Pilot

"Pilot" is the pilot episode of the American television sitcom Cougar Town, which premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The episode was directed by series creator Bill Lawrence, and written by Lawrence and Kevin Biegel. The pilot introduces seven main cast members: Jules Cobb as a 40-year-old mother who’s newly single; Ellie Torres, Jules' next door neighbor and best friend; Laurie Keller, Jules' younger employee; Bobby Cobb, Jules' unemployed ex-husband; Travis Cobb, Jules' 17-year old son; Andy Torres, Ellie's husband; and Grayson Ellis, Jules' newly divorced neighbor. The episode aired between the other two pilots, Modern Family and Eastwick. It achieved 11.4 million viewers, coming first in its timeslot. Critical response was mixed, with Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara stating that the show "is fun and exciting for women over 40" and that the "maddening thing about 'Cougar Town' is that it isn't completely unfunny or uncharming."