I don’t the pilot is a good contra-indicator of the quality of the series. A good show runner is more important in allowing a series to wander away from a standard plot line while still returning to it at the end of the episode or the next week.

Most lousy pilots mean a show doesn’t last more than 13 episodes.

In the 90’s, some of the most beloved tv shows had mediocre pilots, and they had a chance to grow. A lot of shows these days start off strong and lose their steam quickly. In my opinion.

No, but I whish more shows wouldn’t go on forever (as long as they do well enough to make money). At least when it comes to shows with a plot, with sit coms etc it doesn’t matter as much.

Friends and The Big Bang Theory had mediocre pilots, but by the 3rd episode, they took off like rockets, and continue(d) to be great.

Some shows that I have absolutely loved got cancelled way too soon, despite having good pilots. Freaks and Geeks, and Houdini and Doyle, and Body of Proof, to name three.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of mediocre shows that go on for years like King of Queens, Full House, and Who’s The Boss. No offense to anyone who loved these shows.