Set in the year 3000, Futurama is the height of sci-fi animated sitcom from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. While not as universally popular as The Simpsons, Futurama is equally hip and hilarious, thanks to its quick lateral-thinking contemporary pop cultural references, celebrity appearances. Part of Futurama's charm is that it bridges the gap between the impossible dreams of your average science fiction fan and the slobbish reality of their comic reading, TV-watching existence. Groening himself distinguishes his two series thus: "The Simpsons is fictional. Futurama is real."

The opening season, which premiered in 1999, sees nerdy New York City pizza delivery boy Phillip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West) transferred to the 30th century in a cryogenic mishap, reminiscent of The Time Machine. There, he meets the beautiful alien Leela (Katy Segal), who is sensitive about the fact that she only has one eye, and the incorrigible alcoholic robot with...