dsw13

Having recently discovered some wonderful television shows on dvd (in no small part thanks to reading this forum), I got to thinking about just how many quality shows take awhile to hit their stride. I never gave it much thought, but I've come to the realization that I often judge the early episodes of a series by a different standard, and tend to be more forgiving if it looks like there are some good characters and interesting story possibilities.

With that in mind, I've developed a new appreciation for those rare pilots/series premieres that were already at a level of excellence that let the viewer know that there's no need to be patient, this show already kicks some serious a**. As an aside, I make the distinction between pilot and series premiere because, as far as I can tell, the pilot is not always the official series premiere.

I thought it would be interesting to find out what pilots/series premieres fall into this category for everyone, regardless of whether the show lived up to the level of quality exhibited in that first episode. These might be shows that never made it past six episodes, or shows that had incredibly long runs, but have since suffered a great drop in quality. A few that come to mind for me, in no particular order, are:

The Sopranos - It was clear from the get go that this was already one of the best shows on television;

Alias - Textbook definition of a first episode kicking the viewer's a**;

Boomtown - Although this show eventually lost its way (yet still better than 90% of what's out there), the first episode was absolutely briliant and set the bar for how all other episodes would be judged;

Twin Peaks - That first season was a phenomenon for a reason;

The Wonder Years - At the time, wholly original (that is, for television - the style always reminded me of "Stand by Me") and very well executed.


I apologize it this has already been discussed. My search turned up nothing.

Red Dog

I definitely agree with Boomtown and Sopranos. I'll also add Las Vegas.

Groucho

There are a lot of good ones out there. But by far, the hands-down winner for best pilot/premiere ever goes to The Shield.

dsw13

The Shield is definitely on my list of shows to consider when I'm finished with B5, Buffy, and possibly Angel (assuming Buffy takes). I'd also like to catch up on The Wire, but I've yet to find any info. on dvd possibilities. Hoping HBO runs them all in order this summer.

djbrown

Gotta agree with 'Boomtown' here. Hard pressed to beat the "Not really a river anymore...." speech at the beginning.

Rypro 525

i'll go old school and say the "all in the family" pilot

SiberianLlama

Oz
The West Wing
Six Feet Under
Sports Night

elektra

I missed Alias, but since my good and dear friend, das, suggested I check it out, I may have to do that.

No interesting in The Wonder Years or Boomtown. Twin Peaks well, I just never got there.

Sopranos rocks!

I'll definitely go along with the Shield also.

Jeremiah impressed me from the getgo.

djbrown

Yeah, I missed all of Alias S1 when it originally aired on ABC as well. Get the S1 DVDs. The pilot kicks major ass.

djbrown

All this talk of great pilots, and not one mention of:



or




Kids today......

dsw13

Was that the one with the wedding flashback?

elektra

I also liked the Firefly pilot. Thought it was well done.

B.A.

Have to agree w/ the premier of Alias - that was a damn fine show.

The pilot of Scrubs began all of the insane madness that I have learned to love. This show has been great from day one.

Rypro 525

no thats the one where archie and edith have their anniversery.

Charlie Goose

I'm not totally certain, but I think the wedding "flashback" wasn't from an earlier episode. I think it was filmed especially for the flashback episode. Like the flashbacks from "Friends" where we see fat Monica. I could be wrong.

dsw13

I'm pretty sure that it was one of the episodes from the first season (which I believe was only six episodes). I recall seeing an interview with Norman Lear where he mentioned that this was the first episode where you heard Archie flushing the toilet and that the studio audience sustained the longest laught in television history. I agree that it was definitely a flashback, however. Of course, my memories of the interview with Lear could be completely wrong.

Rypro 525

Archie flushing the toilet and that the studio audience sustained the longest laught in television history.
actually I think the longest laugh, was an old episode of the Johnny Carson show where somone accidently shot a bow and arrow down "south" instead of the original target.