It does get a certain pride of place being aired first. But if anything The Corbomite Maneuver would be the third pilot. Not just because it was filmed first but because there's a ton of "Let's introduce the ship and crew!".Is calling this episode a pilot a new thing? I've only seen it crop up recently. It's the sixth produced episode, so it can't really be called a pilot. (can it?) NBC apparently like it best because it was "proper science fiction". Which I think means it had a monster.![]()
I'd say TOS has the best collection of pilots compared to the rest of the show. Nobody would call Farpoint or even Emissary the best episodes of their shows. There is a solid argument to be made for The Cage, Where No Man, or Corbomite. There are later episodes that are as good but not many (any?) that are better.