Space Pilot 3000
"Space Pilot 3000" is the pilot episode of the American animated television series Futurama. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 28, 1999. The episode focuses on the cryogenic freezing of the series protagonist, Philip J. Fry, and the events when he awakens 1,000 years in the future. Series regulars are introduced and the futuristic setting, inspired by a variety of classic science fiction series from The Jetsons to Star Trek, is revealed. It also sets the stage for many of the events to follow in the series, foreshadowing plot points from the third and fourth seasons.
| "Space Pilot 3000" | |
|---|---|
| Futurama episode | |
Promotional poster for the episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Rich Moore & Gregg Vanzo |
| Written by | Matt Groening David X. Cohen |
| Production code | 1ACV01 |
| Original air date | March 28, 1999 |
| Guest appearances | |
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| Episode features | |
| Opening caption | In Color |
| Opening cartoon | "Little Buck Cheeser" by MGM (1937) |
The episode was written by David X. Cohen and Matt Groening, and directed by Rich Moore and Gregg Vanzo. Dick Clark and Leonard Nimoy guest starred as themselves. The episode generally received good reviews with many reviewers noting that while the episode started slow, the series merited further viewing after The Simpsons and followed by Family Guy.