A test episode used to sell a series

What is pilot season?

When networks order and test new pilots

Why was the Lost pilot unusual?

It was one of the most expensive pilots ever

TV Pilot Episodes Quiz: Can You Get 8 Out of 10?

Seinfeld's pilot tested so poorly that NBC almost passed on the show, and this TV pilot episodes quiz explores the first episodes that launched famous series. Learn why Friends was once titled Insomnia Cafe, how The Simpsons began on The Tracey Ullman Show, what the Star Trek pilot The Cage was and how pilot season works.

Start TV Pilot Episodes Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Pilot
What is a TV pilot?
Seinfeld
How did Seinfeld's pilot perform with test audiences?
Friends
Which working title did Friends once have?
Simpsons
Where did The Simpsons first appear?
Cage
What was The Cage?
Season
What is pilot season?
Recast
Which famous show recast a lead after its pilot?
Lost
Why was the Lost pilot unusual?
Unaired
What happened to the original Game of Thrones pilot?
Breaking Bad
What was Walter White's job in the Breaking Bad pilot?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is a TV pilot?
Answer: A test episode used to sell a series
Networks decide based on it.
Q2: How did Seinfeld's pilot perform with test audiences?
Answer: Poorly
NBC still ordered a few episodes.
Q3: Which working title did Friends once have?
Answer: Insomnia Cafe
Friends Like Us was another.
Q4: Where did The Simpsons first appear?
Answer: The Tracey Ullman Show
Shorts began in 1987.
Q5: What was The Cage?
Answer: Star Trek's first pilot
It starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike.
Q6: What is pilot season?
Answer: When networks order and test new pilots
It traditionally ran in early spring.
Q7: Which famous show recast a lead after its pilot?
Answer: The Big Bang Theory
Penny replaced a character called Katie.
Q8: Why was the Lost pilot unusual?
Answer: It was one of the most expensive pilots ever
It reportedly cost over $10 million.
Q9: What happened to the original Game of Thrones pilot?
Answer: It was largely reshot
Some roles were recast.
Q10: What was Walter White's job in the Breaking Bad pilot?
Answer: Chemistry teacher
He also worked at a car wash.

Tv Pilot Episodes Quiz – Where Shows Begin

A TV pilot is the first episode of a series, made to convince a network or streaming service to order more. Pilots introduce characters, settings and tone, and many shows change significantly after their pilot.

Seinfeld's pilot tested poorly, Friends was once called Insomnia Cafe and The Simpsons began as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. Star Trek's first pilot, The Cage, starred a different captain, Christopher Pike.

Some pilots were costly or reworked. Lost's pilot was one of the most expensive ever, Game of Thrones reshot much of its first attempt and The Big Bang Theory recast a lead role. Pilot season traditionally saw networks testing many new shows each spring.

What This Quiz Teaches

TV fans and future writers will enjoy these questions.

What a pilot is
How Seinfeld tested
What Friends was called
Where The Simpsons began
Which pilots were reshot

Did You Know?

Some pilots never air.
Cold opens grab attention.
Streaming often orders full seasons.
Pilot episodes set the visual style.
Backdoor pilots air within other shows.