English edit

Noun edit

busted pilot (plural busted pilots)

  1. (television) A pilot that fails to be developed into a series.
    • 2008, Alvin H. Marill, Sports on Television, page 40:
      Another would-be series dealing with stock car racing—this a live-action one—was a busted pilot in 1962 for ABC called Tack Reynolds. It starred Michael Parks as a hot-dogging driver.
    • 2017, Everett Aaker, Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary, page 1995:
      His television luck ran out with two unsuccessful comedy series and no less than three busted pilots.