busted pilot

noun

A pilot that fails to be developed into a series.

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Meanings

nounbusted pilot (plural busted pilots)

plural busted pilots

  1. broadcastingA pilot that fails to be developed into a series.

    His television luck ran out with two unsuccessful comedy series and no less than three busted pilots.

    2017, Everett Aaker, Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary, page 1995
    1 more example

    Another would-be series dealing with stock car racing—this a live-action one—was a busted pilot in 1962 for ABC called Tack Reynolds. It starred Michael Parks as a hot-dogging driver.

    2008, Alvin H. Marill, Sports on Television, page 40
Cite this entry
APA

busted pilot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busted%20pilot

MLA

“busted pilot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busted%20pilot. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “busted pilot,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/busted%20pilot.

Source: busted pilot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.