30 Longest-Running TV Shows Ever, Ranked By Duration

June 6, 2020, 4:55 a.m.

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30 Longest-Running TV Shows Ever, Ranked By Duration

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Summary The longest-running TV shows have amassed incredible years on the air, becoming icons in their own right.

To be considered one of the longest TV shows, scripted programs are ranked by the time from their first episode to their last.

Examples of long-running TV shows include Captain Kangaroo, The Simpsons, Columbo, Search For Tomorrow, Another World, The Bold and the Beautiful, Casualty, and EastEnders.

Longevity is something every small-screen series aspires to if they have plans beyond a single season, and the longest-running TV shows ever have racked up an incredible number of years on the air to hold the claim. Some shows have been running so long that they're enjoyed by multiple generations of the same family. For any show released in the last year to stand a chance of making the list, it'd have to stay on-air until the 2050s. From children’s shows to daytime television, there are plenty of examples of series that have kept running through the decades, becoming icons in their own right as some of the longest-running TV shows in the world.

The question of what is the longest TV show depends largely on which types of shows are included. Many news and sports programs, such as Meet the Press or Monday Night Football, have run for decades under the same name. However, they could also go on indefinitely, so they aren't the same as scripted programs, ranked by the amount of time from their first episode to their last (or the present day, in the case of still-ongoing shows). This year, there are many series that continue to add to their ever-growing number of years on the air, including some approaching seven decades since their inception.

Related 10 TV Shows That Should Have Ended Sooner Than They Did & Why While no one wants to see a great television show come to an end, there are many TV shows that should have quit while they were ahead.

30 Hee Haw - 24 Years

1969-1993

Stream now on Roku

Hee Haw was one of the longest-running variety shows in television history, airing from 1969 through 1993 for a total of 26 seasons. The series was a comedy variety show based around country music with jokes centered around that theme, from the fictional "Kornfield Kounty." The cast ended up extremely popular in the Midwest especially, with country music superstars Roy Clark and Buck Owens as the main musical hosts. However, the supporting cast was also one that fans fell in love with for different reasons.

Minnie Pearl, with her big hats with the price tag still hanging from them, was a fashion icon.

Minnie Pearl, with her big hats with the price tag still hanging from them, was a fashion icon for many years. Grandpa Jones (Louis Jones) was also a hugely popular character on the show and is actually part of the Country Music Hall of Fame as a banjo player. With recurring sketches ("PFFT! You Was Gone," "Lulu's Truck Stop," "Gloom, Despair, and Agony On Me," and "The Haystack" among the most memorable), the show still airs in reruns and has been referenced on The Simpsons, The Critic, and more.

29 The Edge Of Night - 28 Years

1956-1984

Not available for streaming

The soap opera The Edge of Night aired for 28 years and even survived a cancelation by one network to play on for nine more seasons on a rival network. Originally, The Edge of Night aired on CBS and premiered in 1956. The soap premiered alongside As the World Turns and both shows ended up as huge success stories. The focus was not on romance and love stories but was instead painted as a mystery series, based on the type of stories told in Perry Mason detective novels. It focused on crime stories more than any other soap of its time.

The Edge of Night was only one of two soap operas to change networks,

The series had some very recognizable faces in its cast over the years, including names like Dixie Carter, Kate Capshaw, Marcia Cross, Scott Glenn, Julianne Moore, Bebe Neuwirth, and John Travolta. The series was canceled in 1975 when CBS made As the World Turns one hour and considered The Edge of Night to be expendable. ABC wanted a new soap and chose to pick up The Edge of Night and added it to their daily schedule, and it didn't miss a beat. ABC finally ended the show in 1984.

28 Love Of Life - 29 Years

1951-1980

Not available for streaming

Created by Roy Winsor (Search for Tomorrow), the daytime soap opera Love of Life was unlike most other soaps on TV. Since American Home Products owned the soap, it aired with American Home Product commercials before and after the show rather than having commercial breaks during the episodes by the network. With that said, it still aired on CBS and lasted for 29 years and 7,315 episodes. The series was a morality tale about two sisters, one good and the other bad, and their relationship.

