Pilot (One Tree Hill)
Encyclopedia
"Pilot" is the first episode of One Tree Hill
's first season
. It first aired on The WB television network
in the United States on September 23, 2003. It was written by Mark Schwahn
and directed by Bryan Gordon
. It saw John Keenan
and Melissa Claire Egan
guest star as Officer Wayman and Melody, respectively. It introduces the character of Lucas Scott
(played by Chad Michael Murray
) — a high school student — and his friends and relatives in the fictional Tree Hill.
's (James Lafferty
) final shot. Elsewhere, Nathan's half-brother Lucas Scott
is playing basketball with three friends. Nathan and Lucas share the same father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson
), but they live apart: it is suggested that Dan abandoned Lucas and his mother, Karen Roe (Moira Kelly
) when Lucas was born, preferring to marry Deb Scott (Barbara Alyn Woods
), with whom he had Nathan. Nathan and his team are busted for stealing a school bus. Even though Nathan was driving, his father, Dan, manages to bail him out of trouble, as usual, while other players are suspended.
During a drive, Nathan’s girlfriend (and Ravens’ cheerleader) Peyton Sawyer
(Hilarie Burton
), nearly runs over Lucas after becoming distracted at the wheel. Lucas heads for Karen’s café, where he has dinner with his mother and his best friend, Haley James
(Bethany Joy Lenz
).
The next day, Keith Scott (Craig Sheffer
), Dan’s brother, who is close friends with Karen, asks Whitey Durham (Barry Corbin
), the Ravens coach, to let Lucas be part of the team. Keith is positive that the kid deserves it. The coach tells Lucas he can join the Ravens. Nathan then challenges Lucas to a basketball match, with the stipulation that the loser will walk away from the team. Later, Peyton’s car breaks down and Lucas comes to her assistance. During a discussion, Lucas relays his history with Dan and Nathan.
Lucas shows up at Keith’s shop by the time Dan is talking to Keith about Karen. Following this, Lucas makes up his mind and accepts Nathan’s challenge. After winning the game, Lucas lets Peyton know that Nathan has to stay on the team because "it's the last thing he wants".
In the last scene, Lucas enters the school’s gym while everyone is staring at him. A last close-up to the park where Lucas used to play: it’s finally empty.
was said that it would be more interesting as a TV series. The series features an unaired pilot episode which takes place in the past. It tells the story of Karen and Dan and how she got pregnant. Then, after Dan marries Deb it skips to the future where Lucas has his first day at Tree Hill High. He meets Mouth and others and realizes that maybe basketball is for him; that is, until he and Nathan get into a fight about Dan.
In the broadcast pilot episode, Brooke Davis
(portrayed by Sophia Bush
) does not appear and makes her first appearance in The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. Samantha Shelton
also played a character called Reagan in the unaired pilot. She was replaced with the character Haley
.
. The episode received generally mixed reviews. Critics compared it to The O.C.
and Dawson's Creek
, but with a more masculine appeal.
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
's first season
One Tree Hill (season 1)
Season one of One Tree Hill, an American teen drama television series created by Mark Schwahn, began airing on September 23, 2003 on the WB television network. The season concluded on May 11, 2004, after 22 episodes....
. It first aired on The WB television network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
in the United States on September 23, 2003. It was written by Mark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He is best known as creator, head writer and executive producer of The CW Network drama series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
and directed by Bryan Gordon
Bryan Gordon
Bryan Gordon is a television and film director and writer. He has been nominated three times for the Directors Guild of America Award and in 2002 received the Directors Guild award for comedy directing. He’s been nominated for an Emmy twice – both for his work on the HBO series Curb Your...
. It saw John Keenan
John Keenan
Detective Inspector John Keenan is a fictional police officer of the Criminal Investigation Department within Wyvern Constabulary's, Holby South Police Station...
and Melissa Claire Egan
Melissa Claire Egan
Melissa Claire Egan is an American actress. Egan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Dramatic Art. She has guest-starred on such television series as Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill. Her debut film role was as Ali Court in the 2005 movie, Wrestling...
guest star as Officer Wayman and Melody, respectively. It introduces the character of Lucas Scott
Lucas Scott
Lucas Eugene Scott is a fictional character and formerly the main protagonist from The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray. Lucas is a talented basketball player and writer. He is rival to half-brother Nathan Scott, before the two eventually become close friends...
(played by Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray is an American actor, former fashion model and spokesperson. Murray is well known for portraying Lucas Scott in The CW young adult drama series One Tree Hill, in addition to the commercially successful films A Cinderella Story, Freaky Friday and House of Wax...
) — a high school student — and his friends and relatives in the fictional Tree Hill.
Plot
An important basketball game is going on at Tree Hill High School. The Ravens' team wins, thanks to Nathan ScottNathan Scott
Nathan Royal Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by James Lafferty. He was the second protagonist during the first six seasons; but following Lucas Scott's departure, Nathan has become the main character and central figure of the show. Nathan is Lucas...
's (James Lafferty
James Lafferty
James Martin Lafferty is an American actor, director and producer. He currently portrays Nathan Scott on the CW television drama One Tree Hill. In addition to his role on the young adult drama, Lafferty is also known for his appearance as Justin in S...
