

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).
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 26, 2024 • 1h 11min
Episode 147: Michael Lisbe & Nate Reger (Acapulco, The Cool Kids) Interview (Frenemies After Show)
This is our after show interview with Michael Lisbe & Nate Reger (Acapulco, The Cool Kids). In it you'll hear them talk about their show business breaks, how they generate ideas for pilots, a real dilemma they faced early on in their career, their favorite staffing jobs and the parts of their pilot Frenemies, that are based on facts. This one is a great conversation with old friends! Enjoy it!For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

Apr 20, 2024 • 47min
Episode 146: Frenemies - The Journey Of Lewis & Clark written by Michael Lisbe & Nate Reger (Acapulco, The Cool Kids)
Thank you to everyone who upgraded their max fun membership this year. We had more upgrades than last year and we're so grateful for all of you. You're support allows us to keep bringing you dead pilots. Our dead pilot this month is called Frenemies: The Journey Of Lewis & Clark written by Michael Lisbe & Nate Reger (Just Shoot Meet, Cougar Town, 2 Broke Girls). Their dead pilot is a comedic take on Lewis & Clark's epic journey of discovery through the American west. This pilot is hard funny and it's also NSFW. We warned you! It was a spec Mike & Nate wrote in the early days of Covid and they set it up at Sony. Our cast included Brandon Scott Jones (Ghosts), Drew Powell (Gotham), Tre Hale (Platonic), Michael Cassidy (People Of Earth), Haskiri Velazquez (Saved By The Bell), Carlos Aazraqui (Reno 911!), Greg Santos (Great News) and Andrew Reich with stage directions. There's still time to help support our podcast by becoming a maximum fun member for as little as $5 a month. Help us support what we do by going to maximumfun.org/join.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

Mar 28, 2024 • 52min
Episode 145: Unscripted Dead Pilots with J. Keith van Straaten, Jordan Morris, John Moe
This is an episode dedicated to unscripted television. J. Keith van Straaten, Jordan Morris, and John Moe talk about their dead unscripted projects that were sold to networks and streams but never produced. This conversation went to a ton of unexpected places and that's definitely a part of it's charm. Enjoy it!There's still time to help support our podcast by becoming a maximum fun member for as little as $5 a month. Help us support what we do by going to maximumfun.org/join.

Mar 25, 2024 • 1h 11min
Episode 144: Andy Bobrow's List Of Sitcom Writing Rules
Another #maxfundrive bonus episode for you! Thank you to everyone who has boosted or become a #maxfundrive member, it's because of you that we can put out episodes like this. We sat down with comedy writer Andy Bobrow about his sitcom writing rules. Andy is a writer who's script Greatest American Heroes (ep link here) was last year's MaxFunDrive episode. We had an incredible cast for that one including Will Forte, Stephen Root, Rachel Harris, Sam Richardson and more. Andy has written on Malcolm In The Middle, Community, Last Man On earth, Brooklyin Nine-Nine and currently he's been writing for Krapopolis. Recently, he posted some of his sitcom writing rules on twitter that we found to be super spot on and we wanted to talk to him about it. There's a lot of extremely practical advice in this one. Things that can help comedy writers at any level who are maybe stuck on a scene or looking for general things not to do. You can find his list here This is for all writers or fans who are interested in the craft of how comedy shows are written. If you get something useful out of this conversation please consider becoming a #maxfun member at just $5 a month by going to maximumfun.org/donate. Thanks for listening! Enjoy!

Mar 23, 2024 • 54min
Episode 143: Open Mike Eagle (The New Negroes) & Mike Benner (Bob's Burgers) Interview (Principle After Show)
This is our after show interview with Open Mike Eagle (The New Negroes) & Mike Benner (Bob's Burger) about their pilot Principle. Mike and Mike developed Principle for Comedy Central wanting to explore the differences between a rapper's public and private persona. In this interview, you'll hear them talk about their comedy and hip hop influences, Open Mike's move from rapper to comedy writer/rapper and the process of pitching and developing a rap show for Comedy Central. If you'd like to support our podcast, now is the time. It's MaxFunDrive; the one time of year where listeners like you can directly support our podcast. Your support is what allows us to keep putting out dead pilot after dead pilot. Help us out for as little as $5 a month.

Mar 20, 2024 • 49min
Episode 142: Principle written by Open Mike Eagle (The New Negroes) & Mike Benner (Bob's Burgers) LIVE at The Elysian Theater
We have a hilarious MAX FUN DRIVE episode for you! It's the table read for Principle written by Open Mike Eagle (The New Negroes) & Mike Benner (Bob's Burgers) recorded LIVE at THE ELYSIAN THEATER! Principle was sold to Comedy Central. It's about a rapper trying to change his life and image but keeps being pulled back into the gangster character that made him famous. This show should be on the list along with Atlanta and Dave of the great television hip hop comedy of the last decade but alas it never it never made it to air. It's only available here on Dead Piltos Society and Dead Pilots Society only exists because of listeners like you becoming Maximum Fun members. Your support is what keeps this podcast going. You can become a member for as little as $5 a month by going to maximumfun.org/joinPrinciple stars Open Mike Eagle, Shakira Ja'nai Paye, Tawny Newsome, Langston Kerman, Jamel Johnson, Paul F. Tompkins, Phil Lamarr, Aaron Branch, Taylor Garron and Andrew Reich with stage directions. For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

Mar 18, 2024 • 18min
Go Fact Yourself #MaxFunDrive Kick-off Spectacular featuring Austin Taylor, Brenda Snell, Manolo Moreno, and Andrew Reich
This special network wide event is a celebration of The MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join. We’re kicking off the most exciting time of the year for the MaxFun Network with a trivia game show featuring hosts from tons of great podcasts.J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by:Austin Taylor & Brenda Snell -“Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries” Manolo Moreno - “Dr. Gameshow”Andrew Reich - “Dead Pilots Society”If you’d like to hear more hosts competing for trivia supremacy, visit Maximumfun.org for the full version of this show.

Mar 18, 2024 • 1h 6min
Episode 141: Q & A with Ben Blacker & Andrew Reich moderated by J. Keith van Straaten (Go Fact Yourself)
This is a special episode in honor of The MaxFunDrive where Andrew and Ben answer a variety questions sent to us from listeners. We had J. Keith van Straaten from Go Fact Yourself drop by to moderate. It was a lot of fun and we know you're going to love it. Thank you for supporting our show!This special network wide event is a celebration of The MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join.

Mar 2, 2024 • 1h 11min
Episode 140: Tommy Johnagin (That 90s Show, Man With A Plan) Interview (You're Only Young Twice After Show)
This is our after show interview with Tommy Johnagin (That 90s Show, Man With A Plan) about his pilot You're Only Young Twice. Tommy tells us about starting his stand up career at the age of 19, inspired by David Letterman. How he went from being a touring comedian to writing on a television show. Andrew shares some good insight from his time on Friends and they both spend time figuring out a better second act complication for Tommy's pilot. This is a great one! Enjoy it!For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

Feb 23, 2024 • 36min
Episode 139: You're Only Young Twice written by Tommy Johnagin (That 90s Show, Man With A Plan)
A young couple face the challenges and excitement of becoming empty nesters while still young. Family secrets unfold over sushi, leading to turmoil and revelations. Unexpected news and roommate dynamics add humor and intrigue to the story.


