10 Best TV Pilots Ever

8. The West Wing - Pilot

The West Wing President Bartlet
NBC

The West Wing's first episode begins with Leo walking-and-talking as the opening credits play. It ends with the brilliant arrival of Martin Sheen's President of the United States.

From the first minute to the last, this is pure Sorkin; whip-smart, full of incredible dialogue, and politics that will actually give you a sense of hope. The episode also decides to withhold POTUS until its final moments, a decision that came about because Sheen wasn't originally intended to have more than a recurring role in the series, but one that totally hooks you on the show.

After 40 minutes of being invested in some excellent staffers, Sheen's arrival feels like the main event; the pièce de résistance that fully binds everything together, and ensures that by the end of the episode, everything that would make The West Wing so great is firmly in place, complete with a show-stopping line delivery from the President.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.