Very few podcasts make me laugh out loud, but the writing for some of these dead pilots, and the quality of the table reads, are so good that I frequently laugh out loud when listening. And to hear the real stories of how the shows are conceived and then interpreted is enjoyable and touching. Add this one to your regular listening rotation – you won’t be disappointed!

Wonderful, entertaining, educational content, but the sound is really bad. Some of these episodes have huge discrepancies between volumes of actors. It’s especially a problem in the live audience recordings. Some episodes are fine, but then sometimes the actors are mic’d so differently that within the same show one actor is so quiet you can barely hear them, while another actor is so loud it blows your eardrums out. It’s really frustrating as a listener because I’m so interested in the dialogue, but I have to mess with my volume constantly in order follow it. Sound is an important issue, with this being a podcast and all. Hopefully that issue will addressed in the future. Other than that, I love the idea of this podcast, the way that it’s executed, and the passion that goes into it. I love hearing the interviews with the creators. It’s so interesting to learn what goes into making and selling a script?

But I enjoy it so much and am loving almost every single live read. It must transform the material so much to have talented creative artists lend their skills to the project. It’s great and I cannot recommend it enough and would very much enjoy attending a live performance. Thanks for this!

Diverting. Entertaining. Takes your brain on a little ride. Sometimes laugh out loud; sometimes thoughtful. Just great. Update long time later, and I’m still looking forward to episodes of this show. It’s my go-to for long walks and drives

I don’t think any other podcast is doing what this one is - giving you access to IP you can’t hear anywhere else read by wonderful performers. Such a gem of a podcast!

Some really great TV pilots and quality interviews about their journeys. Very entertaining and informative. Quite intimidating to see the quality of pilots that aren’t picked up!!

I’ve enjoyed this a ton!

Based on only one episode, recorded live, and starring Tony Hale and Patton Oswalt, -hilarious, awesome vocal work, and a well written script. Every other episode? One star. Sometimes there is a valid reason why these aren’t picked up.

Different every episode; always funny. This one is a winner.

I love this show so much! These pilots are often better, weirder, and funnier than the famous shows that their writers are known for. They are read by top-notch actors you already know from other TV shows and movies; some of these readings have all-star casts that a real network show wouldn’t be able to afford. The new format is great; the interview is now separate from the table read so that if you’re just interested in hearing a really funny comedy pilot performance, you can just listen to that, while those who are interested in the nuts and bolts of the writing process and/or want to hear more from the writer about where the series could have gone can hear that in a separate episode. The only drawback to this show is that you’ll get so invested in some of these pilots and characters that you’ll wish you could binge-watch them beyond a single episode!

Really gives you insight to the inside baseball of show creation plus seeing what might have been.

I’m listening to episode 71, and at the first act break, around 21 minutes, it went to ads. It returned to the show at 30 minutes. 9 MINUTES STRAIGHT OF ADS? And the first few minutes of the show were also ads. So almost 50% of the show so far is ads. I’m assuming there will be more as the show continues. This is completely egregious, and makes me not want to listen to this show. If you’re a producer on this show, please listen to this feedback and dial back on it. I know it is free, and I know you need to pay your bills, but you are losing listeners by putting in these insane ad breaks. Have you ever heard of a tv show with these insane ad lengths?

I am a layperson when it comes to TV and the entertainment biz, but this show consistently showcases terrific pilots - engaging stories by writers whose work I know and writers I'm just being introduced to, with a pool of actors that deliver excellent performances every time, even now over video chatting in these times. The interviews with the writers are fascinating even for me, as well. I didn't mind having both the table read and the interview in the same episode, but now that they're separated, it's even more easily digestible. Great show, one I look forward to consistently!

I’ve been hooked since the “John Hodgman in high school” episode. What amazing writers, scripts and performers fighting back against the No’s of the world by bringing those scripts back to life! And, as recipient of their first-ever Jumbotron, I can attest that having these folks in your ears can really make your day. Thanks all!

And the table reads are great too.

It’s fascinating to hear actors do a reading of an unsold pilot. Some of these are written by folks who have already been quite successful but not everything can get on the air. While the read through is fun, it’s interesting to hear what the creators had in mind if the series had been picked up.

