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.
Reverse Echo
created by
Tip McMahon
A sound engineer races against time (and the threats of a rapper) to invent a way to send sound into the past.
Screened: 2008-08-04 at Pianos
Votes: 11/93 - 11.83% share; placed 10th of 10
Cast
| Sound Engineer (lead) | Tip McMahon |
| Personal Assistant | Jordan Watkins |
| Rapper | Zak Aalvik |
| Cop | Zak Aalvik |
| Girlfriend | Rebecca Moreau |
Crew
| Tip McMahon | Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor, Set Decorator, Costume Designer, Sound, Sound Mixer, Practical Effects, Digital Effects, Lighting Director, Crew, Props |
| Rebecca Moreau | Cinematographer, Set Decorator, Costume Designer, Make-Up, Crew, Props |
| Jordan Watkins | Cinematographer, Crew |
| Zak Aalvik | Crew |
Walking Man Walk
created by
Jon Muller, Matt Vermeulen
Matt Vermeulen ("Earth vs. Bird") takes another shot at prime time with this tale of two brothers competing for the title of "hardest walker". Left at the curb by the audience, "Walking Man Walk" walks away as July's top failed pilot. Walk.
Screened: 2008-07-07 at Pianos
Votes: 38/129 - 29.46% share; placed 7th of 8
Cast
| Dave | Matt Vermeulen |
| Bill | Jon Muller |
| Girl | Annette Muller |
| Thug | Brian Charette |
| Thug | Austin Hinkley |
| Thug | Aaron Goldman |
Crew
| Jenne Abramowitz | Director |
| Jon Muller | Writer, Producer, Editor, Animator |
| Matt Vermeulen | Producer |
Realmz of Kombat
created by
Brenan Campbell
An unmanly factory worker loses his job, gets dissed by a girl, then finds himself inside a Kombative environment fighting for his life.
Screened: 2008-07-07 at Pianos
Votes: 35/129 - 27.13% share; placed 8th of 8
Cast
| Carl/Karl | Carl Hershberger |
| Shing Shu | Brenan Campbell |
| Emperor Krabklaw | Cam Richmond |
| Tabitha | Jessica Johnson |
| Judge | Jason Makiaris |
| Fist Murder | James "Will" Sweet |
| Barbie Factory Boss | Bruce Wolfe |
| Barbie Factory Worker | Jason Staples |
| Businessman | Mike Stebbins |
| Generic Ninja | Mike Stebbins |
| Le Hat Bleu | Mikel J. Wisler |
Crew
| Brenan Campbell | Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Mixer |
| Mike Stebbins | Music Composition |
| Mikel J. Wisler | Cinematographer |
| Meg Richmond | Costume Designer |
| Rhonda Whitledge | Props |
Cilantro Enthusiasts
Dennis Stemplinski, Matt Koff, and the Hubbard Brothers retooled their rejected pilot "Fudge Enthusiasts" and missed prime time by a scant seven votes. However, everyone definitely learned a lesson.
Screened: 2008-05-05 at Pianos
Votes: 58/133 - 43.61% share; placed 6th of 10
Cast
| Enthusiast #1 | Matt Koff |
| Enthusiast #2 | Dennis Stemplinski |
| Enthusiast #3 | Craig Hubbard |
| Cilantro Master | Melissa Blumer |
Crew
| Dennis Stemplinski | Editor |
| Craig Hubbard | Animator |
Amazing the Lion
created by
Dan McNamara
In this nicely animated pilot, a lion and his opossum compatriot try to make impossibly good birthday presents.
Screened: 2008-05-05 at Pianos
Votes: 47/133 - 35.34% share; placed 7th of 10
Cast
| Barry | Dan McNamara |
| Amazing The Lion | Kurt Braunohler |
Crew
| Dan McNamara | Animator, Crew |
The 13th Story
created by
Ed Mundy
A bored office worker discovers a world of enchantment in his very own office building.
