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PODCAST

Dead Pilots Society

Ben Blacker and Andrew Reich

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).

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

01:02:02

Episode 184: Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton Interview

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/10/30

Episode 184: Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton InterviewWelcome to this month’s after-show interview with Brian Singleton and Jim Brandon.You heard their hilarious pilot Humans of the Americas last week on Dead Pilots Society. You may know Brian and Jim from their work on Mixed-ish (ABC), Black Monday (Showtime), Arrested Development (Netflix), or their current show Animal Control (FOX), now on it’s fourth season.Their viral web series Dorm Life, which they wrote, cast, and produced while in college in

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01:01:55

Episode 183: Humans of the Americas Written by Jim...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/10/23

Episode 183: Humans of the Americas Written by Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton This month’s dead pilot is Humans of the Americas by Jim Brandon and Brian Singleton, whose credits include Animal Control (FOX), Mixed-ish (ABC), Black Monday (Showtime), and Arrested Development (Netflix). Here’s the logline: A single camera comedy set in a small town neighborhood, that is actually a human exhibit. At a zoo. Run by robots. It’s high concept, but not self-limiting—funny, heartfelt, and full of inventive

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01:11:26

Episode 182: David S. Rosenthal Interview

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/09/25

Episode 182: David S. Rosenthal InterviewIn this after show for The Cheap Seats, Andrew sits down with writer David S. Rosenthal, whose career spans some of television’s most iconic series.Andrew and "Rosie" go way back to their days at summer camp, and their longtime friendship adds a personal dimension to this conversation. Rosenthal’s career took off quickly—soon after his first writing job, he became the creator and showrunner of Ellen, kicking off a career that would include Spin City, Gilmore

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00:41:29

Episode 181: The Cheap Seats Written by David S....

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/09/18

Episode 181: The Cheap Seats Written by David S. Rosenthal This month on Dead Pilots Society we have The Cheap Seats by David S. Rosenthal, a veteran television writer whose credits include Spin City, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, and Jane the Virgin. The script centers on a close-knit group of emotionally and intellectually stunted friends whose world is shaken when one of them begins dating a brainy and sophisticated medical student.Rosenthal delivers a classic multi-camera hangout comedy, showcasing

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01:06:00

Episode 180: Gracie Glassmeyer Interview

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/08/28

Episode 180: Gracie Glassmeyer Interview This after-show episode dives deeper into Here She Lies with its creator, Gracie Glassmeyer. If you heard the table read of this dark, twisty pilot, you probably have questions—like why Seth can’t leave his house, or why Talia has been spying on Amber’s stepmom. Gracie shares the answers, along with her unique path into comedy writing.She’s part of that rare breed of “jock comedy writers”—a group that proves you don’t have to be bad at sports to be good at

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00:54:38

Episode 179: Here She Lies Written by Gracie Glassmeyer

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/08/21

Episode 179: Here She Lies Written by Gracie GlassmeyerWelcome to Dead Pilots Society, the podcast that takes comedy pilots from A-list writers that were sold and developed at networks and streamers but never produced, and gives them the table reads they never got to have.This episode features a pilot from Gracie Glassmeyer. Gracie has written for Ghosts and The Neighborhood, with previous credits including Jane the Virgin, Happy Together, and Impastor. Her pilot defies easy categorization—too smart

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01:02:22

Episode 178: Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson Interview...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/07/31

Episode 178: Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson Interview (Blessed and Highly Favored, NewsRadio, Beavis and Butt-Head) In this after-show interview, Andrew sits down with longtime writing partners Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson. Friends and collaborators, Marcil and Johnson share some incredible stories from their decades in the business.They talk about how they got their start writing for Beavis and Butt-Head at MTV, the wild ride that was the NewsRadio writers’ room—complete with its nocturnal

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00:49:50

Episode 177: Blessed and Highly Favored by Chris...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/07/24

Episode 177: Blessed and Highly Favored by Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson - Live from the Elysian TheaterWe have such a great dead pilot for you this month. It's called Blessed and Highly Favored. It’s a hilarious comedy about a rookie pastor struggling to keep her progressive Baptist church afloat while dealing with megachurch competition, financial strain, and the looming presence of her father—the church’s legendary former pastor.The pilot comes from seasoned writers Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson,

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01:13:16

Episode 176: Ilana Peña (Diary of a Future President)...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/06/26

Episode 176: Ilana Peña (Diary of a Future President) and Anne Sundell (writer and comedian) InterviewIn this month’s after-show interview, Andrew chats with Ilana Peña (Diary of a Future President) and Anne Sundell (writer and comedian) about their pilot How to Get Over Bryan Byers. The pair share the real-life inspiration behind the show — yes, the actual Bryan Byers who unknowingly brought them together as friends and collaborators.Ilana and Anne reveal the incredible, improbable career breaks

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00:54:11

Episode 175: How To Get Over Bryan Byers Written by...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/06/19

Episode 175: How To Get Over Bryan Byers Written by Ilana Peña & Anne Sundell (Recorded Live at the Elysian Theater)This month on Dead Pilots Society, we’re bringing you How To Get Over Bryan Byers, a hilarious comedy pilot from Ilana Peña (Diary of a Future President) and Anne Sundell (writer and comedian).The show follows two former enemies, Anna and Izzy, who become best friends after realizing they’ve both dated—and been dumped by—the same guy. Together, they tackle the ups and downs of their

