Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit

Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit

Author: Ben Blacker and Andrew Reich January 29, 2026 Duration: 1:16:07

Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit

 

This special episode of Dead Pilots Society brings together the writers behind the last two pilots for a sort of Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit. The conversation features Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, writers of Guy Text, alongside Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, writers of The Thread.


Andrew brings all four writers together for a deeper, side-by-side look at their creative processes.What makes the conversation especially unique is the generosity on display. Rather than competing, the writers openly praise what they admired in each other’s pilots, offering thoughtful insight into how similar ideas can emerge independently, without imitation.

 

It’s a rare, candid conversation about writing partnerships, creative overlap, and the realities of comedy writing, presented without ads or interruptions—just four writers talking honestly about the work.


Ever wonder what happens to all those television scripts that get bought, developed, and then… nothing? Dead Pilots Society resurrects them. Hosted by writers and producers Ben Blacker and Andrew Reich, this podcast stages live table reads of comedy pilots that were fully written for networks and studios but never made it to air. Each episode brings one of these forgotten scripts to life with a cast of talented actors from shows and movies you’ll recognize, performing in front of an audience. The result is a unique blend of comedy, Hollywood history, and cultural artifact-you’re hearing a piece of television that almost was. It’s a celebration of the work itself, free from the pressures of network notes or the threat of cancellation, focused purely on the laughs and the story. Tuning in, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes feel for the development process, hear interviews about what went right and what stalled, and experience the genuine fun of performance. For anyone interested in the inner workings of TV, film, and comedy culture, or who just loves a good story told well, this podcast offers a consistently entertaining and insightful listen. It’s a chance to discover the hidden gems and hilarious misfires that languish in filing cabinets, finally getting their moment in the spotlight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 198

Dead Pilots Society
Podcast Episodes
Episode 36 - Pearl written by Andrew Reich (Friends) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:34
This month's episode was recorded live at SF Sketchfest 2019 and it’s Andrew's all-time favorite of his own dead pilots. Inspired by his own mother, "Pearl" tells the story of a woman who receives a diagnosis of terminal…