Pilot (Twin Peaks)

"Pilot"
Twin Peaks episode
Sheriff Truman, Dr. Hayward, and Pete Martell stand over the plastic-wrapped body of Laura Palmer. This scene reverses the peaceful atmosphere set by the beginning of the episode.
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byDavid Lynch
Written byDavid Lynch
Mark Frost
Production code1.000
Original air dateApril 8, 1990 (1990-04-08)
Running time94 minutes
Guest appearances

The pilot episode of the surrealist mystery-horror drama television series Twin Peaks, also known as "Northwest Passage", premiered on ABC on Sunday, April 8, 1990. It was written by series creators Mark Frost and David Lynch, and directed by Lynch. The pilot follows the characters of Dale Cooper and Harry S. Truman as they investigate the death of popular high school student Laura Palmer; Cooper believes the murder has connections to a murder case that occurred a year earlier. In addition to setting the tone for the show, the episode sets up several character and story arcs and marked the appearance of several recurring characters. The episode received a strong Nielsen household rating compared to other season one episodes, and was well received by fans and critics alike. The original title for the series was Northwest Passage, but this was later changed.