Launching The Pilot
A podcast dedicated to reviewing TV pilots, both classic and recent. Host Brian Sear shares his take on the opening episodes of various series. The show also engages with listeners on Twitter at @LaunchingTPilot. Contact is available via email at launchingthepilot@gmail.com.
Episodes
Murder She Wrote 07
Murder She Wrote Episode 07
"We're Off To Kill The Wizard"
Jessica gets mixed up with a nasty scheme involving a theme park creator whilst visiting relatives.
The Investigator (1973)
Episode 405 is Gerry Anderson's The Investigator
The Investigator, a benevolent alien from a distant galaxy, selects an Earth boy and girl, John and Julie, to assist him in his mission to make their world a better place. The pair are miniaturized to assist The Investigator more easily, and assigned to prevent the theft by Stavros Karanti of a 14th century masterpiece from a church on Malta. John
Into Infinity (1975)
Episode 404 is Gerry Anderson's Into Infinity (1975)
The crew of the lightship Altares are lost in space when the craft is struck by a meteor shower and goes out of control.
Also know as "The Day After Tomorrow"
Hammer House Of Horror (1980)
Episode 403 is Hammer House Of Horror (1980)
"Witching Time"
The ghost of a witch returns to her place of residence before she died, a rural farm, and possesses one of the current occupants.
Samllville (2001)
Episode 402 is Smallville (2001)
"Pilot"
Baby Kal-El lands on earth and is found by the Kents. Kal-El is named Clark by Jonathan and Martha and tries to live a normal teenage life. This is somewhat of a challenge given his developing abilities. He becomes fast friends with Lex Luthor after saving Lex's life. Same plot used as the aired pilot except for some extension to certain scenes and Cynthia
Supergirl (2015)
Episode 401 is Supergirl (2015)
"Pilot"
Twenty-four-year-old Kara Zor-El, cousin of Superman, who was taken in by the Danvers family when she was 12 after being sent away from Krypton, must learn to embrace her powers after previously hiding them.
Here Come The Double Deckers ! (1970)
Episode 400 is Here Come The Double Deckers !(1970)
"Tiger Takes Off"
The gang try and build a hovercraft though disaster strikes when Tiger gets trapped in it and ends up being chased all over town.
Battlestar Galactica Part 3 (1978)
Episode 399 is Battlestar Galactica Part 3 (1978)
Episode 3
After the Twelve Colonies of Mankind were destroyed in a sneak attack by the Cylon tyranny, the last Battlestar Galactica leads a makeshift fugitive fleet on a desperate search for the legendary planet Earth
Battlestar Galactica part 2 (1978)
Episode 398 is Battlestar Galactica part 2 (1978)
Episode 2
When the fleet stops at the planet Carillon to refuel and pick up supplies, a newly-elected member of the Council seizes power from Commander Adama.
Battlestar Galactica (part One, 1978)
Episode 397 is Battlestar Galactica (1978, part one)
Episode 1 part 0ne
When the Cylons trick the human fleet and destroy all its ships except the Battlestar Galactica, Commander Adama gathers up the remaining humans from the 12 colony worlds and leads them in search of the legendary 13th colony: Earth.
Bonanza (1959)
Episode 396 is Bonanza (1959)
"A Rose for Lotta"
Lotta Crabtree is hired by mining tycoon Alpheus Troy to lure one of the Cartwrights into town and hold him for ransom in exchange for Ponderosa timber rights.
Highway To Heaven part 2 (1984)
Episode 395 is Part 2 of Highway To Heaven (1984)
"Highway to Heaven part 2"
When Mark Gordon's investigation starts getting too close, Jonathan must reveal his true identity and purpose to Mark in order to successfully complete his assignment.
Highway To Heaven Part1 (1984)
Episode 394 is Highway To Heaven Part one (1984)
"Highway To Heaven"
Jonathan Smith, an angel, arrives at a retirement home to help not only the occupants but also an employee named Leslie Gordon. However, Leslie's brother Mark, a jaded and bitter former police officer, is suspicious of Jonathan.
So Haunt Me (1992)
Episode 393 is So Haunt Me (1992)
"A Haunted House"
Recently made redundant from his job in advertising Pete Rokeby moves,with his wife Sally,teen-aged daughter Tammy,little son David and their dog to a much smaller house,which smells of chicken soup. Hearing noises in the night Sally investigates and meets the ghost of Yetta Feldman,a Jewish former occupant of the house who choked to death on a c
B J And The Bear part 2 (1978)
Episode 392 is part 2 of B J and the Bear (1978)
"The Foundlings" Part 2
B. J. McKay, a guitar-playing independent trucker who travels with a fun-loving chimpanzee named Bear, finds himself caught up with a bunch of young women trying to flee a white slaver who happens to be the local sheriff.
