues to work on major crimes. Executive producers: Steve Cannel, Richard Levinson and William Link for Universal.

2100 is a futuristic Rip Van Winkle comedy in which two young men from 1979 wake up in the year 2100. Producers: Austin and Irma Kalish for Paramount TV.

The Two of Us concerns young friends who drive across the country gaining valuable insights into themselves and the world around them. The series features Grant Goodeve as David Bradford; the eldest son in Eight is Enough. Executive producer: Lee Rich for Lorimar.

240 -Robert features two male deputies and a female chopper pilot who are faced with life and death challenges while rescuing victims from a variety of natural dangers. Executive producer: Rick Rosner for Filmways TV /Rosner TV.

Vampire stars Jason Miller as a reclusive billionaire by day who assumes the enormous primal power of an ageless, driven fiend by night. Executive producer: Steve Bochco for MTM Productions.

When The Whistle Blows is a comedy- adventure -drama about four construction workers and the good times they have on and off the time clock. Executive producers: Leonard Goldberg and Jerry Weintraub for Goldberg/ Weintraub Productions.

Where's Poppa, based on the motion picture, concerns an overprotective elderly mother and the attempts of her lawyer son to lead his own life. Producers: Marvin Worth and Bob Klane for Marvin Worth Productions.

The Yeagers is the story of tough and conservative family that owns and operates a lumber and mining company in the Pacific Northwest. Executive producers: Paul Witt and Tony Thomas for Witt /Thomas Productions.

Edited October 6, 2024 by Paul Raven

[DRW50]

Thanks for all these details. 

This pilot did air. Bizarre ended up running on Showtime, hosted by John Byner. I have a feeling some at the show weren't fond of Dawson as he is repeatedly jabbed in some early episodes.

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