These pilots didn't win enough audience votes to make it past the first episode. Heavy competition, shifting taste, and the alignment of the moon can all take a worthy show down -- watch these and imagine what Prime Time could have been.
How It Works
- Anyone, anywhere submits a pilot that is five minutes or less.
- The creators of the prime time shows watch all submissions.
- They pick the best ones to be screened.
- At the screening, a live audience watches the new pilots and new episodes of the prime time shows.
- The audience votes. Top 5 shows become the new prime time lineup.
- Repeat.
Just a Burger
Adult Standards
created by
Dan McNamara
A model train set makes contact with an adult's head.
Screened: 2010-02-10 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 14/63 - 22.22% share; placed 9th of 9
Cast
| Tom | Dan McNamara |
| Bill | Pat Byrne |
Crew
| Dan McNamara | Crew |
The Pumpkin Who Was An Asshole
A man faces extremely long odds in his quest to secure a pumpkin and regain his ability to watch DVDs.
Screened: 2009-11-04 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 37/87 - 42.53% share; placed 7th of 9
Cast
| Shek | Shek Baker |
| Pumpkin | Dennis Stemplinski |
| Ed | Ed Mundy |
| Donna | Donna Baker |
Crew
| Matt Vermeulen | Director |
| Shek Baker | Writer |
| Dennis Stemplinski | Editor |
| Ed Mundy | Digital Effects |
| Donna Baker | Crew |
Marc & Mark
101 Plaza
Ed Mundy put together a lot of familiar 101ny faces for this behind-the-scenes show about what it'd be like if we were, you know, a real network based loosely on a sitcom. The ambitious effort may have been too inside for the NYTVF audience, but earned top-failed pilot.
Screened: 2009-09-23 at New York TV Festival
Votes: 48/124 - 38.71% share; placed 8th of 10
Cast
| Jenn Pineapple | Jess Lane |
| Kerri | Angie Jedlicka |
| Clarence | Ed Mundy |
| Director | Andrew Jedlicka |
| Mark "Milk" Brenahan | Patrick Reardon |
| Union Guy | Chris Prine |
| Union Guy | Jeremy Westphal |
| Union Guy | Tom Silvestro |
| Costume Director | Laura Jensen |
| Writer #1 | Stephen Levinson |
| Writer #2 | Ben Joseph |
| Writer #3 | Jason Watkins |
| Himself | Trevor Williams |
| Himself | Adam Newman |
Crew
| Patrick Reardon | Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor |
| Andrew Jedlicka | Writer, Producer |
| Ed Mundy | Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Digital Effects |
| Jason Watkins | Cinematographer |
| Angie Jedlicka | Editor |
| Vanessa Londono | Set Decorator |
Unemployment: Jon & Mike Extravaganza
Hobotown
created by
Tip McMahon
Hobotown: it's not where you want to go unless you really want to give hobos cookies. Especially when all the hobos seem to be missing...
Screened: 2009-09-23 at New York TV Festival
Votes: 15/124 - 12.10% share; placed 10th of 10
Cast
| Scary Hobo | Tip McMahon |
| Police Officer | Tip McMahon |
| Heather (lead) | Rebecca Moreau |
| Hobo | Frankie Ellis |
| Brother | Jordan Watkins |
Crew
| Tip McMahon | Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor, Set Decorator, Costume Designer, Make-Up, Sound, Sound Mixer, Practical Effects, Digital Effects, Lighting Director, Crew, Props |
| Rebecca Moreau | Cinematographer, Set Decorator, Costume Designer, Make-Up, Practical Effects, Stunt, Props |
| Jordan Watkins | Cinematographer, Crew |
Fisting My Dreams
created by
Greg Stees
Vamps alum Greg Stees scored Top Failed Pilot with a show about a guy who loses a limb, gains a fortune via lawsuit, regains the limb, and tries to make it as a star.
Screened: 2009-08-05 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 53/131 - 40.46% share; placed 7th of 10
Cast
| Tab Chambers | Greg Stees |
| Mike | Rob Bradford |
| Renee | Stephanie Parrott |
| Cherodee | Dilia Jelen |
| Emmett Douglas | Jon Higgins |
| Mikey | Dan Schimpf |
| Roger Goldwin | Dennis Stemplinski |
| Jim Delgados | James Deluca |
| Guy Folgers | Jon Lachance |
Crew
| Greg Stees | Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Digital Effects, Props |
| James Deluca | Producer, Crew |
| Juan Crouch | Cinematographer |
| Lisa Steen | Crew |
| Matt Anderson | Crew |
| Dan Schimpf | Crew |
The Bartender
Angela Lansbury: Sex Crimes Division
created by
Aldous Davidson
The brain trust behind Vamps returns with their first Top Failed Pilot, portraying a world in which Angela Lansbury takes over Vincent D'Onofrio's L&O shift.
Screened: 2009-07-01 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 40/108 - 37.04% share; placed 7th of 10
Cast
| Angela Lansbury | Aldous Davidson |
| Detective Amos | Greg Stees |
| Rookie Cop | Ian Campbell Dunn |
| Mr./Mrs. Stevenson | Anna Greenfield |
Crew
| Aldous Davidson | Director, Writer, Producer, Editor |
| Juan Crouch | Cinematographer |
| Julie Langer | Make-Up |
| Barry Blaschke | Sound |
| Dan Schimpf | Crew |
| Laurabeth Greenwald | Crew |
| James Deluca | Crew |
This is Curtis
Captain Beard Electric Fantastiboat
created by
Joe Bell
From the people who made Identical Brothers comes the story about a hirsute man, his boat, and his terrible, terrible decisions.
Screened: 2009-07-01 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 23/108 - 21.30% share; placed 9th of 10
Cast
| Captain Beard | Joe Bell |
| Matthews | Aaron Nevins |
| Binson | Joe Ardenti |
| Uncle Pete | Joe Bell |
Crew
| Joe Bell | Director, Writer, Editor, Editor, Animator, Illustrator |
Body Buddies
Home Office
A man is faced with the disagreeable choice of paying 21 dollars in taxes, or making a questionable tax deduction that might lead to shenanigans!
Screened: 2009-05-06 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 58/101 - 57.43% share; placed 6th of 8
Cast
| Shek | Shek Baker |
| accountant | Dennis Stemplinski |
| auditor | Matt Koff |
Crew
| Matt Vermeulen | Director, Writer |
| Shek Baker | Writer |
| Dennis Stemplinski | Writer |
| Matt Koff | Writer |
Both Sides
created by
Eric Acosta
The inventive premise of this show is that both sides to every story must be examined. In this episode, we see 'The Karate Kid' from Johnny Lawrence's point of view.
Screened: 2009-05-06 at 92YTribeca
Votes: 43/101 - 42.57% share; placed 8th of 8
Cast
| Asian Landlord | Eric Acosta |
| Johnny | Aaron Moles |
| Daniel | Rand Holdren |
| Bobby | Dominic Acosta |
| Dad | Brady Novak |
| Ali | Erin Hill |
Crew
| Eric Acosta | Director, Writer, Producer |
| Mike Manasewitsch | Cinematographer |
| Danny Jelinek | Editor |
| Kelly Kubik | Make-Up |