Quote:
Originally Posted by Aloysius
That's not true actually - 2008 through a wrench in pilot development season but today, all the broadcast networks go through a traditional pilot season. Some produce less than others, but the Networks for the most part are at historical pilot production levels IIRC. That's actually definitely something fsoyars has a feel for - as he just went out for staffing during pilot season.
My understanding is that there were a lot of pilots produced this past season.
Networks may still be producing them at the same level, but I always thought the Pilots would actually air in May, and that the ratings of those Pilots, as well the reception of those Pilots, would often determine whether they got picked up.
There are obviously Pilots shot for every show on air, these days, but I haven't ever noticed the actual "season" for airing them in May, anymore. These days, I think the networks look at the Pilot, along with whatever focus group stuff they do, determine what to put on the schedule, and just go with it. It doesn't really appear to be up to the mass audience, like I seem to remember it used to be.
When I refer to Pilot Season, to me, it always referred to two things. The first is the period of time, after production has shut down on the regular season offerings, and now everything is about shooting, editing, mixing Pilots (this used to happen in April, for maybe three or four weeks, through the late 90s). The second is when all those Pilots would air on the networks, which I believe was in May. It's a long time ago, so I might have that screwed up. I just seem to remember a time where nothing was green lit for 6 or even 13 episodes (recent inventions, right?), without having been through the "Pilot Season" of a real test audience (in May, on TV). I think, back then, everything used to be a full season order, though I'm sure I could be way wrong about that.
Can you be a part of those research groups you spoke of from home? I live in Vegas now, so L.A. is probably out, at least for now.