The Best TV Pilots EVER
By Chuck Barney
Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pm in Uncategorized.
Oh, you gotta love those Top 10 lists that newspapers and magazines put out. If nothing else, they’re great argument-starters.
Now, TV Guide has put out a list of what it considers to be the best pilots ever produced. Here you go:
1. “Lost” (2004)
2. “24″ (2001)
3. “The Shield” (2002)
4. “The Sopranos” (1999)
5. “30 Rock” (2006)
6. “Football Wives” (2007)
7. “Desperate Housewives” (2004)
8. “Saturday Night Live” (1975)
9. “ER” (1994)
10. “Alias” (2001)
No argument at all with “Lost.” I was absolutely blown away by that pilot, which lavished a big-screen, event-like feel to a TV show. But now the nit-picking:
“30 Rock”? Please. I love this show. But if I recall correctly, it did not get off to a flying start. There was potential in that first episode, but they weren’t there yet. I’d toss it out in favor of “Arrested Development” or even “Bernie Mac.”
I’d also argue for the inclusion “The West Wing” somewhere in here. And, in my opinion, any such list that doesn’t include “Freaks and Geeks” is totally bogus. I still remember watching that pilot in the first year I became a TV critic and thinking, “Wow, if every show I see comes close to this one, this is going to be a glorious job.”
So what do you think? Agree or disagree? Let me know.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
September 4th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
What?! There is no way that the pilot episode of Twin Peaks does not make it on this list. Absolutely a stunning Television debut for a series. I love 30Rock too but I cannot even remember the pilot episode.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I’m good with Lost, but like you say, 30 Rock didn’t have one of the greatest pilots ever. The first season as a whole was amazing, but the pilot wasn’t spectacular. And SNL? Please, after watching that pilot after George Carlin passed, it was confusing, unfunny, and I’m pretty amazed that it kept going after seeing that first one. Of course out of this top ten list, I’ve only seen those three, but where’s Friday Night Lights? I loved that pilot!
September 8th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
HI Chuck! I think ER and Alias should be higher… although they are both better known for their season finales. I thin The Closer should be included.
September 10th, 2008 at 3:36 am
While it will forever be associated with the 80’s (good or bad), I’m surprised “Miami Vice” didn’t make the top 10 list. That show had as much effect on fashion and culture as any television show in history. Meanwhile, the pilot episode had arguably the most iconic TV moment of the 80’s (maybe ever)– the chrome-wheel shot of Sonny Crockett’s Ferrari (ok, so it was a suped-up Corvette), driving thru the Miami streets at night with Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” playing. The combination of music (either the top artists of the day or Jan Hammer’s background music) and Michael Mann’s philosophy of filming a TV show like a movie were not seen before or since.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Yeah, the biggest problem with Top 10 lists is they’re always relatively current. I agree with The Shield, and I’m sure there are other pilots I loved, I just can’t think of them right now. I don’t know that I saw the pilot of any of the other shows, but I’d agree that The Sopranos belongs in this list. The others, not so much.