) final shot. Elsewhere, Nathan's half-brother Lucas Scott
Lucas Scott
Lucas Eugene Scott is a fictional character and formerly the main protagonist from The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray. Lucas is a talented basketball player and writer. He is rival to half-brother Nathan Scott, before the two eventually become close friends...
is playing basketball with three friends. Nathan and Lucas share the same father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson
Paul Johansson
Paul Joseph Otto Johansson is an American-born Canadian actor, writer and director, best known for playing Dan Scott on the WB/CW television series, One Tree Hill, and for his role as Nick Wolfe on the short lived Highlander: The Series spin-off Highlander: The Raven...
), but they live apart: it is suggested that Dan abandoned Lucas and his mother, Karen Roe (Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly is an American actress. She is best known for playing single mother Karen Roe on the teen drama One Tree Hill. She also directed two episodes of the series: "Resolve" and "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me"...
) when Lucas was born, preferring to marry Deb Scott (Barbara Alyn Woods
Barbara Alyn Woods
Barbara Alyn Woods is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in One Tree Hill, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, and Striptease.-Filmography:...
), with whom he had Nathan. Nathan and his team are busted for stealing a school bus. Even though Nathan was driving, his father, Dan, manages to bail him out of trouble, as usual, while other players are suspended.
During a drive, Nathan’s girlfriend (and Ravens’ cheerleader) Peyton Sawyer
Peyton Sawyer
Peyton Elizabeth Scott is a fictional character from The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Hilarie Burton. A talented visual and musical artist, Peyton has a heavily-guarded heart due to the number of lost loved ones in her life...
(Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Ross Burton is an American actress. A former host of MTV's Total Request Live, she portrayed Peyton Sawyer on The CW drama One Tree Hill for six seasons...
), nearly runs over Lucas after becoming distracted at the wheel. Lucas heads for Karen’s café, where he has dinner with his mother and his best friend, Haley James
Haley James Scott
Haley Bob James Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Bethany Joy Galeotti. Haley is initially introduced as Lucas Scott's best friend and eventual sister-in-law after her marriage to Nathan Scott in her junior year of high school...
(Bethany Joy Lenz
Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
).
The next day, Keith Scott (Craig Sheffer
Craig Sheffer
Craig Eric Sheffer is an American film and television actor. He is known for his leading role as Norman Maclean in the film A River Runs Through It and of Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill.-Early life:...
), Dan’s brother, who is close friends with Karen, asks Whitey Durham (Barry Corbin
Barry Corbin
Leonard Barrie Corbin, known as Barry Corbin , is an American actor with more than one hundred film, television and video game credits.-Early life:...
), the Ravens coach, to let Lucas be part of the team. Keith is positive that the kid deserves it. The coach tells Lucas he can join the Ravens. Nathan then challenges Lucas to a basketball match, with the stipulation that the loser will walk away from the team. Later, Peyton’s car breaks down and Lucas comes to her assistance. During a discussion, Lucas relays his history with Dan and Nathan.
Lucas shows up at Keith’s shop by the time Dan is talking to Keith about Karen. Following this, Lucas makes up his mind and accepts Nathan’s challenge. After winning the game, Lucas lets Peyton know that Nathan has to stay on the team because "it's the last thing he wants".
In the last scene, Lucas enters the school’s gym while everyone is staring at him. A last close-up to the park where Lucas used to play: it’s finally empty.
Production
One Tree Hill was first created to be a feature-length movie with the title Ravens. However, Mark SchwahnMark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn is an American screenwriter, director and producer. He is best known as creator, head writer and executive producer of The CW Network drama series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
was said that it would be more interesting as a TV series. The series features an unaired pilot episode which takes place in the past. It tells the story of Karen and Dan and how she got pregnant. Then, after Dan marries Deb it skips to the future where Lucas has his first day at Tree Hill High. He meets Mouth and others and realizes that maybe basketball is for him; that is, until he and Nathan get into a fight about Dan.
In the broadcast pilot episode, Brooke Davis
Brooke Davis
Brooke Penelope Baker is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Sophia Bush. Throughout her experiences, Brooke grows from a wild and generally carefree girl to a more mature and grounded young woman...
(portrayed by Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush
Sophia Anna Bush is an American actress, director and spokesperson. She currently stars in the CW television series One Tree Hill where she portrays Brooke Davis. Bush is additionally known for her film portrayals in the 2007 remake The Hitcher, John Tucker Must Die and The Narrows.-Early...
) does not appear and makes her first appearance in The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most. Samantha Shelton
Samantha Shelton
Samantha Sky Shelton is an American actress and singer.-Early life:Samantha Shelton was born in Los Angeles, California, to director Christopher and Carol Stromme. She has three older sisters, Koren, Erin and fellow actress Marley Shelton...
also played a character called Reagan in the unaired pilot. She was replaced with the character Haley
Haley James Scott
Haley Bob James Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Bethany Joy Galeotti. Haley is initially introduced as Lucas Scott's best friend and eventual sister-in-law after her marriage to Nathan Scott in her junior year of high school...
.
Reception
In the United States of America, the episode's initial broadcast attracted two and a half million viewers on The WB Television NetworkThe WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
. The episode received generally mixed reviews. Critics compared it to The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
and Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek
Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
, but with a more masculine appeal.