Ok, so a few days ago I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and watched the Futurama pilot. Not impressed. But then again, many good shows have terrible pilots. So my question is, what are the best episodes to watch as an "introduction" to the show? Or is the pilot basically what the entire show is like?

While there area few amusing episodes and some moments in some that are funny enough, the show itself is pretty 'meh'. If memory serves (I don't really recall much of the pilot episode), the pilot is fairly representative of what you'll get.

Jarassic Bark

The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz

Xmas Story

A Tale of Two Santas

I don't think that the pilot episode says much about the series because for example that Bender character isn't himself yet ;)

In short many great episodes (especially in the 2nd and 3rd season) and few really bad ones. My few favorites:

A pharaoh to remember.
The late Philip J. Fry
Time keeps on slippin.
Roswell that ends well

"Amazon Women in the Mood" was pretty decent I think.

Three Hundred Big Boys!

Try now with added drinking game.

"I have no strong feelings one way of the other" but you should watch Brannigan, Begin Again

I second this. It revolutionized the way in which I use the word 'apparently'.

This is a good thread. Even though I kinda like the simpsons, I never 'got' futurama (or the jetsons for that matter). I'll try a few of these episodes.

Then I'll wait a bit, and start a similar thread about that star trek series you people seem to adore so much.

Futurama is pretty good, but I always thought that the humor was not as sharp as that of the Simpsons. It relies a bit too much on pop culture references and slapstick for my taste.

So many good episodes I like mentioned, but I'm surprised no one mentioned 'Luck of the Fryish'. I found it both a funny, and bit of a heart wrenching episode.

Every day will be Shatnerday.

Parasites Lost
Roswell That Ends Well
Jurassic Bark
The Farnsworth Parabox
The Deep South
The Problem With Popplers

Honestly, the series should be watched in order. There's callbacks throughout and character appearances/development. It's not really like The Simpsons where there's virtually no continuity.

For example, the very first episode foreshadows a major plot point later in the series, iirc.

The series as a whole is pretty good, and yes, it has a shitton of continuity. If you wanna cry you should watch "The Luck of the Fryish" or "Jurrasic Bark".

You are expected to know some science and lots of pop-culture to get the most out of the series.