Be very very quiet, I’m hunting pilots.

Yes boys and girls its pilot season. A season that used to belong only to television executives, out of work actors, and film directors looking for a big pay day. You and me, aka the average viewer, used to go about our business and be surprised when the TV Guide Fall Preview came out and told us about the hot new shows of the season. The only press we got on the new shows usually came in the form of reading about an established actor leaving another show for a new one or maybe reading about a spin off. Now we’re inundated by media outlets touting the next Friends before it’s even gone before a camera or picked up. Last week there were articles in USA Today, the AP, and Entertainment Weekly all discussing possible new shows.

Are these stories actually newsworthy? No.

Does anyone really care that the director of Snow Dogs is directing a new pilot or that the neighbor girl on Joey is on a new show from the writers of Friends? God I hope not.

Are the networks in bed with the media promoting these stories so they can generate early critical and audience buzz? Probably and sadly it’s working.

I’m must say I’m very excited about one show in particular. Aaron Sorkin the mad coke snorting mind behind Sports Night and West Wing is saddling up for another talking head show. (If anyone’s forgotten what the West Wing was like when Sorkin was in charge, think the gravitas of 24 dialogue delivered in the style of the Gilmore Girls, only on speed) This one is set behind the scenes of a late night sketch comedy show, basically Sports Night but SNL instead of ESPN. Already on board are Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet. If you caught Perry during his guest stint on West Wing you know he has the chops for Sorkin’s dialogue. Another key element is the fact that Sorkin is working with director Tommy Schlamme who directed the majority of Sorkin’s West Wing run. The problem is that now that the article has me pumped for this show, there’s no guarantee it’ll be on the fall schedule. NBC still has to review the pilot and make an agreement to pick up the show. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that I don’t have to write an angry letter to the editor at EW for me getting my hopes up.