Let's say the average viewer who isn't TV savvy and doesn't know what a "backdoor" pilot tunes in one night to watch their favorite TV drama or sitcom and is confused seeing new characters never before seen while the lead actors are either relegated to a cameo or hardly seen at all.

I mean why would TV executives continue this practice not only would it cause lower ratings but a lot of angry viewers probably complaining to TV stations.

Firstly, it meant that the cost for producing the pilot could be wrapped up into the cost of the parent series. Secondly, executives always hope the popularity of the parent series will spread to a spinoff, and finally, it meant that they could easily get feedback on the pilot without having to do test screenings and such. If people liked it and it got good ratings try it as a series. If not, put it back on the shelf and forget about it.

Let's say the average viewer who isn't TV savvy and doesn't know what a "backdoor" pilot tunes in one night to watch their favorite TV drama or sitcom and is confused seeing new characters never before seen while the lead actors are either relegated to a cameo or hardly seen at all.

I mean why would TV executives continue this practice not only would it cause lower ratings but a lot of angry viewers probably complaining to TV stations.

Because show businesses executives have an exceedingly low opinion of the audience. And who's to say they're wrong? After all, they propagandize their political and moral views to their audience every day, and they think it works.

Firstly, it meant that the cost for producing the pilot could be wrapped up into the cost of the parent series. Secondly, executives always hope the popularity of the parent series will spread to a spinoff, and finally, it meant that they could easily get feedback on the pilot without having to do test screenings and such. If people liked it and it got good ratings try it as a series. If not, put it back on the shelf and forget about it.

Exactly.

Ed.