A "television pilot" is the first episode of a TV show. It is like a test or sample episode that is made to pitch the idea of the show to TV networks. Full definition
That's the only way to explain their presence in this terrible film about television pilot season. (crankycritic.com)
It's like watching multiple television pilots, all shot with the same cast and the same bored director, cut together. (thestopbutton.com)
She has also created original television pilots for HBO, FX and CBS and was a writer / producer of the Showtime series The L Word and most recently was Co-Executive Producer and Writer of the USA series Falling Water and the Stephen King / David Kelly TV Series, Mr. Mercedes. (watermillcenter.org)