Hold onto your seats, TV fans, because NBC is shaking things up by bringing back the traditional pilot season—a move that’s equal parts nostalgic and bold. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a step backward, or a smart return to a proven formula? Let’s dive in.
NBC’s decision to revive the pilot season isn’t a carbon copy of its past iterations. Instead, it’s a strategic blend of old and new. The network has already ordered six pilots for 2026—five dramas and one comedy—with whispers of more on the horizon. This marks the most ambitious pilot slate for NBC since pre-COVID days and double what they commissioned in 2025. And this is the part most people miss: While it’s a return to tradition, it’s not a complete abandonment of the year-round development model that’s become the norm. Think of it as a hybrid approach, leaning into the familiar pilot window without fully ditching modern practices.
For actors eyeing a pilot season gig, it’s not quite time to pack your bags for Burbank just yet. The traditional pilot season, where networks would churn out 50+ pilots in the lead-up to upfronts, isn’t fully back. But NBC is clearly eager to work within this tried-and-true framework. According to an NBC executive, this is the first year in a while that external factors—like COVID and the 2023 strikes—haven’t derailed their plans. “The old process worked for a reason,” the exec noted, “and we’re excited to lean back into it.”
So, what’s on the docket? Nearly all of NBC’s pilots this winter have a police procedural twist, even the lone comedy—an untitled PI series from the ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ creators. Among the dramas are a reboot of ‘The Rockford Files,’ Dick Wolf’s ‘What the Dead Know,’ and ‘Puzzled,’ about a brain-injured athlete turned crime-solving whiz. Even the slight outlier, ‘Protection,’ centers on a law enforcement family under siege. Bold question: Is NBC playing it too safe by sticking to procedurals, or are they smartly catering to what audiences crave?
Procedurals have been dominating the airwaves lately, with viewers gravitating toward self-contained, case-of-the-week shows over high-budget, serialized dramas. As the NBC exec put it, “You can watch one episode for a satisfying story, or binge five seasons without leaving your couch—it’s a win-win.”
NBC isn’t alone in this pilot resurgence. ABC is developing a ‘The Rookie’ spinoff and a Rachel Bloom comedy, while CBS has ‘Eternally Yours’ and ‘Regency’ in the pipeline. Even streamers, once the disruptors of traditional TV, are getting in on the action. Hulu and HBO Max are commissioning pilots, and Netflix—the streamer that upended the network playbook—recently ordered a pilot for the ‘A Different World’ sequel. Thought-provoking question: Are pilots making a comeback because the streaming model isn’t as foolproof as once thought?
Pilots, once dismissed as relics of the past, are proving their value as a way to test a show’s potential before committing to a full season. As the industry moves away from the ‘order first, figure out later’ approach popularized by Netflix, pilots are regaining their footing. Even Netflix is dipping its toes back into the pilot waters, signaling a possible shift in strategy.
So, is NBC’s pilot revival a nostalgic throwback or a forward-thinking move? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: the TV landscape is evolving, and pilots are back in the spotlight. What do you think? Is this a smart move, or is NBC clinging to the past? Let’s debate in the comments!
