"Space Pilot 3000" is the pilot episode of Futurama, which originally aired in North America on March 28, 1999. The episode focuses on how the series protagonist, Philip J. Fry, was frozen then awoke in the future and introduces some of the other series regulars. It sets the stage for many of the events to follow in the series including foreshadowing plot points that would not be revealed until later in the show’s run and introducing viewers to the futuristic setting inspired by a variety of classic science fiction series from The Jetsons to Star Trek. It 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. In general the episode received good reviews, often contrasting it to Groening’s other series, The Simpsons.
