The Pilot's Club

The Whatnauts
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV Reviews
  • Updated Monthly

The Whatnauts present The Pilot's Club, a Patreon exclusive podcast all about the first episodes of television shows. Join Melissa and Kyle as they watch and discuss a variety of TV pilots that catch their interest for a number of reasons. Some of the pilots may not have made it to air, others may have been particularly expensive to make, maybe the series was changed drastically after filming, or even something else just as interesting.

  1. 5d ago

    Bosch

    Episode 29. This month we investigate the pilot of the long-running Amazon Prime detective series, Bosch. We discuss the kaleidoscopic opening credits, using courtroom interrogation to deliver exposition, the requisite quirky forensics guy in a tropical shirt, and how "Harry Bosch" isn't as cool of a name as "Titus Welliver." Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:03) - Welcome (00:49) - What does Bosch mean to you? (04:16) - Bosch's opening credits (06:55) - Did they make Bosch too unlikable? (17:41) - Anyone else get Fletch vibes? (21:16) - Delivering exposition is difficult (24:31) - Adapting books for TV (26:06) - Who had the better name? (28:29) - What pilot are we covering next episode? (31:08) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    32 min

  2. May 5

    Pan Am

    Episode 28. This month the Pilot's Club features an actual pilot in the 2011 show Pan Am, about a group of young flight attendants navigating the 1960s air travel boom. We discuss Margot Robbie already in Barbie mode playing an iconic beauty, David Harbour the international spy, and Lost-style flashbacks. Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:03) - Welcome (01:35) - What is Pan Am? (08:01) - General thoughts on the Pilot of Pan Am (13:40) - The nuances of the characters (18:09) - A young David Harbour? Yes, please! (20:41) - When is a proof of concept too much? (23:57) - AMC+ is not a great experience (25:43) - Final thoughts on Pan Am (27:59) - What pilot are we covering next episode? (31:34) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    33 min

  3. Apr 8

    Shogun

    Episode 27. This month, we watched the first episode of the current hit TV miniseries Shogun. We ask if the show gives you too many plotlines too early, and discuss the multiple faiths and factions at play, pirate voice, and location-based cinematography. Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:03) - Welcome (01:45) - What is Shogun? (06:59) - General thoughts on Shogun's pilot (09:22) - Does a pilot episode need to be a proof of concept? (16:56) - Culture shock and learning to respect others (22:45) - What role will religion play in Shogun? (28:04) - What pilot are we covering next episode? (32:53) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    34 min

  4. Mar 20

    Welcome to Eltingville

    Episode 26. We watched the pilot of Welcome to Eltingville, based on the comics of Evan Dorkin. It didn't go to series, but aired on Adult Swim on March 3, 2022 --- exactly 22 years ago to this day! [spooky thunderstorm clap] We discuss the evolution of nerd archetypes, good and bad comic book store experiences, trivia battles, and what we can learn from Star Trek. Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:03) - Welcome (00:55) - What is Welcome to Eltingville? (03:34) - Would this show work in a modern context? (07:33) - Balancing nostalgia and criticism (11:01) - Nerdy about more than just comics (15:32) - Our comic shop experiences and how the setting could progress (21:54) - The careless violence of nerd culture (24:39) - A lack of B-plot (27:03) - What pilot are we covering next episode? (29:41) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    31 min

  5. Feb 6

    Heat Vision & Jack

    Episode 25. We watched the 1999 pilot for Heat Vision & Jack, starring Jack Black as an experimental astronaut on the run, and the voice of Owen Wilson as his talking motorcycle. We discuss the introduction from director Ben Stiller, the purposefully low-budget effects, one very talented exotic dancer, and the 25th anniversary of Family Guy. Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:03) - What is your favorite Jack Black movie? (02:03) - What is Heat Vision and Jack? (05:38) - Does the Ben Stiller intro help or hurt the pilot? (08:28) - The basic plot of Heat Vision and Jack (12:40) - The comedy in Heat Vision and Jack works well (15:18) - Should Heat Vision and Jack have been picked up for a full season? (18:46) - Did the low budget help or hurt Heat Vision and Jack? (20:46) - Final thoughts on Heat Vision and Jack (23:59) - What pilot are we covering next episode? (25:53) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    27 min

  6. Jan 5

    Reboot (2022)

    We watched the pilot for the 2022 Hulu meta-sitcom Reboot, about the cast of an early 2000s sitcom reuniting for a gritty new version of their old show. We discuss dark secrets, nude comedy, and Disney Channel teens. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    23 min

  7. 12/17/2025 ·  Bonus

    The Whatnauts Grand Prix 10

    We're celebrating 10 years of The Whatnauts with an end of the year "grand prix" because you can call anything a grand prix, there's no rules stopping you! Two people talking about pizza can be a grand prix!! Kyle sees a chicken. Melissa sees a big glove. Between the two of us, we've seen Tenet 3.5 times and Interstellar 1 time and we're going to try to understand both. We also give out the yearly Review Show superlatives, recap the F1 season finale and the Game of the Year awards, imagine a Scrabble game that takes up your whole house, and talk about cow cinema. Click here to watch a video of this episode. (00:00) - Intro (00:04) - Welcome and banter (05:01) - Cinema corner (51:33) - Review Show awards and superlatives (01:39:11) - Episode 300 again (02:03:20) - Melissa's BIG news (02:20:31) - Formula 1 corner (02:36:11) - Pop culture lightning round (02:43:10) - Detour to The Game Awards (02:52:40) - Last bit of the pop culture lightning round (02:55:16) - Outro Reply on Bluesky ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    2h 57m

  8. 12/08/2025

    Unicorn: Warriors Eternal

    This month on the Pilot's Club we watched the two-parter pilot to the new Genndy Tartakovsky animated series Unicorn: Warriors Eternal. We discuss the show's blending of diverse animation and character design styles from throughout history, a big round robot, and literal Merlin. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    26 min
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About

The Whatnauts present The Pilot's Club, a Patreon exclusive podcast all about the first episodes of television shows. Join Melissa and Kyle as they watch and discuss a variety of TV pilots that catch their interest for a number of reasons. Some of the pilots may not have made it to air, others may have been particularly expensive to make, maybe the series was changed drastically after filming, or even something else just as interesting.

Information

  • Creator
    The Whatnauts
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022-present The Whatnauts
  • Show Website
    The Pilot's Club