Pilot

## *Episode Guide*

"**Pilot**" is the first episode of the first season of ***Alaska Daily***, and the first episode of the series overall. It serves as the series premiere, and it premiered on October 6, 2022 on ABC to 3.59 million viewers.

## Premise

After a fall from grace, fiercely talented and award-winning investigative journalist Eileen Fitzgerald leaves her high-profile New York life behind to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage. Her journey to find both personal and professional redemption begins.

## Plot

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Eileen Fitzgerald is a prolific reporter who is working on an explosive expose about the soon to be Secretary of Defense. With a willing source and documentation, Fitzgerald publishes the story. Problems begin the day after publication. Steve, the target of her story claims her proof is forged. Eileen’s paper wants to take a step back, but she is adamant that she is right. Soon stories are being circulated about Eileen and her abusive behavior. Now she has become the story. Four months later, Eileen is alone in her apartment working on a book about her story, when Stanley Kornik arrives with an offer. Eileen has become persona non grata at her paper, and Stanley sees this as an opportunity for Eileen to get back in the game, with a compelling story.

Stanley wants Eileen to join his paper and take up an investigative story about a murdered indigenous woman. The story is appealing to Eileen, and though she has her doubts, Eileen is soon on a plane to Alaska. Met at the airport by Gabriel, Eileen quickly adjusts to her new home. Her paper is run out of a strip mall, and when she is introduced to the rest of the reporting staff, some are less than enthused with Eileen’s arrival. Her initial approach to investigating the death of the indigenous woman is met with failure. Stanley pairs Eileen with Roz Friendly. Roz is annoyed at seeing Eileen take over the case but agrees to work with her because Stanley promises that this story won’t get buried.

Eileen and Roz meet with the mother of the victim, and thanks to Roz’s truth about her own experiences, a connection is formed. The mother agrees to help them and tells both reporters that her daughter didn’t have her crutches when they found her body. The fact that the victim was reliant on crutches is brand new information and negates any theory that the deceased walked out to the tundra and died from suicide. Back in the newsroom, with some help from Eileen, a new reporter with the paper, Ami breaks a huge story about a prominent citizen. When Ami confronts him for a comment, she is left wondering if she should write her story. Convinced by the everyone including a pep talk from Eileen, she writes her story that makes the front page.

Eileen is making a difference, but after her talk with Ami in the parking lot, she must lean against a car because she fears she might be having a panic attack.

## Cast

* Jeff Perry as Stanley Kornik
* Grace Dove as Rosalind “Roz” Friendly
* Meredith Holzman as Claire Muncy
* Matt Malloy as Bob Young
* Pablo Castelblanco as Gabriel Tovar
* Ami Park as Yuna Park
* Craig Frank as Austin Teague
* Irene Bedard as Sylvie Nanmac
* Veena Sood as Rushmi
* Kourtney Bell as Karla
* Randall Batinkoff as Jordan Teller
* Bill Dawes as Concerned Citizen
* James McDaniel as General Raymond Green

### Guest Cast

* Ildiko Susany as Shailey
* Allie Dunbar as Senior PR
* Mamie Eva Cecilia Pete as Gloria Nanmac
* Jeff Evans-Todd as Mr. Lewis
* Diane Benson as Melinda
* Brandon Alexis as Toby Crenshaw
* Dumi Owane as Stewardess
* Debra Sears as Female Receptionist
* Lamine Quiqui as Zachary Teague
* Mark Chavez as Head of Legal
* Nduduzo Leroy Hikwa as Editor #1
* Brandon Fung as Editor #2
* Janet Glassford as Shocked Passenger
* Jessie Anthony as Receptionist
* Cliff Prang as Clive
* David Lloyd as Kwami
* Michael Cha as Masa
* Samantha Coughlan as Susan
* Knox Hamilton as Teller Boy (Jordan's Son)
* Aqqalu Meekis as Security Guard #1
* Cameron Dent as PIO
* Victor Young as Board Member #1
* Shiraine Haas as Board Member #2
* Brenda Lee Howard as Board Member #3
* Greg Strasky as Board Member #4
* Lance Birley as Board Member #5

