I think the pilot is the most difficult episode in a sitcom: the audience doesn't know the characters yet, and it isn't easy to write jokes and be funny when characters interactions hasn't been established, if not on paper, and there's no back story to use.

Yesterday I started watching "Spin City", and thought they did a wonderful job in laying down everything for the rest of the series.

What sitcom has the best and funniest pilot in your opinion?

I immediately think of the brilliant Mary Tyler Moore Show pilot.

I immediately think of the brilliant Mary Tyler Moore Show pilot.

You got spunk. I hate spunk!

"Dads" which was on Fox about eight years go. I starred Martin MUll.

I about died of laughing at the first episode. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, seriouly. The show itself was fresh and still funny, but only had one season and then cancelled.

One of the most hilarious show of all time and lasted one season!

You got spunk. I hate spunk!

Who doesn't know that line?

A couple of other scenes that stole the show, too -- Lou Grant typing a letter (in a drunken stupor) and using words from Mary and her boyfriend's conversation.

And Mary and Phyllis discussing Mary's breakup or her boyfriend coming, and Bess stealing her thunder ("That was mother's news!"). Cloris Leachman was brilliant in that scene.

Unfortunately most of the rest of season one didn't measure up to the pilot.

Bewitched
The Beverly Hillbillies
Batman
Mary Tyler Moore
The New, Original Wonder Woman

Frasier pilot was pretty good.

You have got to include Soap in this discussion. In its first episode, it introduces one incredibly over the top character/situation after another. Even one of which could make for a good sitcom. There is probably no other first episode like it.

Speaking of memorable pilot lines, this one from "The Cosby Show" always stuck in my mind. Clair asks, "Cliff, why do we have four children?" He replies, "Because we didn't want to have five." Of course, a few episodes later, as Sondra joined, they DID have five, but I always liked that line.