Prison Break 4

[denoid]

Just curious if anyone caught the 2-hour pilot for the new Fox Channel series "Prison Break" last night? The main character is a Structural Engineer, who gets himself thrown into prison, so he can help his older brother on death row escape. Of course, his brother is innocent, and was framed for the murder he was convicted for. Supposedly, the engineer's former employer had done the "retrofit" of the older prison a few years before, and he had worked on part of the project.

There wasn't a whole lot about structural engineering on the show yet. The warden wanted him to help him work on a scale model of the Taj Mahal he is building as a gift for his wife. Before he got thrown into prison, the engineer had some of the prison plans tatooed on his chest and back. (Must not be planning on taking too many showers). He stole a machine screw out of some prison yard bleachers, which he somehow knew (as a Structural Engineer, no doubt), could be filed down and used as an allen wrench to remove a wall mounted toilet in his cell. Overall, pretty lame stuff, but the sex and violence were pretty good.

I must admit that I'm glad someone finally found a way to make a Structural Engineer a main character, even though he's committing a crime if he really does succeed in getting his brother out. I'll probably be checking out the series, until it gets too improbable, or until he starts making friends with all the Lawyer and Architect inmates.

 

[vooter]

"...the sex and violence were pretty good."

That's what structural engineering is all about.

 

[crossframe]

I was a little disappointed. I was hoping for true-to-life scenes like:

"I purposely specified this wall to be Styrofoam with a 0.25-inch concrete veneer, so we can dig through in about 5 minutes."

"I thought I’d specify the floor of this secret soundproof room to contain a trap door that leads to an unused, 1100 ft tunnel that nobody knows about, which opens up in a densely wooded area near an abandoned used clothing and make-up store, next to the large multi-modal transportation hub."

"Of course I’m sure. There was a HUGE construction phase services budget that allowed me to be on-site every day of construction, so I can attest that it was all built EXACTLY per plan."

"I’m the only one that knows that this wall is grossly under-designed to begin with, and I know for a fact the contractor didn’t use any rebar here."

On the other hand, I'm glad it captured the more mundane aspects of our careers, like portraying the "tough-guy" part of the personality that is so commonly found within the cubicle hallways of structural engineering departments. You know, the way we usually stare down the 300-lb muscle-bound inmate that wants us to be his "wife."

Just your average day-to-day stuff...

 

[JStephen]

"I'll probably be checking out the series, until it gets too improbable"

Sounds like you're already past that point.

 

[denoid]

Crossframe:

I was waiting for the scene where the SE says:
"I was going to just have "Mom" tatooed on my forearm, but I opted for the full set of plans from my last favorite prison job on my chest and back".

 

[astructurale]

This thread is hilarous...but I've got to see this show for myself, too. Sounds very odd to me.

 

[pennpoint]

So when the SE had the plans tattoed on his back was it in reverse reading so when he looks in the mirror it will be correct reading. BTW for safety reasons, the mirrors now days are polished stainless and firmly attached to the wall, they do not reflect as well as silvered glass.
I think he's in trouble.

 

[crossframe]

Again, as a point of authenticity, they correctly show how tattooing our plans on our bodies makes us look "hard" and helps with that elusive "design cred."

 

[dbuzz]

Tim Robbins played a Strutural Engineer (and militia-terrorist) in Arlington Road.

 

[JoeTank]

I wonder if he's licensed.

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com

 

[rmw]

No, but his name is "Cool Hand Luke".

rmw

 

[TheTick]

Break's over. Back to prison.

 

[JedClampett]

Things have really changed from "Family Affair" (Park Avenue, Personal Valet, Beautiful Women) to "Prison Break" (Joliet Prison, Cellmate, Prison Romance).
I don't think this is going to do anything for recruiting any new Structural Engineers.

 

[dik]

Didn't one of the leading actresses on family affair OD?

Dik

 

[PEinc]

If the engineer gains or loses weight while in prison, will his tatoo plans still be to scale?

 

[PEinc]

Will he lose his engineering license when he is convicted and goes to prison?

 

[JedClampett]

Yes, Annissa Jones (

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0427490/)

died in 1976 at age 18 due to a drug overdose. It wasn't part of the "Family Affair" plot line, however. Uncle Bill and French were firm but fair disciplinarians that would of straightened out Buffy's heroin habit in a cute and memorable way.
By the way, if there was a character named "French" in "Prison Break" what would his part be?

 

[rmw]

Butler, of course.

rmw

 

[bridgebuster]

"Will he lose his engineering license when he is convicted and goes to prison?"

Probably.

Sometimes I read the disciplinary action by the NYS Education Department. A few years ago, one of our bretheren lost his license for a second-degree murder conviction.

 

[PEinc]

He will at least have to notify the PE Board of his change of address!