Dead Pilots Society

Maximum Fun
  • 4.6 (537)
  • TV REVIEWS
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In Dead Pilots Society, scripts that were developed by studios and networks but were never produced are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Presented by Andrew Reich (Friends; Worst Week) Ben Blacker (The Writers Panel podcast; co-creator, Thrilling Adventure Hour), and Noah Findling (The New York Times, Comedy Central).

  1. MAR 26

    Episode 195: Georgia Pritchett Interview

    Episode 195: Georgia Pritchett Interview   This After Show features Andrew’s interview with Emmy and WGA Award–winning writer Georgia Pritchett, the writer of this month’s dead pilot, Bump.   Georgia is best known for her work on Veep and Succession, and has also written for The Thick of It and Avenue 5. She created and showran The Shrink Next Door and is the author of the memoir My Mess Is a Bit of a Life: Adventures in Anxiety. In the conversation, Georgia talks about building a career in British television, shares stories from the writers’ rooms of Veep and Succession, and discusses the inspiration behind Bump. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about her career, her approach to writing, and how the idea for Bump first took shape. The next live Dead Pilots Society show will be at the Elysian Theater on April 19, featuring pilots by Joel Kim Booster and Christian Duguay.

    1h 6m

  2. MAR 19

    Episode 194: Bump by Georgia Pritchett

    Episode 194: Bump by Georgia Pritchett   This month’s dead pilot is Bump, written by Emmy and WGA Award–winning writer Georgia Pritchett. Georgia is widely known for her work on Veep and Succession, and has also written for The Thick of It and Avenue 5. She served as creator and showrunner on The Shrink Next Door and is the author of the memoir My Mess Is a Bit of a Life: Adventures in Anxiety.   Bump follows a British couple coming to America to meet their surrogate, since surrogacy is illegal in the UK, only to discover she’s very different from what they imagined. The pilot blends emotional stakes with sharp, unexpected comedy in a way that feels very much in line with Georgia’s writing style.   The pilot was read live on stage at the Elysian Theater in Frogtown, Los Angeles with an amazing cast featuring Sarah Solemani (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bad Education), Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project, Drop), Jessica Sula (Split, Michael), Logan Miller (Escape Room), Ginger Gonzaga (She Hulk), Beth Dover (Orange is the New Black, Nobody Wants This), with Stage direction from Andrew Reich The next live Dead Pilots Society show will be at the Elysian Theater on April 19, featuring pilots by Joel Kim Booster and Christian Duguay.   Video of the live table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join.   And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/

    52 min

  3. FEB 26

    Episode 193: Ginger Gonzaga Interview

    Episode 193: Ginger Gonzaga Interview   This is the After Show for Yellow, featuring Andrew’s conversation with writer and actor Ginger Gonzaga. Many listeners know Ginger from her roles in Marvel’s She-Hulk, CBS’s True Lies, Showtime’s Kidding, I’m Dying Up Here, HBO’s Togetherness, and Room 104. But in this episode, the spotlight shifts to her as a creator as well as a performer.   Andrew and Ginger talk about coming up in the heavily male improv scene of the early 2000s, the delicate (and sometimes not-so-delicate) politics of improvising in auditions and on set, and how her background in high school speech and debate shaped her confidence as a storyteller. She also shares a wild story about pitching a show centered on mental health at a time when that topic wasn’t exactly trending in development meetings or even in the national conversation.   It’s candid, funny, and full of insight about carving out space as a performer and writer. Most of all, it makes clear just how much Yellow means to her.

    1h 12m

  4. FEB 19

    Episode 192: Yellow Written by Ginger Gonzaga

    Episode 192: Yellow Written by Ginger Gonzaga   This month’s live episode features Yellow, a pilot written by Ginger Gonzaga. Most people know Ginger from her work in front of the camera—she’s appeared in Marvel’s She-Hulk, CBS’s True Lies, Showtime’s Kidding, I’m Dying Up Here, HBO’s Togetherness, and Room 104. Yellow showcases her voice as a writer.   After being arrested, following a very public hypomanic episode Pepper, A witty visual artist is court ordered to live in a halfway house with an ensemble of lovable misfits that she deems crazier than herself. This soulful and at times surreal dramedy follows pepper as she navigates her artistic career. The tone moves fluidly between grounded emotion and offbeat humor, building a layered ensemble piece that feels both personal and expansive.   Ginger leads the cast in the live performance, surrounded by an incredible group of actors including Luke Tennie (Shrinking), Burl Moseley (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Kyle Bornheimer (St. Denis Medical), Lauren Potter (Glee), Mel Rodriguez (The Residence, Last Man on Earth), Lucy Parks Urbano (actor/playwright), Bryan Safi (Throwing Shade), Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black, Nobody Wants This), Jessica Sula (Split, Michael), with stage direction by Andrew Reich.   Video of the live table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join.   And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/

