The new episodes of South Park aren't my favorite, but to go back to the first few seasons is always a pleasure. Those early episodes get me laughing harder than anything else. I've been watching South Park for a few years, but it wasn't until recently that I appreciated its best (and subtlest) joke. In a show like Family Guy, the characters' every trait is pushed to the extreme for comedic purposes (not saying Family Guy's not hilarious). South Park is more like The Simpsons, at least in this one way: the creators, Matt and Trey, clearly care for the characters, want them to grow, and want the viewers to identify with them to some degree. Especially in the early seasons, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and (to a lesser degree) Cartman have unique personalities that are subtly handled and developed over the course of seasons. Of course, the ridiculous situations and jokes in South Park interfere with most viewers' ability to identify with the characters; it becomes a show about extremes like Family Guy. But people who really like the show and are dedicated to its characters can see through the situations to the interesting and realistic characters within. So in addition to being fucking hilarious, South Park tells a great story. It’s the story of growing up and loving your friends. The show’s greatest joke is that its protagonists are so interesting and well-developed, and nobody notices.