Every year, prospective new shows are designed and tested for the small screen, but some of the greatest concepts never leave the pilot stage. Whether filming costs were deemed too expensive, scheduling conflicts arose, or the network simply didn’t resonate with the central story, countless pilots are passed on each network TV cycle. Even wildly popular franchise pilots have failed .

Nevertheless, many pilots have been unearthed over the years and proven that a good idea isn’t all it takes to find success . From iconic TV spinoffs to compelling original plots, there are plenty of lost, unaired, or failed pilots that retain ardent fandoms decades later. Admittedly, perfect pilot episodes are rare, but certain missed opportunities stand out as truly heartbreaking.

10 Mockingbird

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