Entertaining shows and interesting insight on the process but the audio quality is often terrible. Space Bound is littered with dead spots, silences that interrupt a great episode. What is truly shocking is the inability to fix this.

The thinking behind old school engagement etiquette is to congratulate the groom, because he snagged a prize like the bride, and say “best wishes” to the bride, so you don’t imply she’s to be congratulated for catching a man. (This is way before same sex marriage). Episodes are a true mixed bag, but worth a listen.

The pilots are generally great. The interviews with the writers are insightful and interesting (I want to join the industry, but not necessarily as a writer). YMMV on the individual pilots themselves, sometimes the stories are a little flat or awkward. The actors are great and do their best with cold reading scripts. The audio quality varies wildly even within one episode, which makes listening to it on my commute difficult (I often have to turn my headphones volume up to the max just to hear some parts on the train). Not a big fan of the solo intros, especially the one where he talks about the show that he wrote that no one liked. It really does sound transmisogynistic... TLDR: if the audio quality actually improves, this might become my one of my favorite shows.

Fantastic combination of hearing a quality episode plus the behind the scenes of how shows get made

I love this podcast! It’s so well done, just wish the sound quality was better, especially on episodes where you have A list actors reading and it sounds like they recorded on an iPhone.

The sound quality gets so much better that you want to love it before you get to the ones with terrible sound.

This is such a good podcast, very entertaining. Interesting too, hearing what goes into producing a pilot, they’re all so good too, but Episode 45 Eternally Yours is FANTASTIC!

I’d heard the ads for this podcast for awhile, but I only started listening to it this week. It’s the perfect antidote to everything that’s bad in the world right now! The actors that they have reading the scripts are great, and it’s a blast to hear actual performances of shows that would otherwise be dead on a shelf somewhere. Thanks for the laughs!

I have listened to nearly every episode of this show in the past three weeks, and it is one of the most interesting podcasts I’ve ever listened to. The format is unique: a fantastic cast of actors read a script for an audience, and then the writer(s) are interviewed about the script. It’s a really great look behind the scenes of the both the writing and production processes. Yes, occasionally, and especially in the earlier episodes, there is some poor audio quality, but it never detracts from the script itself. If you have any interest in writing or seeing how things are made (or not made), this is a podcast for you.

Your last episode, expressing contempt for America and American people, is the reason why I will be donating to other Max Fun shows, but not yours, this year.

This is literally my favorite podcast ever. Granted, I’m working on television scripts constantly, so I may be biased. But, I’ve listened to so many television podcasts and none of them compete with Dead Pilots’ Society. So, there you go, Andrew. Here’s a top review for you. 👏🏻👏🏻

After each episode I cannot help but ask myself why the show I just heard didn’t make it on air but dozens of inferior ones did. Listen and you’ll get to hear some of the best writers out there writing their funniest most unfiltered scripts—very worth it.

So fun to listen to these hilarious pilots performed by a lot of my favorite actors. I love hearing the interviews after by the writers. I’ve laughed and learned a lot about the pitching and writing process. I look forward to every episode!

This show is so good, I look forward to every single episode. Along with the amazing scripts and actors, the hosts shares so many lessons and tips for writing and how the whole operation works!

A great podcast full of all the tv actors you love and scripts that leave you desperately craving more.

I absolutely love hearing the pilots, but unfortunately the audio is often still touch and go. It’s improved from when the podcast has started but some characters are definitely still at a louder volume/better sound quality than others.

Not only does each episode feature a live script reading by many familiar voices from the greater improv podcasts universe, it also gives insight into how the pilot-writing process works. I’m not exactly an aspiring comedy writer, but I find the behind-the-scenes talk and interviews with the writers just as engaging as the show itself. If you enjoy The Thrilling Adventure Hour, Superego, Spontaneanation, and anything else that’s appeared at Sketchfest, you will certainly enjoy this podcast.

If you can get passed the sound quality, this podcast is great. I love listening to readings of these pilots but it seems like not everybody’s mic is on. I’m constantly adjusting the volume on my speaker to pick up one actor’s voice only to have to turn it down a second later because another actor is blowing it out. The host also is always louder than the actors or writer he’s interviewing. Also, I usually end up skipping through a great deal of the host long winded chit chat, it gets a little unnecessary and he often talks over the folks he’s interviewing.