B J And The Bear (1978)
Episode 391 is B J And The Bear (1978)
"The Foundlings" Part 1
B. J. McKay, a guitar-playing independent trucker who travels with a fun-loving chimpanzee named Bear, finds himself caught up with a bunch of young women trying to flee a white slaver who happens to be the local sheriff.
The Day Of The TriffIds (1981)
Episode 390 is The DayOf The Triffids (1981)
"Episode 1"
Bill, who works at a farm for deadly plants called triffids, was temporarily blinded by one of them and is now in hospital. The hour approaches for the bandages over his eyes to come off, but a strange silence pervades the room.
The Swiss Family Robinson (1974)
Episode 389 is The Swiss Family Robinson (1974)
"The Arrival"
In 1801, a family from Switzerland is shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. All wash ashore safely except their younger son Franz, who is presumed dead.
Lucan (1977)
Episode 388 is Lucan (1977)
"Pilot"
A 20-year old who spent the first 10 years of his life running wild in the forest after being raised by predatory animals now strikes out on his own in search of his identity.
Mr Merlin (1981)
Episode 387 is Mr Merlin (1981)
"Pilot"
Merlin, who nowadays operates an auto mechanics shop, meets Zac, who he takes on as his new apprentice in both sorcery and fixing cars.
Sheena Queen of the Jungle
Episode 386 is Sheena Queen Of The Jungle (1955)
"Crash in the Jungle"
Sheena rescues bush pilot Andy Howard, when his plane crashes in the jungle. Andy was delivering film containing rare footage of a secretive native tribe that had been filmed by Clare Graham, a documentary film maker. Andy is convinced that his plane was sabotaged
Tracker (2001)
Episode 385 is Tracker (2001)
"Pilot"
The guard's prison comes to Earth. He creates a body out of a billboard. He's dazed and disoriented, he encounters Mel who offers him a ride. The guard must now track down all the alien prisoners.
Thriller (1973)
Episode 384 is Thriller (1973)
"Lady Killer"
A shy, lonely American girl marries a charming man she meets while on vacation in England, unaware that he has sinister plans for her.
The Magician (1973)
Episode 383 is The Magician (1973)
"The Manhunters"
Someone is trying to kill Max Pomeroy, Tony Blake's friend. The investigation leads Blake to an alcoholic lady gambler in distress and the plot thickens in a casino.
Mann & Machine (1992)
Episode 382 is Mann & Machine (1992)
"Prototype"
Los Angeles Police Detective Bobby Mann is teamed with a cyborg cop named Eve to investigate the murders of international steel brokers. Eve finds evidence that implicates another cop, who is also Mann's childhood friend.
Dream Wife (1965)
Episode is 381 Dream Wife (1965)
Actress Shirley Jones stars as Lisa Michaels -- a wife with a husband, a boy, and the ability to hear other people's thoughts. Whether she's trying to use it to have a better marriage, make her kid happy, and even trying to save other people's lives, she just can't quite seem to get things right.
Deepwater Black (1997)
Episode 380 is Deepwater Black (1997)
"Awakening"
Six crew are awakened from stasis to discovered they are aboard a spaceship alone and under attack from an alien spacecraft.
The Ghost Busters (1975)
Episode 379 is The Ghost Busters (1975)
"The Maltese Monkey"
The Ghost Busters must stop the Fat Man and Rabbit from summoning the ghost of gangster Big Al Caesar, who will help them steal the stuff dreams are made of: the Maltese Monkey.
Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
Episode 378 is Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
"The Man From The South"
A young American couple on holiday meet a mysterious old gentleman who makes them a macabre wager.
Detectorists (2014)
Episode 377 is Detectorists (2014)
"episode 1"
Andy and Lance are members of the small but dedicated Danbury Metal Detecting Club (DMDC), who search for buried treasure with metal detectors. As boring club president Terry welcomes new member student Sophie Andy and Lance determine to look for the rumoured Saxon hoard on farm-land owned by eccentric Larry Bishop
The Middle (2007)
Episode 376 is the unaired pilot of "THE MIDDLE" (2007)
A look at the life of a lower-middle-class family living in the Midwest.
Sue tries out for show choir with disastrous results. Frankie desperately tries to close a sale with disastrous results. Brick has trouble relating to his teacher with odd results.
Terry and the Pirates (1952)
Last on with suspect sound is episode 375
Terry and the Pirates (1952)
"Macaco Gold"
Hotshot Charlie's plane, with its cargo of gold bullion, is hijacked by the Dragon Lady's operatives while en route to Japan. Terry Lee and Chopstick Joe deduce that the gold could only be disposed of it the Portugese colony of Macao and Terry flies there to attempt to recover the precious cargo.
