Pilot Study

We kick off our "Unaired" theme month with the previously lost pilot for Clerks, the sitcom (+ laugh track) adaptation of the Kevin Smith film. Jim Breuer makes a pre-SNL appearance, the writers can't use Jay or Silent Bob and Keri Russell even makes an appearance as typical '90s bimbo. Special guest Nick Spacek (Modern Vinyl/From & Inspired By) talks the show with us and impresses with his round of The IMDB game. Timeline 1:25, Introducing the theme month 2:00, Introducing Clerks/The Lost Pilot 5:40, Title Talk 11:52, The “Ice Cream Guy” 15:43, They “didn’t go to school, but they knew what was UP.” 23:53, Wiki Facts 29:48, The IMDB Game Want to sponsor the podcast? If you'd like to sponsor the podcast, you can contact us at advertising@modern-vinyl.com. It's very affordable and you get numerous mentions throughout the show.

The newest episode of Pilot Study takes on the new Danny McBride/Jody Hill project, "Vice Principals." Chris and Grimes discuss whether we've hit "McBride Saturation" and if his character here deserves the same sympathy given to Kenny Powers. Grimes also talks getting in-school suspension for being a "high school bad boy." 2:20, Development of Vice Principals/Bill Murray 5:30, "McBride Saturation" and his performance 12:40, Guessing the season's plot/Goggins' motivation 22:49, Random Notes Great Music/The Teacher's Lounge/Best Lines 26:40, Our school suspensions 32:50, Vice Principals vs. Stranger Things 34:40, Reviews

Episode 26 of Pilot Study centers on "The West Wing," premiering in 1999 and taking home a slew of Emmy awards for its first season and beyond. The pilot, by itself, was responsible for three Emmy wins and another nomination (somehow it didn't win for writing). Guest Julio Anta (The Native Sound) brings in a long history with the show, and for that generosity, we punish him with a tough round of the IMDB game. I've left a couple time markers below, as we do get into some spoilers at the end. 42:49, Random spoilers start here 47:30, The IMDB Game

Pilot Study returns for its second season with a television endurance test of which no human should readily attempt. Yep, we're doing a "Full House"/"Fuller House" doubleheader. We talk the truly bizarre Olsen moment in the reboot, along with how both pilots are kinda, sorta the same script. We also finish with a new feature, The IMDB Game. I put the rules below, just in case my explanation was not sufficient. — 10 shows are given. — Player is tasked with naming anyone (actor name) in the top 5 of the IMDB list on that show (primarily sorted by how many episodes an actor/actress has been on). — For the top spot, you get 5 points; 2nd = 4; 3rd = 3; 4th = 2; 5th = 1. If you get the top spot, you get another guess on the same show and if you're able to guess all five in order, you can gain a maximum of 15 points. — If the player does not guess anyone in the top 5 on first try, we move on to the next show. — The top player at the end of the year will get a prize.

Episode 24 of Pilot Study (and the season 1 finale) has us inducting Lost into the Pilot Study Hall Of Fame. We talk the early script for the related Nowhere, the opening (expensive) beach scene and Michael Keaton turning down the lead role.

Episode 23 of Pilot Study hits on "Eastbound & Down," in honor of baseball signaling the (hopeful) approach of warm weather. We talk who Kenny Powers was possibly based on, the direction of Jody Hill and an early pilot script. Next week, we'll be inducting our first pilot into the Pilot Study Hall of Fame.

Episode 22 of Pilot Study looks to honor Garry Shandling with a look at his landmark achievement, "The Larry Sanders Show." We talk guest hosting in today's late night landscape, the greatness that is "Artie" and much, much more. And stick around for a preview of next week.

Episode 21 of Pilot Study is all about the newest addition to Hulu, The Path. Chris and Grimes discuss the stacked cast, why the journey needed to start elsewhere and what exactly the ending means.

