The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the most influential comedy in television history. Seasons three through eight represent the greatest sustained run of comedic writing ever produced for any medium — sharper than any film, deeper than any novel of its era, and more quotable than Shakespeare. Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and a writers' room that included Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels, and dozens of future showrunners built a satirical universe so rich that it has literally predicted real-world events. Homer Simpson is the most recognizable fictional character on the planet. The show's later decline does not diminish the fact that its golden era is the Everest of American comedy.