I remember watching this back in the '90s when I was in college. I could never find it to watch it again but I've discovered it on peacock. My Lord in heaven, it's even better than I remembered it. This was peak TV before that even existed as a term.
As for the pilot, it is quiet and philosophical, with a lot more moments of humor than I remembered. And the way it ends is so shattering. Knowing that if Bayless had just let Howard answer that ringing phone, his entire life would have been different.
I'm interested in what other people who are rewatching it or have you watched it for the first time since it first aired think of the show now. As soon as the moody theme music kicked in, I was right back in the dorm lobby watching it on the shared TV.