Time Banits (2024)
A big of an audio disaster has my laptop deicided to switch to my build in mic, which is only little better than a cup on a string.
Base on the 1981 film
"Kevin Haddock"
A boy struggles to make the most of everyday life-until a bumbling gang of thieves lands in his bedroom.
Star Maidens (1976)
Episode 373 is Star Maidens (1976)
"Escape To Paradise"
Medusa, torn from orbit around Proxima Centauri by a comet, was sent careering through space. Ages later, with Medusa now in orbit between Uranus and Neptune, Adam and Shem escape the autocratic all-female Medusan society and head to earth.
Small Wonder (1985)
Episode 372 is "Small Wonder" (1985)
"Vicki's Homecoming"
Genius United Robotronics cybernetics engineer Ted Lawson, brings home for assembly and long-term field beta testing Vicki, or V.I.C.I. (Voice Input Child Identicant): a secretly constructed robotic domestic aide in the form of a 10-year-old girl, to whom housewife Joan takes a shine while 10-year-old son Jamie instantly takes advantage of
House M.D (2004)
Episode 371 is House M.D. (2004)
"Pilot"
Young kindergarten teacher Rebecca Adler collapses in her classroom after losing intelligible speech while teaching students.
Tag Team (1991)
Episode 370 is Tag Team(1991)
Tricky Rick MacDonald and Billy The Body Youngblood are two of the best wrestlers in the country. They are told to take a dive by the wife of a promoter. If they don't, she will make sure they are blackballed from wrestling. When they don't do what she says, they are fired immediately. They try many jobs without any success. When they stop a grocery store robbery, the
She Spies (2002)
Episode 369 is She Spies (2002)
Three cute, humorous women are taken out of prison to work for the government as spies - a crime fighting unit.
"First Episode"
An ex US presidential candidate, who's been given his own TV talk show, might be assassinated. The 3 cute ex cons get to prevent this as their first job as a unit.
Captain Z-Ro (1955)
Episode 368 is Captain Z-Ro (1955)
"Christopher Columbus"
Captain Z-Ro goes back to 1492 in order to put down an attempted mutiny happening on board Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria.
The Powers Of Matthew Star (1982)
Episode 367 is The Powers Of Matthew Star (1982)
"Jackal"
Matthew Star appears to be a typical teenager, but in actuality is an alien who is a member of the ruling family of his planet, who are endowed with powers like telekinesis and telepathy. When his home planet was invaded, his parents gave him when he was a baby to one of their trusted emissaries, who went to Earth because it's almost like t
T and T (1988)
Episode 366 is T and T (1988)
"Extortion in Chinatown"
When a Vietnamese grocer is roughed up by a Chinese extortion gang, T and T. get involved.
The Fugitive (1963)
Episode 365 is The Fugitive (1963)
"Fear in a Desert City"
After being on the run for 6 months, Richard Kimble falls in love with a beautiful woman who has a young son. She also has a physically abusive, estranged husband, that wants Kimble out of town, or dead.
MSW:Hit, Run and Homicide
Episode 06 of Murder She Wrote: Hit, Run and Homicide
We are back with another Jessica episode, I'm joined with Joanne to chat about this season one episode.
Jessica and the police are baffled by a seemingly driver-less car that suddenly appears in Cabot Cove and runs down a visitor who had fired local inventor Dan O'Brien.
MSW-Loversand others Killers (18/11/84)
Episode 5 of Murder she wrote
"lovers and other Killers"
While in Seattle for a series of lectures, Jessica is drawn into a dangerous case involving young secretary David Tolliver accused of killing his wealthy older lady friend Allison Brevard
The Wizard (1986)
Episode 364 is The Wizard (1986)
An eccentric inventor has adventures battling evil around the world.
"El Dorado"
U.S. assigns one of their best agents Alex Jagger to protect The Wizard. On Alex's first day, Simon (Wizard) meets a boy who has cancer. Simon learns that unless he gets a transplant he won't last long and the only possible donor is his brother who's an archaeologist. So Simon drags A
Red Shoe Diaries (1992)
Episode 363 is Red Shoe Diaries (1992)
Jake yearns to understand the secret life of his late fiancee. To find the answer, he solicits the most heartfelt, passionate, and intimate entries in other women's diaries.