Christopher Reeve starred in Love of Life as Ben Harper seven years before playing Superman.

However, soon the soap phased out the bad sister Meg, and it turned into more of a basic soap opera with love stories, tragic deaths, betrayals, and more. The soap had some big names on it, with John Aniston (who went on to bigger fame as Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives), Peggy McCay (who went to Days of Our Lives as Caroline Brady), and the first man to play Superman in a big screen movie, Christopher Reeve. The last episode of Love of Life ended on a cliffhanger, which was never resolved.

27 The Phil Donahue Show - 29 Years

1967-1996

Not available for streaming

Today, daytime talk shows are often about controversy or celebrity discussions. However, at one time, the daytime talk show hosts took the time to discuss serious issues without over-the-top arguments and fights between the guests. Before shows with hosts like Sally Jessy Raphel and Oprah Winfrey shook things up, The Phil Donahue Show was a staple of daytime television offering a serious look at issues people deal with every day. This is because Donahue was a news reporter who wanted to do something bigger.

He even helped introduce hip-hop culture to the nation on daytime television for the first time

The Phil Donahue Show started airing in 1967 on limited television stations before becoming nationally syndicated in 1970. Donahue focused on one guest or topic for the show's entire hour and offered the audience a chance to ask questions. He brought an atheist onto the show, a rarity for that era (he was a practicing Catholic), a doctor who talked about body language on TV for the first time, and he even helped introduce hip-hop culture to the nation on daytime television for the first time. After 29 years, he ended his show in 1996.

26 Captain Kangaroo - 29 Years

1955 - 1984

Captain Kangaroo is a children's television program that began airing in 1955. The series was conceived as an educational and entertaining variety show starring its creator, Bob Keeshan, who played the eponymous character of Captain Kangaroo, as well as several other characters in the show. Keeshan believed that the show's longevity was due to its respect for its young audience (via Click Americana):

“Captain Kangaroo treats children as intelligent human beings and never talks down to them. He is not afraid to ask them to think. And he believes that they have good taste. He likes people in general and children in particular.”

Captain Kangaroo aired for nearly 30 years, coming to an end in 1984 after over 6,000 episodes. At the time that it came to an end, it was the longest-running TV show aimed at children in the history of television, though other series have since surpassed this record. Even after its ending, the series has enjoyed many reruns over the decades, some of which have even included new content.

25 WWE Monday Night Raw - 31+ Years

1993 - Present

Stream now on Peacock

One of the longest-running prime time episodic television shows in television history is WWE Monday Night Raw. Before this, wrestling was mostly on Saturdays, with a few minor shows during the week (such as Tuesday Night Titans, a talk show). However, in 1993, Vince McMahon set out to change things when he launched a prime time wrestling show on USA Network with Monday Night Raw. That first episode had names like Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker on it, and the promotion never looked back.

In 2025, Raw moves to Netflix.

Things changed over the years. The show was pre-taped, but WWE ended up making it a live show, which it remains to this day. There were two network changes, as WWE moved the show to TNN in 2000, but then moved back to USA Network in 1993. However, there is another change coming that will change WWE Monday Night Raw forever. In 2025, Raw moves to Netflix, making it the first live weekly wrestling show from a major promotion to stream on a streaming service.

24 The Late Show - 31+ Years

1993 - Present

Stream now on Fubo

David Letterman was supposed to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, but when NBC passed him up and chose Jay Leno, Letterman chose to leave the network and signed with CBS. They then created his own television show to compete with The Tonight Show and the late-night talk show wars began. Taking place in the Ed Sullivan Theater, Late Show began in 1993 and Letterman added several things to make things different from Leno's show, including several recurring sketches like "To Ten Lost" and more.

David Letterman & Stephen Colbert are the only two hosts of Late Night in its 31+ years.