Screened: 2008-05-05 at Pianos
Votes: 41/133 - 30.83% share; placed 8th of 10
Cast
| Bob | Ed Mundy |
| Cerberus/Delivery Boy | Travis Emmett |
| Snozgar | Trevor Williams |
| Jerry | Adam Newman |
Crew
| Ed Mundy | Director, Writer, Editor, Digital Effects |
The Jaime Jackson Show
Redeeming Rainbow
created by
Dan McNamara
In what looks like at least episode two of an ongoing series, this top failed pilot explores the lives of a couple of regular guys who are touched by the friendship of a talking rainbow. If their saga continues, it must do so on Youtube.
Screened: 2008-04-08 at Pianos
Votes: 48/130 - 36.92% share; placed 6th of 10
Cast
| Dan | Dan McNamara |
| Rainbow | Kurt Braunohler |
| Shelly | Ellie Kemper |
Crew
| Dan McNamara | Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Crew |
Rock Hard Up
Bob Acevedo and Sarah Yorra bring us a tale of AC/DC's second frontman Brian Johnson, who must confront the horrible truth of his predecessor's demise. Tony Carnevale menaces as Angus Young, and what, you people don't like AC/DC?
Screened: 2008-04-08 at Pianos
Votes: 44/130 - 33.85% share; placed 8th of 10
Un-Classified
Defenders of Slan
created by
Will Hines, Matt DeCoster
Will Hines and Matt DeCoster bring Van Sant-like slavishness to bear in this shot-for-shot fan film remake of the "Defenders of Stan" pilot, but neither a crowd-pleasing performance at the screenings nor an attempt at brand confusion could land this Top Failed Pilot in Prime Time.
Screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Votes: 61/100 - 61.00% share; placed 6th of 10
Cast
| Goose | Matt DeCoster |
| Tommy | Will Hines |
| Susie | Sue Galloway |
| Mother | Tabitha Lee |
Crew
| Will Hines | Director, Writer, Editor |
| Matt DeCoster | Director, Writer |
Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt
The Tastes Like TV team (previously of "28 Days Slater") showed off some slick-looking shots - and perhaps the best Steven Seagal face this side of "Out For Justice" - in this show about the actor's quest to make his energy drink. Joke-wise, it was ballsy, but the audience didn't bite.
Screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Votes: 20/100 - 20.00% share; placed 7th of 10
Paul Bunyan Show
created by
Tony Zaret, Joel Moss Levinson
A smattering of 101 talents (Hunter Stair, the Levinsons, Tony Zaret, 'Joseph Ryznar') turn in an old-timey homage to the tall tale. Despite infectious theme music and a cardboard ox, Paul Bunyan Show ended the night well short on votes.
Screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Votes: 18/100 - 18.00% share; placed 8th of 10
Cast
| Gimpy Joe | Joel Moss Levinson |
| Bartender | Stephen Levinson |
| Lumberjack #2 | Hunter Stair |
| Lumberjack #1 | Tony Zaret |
| Lumberjack #3 | JD Ryznar |
| Paul Bunyan | Nadeev Beyer |
| Prostitute | Tierney Deaton |
Crew
| Tony Zaret | Writer |
| Joel Moss Levinson | Music Composition, Music Vocals, Cinematographer |
| Hunter Stair | Cinematographer, Editor |
Space Camp(aign)
created by
Craig Hubbard, Dennis Stemplinski
A politician moves his campaign office to an orbiting space station, but discovers that it can't solve ALL his approval ratings woes. Dennis Stemplinski and Craig Hubbard, of "CCIF", failed to wow the audience with simplistic effects and diagrams, but certainly earned a few laughs.
Screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Votes: 9/100 - 9.00% share; placed 9th of 10
Cast
| Bob | Craig Hubbard |
| candidate | Dennis Stemplinski |
Crew
| Dennis Stemplinski | Editor |
| Craig Hubbard | Animator |
A Jack of All Trades
A cowboy-hatted schmo travels the country teaching people new skills, whether they want to learn them or not. This paean to the reality shows populating the mid tier cable networks (your TLCs and Discoverys) ultimately learned the sting that only the Top Failed Pilot position can teach.
Screened: 2008-02-05 at Pianos
Votes: 58/113 - 51.33% share; placed 6th of 10
Cast
| Shek | Shek Baker |
| Ed Mundy | Ed Mundy |
Crew
| Shek Baker | Director |
| Stephen Levinson | Writer |
| Andrew Lin | Writer, Producer |
| Mike Herrod | Editor |