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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


Lost Cities

created by Dan McNamara
Nate Starkey and company earned April's Top Failed Pilot with this, uh, documentary about lesser-known cities. In this episode, Jersey City, which has sculptures (as well as a very hot problem).

Screened: 2009-04-01 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 52/118 - 44.07% share; placed 6th of 10


 

Roboticus

created by Tony Zaret
Tony Zaret made a rock opera about an evil robot who enslaves humanity and forces everyone to play a Guitar Hero-like game, which gives the robot the strength to fight the human resistance, which is made up of rockers who play real instruments and have strange powers. It garnered few votes, but spawned an instant cult following (for this month, anyway).

Screened: 2009-04-01 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 36/118 - 30.51% share; placed 9th of 10


 

Cast

HeroTony Zaret
Captured RogueJD Ryznar
Rogue SingerWhitney Avalon
Rogue DrummerSteve Huey
Drone #1Spencer Strauss
Rogue BassistSteve Ellis
Drone #2Carter Schmitt
Drone #3David B. Lyons
Drone #5Aaron Bleyaert

Crew

Hunter StairProducer, Cinematographer, Editor, Digital Effects
Tony ZaretProducer, Music Composition, Music Vocals

 

The Oddest Couple

created by Dave Maulbeck
A mismatched pair of roommates must cope with a dinner party involving their even more incredibly mismatched, not-to-be-invited-to-the-same-dinner-party-type parents.

Screened: 2009-03-04 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 56/132 - 42.42% share; placed 6th of 9


 

Cast

MalfeasanceLauren Olson
JesusAlex Marino
SatanLouis Kornfeld
GodScott McGowan

Crew

Eddie LebronDirector, Editor
Dave MaulbeckWriter, Producer
Jeff ErtzProducer, Sound, Sound Mixer
Jason ArrigoProducer
Annaliese PaullCinematographer
Andrea SarubbiCostume Designer

 

Runaway Teen

created by Chioke Nassor
Confronted with disturbing news about human biology, a teen girl becomes dissatisfied with life at home.

Screened: 2009-03-04 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 47/132 - 35.61% share; placed 7th of 9


 

Cast

Amber Amberson (Runaway Teen)Brea Grant
DadScott Hayes

Crew

Chioke NassorDirector, Writer, Producer, Editor
Jesse NovakMusic Composition

 

Requiem For A Donnie

All Donnie wanted was to run away with Laura and have 20 kids. But now Laura is dead and Donnie's only link to the killer is a sinister man who really, really, really likes saying Donnie's name.

Screened: 2009-03-04 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 38/132 - 28.79% share; placed 9th of 9


 

Real Old Time America

The makers of a down-home PBS-style show are forced to update their act, or face obliteration from the loud and abrasive competition.

Screened: 2009-02-04 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 57/116 - 49.14% share; placed 6th of 10


 

Cast

Bob HomesteadDennis Stemplinski
CameramanMatt Vermeulen
Johnny DangerMatt Koff
Mr. RosellMark Annotto
Ryan FilthShek Baker
Estelle ReeseDana Bove

Crew

Matt VermeulenDirector, Writer
Dennis StemplinskiWriter, Editor
Dan ZaretMusic Composition
Jenne AbramowitzSound, Crew
Ed MundyDigital Effects

 

Identical Brothers

created by Joe Bell
Brothers, believing themselves to be completely identical, switch places perhaps one time too many.

Screened: 2009-02-04 at 92YTribeca

Votes: 53/116 - 45.69% share; placed 7th of 10


 

Cast

Daniel TowersJoe Bell
Jameson TowersJoe Bell
Mr. HendersAaron Nevins

Crew

Joe BellDirector, Writer, Editor, Animator
Aaron NevinsWriter, Music Vocals

 

DiSilvio

A US vice-presidential candidate must balance his life on a college campus with his run for high office.

Screened: 2008-11-03 at Pianos

Votes: 15/85 - 17.65% share; placed 7th of 8


 

Cast

Peter F. DiSilvioMike Frollo
StephanieElyse Emmerling
Bradley the aideJon Hanford
Jim the AideJim Ausanio
Gov. William Q. FlorioBilly Florio

Crew

Billy FlorioWriter
Mike FrolloWriter
Jon HanfordProducer, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Mixer, Digital Effects
Francoise C. Van KeurenIllustrator, Crew
Jim AusanioCrew
Nicholas LosinnoCrew

 

Penguin & Gwen

The Levinson Brothers stick Shek Baker in a penguin costume and collect another top-failed pilot untrophy with a show about a woman who is menaced by the unrelenting spirit of a flightless bird.

Screened: 2008-09-16 at New York TV Festival

Votes: 50/154 - 32.47% share; placed 7th of 10


 

Crew

Stephen LevinsonDirector, Writer, Editor, Digital Effects
Shek BakerWriter
Joel Moss LevinsonWriter, Music Composition, Cinematographer

 

MILF Solicitors

A pair of aspiring porno filmmakers misconstrue the "bang bus" concept, which, you know, causes some problems.

Screened: 2008-09-16 at New York TV Festival

Votes: 44/154 - 28.57% share; placed 8th of 10


 

MindCop

created by Brenan Campbell
The "Realmz of Combat" creators up their game and return with this pilot, a cop show where nothing is as it seems...the audience remains slow to catch on, but the screening awaits their next offering.

Screened: 2008-09-16 at New York TV Festival

Votes: 31/154 - 20.13% share; placed 10th of 10


 

Cast

Luke MindcopBrenan Campbell
CarmichaelCarl Hershberger
Tormented ManCam Richmond
Magic Ice Cream CowboyKevin Joiner
HusbandMikel J. Wisler
WifeJessica Johnson
MaidMike Stebbins
CustomerDoni Funkhouser

Crew

Brenan CampbellDirector, Writer, Producer, Editor, Sound Mixer
Mikel J. WislerCinematographer
Mike StebbinsSound

 

Freedom Wizard

created by Tony Zaret
In this documentary about the presidential election, Senator Obama needs help falling in love with America again, and a freedom-loving wizard is eager to provide it. This latest from Tony Zaret fell three votes shy of prime time.

Screened: 2008-08-04 at Pianos

Votes: 45/93 - 48.39% share; placed 6th of 10


 

Cast

Noam ChomskeyEric Acosta
ObamaJames Atkinson
WizardJD Ryznar

Crew

Tony ZaretDirector, Writer, Producer
JD RyznarWriter
Cass RassmusenCinematographer, Choreographer
Lane FarnhamEditor

 

Astoria Famiglia

Hubbard/Koff/Stemplinski (or Hubofftemplinski) fall short of prime time, but provide plenty of entertainment with this show about feuding crime families.

Screened: 2008-08-04 at Pianos

Votes: 37/93 - 39.78% share; placed 7th of 10


 

Cast

Mr. ConsigliatorianiCraig Hubbard
Mr. RigatorigastrianiDennis Stemplinski
Tony RigatorigastrianiMatt Koff

Crew

Dennis StemplinskiEditor

 

Sliced

Pizza parties sound fun, but for some they are a crippling addiction.

Screened: 2008-08-04 at Pianos

Votes: 33/93 - 35.48% share; placed 8th of 10


 

Fugue State

An homage to "Quantum Leap", with considerably more drinking.

Screened: 2008-08-04 at Pianos

Votes: 17/93 - 18.28% share; placed 9th of 10


 

Crew

David JacksonDirector, Writer
Clancey ByrneWriter
Mitchell RasqueCinematographer
Kim HustonEditor, Sound Mixer, Digital Effects
Matt BattaSound

 

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