In 2014, Letterman announced his retirement, with his final episode coming in 2015. Things didn't slow down, as there was a transition after this before Stephen Colbert finally took over in September 2015, and he has been the host of the show ever since. It regularly finishes the year as the most-watched late-night talk show, beating out The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and Colbert won a Peabody Award with several Primetime Emmy nominations as well.

23 The Simpsons - 34 Years

1989 - Present

The Simpsons Release Date December 17, 1989 Cast Tress MacNeille , Julie Kavner , Harry Shearer , Pamela Hayden , Nancy Cartwright , Hank Azaria , Dan Castellaneta , Yeardley Smith Seasons 35

It's no surprise The Simpsons is one of the longest-running shows on air. This animated family has marched through the decades unabated and gave multiple generations a reason to laugh. The Simpsons began on The Tracey Ullman Show as a series of short sketches in 1987, before entering syndication as a full-fledged series in '89 and becoming one of the longest-running TV shows in the world for the realm of animation. Over the nearly three and a half decades the series has run for, there have been six American presidencies and multiple generations of pop culture and politics — all of them lambasted poignantly by the original cast.

It can't be overstated the cultural impact The Simpsons has had over its 34 years.

It can't be overstated the cultural impact The Simpsons has had over its 34 years. First, the talk of high school kids enveloped in Bartmania, the show soon branched out to adults who appreciated its sarcastic humor and mature storylines. The show inspired future animated franchises like Family Guy and South Park, both of which have enjoyed very long runs. The early seasons of The Simpsons have enjoyed a new life online in the forms of a library of familiar GIFs. And, with over thirty seasons in the can, The Simpsons shows no signs of stopping.

22 Columbo - 35 Years

1968 - 2003

Columbo is an American detective drama starring Peter Falk as the titular crime-solver. The series first aired a pair of pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, respectively, before finally receiving a full-series order. The show was hailed as a first of its kind for ditching the mystery portion of similar shows, showing the audience each killer at the beginning of the episode and instead focusing on how the perpetrator is then caught. The series aired in a 90-minute time slot monthly as part of the NBC Mystery Movie anthology along with other detective series, allowing it to keep its format fresh.

After enjoying several decades on the air, Columbo stopped premiering new episodes on a regular basis in 1990. Over the next thirteen years, the series would instead air longer television specials in place of typical episodes. Because of its unusual and at times sporadic airing habits, Columbo has only 69 episodes despite being one of the longest-running TV shows in the detective genre in history. Columbo recently found a new generation of younger fans and has inspired modern series such as Poker Face.

21 Search For Tomorrow - 35 Years

1951 - 1986

Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera that began its run in 1951. The series followed the life of Joanne Gardner, who was portrayed by Mary Stuart throughout all thirty-five seasons of the long-running drama. The series was the longest-running TV show at the time of its cancelation, although it has since been surpassed.

Search For Tomorrow came to an end in 1986 after over 9,000 episodes and five Daytime Emmy wins. In the early 80s, it became the last soap opera to broadcast an episode live after a pre-recorded program mysteriously went missing. The show also featured several appearances from actors who have since become well-known for other works, including Kevin Bacon, Jane Krakowski, Kevin Conroy, and more.

Related 10 Surprising Actors Who Got Their Start On Soap Operas Many soap opera actors stick with the genre for their entire careers, but from Tommy Lee Jones to Michael B, Jordan, some became huge movie stars.

20 Another World - 35 Years

1964 - 1999

Another World was one of the early casualties of the downfall of daytime soap operas in the United States. The soap aired on NBC starting in 1964 and remained on the air for 8,891 episodes before it ended in 1999. What made this soap different was that it didn't focus on domestic life but on differences between families in different social classes. The series was NBC's highest-rated soap opera for 15 years and was the first soap to expand past 30 minutes and even launch its own spinoffs, becoming one of the longest-running TV shows of its era.