## Crew

* David A. Rosemont

**Executive producers**
* Bert Salke
* Kyle Hopkins
* Ryan Binkley
* Hilary Swank
* Tom McCarthy
* Melissa Wells

**Created by**
* Tom McCarthy

**Co-Producers**
* Radha Subramaniam
* Rae Baron
* Ron Rapiel

**Casting by**
* Kerry Barden & Paul Schnee

**Vancouver Casting by**
* Corinne Clark, CSA & Jennifer Page, CSA

**Alaska Casting by**
* Deborah Schildt, CSA & Stacey Marie Kane

**Directors of Photography**
* Oliver Bokelberg, ASC
* Tim Orr

**Production Designer**
* Barry Robinson

**Editor**
* Sidney Wolinsky, ACE

**Music by**
* Peter Nashel

**Production Managers**
* Michael Potkins
* Donald Munro

**First Assistant Directors**
* Ron Rapiel
* Shamess Shute
* Megan Shank

**Second Assistant Director**
* Megan Schaufele

**Costume Designer**
* Nadine Haders

**Make-Up Department Head**
* Annick Chartier

**Hair Department Head**
* Félix Lariviere

**Script Supervisor**
* Jessica Clothier

**Set Decorators**
* Janessa Hitsman
* Victoria Soderholm

**Art Directors**
* Thomas P. Wilkins
* Peter Ochotta
* Ksenia Markova

**Property Master**
* Dean Baker

**Construction Coordinators**
* Glenn Woodruff
* Chad Calder

**Special Effects Coordinators**
* Dan Keeler
* Dan Sedlacek

**Chief Lighting Technician**
* Trevor Christ
* Matt Almas
* Garry Brook

**Camera Operations**
* Jos Oman
* Craig Cross

**Production Sound Mixer**
* Kristian Bailey, CAS

**Production Coordinators**
* Almaz Tadege
* Nathan Tichenor
* Audrey Hellmer

**Production Accountants**
* Sue Levens
* Elva Parsons Mathieu

**Location Managers**
* Russ Hamilton
* Matt Palmer

**Transportation Coordinators**
* Al Morgan
* Jeff Tvergyak

**Post Production Supervisor**
* Lauren Gut

**Post Production Coordinator**
* Max Fulton-Peluffo

**Assistant Editor**
* Richard J. Rossi

**Music Supervisors**
* Mary Ramos
* Deva Anderson
* Rachel Lautzenheiser

**Music Editor**
* Jonathan Zalben

**Supervising Sound Editor**
* Daniel Pagán, MPSE

**Re-Recording Mixers**
* James David Redding III
* Tony Pipitone

**Casting Associates**
* Roya Semnanian
* Rachel Goldman

**Assistant to Mr. Rosemont**
* David Vassiliev

**Production Staff**
* Caitlin Kavanagh
* Sara Kulyk
* Chalane Hayward
* Jaynee Wellygan
* Calvin So
* Megan Bayliss
* Anne Troyer
* Jason Overend
* Angela Ganderton
* Matthew Murphy-Dyson
* Kate Stafford
* Chloe Woodruff

**Post Production**
**Video Services by**
* Picture Shop Hollywood

**Sound Services by**
* Smart Post Sound
* Soundtrack NYC

**Camera Systems by**
* Keslow Camera

**Visual Effects by**
* FuseFX Los Angeles
* Crafty Apes

## Trivia

* The episode was filmed between October and November 2021 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

## Gallery

See also: Category:Images from Pilot
* Promotional images
* Behind the scenes
* Videos

Eileen Explains Why Journalism Matters - Alaska DailyEileen Meets Her New Colleague Roz - Alaska Daily
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hilary Swank To Star In & EP Alaska-Set Drama Pilot For ABC From ‘Stillwater’ Director Tom McCarthy
2. ↑ ALASKA DAILY
3. ↑ ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 10.6.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated
4. ↑ ALASKA DAILY - “PILOT”
5. ↑ Untitled Alaska Project (Pilot)
6. ↑ Untitled Alaska Project, with Hilary Swank currently filming at The Hudson
7. ↑ UNTITLED ALASKA PILOT With Hilary Swank Filming at The Fortress in Vancouver. 8th & Pine.