Pilot (Prison Break)

"Pilot"
Prison Break episode
Michael reveals his escape plan to his brother.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Directed by	Brett Ratner
Written by	Paul Scheuring
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Production code	1AKJ79
Original air date	August 29, 2005 (2005-08-29)
Guest appearances
C-Note Paul Adelstein as Paul Kellerman Lisa Rix Charles Westmoreland Maricruz Delgado Henry Pope Daniel Hale James Azreal as Prisoner Rolando Boyce as Cop Cheryl Lyn Bruce as Judge Billy Chase as Prisoner Matthew H. Harrison as Corrections officer Nicolas Iovino as Brian Darnell Jackson as Prisoner Ora Jones as Wendy Rich Komenich as Maggio Louis Patterson Dan Maxwell as Cronie Danielle Mulligan as Nurse Ana Larry Nazimek as Prisoner David Pacheco as Prisoner Jeff Parker as Tsili Peggy Roeder as Teller Chelcie Ross as Bishop McMorrow Gianni Russo as Gavin Smallhouse Brandon DeShazer as Prisoner Philip Rayburn Smith as Adrian Rix Anthony Starke as Sebastian Balfour Robert Patrick Stern as Prisoner Keith Stolte Laura Wade as Syd David Dino Wells Jr. as Inmate Jay Whittaker as Sweatsuit Alan Wilder as Prison chaplain James Zahn as Prisoner
Episode chronology
← Previous — Next → "Allen"
Prison Break (season 1)
List of episodes

"Pilot" is the pilot episode and series premiere of the American television series Prison Break, which premiered on August 29, 2005 in the United States. That night, it was aired as the first of a two-part pilot special, along with "Allen", which was broadcast straight after this episode. The episode was directed by series producer Brett Ratner, noted director of such works as Rush Hour and Red Dragon, and written by series creator and producer Paul Scheuring. The episode was given numerous positive reviews in not just the US, but from the majority of the rest of world, reaching record ratings in various countries.

The episode introduces the two main protagonists of the series:

Plot

Michael realizes the only way to get to his brother is to join

The original concept of Prison Break—a man deliberately getting himself sent to prison in order to help someone else (his brother, in this case) escape—was suggested to Paul Scheuring by producer Dawn Parouse, who wanted to produce an action-oriented series. Although Scheuring thought it was a good idea, he was initially stumped as to why someone would embark on such a mission or how he could develop it into a viable television show. He came up with the story of the wrongfully accused brother, and began working on the plot outline and devising the characters. In 2003, he pitched the idea to the Fox Broadcasting Company but was turned down as Fox felt nervous about the long-term possibilities of such a series. He subsequently showed the concept to other channels but was also turned down as it was thought to be more suited for a film project than a television series.^[1] Prison Break was later considered as a possible 14-part miniseries, which drew the interest of Steven Spielberg before his departure due to his involvement with War of the Worlds. Thus, the miniseries never materialized. Following the huge popularity of serialized prime time television series such as Lost and 24, the Fox Network had a change of heart and backed the production in 2004.^[2]

The pilot episode was filmed a year after Scheuring wrote the script.

In France, the episode aired on August 31, 2006 with around 5.5 million viewers (25.8% share).^[12] It was not as publicised in Germany since the airing on 21 June 2007, as it received an audience share of only 13.5%.^[13] In Poland, the episode aired on January 28, 2007 with an estimated 7 million viewers, the highest rated episode of any foreign series in Poland.^[14] The Pilot aired in Greece on 2 January, with a rating of 769,000 viewers, an unusually high figure for an American series to air on Greek television.^[15]

Charlie Brooker of The Guardian calls the pilot "possibly the dumbest story ever told" and opines that it is very unrealistic. Brooker jokes that the writing is "like they took a two-year-old to see The Shawshank Redemption, asked him to recount the plot three weeks later, wrote down everything he said, and filmed it."^[16]

Awards and nominations

For the episode, Mark Helfrich was nominated for an Eddie Award in the category "Best Edited One-Hour Series for Commercial Television". However, his competitor, Stephen Semel, won the award for the American television series Lost.^{[citation needed]} The pilot episode did, however win an Artios Casting Society of America award for "Best Dramatic Pilot Casting" in 2006. The award was handed to John Papsidera, Wendy O'Brien and Claire Simon.

References