Top Ten Tuesday: The 10 Best TV Pilot Episodes of the 21st Century

Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.

No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good? Good.

This week, I’m heading to Denver, Colorado, to attend the 11th annual SeriesFest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling. SeriesFest prides itself on being an opportunity-maker for emerging and underrepresented artists, supporting independent creators from pitch through production, amplifying diverse voices, and building a year-round community of artists and executives.

Since 2015, SeriesFest has celebrated the art of episodic storytelling, bringing together artists and industry leaders for exclusive panels, screenings, red carpet events, and world premieres. Many shows premiere their pilots in competition before audiences that include network executives, critics, and fans. Over the years, SeriesFest has helped launch numerous shows later picked up by major networks like HBO, AppleTV+, Netflix, Hulu, and more. The festival also features signature panels, artist-focused discussions, and special TV series reunions.

I’m honored to be attending as a member of the jury for the Digital Short Series and Late Night competitions.

While there, I’ll also be crossing off a major bucket list item: attending a show at the world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre! Amy Schumer & Friends will open the festival with a night of comedy under the stars – should be an unforgettable evening.

SeriesFest will also honor several incredible talents:

Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) will receive the Excellence in Acting Award
Jason Ritter (Matlock, Parenthood) will be awarded the Distinguished Artist Award
Carnival Films (the creative team behind Downton Abbey and The Day of the Jackal) will be recognized with the Impact in Television Award, accepted by Nigel Marchant and Gareth Neame alongside actors Michael Peña and Allen Leech
Emil Pinnock (CEO of Unleashing Giants) will be honored with the Ambassador Award

So, as I’m mid-flight to the Mile High City, let’s celebrate some of the greatest pilot episodes in television history with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday.