"Pilot" 1.1 - Original Airdate: 10/09/02
  
Written by Laeta Kalogridis
Directed by Brian Robbins
Guest Stars:
Chris Ellis as Larry Ketterly
Shawn Christian as Wade Brixton
Aaron Paul as Jerry
Brent Sexton as Det. McNally
Mark Hamill as Voice of Joker
Co-Starring:
Amanda Michalka as Young Dinah
Maggie Baird as Mother
Maria Quiban as Newscaster
Joe Lala as Crowley
Uncredited:
Bruce Thomas as Batman
Roger Stoneburner as Joker
I'll admit, I watched Birds of Prey, since I like to give a comic book show a chance before writing it off. I did the same thing last year with the Smallville pilot, which didn't really impress me.
But this was fantastic! The guys that did this show, did an excellent job. It was like watching a spin-off of the Batman films. You know, the good ones. The passing glimpses of Batman were well done, Seinfeld's Mr. Pitt was a great Alfred, and the brief shots of Catwoman and Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill, how cool is that!?!) were all really well done. They used the movie Catwoman costume! Amazing!
I loved Dina Meyer as Batgirl/Oracle. She did a great job bringing Barbara to life, and I hope we get to see more of her in that kickass Batgril costume.
Huntress was great. I'll admit, when I saw Huntress in previews I was expecting to hate her, but she was really, really likeable. And her fight scenes were incredible.
Dinah LANCE (yes Lance, contrary to reports) was nice. She brought a good outsiders feel, and I can't wait to meet her mother, the Black Canary!
The shots through the city were great as well. The closing one with Oracle and Huntress on the rooftop, and the bat flying by the moon was so cool.
Bringing in Harleen Quinzel was a great idea and I can't wait to see where they go with this.
The rest of the cast was great, even that pretty boy, Shemar Moore.
I cannot heap enough praise on the pilot episode of Birds of Prey. They've done a great job. This is definatly on par with the animated series.
WB Summary for "Pilot"
"The Batman legend takes an unexpected turn when the Caped Crusader vanishes from the crime-ridden city of New Gotham and his legacy is taken over by a trio of beautiful and relentless heroines - the Birds of Prey. Barbara Gordon started out as Batman's protege, Batgirl, but an attack by The Joker left her confined to a wheelchair. Reinventing herself as Oracle, she takes under her wing Helena Kyle, the secret daughter of Batman and Catwoman, who quickly grows into the fierce and beautiful "Huntress," and Dinah, a teenage runaway who is drawn to the city by meta-human visions. With the help of the only honest cop in New Gotham, Detective Jesse Reese, the Birds of Prey fight their first battle against a mysterious madwoman who is bent on their destruction."
TV Guide Summary for "Pilot"
"In the wake of Batman's disappearance, two crimefighters take up his mantle. On the prowl is the Huntress, a.k.a. Helena Kyle (Ashley Scott), the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. Guiding her efforts is former Batgirl Barbara Gordon (Dina Meyer), now named Oracle and confined to a wheelchair after surviving an attack by the Joker seven years earlier---on the same night he arranged Catwoman's murder. In the pilot, the duo investigate a string of suspicious suicides and get some unexpected help from a teen named Dinah (Rachel Skarsten), who possesses telepathic powers."
Comicology for "Pilot"
In the 1960's DC comics reintroduced it's major characters and stated that the comics published before were set in an alternate reality, refered to as "Earth-2". When it came time to bring the Batman and Catwoman characters from "Earth-2", they revealed that in the time since the 30s, they married and had a daughter named Helena Wayne. Helena became the Huntress. Like the BoP pilot, when the "Earth-2" Catwoman was murdered, a grief-stricken Batman left Gotham.
Barbara Gordon was shot and paralyzed by the Joker in the 1989 graphic novel "The Killing Joke". She later became Oracle, and has since become more important in the DC universe than she was as Batgirl.
Harley Quinn first appeared on "Batman: The animated series". Her popularity led to her being introduced in the mainline comics. Like BoP, she was Joker's girlfriend, also known as psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel.
Dinah Lance appears in the comic book "Birds of Prey" as the Black Canary.
Ratings for "Pilot"
10/09/02 - 6.5/9
76 out of 124 programs for that week, 3rd in it's timeslot (out of 6)
11/27/02 - 2.9/5
95 out of 123 programs for that week, 5th in it's timeslot (out of 6)
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