A “television pilot” is a standalone episode of a TV series that is used to sell the show to a television network. It is a test episode of an intended TV series. Each summer, the major American TV networks receive hundreds of pitches for new shows. In the fall, the networks request a select number of scripts and the following January, orders about 20 pilot episodes. Actors come to Los Angeles from all over the United States and around the world to audition for the pilot. By spring, the actors are cast and production crews assembled to produce the pilot episodes. Then, the directors, actors and others hope their pilot episode is chosen and thus a TV show is born!