List of longest-running U.S. broadcast network television series

This is a list of the longest running U.S. broadcast network television series, ordered by number of broadcast seasons.

To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America, be shown on a United States national (not regional) television network, and be first-run (as opposed to a repackaging of previously-aired material or material released in other media). For the purposes of this list, series that were available only on a local or regional basis are excluded. The "number of seasons" total does not include cable broadcasts or series in syndication.

This television-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Contents

40 seasons or more

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
63 Meet the Press [1] NBC November 6, 1947 present
62 CBS Evening News [2] CBS August 15, 1948 present
58 Today NBC January 14, 1952 present 21,000+
57 Guiding Light [3] CBS June 30, 1952 September 18, 2009 15,762
57 World News Tonight [4] ABC September 1953 present
56 The Tonight Show NBC September 27, 1954 present
56 Face the Nation CBS November 7, 1954 present
54 Hallmark Hall of Fame [5] NBC December 24, 1952 December 17, 1978 236
CBS November 14, 1979 April 30, 1980
PBS February 9, 1981 May 6, 1981
CBS December 1, 1981 January 29, 1989
ABC April 30, 1989 April 23, 1995
CBS December 10, 1995 present
54 As the World Turns CBS April 2, 1956 September 17, 2010 13,858
54 NBC Nightly News [6] NBC October 29, 1956 present
47 General Hospital ABC April 1, 1963 present 12,401
45 Wide World of Sports ABC April 29, 1961 August 26, 2006 [7]
45 Days of our Lives NBC November 8, 1965 present
44 Washington Week [8] NET, PBS February 23, 1967 present
43 One Life to Live ABC July 15, 1968 present
43 60 Minutes CBS September 24, 1968 present
42 Sesame Street NET November 10, 1969 1970 4,297
PBS 1970 present

35–39 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
38 The NFL on CBS CBS September 30, 1956 January 23, 1994
38 Professional Bowlers Tour [9] ABC [10] 1962 June 21, 1997
CBS 1998 [11] 2000
40 All My Children ABC January 5, 1970 September 23, 2011
40 Monday Night Football [12] ABC September 21, 1970 December 26, 2005 550+
39 Masterpiece Theatre PBS January 10, 1971 present
38 The Price Is Right [13] CBS September 4, 1972 present 7500+
37 The Young and the Restless CBS March 26, 1973 present
36 Disney anthology
television series[14]		 ABC October 27, 1954 September 17, 1961 770+
NBC September 24, 1961 September 13, 1981
CBS September 26, 1981 September 24, 1983
ABC February 2, 1986 September 11, 1988
NBC October 9, 1988 September 9, 1990
36 Saturday Night Live [15] NBC October 11, 1975 present 702
36 NOVA PBS March 3, 1974 present 621
35 Another World NBC May 4, 1964 June 25, 1999 8,891
35 Search For Tomorrow CBS September 3, 1951 March 29, 1982
NBC March 26, 1982 December 26, 1986
35 Evening at Pops PBS July 12, 1970 August 29, 2004
35 Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser [16] PBS November 20, 1970 June 24, 2005

30–34 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
35 The Victory Garden [17] PBS April 16, 1975 present
33 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood NET February 19, 1968 October 1970
PBS October 1970 August 2001
35 Good Morning America ABC September 1, 1975 present
35 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer [18] PBS October 20, 1975 present
34 Creative Living with Sheryl Borden PBS 1976 present
34 Austin City Limits PBS 1976 present
34 Live from Lincoln Center PBS 1976 present [19]
33 Live from the Met [20] PBS 1977 present [19]
33 CBS News Sunday Morning CBS January 28, 1979 present
32 20/20 ABC June 6, 1978 present
31 This Old House PBS 1979 present 690+
30 Nightline [21] ABC March 24, 1980 present
30 Mystery! PBS February 5, 1980 present
30 American Bandstand [22] ABC August 5, 1957 September 5, 1987 2751