The soap was important as it was one of the first ones to talk about abortion when the subject was considered taboo, but that's not the only noteworthy point about Another World. It also was the first soap to have a crossover event with another soap, Guiding Light, which was received incredibly well by viewers at the time. Notable actors on the show include Scott Bakula, Christine Baranski, Marcia Cross, and Morgan Freeman.

19 The Bold And The Beautiful - 36 Years

1987 - Present

Beginning its long television tenure in 1987, The Bold and the Beautiful is a series set in the same world as another of the longest-running TV shows, The Young and the Restless. This companion series follows the Forrester family and their many dramatic endeavors over the course of several decades. The series is, by some measurements, the most-watched soap in the world and one of the few that is still broadcast via network television.

Like its sister series, The Bold and the Beautiful continues to produce new episodes to this day, having already aired over 8,000 episodes — making it one of the series with the highest episode counts as well as among the longest-running TV shows. In that time, the series has won numerous awards, including 12 Daytime Emmy Awards, and has had appearances by Denise Richards, Betty White, Wayne Brady, Morgan Fairchild, and many other notable stars.

18 Casualty - 37 Years

1986 - Present

Medical drama Grey's Anatomy, it is often hard to believe it has been on the air since 2005, and could soon find itself among the longest running TV shows if it's continues much further beyond the upcoming season 20. However, while that is record-breaking for medical dramas in the U.S., it is nothing compared to the U.K. When it comes to primetime medical dramas, the longest-running TV show in the world is Casualty, with over 1200 weekly episodes.

Starting this run in 1986, Casualty takes place at the fictional Holby City Hospital, following the staff and patients at the hospital. The show is so popular that it also spawned four spin-off series over the years and has won several awards. The series was originally meant as a response to the Margaret Thatcher era, but has survived all the way to the present day, and featured appearances from actors such as Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hiddleston.

17 EastEnders - 38 Years

1985 - Present

EastEnders is a British soap opera that has aired in the U.K. since 1985. Airing on BBC One, the show is set in a fictional borough in the East End of London and follows the local residents and their families. It aired two 30-minute episodes each week, which was moved to three, and then hit five days a week starting in 2001. The show was an immediate hit, with over 30 million watching the 1986 Christmas Day episode, and was even responsible for electricity spikes when millions of people went to make a cup of tea after the closing credits.

This means there have been almost 6,500 episodes over 37 years of production. Not only is it long-lasting, one of the longest-running TV shows in the world, but it is an important part of British television, tackling difficult and taboo subject matters. Unlike most American soap operas, EastEnders has a broadly working-class setting and is known in the UK for capturing the cultural microcosm that is East London. While it's not known much in the U.S., it can't be overstated just how prominent EastEnders is in the UK cultural zeitgeist.

16 Late Night - 41 Years

1982 - Present

Late Night is a talk show that began airing episodes in 1982 with David Letterman as its host. The show offers comedic takes on major news stories, interviews with celebrities, as well as occasional sketches and other creative segments. In its over forty-year history, Late Night has been hosted by David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers, with each host's tenure often being thought of as a distinct series altogether. Letterman's tenure on the show was particularly famous and influential for its off-kilter sense of humor, even receiving a Peabody citation:

Once a television wasteland, late night has become a daypart of increased interest to programmers, performers, and viewers. In the past ten years, one show has moved to the position of the leader in late night television in creativity, humor, and innovation. That program is Late Night With David Letterman.

Seth Meyers continues to host Late Night, a position he inherited after departing his role on the even longer-running comedy series, Saturday Night Live. The series itself has aired over 6,000 episodes over the last four decades and will continue its run as one of the longest-running TV shows in the late-night slot for the foreseeable future.

15 All My Children - 43 Years

1970 - 2013

This popular soap opera debuted in 1970 and ended in 2013 after finding a temporary new home on The Online Network. The show focused on characters living in a fictional Philadelphia suburb and was one of the first daytime soaps to attract a rather large percentage of male viewers, at 30%. Susan Lucci became one of the most popular actresses on daytime TV for her starring role of Erica Kane, a role she played for 41 years.

