10 Best TV Sitcom Pilot Episodes
5. Futurama
With a bold concept from the very beginning, Futurama had a lot of ground to cover and plot to set up in its first episode. For it to achieve all that and introduce us to beloved characters in just 22 minutes is pretty astonishing.
'Space Pilot 3000' gets to know loveable dimwit Fry who is accidentally cryogenically frozen and wakes up in the future. Throwing in jokes aplenty about the year 3000, the writers establish the world of New New York, as well as Bender, Leela and Farnsworth, and even finding time for guest appearances from Dick Clark and Leonard Nimoy.
As if that wasn't impressive enough, Matt Groening and co- also set up concepts which wouldn't be paid off for seasons down the line - check out the mysterious shadow on the wall when Fry falls into the cryonic tube - which shows the ambition of the show from the start.