TV Template

TV Pilot Screenplay Template

A free Google Docs template for hour-long dramas and half-hour comedies. Professional formatting with act break structure.

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Hour Drama or Half-Hour Comedy

TV pilots follow different structures depending on runtime and genre. Choose the format that fits your show.

Hour-Long Drama

55-65 pages • 5 acts + teaser

For prestige dramas, procedurals, and streaming series. Five-act structure with commercial break opportunities. Includes teaser (cold open) and tag options.

Half-Hour Comedy

28-35 pages • 2-3 acts

For single-cam and multi-cam comedies. Simpler structure with A/B storylines. Multi-cam format includes stage directions for live audience shows.

Everything for Your TV Pilot

Industry-standard TV formatting with act breaks, teasers, and episode structure.

Act Break Formatting

Clear act labels and page breaks

Teaser Structure

Cold open / teaser section template

Episode Title Page

Show name, episode title, draft info

Professional Margins

1.5" left, 1" right, top, and bottom

Scene Numbering

Production-ready scene numbers

Character List

Cast breakdown page template

TV Format in Action

Here's how a TV pilot looks with proper act breaks and teaser structure.

TV Pilot Format
TEASER
INT. POLICE STATION - BULLPEN - NIGHT
The station is nearly empty. A single desk lamp illuminates DETECTIVE CHEN (40s), hunched over a case file. Coffee cups everywhere.
Her phone BUZZES. She checks it. Her face goes pale.
CHEN
No. Not again.
She grabs her jacket and runs.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE

Sell Your Series

A pilot isn't just the first episode. It's a proof of concept for 100 more.

Show the Engine

Your pilot must demonstrate what happens every week. What's the repeatable story engine? A cop solves cases. A family navigates chaos. Make the format clear.

Nail the Teaser

The first 3-5 pages determine whether anyone reads the rest. Hook readers immediately. Establish tone, world, and stakes before the first act break.

Ensemble Introductions

TV is about characters we want to spend years with. Give each major character a memorable introduction that reveals who they are under pressure.

A-Story Meets B-Story

Most TV episodes juggle multiple storylines. Your pilot should establish at least two plot threads that intersect by the end. Show you can handle complexity.

Get Started in 4 Steps

From template to finished pilot script.

1

Open the Template

Click the button below to open the template in Google Docs. You'll see TV-specific formatting with act breaks and teaser structure.

2

Choose Your Format

Delete the format you don't need (hour drama or half-hour comedy). Keep the structure that matches your show's runtime and genre.

3

Fill in Your Show

Replace the sample content with your series. Update the title page with your show name, episode title, and contact information.

4

Install Screenplay Editor (Optional)

For automatic formatting, keyboard shortcuts, and export options, install our free Google Docs add-on. It makes TV formatting consistent.

Ready to Write

Start Your TV Pilot Today

Professional TV formatting, act break structure, zero setup time.

Get the Template Install Screenplay Editor