I originally intended to write regularly about TV. Then I got cast in a play and my general laziness just crept up, and that plan kind of went by the wayside. That doesn’t mean I don’t have strong opinions about the state of my favorite entertainment medium so I’m going to try and get back on the horse with this post.

A few weeks ago, news came out that the sitcom “Next Caller” starring Dane Cook would not air in the spring as scheduled. NBC had previously ordered six episodes of the show.

Normally, the removal of the threat of Dane Cook appearing on my television would rank as good news, but a smallish detail gives me a different outlook. They had actually filmed four episodes before pulling the plug.

With the growth of online viewing, these four episodes shouldn’t just disappear into the ether. A lot of time, money and effort went into filming those 90 or so minutes of “comedy.” Why not throw them up on Hulu and see what happens? The show obviously has some redeeming qualities (at least as many or more than shows currently on the air) if it made it through the development process and filmed four episodes. Let us see it, even if it’s just to laugh at how bad it is. Jeffrey Tambor is involved. He at least has to provide some funny moments.

I feel the same way about pilots which are produced, but never make it to the schedule. Those scripts and ideas just die on the vine because they didn’t fit into the network’s plans or have part of the formula right, but just need a few tweaks. Who’s to say that these shows won’t improve if viewers and critics begin a conversation which leads the people in charge onto the path with the right changes?

Maybe these shows and pilots might not bring in millions in advertising or burn up the ratings chart, but at least let us judge them on their merits. Otherwise, we’re at the mercy of people who thought actually putting episodes of “Animal Practice” on the air.