In the premiere episode of TNT’s new reality-competition series The Great Escape, three teams are locked into cells at the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary. They must then escape from their cells, avoid patrolling guards and overcome numerous obstacles on their way to finding freedom and $100,000.

As the episode opens, host Rich Eisen explains the rules to the three teams, after which they are locked in their cells. At the stroke of midnight, the escape is on. Each team frantically searches their cells for a key and an escape map. The Blue Team leads the way, liberating themselves from their cell with the map and entering stage one of the escape.

Stage 1 requires the contestants to search through the detainment zone for a lockbox containing the next piece of the puzzle. The Red Team quickly finds their box and breaks it open, followed shortly by the Green Team. While running through the recreation yard to the next stage, teams must avoid guards. If caught, they are sent back to the detainment zone.

In a sprint to the next stage, Megan and Miles of the Red Team are caught by the guards and sent back to their cell. Meanwhile, Gabe and Brittany of the Blue Team seems stuck trying to open their box. Quickly, the Red Team makes it back and finishes Stage 1, passing the frustrated Green Team. Shortly thereafter, the Red Team and the Blue Team are both spotted and sent back to detainment. As the Green Team makes its way toward Stage 3, the Red Team escapes detainment. Almost immediately thereafter, Lexx and Jeff of the Green Team are captured. At this point in the escape, each team has been captured multiple times, leaving them frustrated and exhausted.

Leaving detainment, the Green Team quickly resumes the hunt, frantically searching for the fourth piece of the puzzle that will win them the prize. With the Blue Team essentially out of the picture and the Red Team in the lead, Lexx and Jeff know that they have to push themselves hard to make it out. Unfortunately, their efforts are fruitless. By the time the Green Team arrives at the San Francisco pier, the Red Team had already won, with a hearty cheers of “Take that Alcatraz!”

Competitors:
Best Friends – GREEN TEAM
Lexx, 45, Bartender, Erie, Pa.
Jeff, 35, Mailroom Supervisor, Detroit, Mich.

Engaged Couple – BLUE TEAM
Gabe, 26, Apartment Manager, Gardena, Calif.
Brittany, 24, MBA Student, Cleveland, Ohio

Brother and Sister – RED TEAM
Megan, 27, Retail Manager, Charleston, Ill.
Miles, 29, Day Trader, Charleston, Ill.