After being canceled by ABC in 2011, the show was picked back up for a short time, dishing out another 40 episodes for a grand total of 10,755 — an impressive figure by any stretch. All My Children is yet another example of how the soap opera genre can create infinite longevity for a show, with the hurdles soaps face not being creating new stories so much as maintaining an audience over decades.

14 One Life To Live – 44 Years

1968 - 2012

With more than 11,000 episodes in its 45-year runtime, One Life to Live was one of the most prolific daytime shows in TV history. It was also one of the first soap operas to feature such a heavy degree of diversity, breaking the mold of the sole focus on wealthy upper-middle-class families. To put it in perspective, that's over 14 times the number of episodes that The Simpsons has broadcast in 30+ years.

One Life To Live takes place in the imaginary city of Lianview, a district of Philadelphia. The series frequently centered on the wealthy Lord family, along with the blue-collar Polish American Woleks, the middle-class Irish Catholic Rileys, and the African-American Grays. It came to a conclusion in 2013 after over four decades on television, during which it won six Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series and became one of the longest-running TV shows ever.

13 Doctor Who - 44 Years

1963 - 1989, 1996, 2005-Present

Doctor Who's adventures have been a staple of British culture ever since the show debuted in 1963. Renowned for its clever storylines, bombastic tech-babble, and a Time Lord who can regenerate his dying body to pave the way for different actors to take the role, Doctor Who would circle the globe as the longest-running TV show in the sci-fi genre. 13 men and women have played the Doctor over the years, with the 14th set to debut in 2023.

Classic "Who" ran from 1963 to 1989 before the BBC unceremoniously cut it off at the knees. After a failed revival film in 1996, the franchise remained dormant for another decade until writer Russell T. Davies brought the series back in 2005, continuing the original show's timeline, rather than opting for a reboot. This helped bring Doctor Who to a whole new generation of families, with "New Who" continuing to air new episodes to this day for a global fanbase. And, with Davies back in the showrunner's chair as the show celebrating its 60th anniversary, it doesn't appear that Doctor Who is going anywhere soon.

12 Top Gear - 46 Years

1977 - Present

Top Gear Release Date October 20, 2002 Cast Jeremy Clarkson , Jason Dawe , Matt LeBlanc Seasons 33

Top Gear is a television series that started in 1977 on BBC. While a variety of hosts served on Top Gear, the most famous included Noel Edmonds and Jeremy Clarkson. While most Americans are more familiar with the U.S. version, which premiered in 2002, the show in the U.K. has aired since 1977 with over 500 episodes depicting its hosts covering cars of all sorts. Despite controversy, the series was one of BBC's highest-rated in the 1980s and early 90s, inspiring many imitators.

The series didn't stop in 2002 when BBC canceled the show. The production team instead moved to Channel 5 under the name Fifth Gear and BBC decided to relaunch Top Gear with Clarkson, where it continues to live on to this day as one of the longest-running TV shows in the world when it comes to docuseries. It has also become one of the most widely broadcast factual series, airing in numerous countries around the world.

11 Saturday Night Live - 48 Years

1975 - Present

Lorne Michaels brought Saturday Night Live to late-night television back in 1975, and the culturally groundbreaking variety sketch show has continued ever since. SNL broke hilarious comedic ground while tackling societal issues including race, class, and politics in a manner that both sides could enjoy. The sketch show has parodied the reigns of nine presidents and created memorable characters, some of whom have gone on to appear in movies like The Blues Brothers and Wayne's World.

The show hit its peak in the 1990s thanks to the talents of comedians like Adam Sandler, Norm MacDonald, and Chris Farley. It's responsible for launching the Hollywood careers of countless comedy personalities, from Eddie Murphy to Chevy Chase. It is still ongoing as one of the longest-running TV shows in the world of sketch comedy, and still regularly produces headlines for its take on the world.