There are plenty of great comedies on television, and their are plenty of great cartoons on television, but The Simpsons stands head and shoulders above all others.
It would be stating the obvious to say that The Simpsons is great. Everyone knows it's great. The question is: Why?

For a start, unlike many other cartoons, it is not a children's programme. It is actually a more adult comedy, which children happen to enjoy because it's a cartoon. The writing within each episode is so sharp that it can be appreciated on many levels. The humour is so broad that one minute you're laughing at some stupid slapstick and the next you're laughing at a wicked satirical comment. Also, each episode is crammed packed from the first second to the last. There are few other shows which can rival it in that respect.

Another thing that makes it the best is it's rewatchability (if such a word exists). Sky television have been broadcasting the show for a decade and the BBC for a few years and I've lost count the number of times I've seen certain episodes. The thing is though, they are as funny on the repeat viewings as they were when first aired. Perhaps this is because each episode is so crammed full of detail that half the gags are missed first time around.

The key to the show's success, however,  can be summed up in two words:

Homer Simpson

He is, by far, the funniest creation in the history of television (if not, the world)! Maybe it's because he is totally incompetent but manages to get away from every disastrous situation he finds himself in, or it's because he is so stupid and doesn't even know it or maybe it's just his voice, which is funny even if he says something sensible or mundane, or maybe he is what all men would want to be like (if they could get away with it)!

Anyway the Tip of the Hat is really aimed at Matt Groening (creator) and the writing team for the television show.   

Simpsons images are all copyright Twentieth Century Fox.
http://www.fox.com.