Why are the first episodes of every TV series called 'pilot'?

Question

Where is the origin of the term?

Answer 1

It's a fairly standard term for a small scale test. Most research projects begin with a small pilot study. As it's a test, it's a long established injoke. They're seeing 'how it flies'.  

Answer 2

*Well, a pilot takes everyone to the set for the first taping of the live show and that's where the name came from. Do you believe me?

Answer 3

the pilot is at the front of the plane?

the pilot episode is at the front of a series? maybe.. I don't have any idea...

but this wikipedia entry might shed some light on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_episo...

Answer 4

god i noticed that to lmao

Answer 5

It's a television industry term, every TV series has to make the 'pilot' episode (meaning the first episode) and submit it to TV stations to see whether they are willing to support it and pay for the production of the rest of the series. So the entire life of the series depends on that one episode! Once they're given the O.K., they can go on to make the rest of the series. But every series starts with a pilot episode.