Pilot
- Episode aired Jul 11, 1987
- 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
341
YOUR RATING
Grad student Eric Cord becomes infected with lycanthropy after his friend turns into a werewolf and attacks him. Now, Eric and his girlfriend are after the monster that infected his friend, ... Read allGrad student Eric Cord becomes infected with lycanthropy after his friend turns into a werewolf and attacks him. Now, Eric and his girlfriend are after the monster that infected his friend, and a tough cowboy bounty hunter pursues Eric.Grad student Eric Cord becomes infected with lycanthropy after his friend turns into a werewolf and attacks him. Now, Eric and his girlfriend are after the monster that infected his friend, and a tough cowboy bounty hunter pursues Eric.
Photos
Kevin Gage
- Actor
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe name "Janos Skorzeny" was taken from The Night Stalker (1972).
- GoofsIn the pilot, Eric goes on the run fearful of being convicted for killing his friend, who was a werewolf, mainly because no one would believe his story. However, Eric now a werewolf himself, would probably be able to easily prove his story given that he himself now changes into a wolf and therefore has proof of the werewolf curse.
- ConnectionsFollows Werewolf (1987)
- SoundtracksSilent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
Written by Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson
Performed by Mike + The Mechanics
[The song playing at the night club in the opening scenes.]
Featured review
Excellent pilot episode
"There's nothing worse than a nightmare, except one you can't wake up from ..." Eric Cord seems to have the perfect life. He lives with his best friend Ted, has great prospects and to top it all off he's dating Ted's younger sister. But one night when Ted tries to convince Eric that he is a werewolf responsible for gruesome murders that have occurred in the area, everything changes. Although he doesn't believe his friends story, Eric takes the gun loaded with silver bullets and waits with him until midnight. Shortly after midnight he watches in horror as his friend transforms into a beast and attacks him ... he manages to shoot the werewolf, but not before being bitten.
And now Eric is cursed with lycanthropy and charged with the murder of his friend. He knows that in order to break the curse he must kill the original werewolf, an insane sea captain named Skorzeny. But his nemesis may be stronger than he ever thought possible, and when Eric misses a court date, a fearless bounty hunter is sent after him who soon discovers his secret and vows to hunt down and destroy the beast ...
As well as setting up the story, here we are introduced to the three main recurring characters -- Eric Cord, Alamo Joe Rogan and Janos Skorzeny (who doesn't actually appear in that many episodes). It's sort of strange to have a TV series with only two characters who return on a weekly basis, but I guess it'd been done before in "The Fugitive" and "The Incredible Hulk", and this show is certainly along the same lines. It's really just a classic hunter-fugitive story -- Rogan hunts Eric while Eric hunts Skorzeny, but with a werewolf twist to it.
John J. York gives a good performance in this one, introducing us to the care-free Eric Cord who later becomes everything from a pure-hearted hero to a cold-blooded hunter. Lance LeGault also does a good job as the cool-as-Elvis bounty hunter, although obviously here he lacks the emotional depth that was developed to this character in later episodes. Chuck Connors is memorable also ... he only appears in three more episodes due to the fact that the producers could no longer afford him. A stand-in was used for the later episodes which ultimately resulted in a crippling law suit, but that's another story. The rest of the supporting cast are also very good, and it's a shame that so few of them ever returned for more appearances on the show.
In some ways, this pilot promises things which the actual series doesn't deliver. For example, Skorzeny's final transformation scene is really great, and so much better than anything we see in any of the later episodes. But I guess asking the special effects team to do that on a weekly basis is a bit much. The soundtrack is also much better than in the rest of the series, containing great songs such as "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3 and "Silent Running" by Mike & The Mechanics (which contains the lyrics, "There's a gun and ammunition / Right outside the door / Use it only in emergency" ... appropriate, don't you think?).
This is really a superb pilot episode, and it's no surprise this was picked up for a season. It's just a shame it didn't go on for longer than one year.
And now Eric is cursed with lycanthropy and charged with the murder of his friend. He knows that in order to break the curse he must kill the original werewolf, an insane sea captain named Skorzeny. But his nemesis may be stronger than he ever thought possible, and when Eric misses a court date, a fearless bounty hunter is sent after him who soon discovers his secret and vows to hunt down and destroy the beast ...
As well as setting up the story, here we are introduced to the three main recurring characters -- Eric Cord, Alamo Joe Rogan and Janos Skorzeny (who doesn't actually appear in that many episodes). It's sort of strange to have a TV series with only two characters who return on a weekly basis, but I guess it'd been done before in "The Fugitive" and "The Incredible Hulk", and this show is certainly along the same lines. It's really just a classic hunter-fugitive story -- Rogan hunts Eric while Eric hunts Skorzeny, but with a werewolf twist to it.
John J. York gives a good performance in this one, introducing us to the care-free Eric Cord who later becomes everything from a pure-hearted hero to a cold-blooded hunter. Lance LeGault also does a good job as the cool-as-Elvis bounty hunter, although obviously here he lacks the emotional depth that was developed to this character in later episodes. Chuck Connors is memorable also ... he only appears in three more episodes due to the fact that the producers could no longer afford him. A stand-in was used for the later episodes which ultimately resulted in a crippling law suit, but that's another story. The rest of the supporting cast are also very good, and it's a shame that so few of them ever returned for more appearances on the show.
In some ways, this pilot promises things which the actual series doesn't deliver. For example, Skorzeny's final transformation scene is really great, and so much better than anything we see in any of the later episodes. But I guess asking the special effects team to do that on a weekly basis is a bit much. The soundtrack is also much better than in the rest of the series, containing great songs such as "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3 and "Silent Running" by Mike & The Mechanics (which contains the lyrics, "There's a gun and ammunition / Right outside the door / Use it only in emergency" ... appropriate, don't you think?).
This is really a superb pilot episode, and it's no surprise this was picked up for a season. It's just a shame it didn't go on for longer than one year.
- Teknofobe70
- May 7, 2005
- Permalink
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Pilot (1987) in Australia?
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