Pilot season is the stretch of the year when the US broadcast networks traditionally order, cast and shoot pilot episodes of new shows, from January into spring, before choosing which become series at the May upfronts. It still happens, but it is no longer the only busy time: cable, streaming and straight-to-series orders mean TV is cast all year. Casting directors in our library still talk about the pilot crunch, and here is what they said it means for you.
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A pilot is the first episode of a proposed series, made so the network can decide whether to order more. Wikipedia lays out the traditional cycle:
That January to spring window, when many series regular roles are cast at once, is what actors call pilot season.
Traditionally from January, when pilots are ordered, through spring, when they are cast and shot, ahead of the upfronts in May. The busiest casting weeks fall in that window, because every network is filling series regular roles at the same time.
Casting director Josh Einsohn said that in pilot season the volume of tapes is so heavy he sometimes has to fly through them. That is the clearest sign of how compressed it is.
The upfronts are presentations where network and streaming executives show advertisers and the media their coming season, so marketers can buy ad time up front. According to Wikipedia, the US upfronts were traditionally held in the third week of May in New York. They announce the autumn schedules, and a show missing from the schedule has usually been cancelled.
For actors, the upfronts are when you find out whether the pilot you shot became a series.
Yes, but it has lost its monopoly. The same Wikipedia history notes that cable channels were adding summer programming by the mid-1980s, and that ordering a whole season without a pilot, known as straight to series, has become more common since Netflix popularised it. Streaming services now take part in the upfronts too; Netflix held its first in 2023.
So TV is cast throughout the year, and many shows never make a pilot at all. The broadcast pilot cycle still creates a crunch, and casting directors in our library still plan around it, but you no longer need to treat January to April as your only shot.
Widely and slowly, compared with episodic TV. Lisa Beach said her office auditions at least 200 people for each bigger role on a pilot. Deborah Barylski said she has four to ten weeks to cast one, and before COVID a single role could easily see 500 people. Bonnie Zane sends producers dozens of pilot tapes every day.
Then the approvals stack up. Ronnie Yeskel said pilot choices go to the studio first, then the network. Risa Bramon Garcia listed studio and network executives, producers, the writer, the showrunner and sometimes the star. For each stage of the audition, see how to audition for a TV show.
The last rounds for a series regular role, where you read for the studio and then the network. Deborah Barylski's rule is to keep the audition that got you there all the way through: pre-read, producers, studio, network. Small beats can change. The arc and your big decisions should not, unless someone redirects you.
Bring hard copies. Seth Yanklewitz asks for printed headshots and resumes for studio and network tests, and Barylski said hard copies make it easier to put together packets during a pilot.
Have your papers in order. Faith Martin told us that years ago productions were more flexible, but for TV pilots they now want work authorisation in place, while a film may be more willing to juggle it for the right young actor. If you are coming from overseas, see the O-1B visa guide.
Most first rounds are now taped, so you can often audition from elsewhere. If you are planning a move, read how to move to LA as an actor first.
Most aren't. Wikipedia says each network picks about four to eight of its roughly 20 pilots, and cites a Variety estimate that only a little over a quarter of pilots made for American TV become series.
It still counts. Kym Jackson says a pilot that didn't go belongs on your resume: she keeps one with A&E on hers. Casting directors know how many people are seen for a pilot, so booking one is a strong signal. Label it as a pilot so readers know why they haven't heard of it.
The part of the year when US broadcast networks traditionally cast and shoot pilot episodes of new shows, from January into spring, before picking series at the May upfronts.
Traditionally from January, when networks order pilots, through spring, when they are cast and shot. New series are announced at the upfronts in May.
Yes, but TV is now cast all year. Cable, streaming and straight-to-series orders mean many shows never make a pilot.
Presentations where networks and streamers show advertisers their coming season, traditionally in May in New York. They reveal which new shows were picked up.
Yes. Kym Jackson says booking a pilot is a strong credit even if it never went to series. Label it as a pilot.
Pilot season means producer sessions and tests in rooms full of decision makers. Our free audition room guide helps you walk in prepared.
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