On the eve of Prohibition, Atlantic County Treasurer Nucky Thompson condemns alcohol at a Women's Temperance League meeting, where he is seen by Margaret Schroeder, a pregnant housewife who later comes to him for help in getting her alcoholic husband Hans a job. Scorsese's fellow executive producer Tim Van Patten was the seasons most frequent director. Other directors later emulated the pilot to make the show appear seamless.

Scorsese directed the pilot, establishing a template for the series aesthetic. The crew were recognised with multiple Emmy Award nominations for their work on the first season. Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle served as supervising producers and writers for the first season. Konner also wrote for the show and had previously been a writer on The Sopranos. Lawrence Konner was a co-executive producer. Van Patten had been a regular director on The Sopranos and also served as a regular director for Boardwalk Empire. Scorsese and Winter are joined as executive producers by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Tim Van Patten. Up until the shooting of the show's first season, Scorsese and Winter would meet every Sunday afternoon to review what went on during the week and where Scorsese would have comments and suggestions. Winter stated that Scorsese weighs in on the casting decisions, watches all the cuts and dailies. In developing the series Winter worked closely with fellow executive producer and pilot director Martin Scorsese. He drew crew members from The Sopranos to work on Boardwalk Empire. He was previously a writer and executive producer on The Sopranos and has won multiple awards for his work on that series. Winter is an executive producer and the series show runner. The series was created by Terence Winter.

Victor Verhaeghe as Ward Boss Damien FlemingĬrew Casper Friis Main article: Crew Producers.

Declan and Rory McTigue as Teddy Schroeder.

William Hill as Ward Boss George O'Neill.

Lucy and Josie Gallina as Emily Schroeder.

Christopher McDonald as Harry Daugherty.

Edoardo Ballerini as Ignacious D'Alessio.

Frank Crudele as James 'Big Jim' Colosimo.

and Dabney Coleman as Commodore Louis Kaestner.

Anthony Laciura as Edward 'Eddie' Kessler.

Michael Kenneth Williams as Albert 'Chalky' White.

Paz de la Huerta as Lucille 'Lucy' Danziger.

Vincent Piazza as Salvatore 'Lucky' Luciano.

Shea Whigham as Sheriff Elias 'Eli' Thompson.

Michael Shannon as Agent Nelson Van Alden.

Steve Buscemi as Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson.

Boardwalk empire season 2 episode 1