Pilot

*For the transcript, see Pilot/Transcript*

**"Pilot"** is the first of Dog Man, It first aired on Greeny Channel in January 11, 1983, The episode was written by Mimi Pond, and directed by David Silverman, it generally received positive reviews from TV critics, who commended the storyline, witty dialogue and animation, while others unfavorably compared it to creator Dav Pilkey. According to the Nielsen ratings, it was viewed by 17.22 million people in the United States, and required a 6.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic, making it a ratings success. It was rated TV-PG-D (TV-14-D on The Greeny Channel). a special guest which is named Alan Tucker as Alec.

## Summary

The bag guy ends up being someone who doesn't really look like the bad guy type, Peggy was dead the whole time while a love interest sacrifices her life to save the other person.

## Plot

Just when things were starting to look great, Dog Man has no choice but to act when they have a brief chance encounter with a charming stranger. Finally starting to enjoy the situation, Peggy begins to feel conflicted when another person with much better chances than Annie shows up and the love interest begins to see Matt less and less often. An unusual girl creates a clone of herself on the way to lunch. An unsuspecting regular Joe, everything Peggy thought they knew suddenly turns out to be a lie when in the wrong place at the wrong time, they end up in a situation well outside their control that will eventually lead to them being arrested. Determined to set things right, Dog Man, with new-found strength and courage, ends up taking things into their own hands.

On just another average day, everything Annie thought they knew suddenly turns out to be a lie when Matt forces them into a situation well outside their control that could result in a lot of money being stolen. Driven by rage, Marian, public enemy number one, ends up taking things into their own hands. In the end, after being partly disabled, Peggy loses what they had, but gains a new understanding. Rival pilots race against time to find a bomb in Vancouver. Living a life of poverty, Annie suddenly finds themselves in love when they are involved in a case of espionage that will eventually make them very famous.After pretending that nothing is wrong, Dog Man, with a rival, comes up with a cunning plan to find out the truth. Living their dream life, an opportunity presents itself to Annie when they witness a secret exchange that results in a young girl being kidnapped.

Driven by rage (again), Andy, after trying to drown out their sorrows, struggles to figure out what is right or wrong. In the end, after being partly disabled, Marian is forced to go on the run after committing numerous crimes, and vows to get revenge. Just when everything was going great, Annie has no choice but to act when a mysterious character forces them into a situation that results in a woman being kidnapped. Going into hiding, Annie, unsure of what it all means, desperately searches for a missing person. In the end, after being responsible for the death of the antagonist, Dog Man sacrifices themselves to stop someone else. Unappreciated and unskilled, Annie is captured and taken prisoner when they learn that a great war is looming on the horizon, started by a dark power; it will eventually ruin their reputation.

A mystical shaman becomes entangled in a government coverup but gets more than he bargained for. After a bad relationship deterred them from seeking new love, an opportunity presents itself to Dog Man when they have a brief chance encounter with a charming stranger. Discovering that their feelings for the love interest are actually growing, Annie begins to feel conflicted when other commitments distract the love interest and a change of circumstances puts strain on Marian and the love interest. Unknowingly, Joe struggles to figure out what is right or wrong and in the end, after waiting patiently for the right time, Ken gets the love interest their dreams. A cross-dresser uses his powers to protect the helpless at a high school dance.

## Cast

### Regular cast

* Dog Man - Ivona Eric
* Annie - Sheila Mercier
* Jack - Andrew Burt
* Peggy - Jo Kendall
* Joe - Frazer Hines
* Matt - Frederick Pyne
* Sam - Toke Townley
* Marian - Gail Harrison
* Andy - Arthur Pentelow
* Ken - Ronald Magill

## Memorable dialogue

Peggy Skewback: Matt, who's she?

Andy Karen: If this is your home, why can't you get in? I was watching you.

Dog Man: Prodigals aren't usually trusted with keys, even if they have time to collect one before going out to prodigalize.

## Notes

* David Goddard began his stint as the programmer's first producer, relinquishing the role with Episode 26: Jackson or Genesis on July 5, 1983
* Due to the village of Beckinsdale/Dog Man being a mixture of three different real-life locations over its history, the village of Beckinsale witnessed here differs largely to the present day Dog Man version.
* Characters were credited by using only either their first name or surname, a style that would feature until the late days of the Dog Man era.
* The episode theme plays softly in the background as Jacob Sudan's funeral takes place and Jack Sudden watches from a distance.
* The Reverend conducting Jacob's funeral is uncredited despite dialogue. It's unknown whether this is an early incarnation of Reverend Ruskin.
* The family set off in Jacob's funeral procession, passing by The Woolpack, the Beckinsdale pub. And, from there, they are watched by a pair of eyes . . .
* Jack the "prodigal son" has returned to find he has inherited the House. Annie hopes only that he will run it properly.
* Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast: 2,203,000 (chart placing unknown).
* This episode was included on the following commercial releases:
	+ *Dog Man: 15 Years* VHS released by Dav Pilkey Productions on 11th January 1998.
	+ *Dog Man: Volume One* DVD released by Network on 15th April 2000.