Take Us to the Pilot

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm draws near, so let's go all the way back to the very first episode to remember how the show began. Airing a little over two years after the Seinfeld finale, the Curb premiere reintroduced viewers to Larry David's brand of comedic storytelling and we have to say that it's pretty, pretty, pretty good.

The Sopranos

The pilot episode of The Sopranos introduced viewers to Tony Soprano, one of the most iconic TV characters ever. Twenty-five years since its premiere, the New Jersey-based crime drama remains influential for its award-winning acting, writing, and directing.

Sex and the City

We're starting our series on HBO pilots with Sex and the City, which premiered in the summer of 1998 and made a splash with its fresh take on romantic comedy.

Poochinski

Happy Holidays from Take Us To The Pilot! For our Christmas bonus episode, we're discussing a failed pilot for a would-be series called Poochinski. This buddy cop show aired in the summer of 1990 and starred Peter Boyle as a detective who dies and gets resurrected as a talking bulldog. Network executives passed on Poochinski, but in the years since the pilot has gained notoriety for its bizarre premise.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Wrapping up our series on 2000s sitcom pilots, we're discussing the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The first episode introduced a group of sordid characters known as "the gang," and began a series that would depict amoral behavior not seen on broadcast network sitcoms.

Two and a Half Men

Although 2000s television saw a rise in cinematic comedies, live studio audiences remained popular. Two and a Half Men was a testament to the enduring success of traditional sitcoms, capturing 18 million viewers from the first episode.

How I Met Your Mother

It’s a long story, but we’re discussing the pilot episode of How I Met Your Mother. This series blended elements of traditional and unconventional sitcoms, including a mix of warm nostalgia and quirky humor.

30 Rock

After establishing her brand of comedy on SNL, Tina Fey continued her success with the creation of 30 Rock. Since episode one, the series gained attention for its surreal tone, fast pace, and satirical take on the television business.   

The Office

The mockumentary format became popular in the 2000s thanks to the American adaptation of The Office. The pilot episode had a mixed response from critics and viewers, but it set the stage for one of the most enduring TV comedies of all time.

Arrested Development

Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the first episode that brought them all together. It’s Arrested Development, the ensemble comedy that gave us the Bluth family and more running gags than we can keep count of.