Prison Break season 1
A genius brother infiltrates prison to save his innocent sibling.
Prison Break season 1 is the debut season of the American serial drama television series Prison Break. It commenced airing in the United States and Canada on August 29, 2005, on Fox, and concluded on May 15, 2006, comprising 22 episodes plus a special episode titled 'Behind the Walls'. The season centers on two brothers: Lincoln Burrows, sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and his younger brother Michael Scofield, a genius who devises an elaborate plan to help him escape prison by deliberately getting himself incarcerated.
- Network
- Fox
- Premiere date
- August 29, 2005
- Finale date
- May 15, 2006
- Episode count
- 22
- Special episode
- Behind the Walls (October 11, 2005)
- Average viewership
- 10 million per week
- Production companies
- Adelstein-Parouse Productions, Rat Entertainment, Original Film, 20th Century Fox Television
Lore & Background
The season was produced by Adelstein-Parouse Productions, in association with Rat Entertainment, Original Film and 20th Century Fox Television. Executive producers included creator Paul Scheuring, Marty Adelstein, Neal H. Moritz, Dawn Parouse, Brett Ratner, and Matt Olmstead. Filming took place mostly in and around Chicago, with Joliet Prison (closed in 2002) serving as the fictional Fox River State Penitentiary. Lincoln Burrows' cell was the same one in which John Wayne Gacy was incarcerated, and most of the production crew refused to enter it, believing it haunted. The season cost $24 million in Illinois alone, at $2 million per episode.
Reader's Guide
Prison Break season 1 is significant for its high-concept premise and strong initial ratings. The two-hour pilot drew approximately 10.5 million viewers, giving Fox its best summertime Monday numbers since 1998. The season averaged 10 million viewers weekly, with the finale reaching 12 million. Critical reception was generally favorable: Rotten Tomatoes gave a 77% rating, and Metacritic assigned a score of 65 based on 32 reviews. The New York Times called it 'more intriguing than most new network series' and a 'suspenseful thriller', while Entertainment Weekly praised its 'edge-of-the-seat action'. The Washington Post criticized its 'somber pretentiousness'. Originally planned for 13 episodes, the season was extended to 22 due to popularity. The season was released on DVD as a six-disc boxed set on August 8, 2006.
Did You Know?
- The first season was originally planned for 13 episodes but was extended to 22 due to popularity.
- The season cost $24 million in Illinois, at $2 million per episode.
- A special episode titled 'Behind the Walls' aired on October 11, 2005.
More in Characters & Inmates
Elsewhere in Prison Break
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