    1h 2m

  5. JAN 29

    Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit

    Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit   This special episode of Dead Pilots Society brings together the writers behind the last two pilots for a sort of Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit. The conversation features Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, writers of Guy Text, alongside Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, writers of The Thread. Andrew brings all four writers together for a deeper, side-by-side look at their creative processes.What makes the conversation especially unique is the generosity on display. Rather than competing, the writers openly praise what they admired in each other’s pilots, offering thoughtful insight into how similar ideas can emerge independently, without imitation.   It’s a rare, candid conversation about writing partnerships, creative overlap, and the realities of comedy writing, presented without ads or interruptions—just four writers talking honestly about the work.

    1h 16m

  6. JAN 22

    Episode 190: Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman Interview

    Episode 190:  Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman Interview   This week’s After Show features Andrew’s conversation with Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, writers of the film Search Party (not the TV show), creators of the viral Twitter thread Shh… Don’t Tell Steve, and currently writing the pilot for Last Chance Lawyer on NBC, with Henry Winkler set to star. Mike and Andrew walk through how they became a writing team, from high school collaborators to professional comedy writers. Along the way, they dig into creative partnership, long-term friendship, and the kind of strange, specific experiences that only come from working together for decades. The episode also tees up next week’s special four-way conversation with Mike and Andrew joined by Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, the writers of last month’s pilot, Guy Text.

    1h 7m

  7. JAN 15

    Episode 189: The Thread Written By Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman

    Episode 189: The Thread Written By Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman   This month’s episode features The Thread, written by Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman, the second of two dead pilots built around a shared group text that’s been running for years.   Here is the log line for this show, A modern ensemble comedy about a group of longtime friends leading diverse chaotic lives who stay connected through a long running daily text thread.   Waller and Gagerman previously wrote the cult favorite film Search Party and were behind one of the first viral serialized Twitter threads, Shh… Don’t Tell Steve. They’re currently developing Last Chance Lawyer for NBC, with Henry Winkler attached to star.   The pilot feels authentic and grounded, capturing the accumulated history, shorthand, and emotional honesty of friendships that have lasted for decades.   Coming up next week is the interview with Andrew and Mike, followed by a four-way discussion the week after with Andrew, Mike, Aaron Brownstein, and Simon Ganz, the writers of last month’s pilot, Guy Text.   The cast includes Matt Porter (Family Guy, Good Cop / Great Cop), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, Halston), Paul Telfer (Vampire Diaries; Days of Our Lives), Andrew Leeds (Ghosts, Barry), Suzy Nakamura (Exploding Kittens, Dead to Me), Beth Stelling (comedian), Malcolm Barrett (The Boys, Timeless), Daniel DiMaggio (American Housewife), Brittany Curran (The Magicians), and Neska Rose (Drama Club).   Video of the Zoom table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/

    48 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    Episode 188: Aaron Brownstein & Simon Ganz Interview

    Episode 188: Aaron Brownstein & Simon Ganz Interview   In this After Show Andrew talks with writing partners Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz about their long road to Guy Text.   They share what they learned working under Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, About a Boy) and Victor Fresco (Santa Clarita Diet), including lessons about character, tone, and why even a waiter with two lines should feel like a real person.   Aaron and Simon dig into the personal inspiration behind Guy Text, a modern sitcom about male friendship built around a constantly active group text thread. They discuss the realities of modern masculinity, parenting, ambition, and the challenge of making something deeply personal in an industry that often wants a trend instead.   Aaron also recounts his start as a child actor: He appeared in a commercial featuring Christopher Reeve—a moment that gave him an early, unforgettable brush with the industry that would later become his career. You can see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRD3QD17HuU

    1h 1m
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4.6
out of 5
537 Ratings

About

In Dead Pilots Society, scripts that were developed by studios and networks but were never produced are given the table reads they deserve. Starring actors you know and love from television and film, a live audience, and a good time in which no one gets notes, no one is fired, and everyone laughs. Presented by Andrew Reich (Friends; Worst Week) Ben Blacker (The Writers Panel podcast; co-creator, Thrilling Adventure Hour), and Noah Findling (The New York Times, Comedy Central).

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