Love this concept, wish I could attend the live show but the podcast is a wonderful substitute.

Love the table reads, about 80% of which are really funny pilots. Enjoy the interviews, although the successful comedy-writer hosts are oddly dry. But man, oh man, does the audio need some consistency. Don't miss episode 2!

I listen to a lot of podcasts and this is by far my favorite at the moment but oh my god the main presenter/interviewer needs to stop talking. I really enjoy the interviews with the writers afterwards but i often don't listen to them because it seems like the writers have to fight just to get their own words in especially when its a woman. Overall the lay out of the show seems really selfishly set up just to allow the creators to talk more but other than that the idea behind this podcast is fantastic and i love almost every episode.

If you want to see this show at its best start with My Cousin Thor.

The more they apologize for poor sound quality “in the past” while releasing new episodes with poor sound quality, the more I think it’s intentional. The true premise of the podcast is to see how long a group of likable professionals with good content can keep listeners downloading episodes with borderline intolerable audio quality. If this is not the premise, I am stumped, because so many talented people are involved in this show, but I’ve heard countless other podcasts recorded by two random amateurs in a garage that consistently sound fine.

I really enjoy the concept of this show. It is a joy learning about these pilots, how it all works & experiencing the actors exercise their craft. Unfortunately the sound is hit and miss. I is a chore to listen to. Maybe more rehearsal or practice using a microphone will help. But an audio engineer is a necessity. I will keep listening.

Who ever is doing mics and balancing for this show should be fired and barred from working in audio for the rest of their life. The mics during the performance sound like the performers are eating them, but there’s no way an entire room full of acting professionals would ALL be that bad about it. Had to stop at episode 35; the main characters mic sounds like it’s inside her throat. Interesting premise, boring host; great actors, can’t hear them.

I have very quickly burned through the entirety of this show that is currently out and it is a delight. The pilots they read are fun and very well performed. Another benefit is a neat little insight into the process. In the intro and interviews you get to see a bit of what goes on to make the shows we all love. I’m excited for more.

I listen to podcasts to keep me sane at work where I basically work alone in a small windowless room. This is a great idea brilliantly executed that makes me crack up like a crazy person.

It’s a fun show, but a couple quibbles: 1) Too often, the levels on microphones (both in the show portion and the interviews) are wildly off from each other. You can barely hear one person so you turn it up, but then the next person blows out your eardrums. Some sound editing would be welcome. 2) Too much industry jargon is used without explaining what it means to people outside of entertainment.

I love this podcast! I love all the stories I get to listen to...but I love the educational interviews too. I really appreciate how it’s a fairly clean message! A few cuss words here and there, but the major content is professionally delivered and edited very well. I work as a program director for a non-profit in Kentucky and this makes me want to throw it all away and try my hand at comedy writing. I mean I won’t...but you know what I’m saying:-) Thanks for all the great content!!

I listened to this show for a while, but after a handful of the pilots leaned on the same misogynist, racist, homophobic lame jokes that Friends used in the 90’s...I got frustrated that things haven’t changed very much and gave up. 🤷🏽‍♀️

You can see why TV is on its way out. I liked all these people. But from the a-list writers you could hear why so many did fail. I think of the talent that was wasted and never made it when they did. I wonder how many compromises they made. I want to laugh. So badly but it doesn’t come. I really want to like this.

Fantastic

I really enjoy this podcast. I love how I can listen to it in the car and visual the show as if I was watching it. I've even sat and listened to one of the shows whilel in a cabin in the woods without cell service, wifi, or running water. It was how I imagine folks listening to the radio programs back in the day. The only criticism I have is that sometimes the sound is too low. I also think y'all should go on tour with the shows. I'd love to see one live but I don't live in CA.

I could not agree more with the previous review of this show that warns listeners about finding yourself waiting to "see" the next episode of some of these pilots, only to realize those next episodes don't exist (and likely never will). Unfortunately for me, some of my favorite shows of the last few years are apparently never going beyond the funny pilots read cold to a warm room. Very fortunately for me, this podcast will allow me to go back and "rewatch" at least those single episodes as many times and as frequently as I want.