I think the cruelest part about this question is that it's hard to whittle it down to one. So have a mess of them. Cartoons Samurai Jack isn't twenty years old yet, but when it will be, it'll take top place. In the meantime, at a very close second, is Batman: The Animated Series. Both of them are very well constructed, from the animation and stylization, to the story craft. They're well thought out, well paced, engaging, and often relatively creative. Both series have many episodes that stand out in my memory as amazing and I'd be hard pressed to think of an episode I didn't enjoy. Sitcoms MASH and The Andy Griffith Show both stand out to me as being television sitcoms that explore a very wide spectrum of morals and philosophies, and while they don't always do so with depth, there's always something that can be taken away from them. The Dick Van Dyke Show and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show are both just a whole mess of fun. Everyone very much seems to enjoy what they're creating together and the energy and enthusiasm can be felt in almost every scene. Westerns Have Gun - Will Travel, The Rebel, Trackdown,, Wanted: Dead or Alive, pick one for me, I'll probably agree with you. Educational Nova. There is literally zero, zero chances that you can pick any episode of Nova, watch the whole thing, and then look at me with a straight face and say you've gotten nothing out of it. This series amazes and inspires, it thrills and fascinates, it deepens and enriches. It's good, good television. Bonus Random Stuff Get Smart, The Adam West Batman Series, Animaniacs, Sam and Max, I Love Lucy, Allo Allo, Barney Miller, Antiques Roadshow, Tom & Jerry, Looney Toons, and so many more.
There was a new season of Samurai Jack, wasn't there? Is it worth watching? No F Troop in your bonus list?
I haven't seen the new seasons, as I don't have cable anymore, but I'm pretty certain it's much more adult oriented than the original series. I'm not saying it's better or worse, cause I don't know, but I'm under the impression it's a very different kind of cartoon now. I've never seen F Troop. I honestly didn't know it existed until five minutes ago.
I put it in a similar class as Get Smart, so I figured you'd have known it. I haven't seen an episode in 25 years, so maybe it hasn't aged well.
rd95 nailed it re: assumptions for the latest and final season of Samurai Jack. It seemed more a tying of loose ends with many cameo's to stand-out episodes in prior seasons. Aside from the fan-service dulling the plot (to me), it's clear the team still could whip up refreshing, clever action sequences. Compounded with how Jack's psyche negotiates with seeing what he's seen up to this point, I'd say it's worth the watch, but not much outstanding praise.
Thanks for this amazing list, rd95. I agree about Get Smart. Amazing show, and it still gets laughs to this day. Personally, under Cartoons, I'd also put Beavis and Butt-Head. It's dumb and crude, but it is a fantastic satire of teenage life, and it is just a hilarious show in general. I agree, there's so many great shows out there to whittle it down to a single show. I put Quantum Leap there because that's the one I've been watching recently. There are many more that I regard as classics.