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00:47:34

Episode 174: Austen Earl Interview (Letters to...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/05/29

Episode 174: Austen Earl Interview (Letters to Beyoncé, Up All Night, The Millers, Happy Together)In this after-show interview, Andrew talks with writer/producer Austen Earl about his pilot Letters to Beyoncé, inspired by his own mom. Austen shares how he went from a tiny town in Vermont to a Hollywood writing career—with a surprising assist from his athletic background.They discuss the ups and downs of working in TV, including cancelled shows, and the influence of White Lotus creator Mike White on

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00:53:44

Episode 173: Letters to Beyoncé written by Austen...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/05/22

Episode 173: Letters to Beyoncé written by Austin Earl (Up All Night, The Millers, Happy Together) In this episode of Dead Pilots Society, we bring you a heartfelt and hilarious pilot from Austen Earl (Up All Night, The Millers, Happy Together, About My Father). The script, Letters to Beyoncé, tells the story of a middle-aged schoolteacher in rural New England who decides to reclaim her life—with a little inspiration from an unlikely source: Beyoncé. Inspired by Earl’s own mother (who was in

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01:10:44

Episode 172: Lauren Herstik Interview (American...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/04/24

In this after-show episode of Dead Pilot Society, we're joined by writer Lauren Herstik, who brought us Camp Friends — a pilot that's had more lives (and deaths) than most scripts could dream of. This one has everything: clown camp trauma, projectile vomit over a salad bar, surrealist puberty freakouts, and a long, winding journey through the chaotic world of TV development.Lauren sits down with host Andrew Reich to talk about the evolution of her coming-of-age summer camp comedy, from its original,

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00:44:42

Episode 171: Camp Friends Written by Lauren Herstik...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/04/17

This month, we have a fantastic dead pilot, Camp Friends, written by Lauren Herstik. You may know Lauren as a writer on American Vandal and Pearson. Camp Friends is about best friends who spend every summer at Camp Wigeon. This is their CIT (counselor-in-training) year, the last before becoming counselors, and the last chance to have the best summer ever. So when a new, hot, mystery girl shows up at camp and threatens to derail those plans it’s a big problem.Our cast this month features Zosia Mamet

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01:06:25

Episode 170: Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/03/27

This is the After Show episode for Buffalo Tens featuring Andrew’s interview with Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero (Another Period). It’s also our last episode of MaxFunDrive 2025. If you haven’t joined, boosted or upgraded yet, what are you waiting for?! You’re reading the show notes! You’re obviously a fan! Go to maximum fun.org/join right now! And then you can enjoy the insane story of how malaria brought Riki and Natasha together, how Another Period came to be, and the many times Buffalo Tens

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00:33:04

Episode: 169: Buffalo Tens Episode 2 by Riki Lindhome...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/03/24

MaxFunDrive 2025 continues with a second episode of Buffalo Tens from Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero (Another Period). Fox liked this show about two Matchmakers from Hell in Buffalo, New York enough to order a second episode from Riki and Natasha. And then they passed, but we have revived it and are bringing it to you here!Remember, this is the time of year where we celebrate MaxFun members and remind you that this show exists because listeners like you support it. We recorded this live at the

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00:36:23

Episode 168: Buffalo Tens Episode 1 by Riki Lindhome...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/03/22

You can support Dead Pilots Society and get access to all of our bonus content, and the bonus content from every other Maximum Fun show, by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join. And if you're already a member, first of all - thank you!, you can upgrade or boost your membership and get some cool gifts. Go to maximumfun.org/join now!MaxFunDrive ends on March 28, 2025! Support our show now and get access to bonus content by becoming a member at maximumfun.org/join.

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01:17:37

Episode 167: John Enbom Interview(Party Down,...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/02/27

We have another live show coming up soon. It’s on Sunday March 16th at 2:00 and at the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles, and we will be reading not one but two episodes of a hilarious dead pilot or I guess a dead show, written by and starring the incredible Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero. Riki and Natasha co-created and starred in the Comedy Central show Another Period. But you know them from so many other things as well. Riki is one half of Garfunkel and Oates and you’ve seen her in everything

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00:45:42

Episode 166: Rich Dan Poor Dan written by John Enbom...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/02/20

John also wrote on Veronica Mars, iZombie, and Benched. This pilot has that unique Enbom touch.Rich Dan, Poor Dan was recorded live in front of an audience at the Elysian Theatre in Los Angeles. Our cast was Ryan Hansen (Party Down) as Danny, Martin Starr (Party Down, Silicon Valley) as Daniel, Zoe Chao (Party Down) as Marnie, Olivia Liang (Kung Fu) as Sasha, Comedian Patrick McDonald as Stuart, Janet Varney (Stan Vs. Evil, JV Club) as Bernice/Maywell, Ellie Reed (Girlboss) as Louise, Comedian Anna

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00:50:04

Episode 165: Joe Port and Joe Wiseman Interview Rerun...

Dead Pilots Society ·

2025/01/30

In this interview we talk about Joe and Joe’s first show business jobs, including the insane, no-longer existent job of Night PA, delivering scripts in the wee hours of the night. They talk about how far having a great attitude can take you in this business, the lessons they’ve learned through their long careers and what they look for in people when they’re staffing shows. And we have an update on Eternally Yours! CBS ordered up a ten week development room for them to hire a few writers and write a

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