Why Pilots Are Making a Comeback in the Streaming Era

HBO Max and Hulu are reviving the concept of pilots, where a single episode is filmed to test a show's potential before committing to a full season. This approach is seen as a cost-effective way to gauge a show's success. HBO Max has two pilots in contention, while Hulu has several high-profile pilots, including a reboot of "The X-Files" from Ryan Coogler. NBC has also commissioned eight pilots, including a reboot of "The Rockford Files".