Special: Danny's Favorite TV Pilots
DANNY'S ALL-TIME FAVORITE TV PILOT (FIRST) EPISODES:
DRAMAS:
1.) The X-Files - the pilot of this show was a perfect intro to Mulder and Scully, and it was a tantalizing glimpse at a mythology that promised to unfold into something larger than we could imagine.
2.) Lost - a movie-like roller coaster ride that presented not only a plethora of mysteries, but also a remarkable cast of characters.
3.) Millenium - From the get-go, the character of Frank Black was unlike any other yet seen on TV, and the show immediately set a dark, ominous tone that made it unlike any other crime series ever on TV.
4.) 24 - As the clock began to count down, you knew you were in for something special - the multimple camera angles, dynamic action, and breathtaking pace hooked you from the start.
5.) Sliders - Laugh if you want, but few other shows have ever had the pure sense of fun and adventure found in this first episode, which presented a premise of literally infinite possibilities.
6.) My So-Called Life - Another one of those shows that was only appreciated after it was too late, My So-Called Life quickly established that it wasn't your parent's high-school drama. This was the defining depiction of high school for a generation, and Claire Dane's star never shone brighter than in her early appearances on this show.
COMEDIES:
1.) Malcolm in the Middle - Creator Linwood Boomer's unique voice was immediately audible in this classic, hilarious first episode which was a quirky look at the ultimate dysfunctional family.
2.) Freaks and Geeks - Why, NBC, why? Judd Apatow's amazing dramedy about high school life was, from the start, an amazingly, almost painfully honest and hilariously relatable depiction of teenagers.
3.) The Office - The British version of the show just had to do one thing to quickly ensure its greatness - introduce Ricky Gervais as David Brent, the boss from hell. Gervais' brilliant performance gave this comedy more depth than most dramas.
4.) Andy Richter Controls the Universe - This underrated show was prematurely cancelled, but its unique use of fantasy sequences and random cutaways was highly influential on many shows to come. Few other comedies have been so laugh out loud funny from the first episode.
5.) Futurama - Unlike The Simpsons which took a few years to mature into its full potential, Futurama began with a polish and cleverness that was beyond anything else at the time. Immediately, it established a classic cast in Fry, Bender, Leela, Zoidberg, etc, that was nearly on par with The Simpsons.
6.) Undeclared - What Freaks and Geeks did for high school, Undeclared did for college. In the first episode, it was apparent that Judd Apatow had succesfully retained Freaks and Geek's earnest sensibilities and its awkwardly hilarious humor.
DRAMAS:
1.) The X-Files - the pilot of this show was a perfect intro to Mulder and Scully, and it was a tantalizing glimpse at a mythology that promised to unfold into something larger than we could imagine.
2.) Lost - a movie-like roller coaster ride that presented not only a plethora of mysteries, but also a remarkable cast of characters.
3.) Millenium - From the get-go, the character of Frank Black was unlike any other yet seen on TV, and the show immediately set a dark, ominous tone that made it unlike any other crime series ever on TV.
4.) 24 - As the clock began to count down, you knew you were in for something special - the multimple camera angles, dynamic action, and breathtaking pace hooked you from the start.
5.) Sliders - Laugh if you want, but few other shows have ever had the pure sense of fun and adventure found in this first episode, which presented a premise of literally infinite possibilities.
6.) My So-Called Life - Another one of those shows that was only appreciated after it was too late, My So-Called Life quickly established that it wasn't your parent's high-school drama. This was the defining depiction of high school for a generation, and Claire Dane's star never shone brighter than in her early appearances on this show.
COMEDIES:
1.) Malcolm in the Middle - Creator Linwood Boomer's unique voice was immediately audible in this classic, hilarious first episode which was a quirky look at the ultimate dysfunctional family.
2.) Freaks and Geeks - Why, NBC, why? Judd Apatow's amazing dramedy about high school life was, from the start, an amazingly, almost painfully honest and hilariously relatable depiction of teenagers.
3.) The Office - The British version of the show just had to do one thing to quickly ensure its greatness - introduce Ricky Gervais as David Brent, the boss from hell. Gervais' brilliant performance gave this comedy more depth than most dramas.
4.) Andy Richter Controls the Universe - This underrated show was prematurely cancelled, but its unique use of fantasy sequences and random cutaways was highly influential on many shows to come. Few other comedies have been so laugh out loud funny from the first episode.
5.) Futurama - Unlike The Simpsons which took a few years to mature into its full potential, Futurama began with a polish and cleverness that was beyond anything else at the time. Immediately, it established a classic cast in Fry, Bender, Leela, Zoidberg, etc, that was nearly on par with The Simpsons.
6.) Undeclared - What Freaks and Geeks did for high school, Undeclared did for college. In the first episode, it was apparent that Judd Apatow had succesfully retained Freaks and Geek's earnest sensibilities and its awkwardly hilarious humor.
posted by Danny B at 9:53 PM
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