"Safe Sex"
A woman looking for release from the pressuring job finds a man looking for the same thing. Protection and no names are the rules of the Tuesday and Thursday affair. The woman
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures (1992)
Episode 362 is Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures (1992)
Unaired Pilot
Bill and Ted are forced to get jobs at a local hardware store, Nail World, to buy a new amp, but they insult the store manager's daughter and must go back in time to fix this, inadvertently giving life to a noir comic book femme fatale.
Mr and Mrs Smith (1996)
Episode 361 is Mr & Mrs Smith (1996)
"Pilot"
Both assigned to the same target, a spy squares off with an international assassin.
Red Lights and Siren (1956)
Episode 360 is Red light and Siren (1956)
A U.S. Marine sergeant on a 3 day pass is hitchhiking home.
He is pick up by an angry, aggressive man who viciously attacks him.
The detectives have only a few leads.
Avatar The Last Airbender (2005)
Episode 359 is Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
"The Boy In The Iceberg"
In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.
Captain Planet and The Planteteers (1990)
Episode 358 is Captain Planet and The Planteteers (1990)
"A Hero For Earth"
Five teenagers work together to encourage enviromentally responsible behavior and combing thier powers unleash earth mightest hero, Captain Planet
Goodnight Sweetheart (1993)
Episode is Goodnight Sweetheart (1993)
"Rites Of Passage"
Tv Repairman, Gary Sparrow takes a wrong turn back in time to 1940's war torn London.
Land Of The Giants (1968)
Episode 356 is Land of the Giants (1968)
"The Crash"
On June 12, 1983, a sub-orbital aircraft named the Spindrift flying from Los Angeles is pulled into a space warp which transports its crew and passengers into another dimension
It’s a Dog’s Life (msw episode 4)
Episode 4 of Murder She Wrote "It's a dog's life"
There's in-fighting and backstabbing galore when wealthy Denton Langley snubs his family and leaves most of his estate to a dog, which is discovered after his fatal fall from a drugged horse.
Hooray for Homicide (MSW episode3)
So jump back in to Murder she Wrote with episode 3 Hooray For Homicide,
a bit of a solo endeavour while my co host recovers.
Might change the format a bit as I go forward.
Retro Man From Atlanis
A retro episode back from 2016 Man From Atlanis (1977)
Until we are back up and running here is some retro fun?
A water-breathing human, the sole survivor of an underwater civilization called Atlantis, emerges from the ocean and has to learn to deal with the air-breathers on the surface.
One Piece (2023)
Episode 355 is One Piece (2023)
"Romance Dawn"
A boy named Monkey D. Luffy embarks on a journey to attain the greatest treasure: the one piece. After the former pirate king's public execution 22 years ago, the world has entered a great pirate era, and Luffy aims to be at the top.
Ghosts US (2021)
Episode 354 is Ghosts US (2021)
"Pilot"
Married New Yorkers Samantha and Jay Arondekar believe that their dreams have come true when they inherit a beautiful country house from Sophie Woodstone, Sam's great aunt, only to find that it is falling apart and inhabited by ghosts who died on the mansion's grounds and are now bound to the area, appearing as they did at the times of their deaths, until th
Tabatha (1976)
Episode 353 is Tabatha (1976)
This is the first of two pilot made of the spin off of Bewitched
"Pilot"
Tabitha receives a visit from her brother Adam. Meanwhile, she falls in love with her co-worker Cliff and reveals her identity as a witch to him.
Pan Am (2011)
Episode 352 is Pan Am (2011)
"Pilot"
Dean takes on his first assignment since his promotion, piloting the Clipper Majestic on its inaugural New York to London flight. Bridget is supposed to be his lead stewardess, until she's a no-show for the flight. Grounded purser Maggie is called in to fill in for her. On the same fateful flight, Kate adds another dimension to her work as she takes on her firs
My Friend Flicka (1955)
Episode 351 is My Friend Flicka (1955)
"One Man's Horse"
Flicka is stolen by an outlaw whose horse has gone lame.
Grange Hill (1978)
Episode 350 is Grange Hill (1978)
"Episode One"
The new comprehensive looks intimidating for the new kids starting at Grange Hill.
Police Woman (1974)
Episode 349 is Police Woman (1974)
"The End Game"
The police are after a gang of bank robbers made up of 3 men and 2 women. The gang has been very successful and done very little to identify themselves. They have very few leads until Pepper uncovers a clue which leads them to Las Vegas where they believe the gang is from. Soon Pepper, Crowley and other officers are undercover staking out various b
VR.5 (1995)
Episode 348 is VR.5 (1995)
"Pilot"
A tech wizardwith tragic past discovers that she can use her VR techto bring poeple into her VR world via phone and see or alter their subconsciousness.
