Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert has rounded up 14 memorable TV pilots. Why 14? Why not?

The best pilots held promise, even if a series didn’t fly

With the fall TV season beginning next week, prepare to be deluged with pilot episodes. Those are the new-series premieres designed to entice us, to give us a sense of potential, to bring us back for more. The creation of a strong pilot is an art form in itself - it’s the art of opening a story, just as filming a series finale is about the art of closing a story. Here’s a countdown of the best pilots of the past 10 years.

-- By Matthew Gilbert, Globe Staff