Theme Month: Superheroes Is Bruce Wayne a pimp? Chris and Grimes discuss one of the greatest animated/superhero shows of all time, Batman: The Animated Series. The pilot, titled "On Leather Wings," introduces villain Man-Bat to a general audience and re-introduced a Batman cartoon following Burton's films. Note: On Leather Wings is actually the second episode to be broadcasted, but is still considered the pilot. It's also the first episode on the DVD volumes you can buy or stream on Amazon.

Theme Month: Superheroes Is parkour a power? Chris and Grimes discuss Daredevil on the newest Pilot Study (numero 19), the first in the Marvel/Netflix extended universe. We talk Daredevil's power, the hatred of Foggy Nelson and much, much more. Next week, we finish up Superhero month with a Reader's Choice. Only 5 more episodes in the first season!

Theme Month: Superheroes David Banner loves juice, The Hulk can't swim and everyone needs to change their damn tires. Today we're talking the pilot episode/TV movie for The Incredible Hulk, which premiered in 1977. And stick around to the end for a preview of the next episode.

Theme Month: Superheroes Episode 17 of Pilot Study starts up Superhero Month in style with "The Tick." The Fox show, which only ran for a season, has become a cult treasure in recent years, so much so that a revival was just announced through Amazon. We talk Patrick Warburton, the great "Batmanuel" and killing Jimmy Carter. And stick around to the end for a preview of the next episode.

Theme Month: Wrong Side Of The Tracks Episode 16 of Pilot Study focuses on the Canadian show, Trailer Park Boys, while finishing up our "Wrong Side Of The Tracks" month. Stick around for talk on the show's extensive pre-pilot history, Cyrus' great pilot role and of course, a little Title Talk. Next month is all about superheroes in honor of Netflix's Daredevil coming back. First up, a cult Fox cancellation.

Episode 15 of Pilot Study is all about Roseanne. We talk about Grimes' personal connection to the show, the great George Clooney making an appearance and much more. Make sure to check out EW's oral history of the show. And stay tuned at the end for a preview of our next episode.

TIMELY EPISODE ALERT The newest episode of Pilot Study is all about the brand new Stephen King adaptation, "11.22.63." The James Franco-led Hulu program is an 80-minute premiere (so an 80-minute pod, you get it by now), so we talk the time travel mechanics of the show, our history with King and even dive into our Top 5 James Franco performances.

Theme Month: Wrong Side Of The Tracks Episode 13 of Pilot Study focuses on Orphan Black, the Tatiana Maslany-led, Hot Topic-loved BBC American show. We talk the show's pitch perfect visual style, changes from the pilot script and "Vic The Dick." And stick around until the end for a preview of next week.

Theme Month: Wrong Side Of The Tracks Could this be peak Pilot Study? Are we talking about the greatest television show of all time today? Possibly. Episode 12 takes on The O.C., including Ryan Atwood tanks, "Cool Sandy" and of course, Seth Cohen's wall posters.

Theme Month: Monster Hunters Episode 11 of Pilot Study (and our finale in Monster Hunter month) is all about Hannibal. Our first big disagreement centers around Will Graham's special powers, possible vegetarian propaganda and "procedurals." This is also a Reader's Choice episode, which was voted on via Twitter. And stick around for a preview of episode 12 at the end.

Theme Month: Monster Hunters Episode 10 of Pilot Study (and the 3rd in our Monster Hunters series) focuses on the first Scooby Doo series, "Scooby Doo Where Are You!". Chris and Grimes talk the inability to define a set mystery in this first episode and why serialization could have destroyed this show.

Theme Month: Monster Hunters Episode 9 of Pilot Study takes on the Joss Whedon-penned series, "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." We discuss exactly how the concept went from film to television, along with Buffy being terrible at hiding her "slayer" status and Whedon dialogue. Stick around for the first ever appearance of "Spin Out," a feature which has us taking a Buffy character and giving them a proper spinoff.