20 TV Pilots From the 70s/80s/90s You Didn’t Know Existed
Most TV pilots in the 70s/80s/90s never made it past a single screening in some executive’s office. A few lucky ones landed a series order. Fewer still lasted more than a handful of episodes before disappearing without a trace. And sometimes, a pilot never made it to air…or maybe it aired once and then vanished, becoming a weird little ghost of TV past.
But for a brief moment, each pilot represented a whole world that might have been — and the people making them believed this was the one that would stick.
And that’s what this video is all about. Real unsold pilots from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that were never picked up for series.
Hi. My name is Natalie and Welcome to my channel…My So-Called Gen X Life. And this is…20 TV Pilots from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that you didn’t know existed.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9retNVEP6tcx88-nS8S5jw/join
Discord:
https://discord.gg/pWxHJ2vuhN
1970s
https://youtu.be/yZhW7694QPo?si=9I0-XGHP–VlG3WI
https://youtu.be/uKuoEnpfPxI?si=OH8hlAlS9Ea7QMkI
https://youtu.be/zB5ICvdjlP0?si=95rdKdjVw82xjzso
https://youtu.be/g3hHwkEzBoA?si=fMTGE_ugxIrwFoJ7
1980s
https://youtu.be/wYTslOwwq30?si=Br5Bbt7r1DQWM2r-
https://youtu.be/jlzbqJ2mtEo?si=FgcQcyHtScXPh_zj
https://youtu.be/eGISl5PT8RA?si=Mq3Ww0g2bd68DquL
https://youtu.be/tEh388O1Kyc?si=pXazVnGjEMAez4QS
1990s
https://youtu.be/LytgLZDzzAY?si=h0TCfFF12wANy7sy
https://youtu.be/c8jhA0dvdQo?si=kd49aWkz1b7Lqy-m
https://youtu.be/5VoijM01QJs?si=LusPABz7g3csk4OS
https://youtu.be/IraqNhvvpUU?si=W2V3MEtIq7SSgzoS
https://youtu.be/P47q1UeuObw?si=LvydfF96CfueO-be
https://youtu.be/j7TFafUrwB8?si=7XzxMILXaH9Ys4-U
https://youtu.be/kuvSaUUEuYg?si=mxPst3PhirgW_XP5
https://youtu.be/-A2s3vACyNI?si=GDM8rqBJb4NI2VsS
https://youtu.be/fyLRPebNd2E?si=H__4HTQm9yAQZSwx
https://youtu.be/enyhX1NWz44?si=EueXRAbqfpNZzmRk
https://youtu.be/dKkZf5ASpVY?si=Wv4fcJgjLmzS0WQ7
https://youtu.be/6lWgXDOAJ5s?si=wIOZlYh4WMxjTl6S
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/tonebox/chromatic-sundown
License code: OFA8WZ9ICRE1HYIH
Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/brandon-hopkins/respawn
License code: YEBDCU8INJULTQBT
@helenwagner9878
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I watched Shangrila plaza while I was in the hospital to have my 3rd son. No one else I know remembers it including my husband who was with me, but I guess not really paying attention.
So for years everyone said it was a hormone induced hallucination. I didn't think to look online until about 5 years ago. I had to describe it and give the date because I couldn't remember the name.
Right at this moment, as I watch you mention this crazy show, that son I gave birth to is at the hospital with his wife as she gives birth to HIS son. 💖💖
@kpanyc
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I remember watching the Seinfeld pilot the night it first aired. I laughed my ass off and told my family they all had to watch it with me the next week.
@oliviadurant2856
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
anyone remember Cadets with Soleil Moon Frye? 1988.
@Looking2Sea
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I swear I saw a still image for the so bad it's great, Manimal! 8 episodes of awesomely bad TV!
@davidalan528
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Isn’t Vineland & Burbank where the Circus Liquor is? 27:14
Busy property.
@richardhutchings7747
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I thought poochinski was going to be big I was at that age were I thought it was great I also liked turner and hooch and alf oh and the hendersons the one with bigfoot.
@scottpaul7427
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Shangrila Plaza seems like it would be fun idea for approximately one episode but not as a series
@matttorrence2900
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Where's OPEN ALL NIGHT?
@michaelhenehan1809
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Glenn Frye was great on Miami Vice…and solo…and with Eagles
@michaelhenehan1809
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I love seeing how many people starred in these teevee ideas that went nowhere. My only memories of 1980s Bill Maher were from his stand-up bits on Evening At The Improv and Caroline's Comedy something. I had no idea he tried to make it as a sitcom actor. As for Brian Austin Green I thought he was a twerp on 90210 but he was a total badass in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles…which was awesome and ended on a BS cliffhanger.
@chrisnemec5644
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Re: 47:20: Man, they sure butchered a really good Yazoo tune.
@lance134679
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Most singers are not good actors, but Hollywood keeps trying. Madonna, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Glen Frey, etc… But then there are few good ones like Cher and Jennifer Hudson.
@lance134679
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
To me, one of the most baffling things is taking a movie very much of 80s culture and trying to make it into a TV show in the 90s. It really doesn't make sense, though there have been a few successes, such as Weird Science.
@lance134679
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
It's so nice to hear a real human voice instead of AI. 👍 #DeadInternet
@lance134679
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I spotted Dick York in the High School USA pilot, then noticed that it was his last acting credit. I always felt bad that his career was cut so short by illness, addiction to pain killers, and was eventually left penniless. On the bright side, he started a charity to help the homeless and dedicated his final years to it.
@jackieandrea
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Holy shit! Heat Vision! Thank you SO MUCH for bringing this to my attention!
@dereckabackus5411
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Saw Out of Time on tv app a few years ago. It was okay movie.
@dereckabackus5411
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
I remember a two tv specials in the 90’s of clips of unsold tv pilots.
@garryanthonystx
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Well done! I consider myself a TV junkie, especially from the listed timeline and I only remember a handful of these pilots. Your research skills are most impressive! And it reminds me of the scene in Pulp Fiction when Jules is telling Vincent about Mia Wallace co-starring in the failed pilot "Fox Force 5!" BRAVO!
@charlesthomas9472
March 23, 2026 at 12:44 am
Some of those shows I will say should make a comeback not all of them cuz there's a lot of them was like a rack job
Comments are closed.