Welcome to The Pilot’s Lounge, the podcast where we revisit the very first episodes of your favorite TV shows and ask the question most networks probably should have asked: should this have made it past the runway?

We’re Rick and Nathan—longtime friends, lifelong TV fans, and completely unqualified network executives—breaking down pilots scene by scene to figure out what works, what crashes, and what somehow got picked up anyway.

Each week, we dive into a different series—from beloved classics to “how did this get made?”—with hot takes, questionable opinions, and more nostalgia than is probably healthy.

Because let’s be honest: first episodes are everything. They introduce iconic characters, launch legendary shows… or leave you wondering who approved this in the first place.

If you love TV, storytelling, or yelling “this would never get made today” at your screen, you’re in the right place.

Got a show you want us to put through a full safety inspection? Email us at [email protected].

Fasten your seatbelts—it might be a bumpy ride. ✈️