What's a backdoor pilot?

[starchaser9]

[strateguy632]

It is when a series gives emphasis to one side character "relying" on the series about the main character. For example in star trek usualy about kirk and mccoy to have a story almost entirely about spock.

Similarly star trek series lower decks and short treks did that trick... they were horrible but people were fooled to buy it due to it being a backdoor of a good series.

[Nikki1989]

Instead of spending money to shoot a standalone episode that networks might reject, the producers “hide” the potential new show inside an episode of an already existing show.

[Anonymous]

About 40 years ago, it meant a TV movie that's made into a TV series. But they don't do that anymore, or use that term.