The Outer Limits (1963)
Episode 347 is The Outer Limits (1963)
"The Galaxy Being"
A scientific technician working at a radio station makes first contact with an energy alien from the Andromeda galaxy. An underling's disobedience brings it to Earth.
Retro LTP Batman (1966)
Retro LTP recorded in 2016 BATMAN (1966)
"Hi Diddle Riddle"
While the Riddler maneuvers Batman into being sued, the Dynamic Duo investigate the supervillain's concurrent scheme.
Retro The Flash (1990)
Retro LTP episode The Flash (1990)
Look back at our 8th Episode from 2016
"Pilot"
A laboratory accident endows a police scientist with the ability to move at superhuman speed which he uses to battle a menacing biker gang as a superhero.
Can Barry run fast enough to save the day.
Probe ( 1988 )
Episode 346 is Probe (1988)
"Computer Logic"
A misanthropic scientist and his quirky new secretary attempt to shut down an artificially intelligent computer that has decided to start killing people.
Jason King (1971)
Episode 345 is Jason King (1971)
"Wanna Buy a Television Series?"
In order to interest a television mogul in buying his stories for the small screen,novelist and adventurer Jason King describes to the man a typical plot involving his hero Mark Caine. Caine meets a girl who has been given plastic surgery to resemble the deceased Michele who died in a fire. She is taken by two crooks to meet Bellini
Halt and Catch Fire (2014)
Episode 344 is Halt and Catch Fire (2014)
I/O
The Texan company Cardiff Electronics gets a new employee from New York. He's apparently working for IBM, but after he gets the new job it gets clear that he has a hidden agenda, and is not exactly what he claims to be.
The Adventurer (1972)
Episode 343 is The Adventurer (1972)
"Miss Me Once, Miss Me Twice and Miss Me Once Again"
The Adventurer "Gene Bradley" (Gene Barry) plays the most dangerous role of his career...as stand-in for a potential murder victim.
Ghost Story (1972)
Episode 342 is Ghost Story (1972)
"The New House"
A young couple move into a home that is haunted by a young girl
X-Men (1992)
Episode 341 is X-Men (1992)
Animated adventure with some Mutants
"Night Of The Sentinels (part 1)"
A young teenager has been rejecting her mutant powers ever since she discovered them. But when giant robots track her down, it's up to the X-Men to save her.
NCIS (2003)
Episode 340 is NCIS (2003)
"Yankee White"
Aboard Air Force One a Naval officer dies after eating with the Potus, then a Marine officer (connected with AF1) also dies in Georgetown in the same way. Abby identifies the cause, and Gibbs thwarts an attempt to assassinate the PotUS.
Transformers (1984)
Episode 339 is Transformers (1984)
"More Than Meets The Eye (part 1)"
As the Energon supply runs low on the planet Cybertron, the Autobots leave to find a new energy source. Their enemies, the Decepticons, follow. After a vicious battle in space, both of their ships crash land on Earth.
The love Boat:The Next Wave (1998)
Episode 338 Is The Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998)
"Smooth Sailing"
The crew of a huge cruise ship awaits its new captain, Captain Jim Kennedy III, who left his US Navy career early for personal reasons. As if this transit weren't hard enough, his ex immediately forces upon him the care for their 15 year-old son Danny, a problem kid with a juvenile record; the captain orders Chief Purser Will Sand
Retro LTP Wonder Woman (1975)
Retro episode from 2016 Wonder Woman (1975)
"The New Original Wonder Woman"
After a dogfight with a Nazi plane, U.S. Air Force Steve Trevor crashlands on an uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle. Paradise Island is inhabited only by women, and their existence has been kept a secret for thousands of years. Learning of the Nazi threat to humanity, the Amazon princess, Diana, is chosen to accompan
Retro LTP The Adventures Of Superman (1952)
Retro blast from our past while we take a break
Episode 007 The Adventures Of Superman recorded back when the world was young
April 2016
"Superman of Earth"
Fraggle Rock (1983)
Episode 337 is time to dance your cares away and let the Fraggles play down in.....
Fraggle Rock (1983)
"Beginnings"
Gobo's Uncle Matt discovers the opening to Outer Space and sets off to explore it, leaving Gobo behind to explore Fraggle Rock and pick up the postcards Matt will send.
Dungeons and Dragons (1983)
Episode 336 is Dungeons and Dragons (1983)
A group of kids are thrown into a fantasy world where they must search for a way home, armed with magic weapons that an evil tyrant wants
"The Night of No Tomorrow"
The pupils seek out and find Merlin, and he'll teach the pupil Presto magic, if he stays with Merlin. Presto decides to stay and attempts a spell to create a way home, but the spell summons dr
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