25–29 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
29 Love of Life CBS September 24, 1951 February 1, 1980
29 Captain Kangaroo [23] CBS 1955 1984
28 The Edge of Night CBS April 2, 1956 November 28, 1975 7,420
ABC December 1, 1975 December 28, 1984
28 Firing Line [24] PBS 1971 December 26, 1999
29 Nightly Business Report [25] PBS 1981 present
29 The Woodwright's Shop [26] PBS 1981 present
29 This Week [27] ABC 1981 present
25 Camera Three CBS January 22, 1956 1979  
PBS 1979 July 1, 1980
28 MotorWeek [28] PBS 1982 present
28 Nature PBS October 10, 1982 present
27 Frontline PBS January 17, 1983 present 490+

20–24 seasons

Survivor 2000-present

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
24 Reading Rainbow PBS 1983 2006
24 Sábado Gigante [29] Univisión May 20, 1986 present
23 The Simpsons [30] Fox December 17, 1989 present 488
23 The Bold and the Beautiful CBS March 23, 1987 present
23 The Ed Sullivan Show [31] CBS June 20, 1948 June 6, 1971
23 Survivor [32] CBS May 31, 2000 present 310+
22 Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour DuMont January 18, 1948 October 1949
NBC October 1949 September 1954
ABC October 1955 June 1957
NBC July 1957 October 1958
CBS May 1959 October 1959
ABC March 1960 September 26, 1960
CBS October 2, 1960 September 27, 1970
22 The American Experience PBS October 1, 1988 present 220+
22 America's Most Wanted Fox February 1, 1988 present 998+
22 P.O.V. PBS July 5, 1988 present 250+
22 The NFL on NBC [33] NBC 1975 1997
22 48 Hours [34] CBS January 2, 1988 present
21 America's Funniest Home Videos ABC November 26, 1989 present 345+
21 COPS Fox March 11, 1989 present 700+
21 New Yankee Workshop PBS January 1988 June 27, 2009 925
21 Issues and Answers [35] ABC 1960 1981
21 Sneak Previews [36] PBS 1975 1996
21 Cookin' Cheap PBS 1981 2002
21 For Your Home PBS December 1, 1996 present
20 The Red Skelton Show NBC September 30, 1951 June 21, 1953
CBS September 22, 1953 June 23, 1970
NBC September 14, 1970 August 29, 1971
20 Gunsmoke [37] CBS September 10, 1955 September 1, 1975 635
20 Law & Order NBC September 13, 1990 present 439+
20 The Secret Storm CBS February 1, 1954 February 8, 1974 5,195
20 The Doctors NBC April 1, 1963 December 31, 1982 5,280

15–19 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
19 The NFL Today (original series) CBS 1975 January 23, 1994
19 Computer Chronicles PBS 1983 June 25, 2002
19 Friday Night Videos [38] NBC July 29, 1983 May 24, 2002
19 Power Rangers [39] Fox, ABC Family, ABC Kids, Toon Disney, Nickelodeon August 28, 1993 present 748+
18 What's My Line? [40] CBS February 16, 1950 September 3, 1967
18 Art Linkletter's House Party [41] CBS September 1, 1952 September 5, 1969
NBC December 29, 1969 September 25, 1970
19 Charlie Rose PBS September 30, 1991 present
18 Dateline NBC [42] NBC March 31, 1992 present
17 Lassie CBS September 12, 1954 March 21, 1971 544
17 NBA Inside Stuff NBC 1990 2002
ABC 2002 present
16 Wheel of Fortune (daytime) NBC January 6, 1975 June 30, 1989
CBS July 17, 1989 January 11, 1991
NBC January 14, 1991 September 20, 1991
16 Lilias! Yoga, and You [43] PBS 1976 1999
16 The Lawrence Welk Show [44] ABC July 2, 1955 September 4, 1971
15 The Amazing Race [45] CBS September 5, 2001 present 175
15 I've Got a Secret CBS June 19, 1952 April 3, 1967 350+
15 ER [46] NBC September 19, 1994 April 2, 2009 331
15 Concentration [47] NBC August 25, 1958 March 23, 1973
15 The Jack Benny Program CBS October 29, 1950 September 15, 1964 343
NBC September 25, 1964 September 10, 1965
15 Newton's Apple PBS 1983 1998

10–14 seasons

Number of seasons Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of episodes
14 Watch Mr. Wizard (original series) NBC May 26, 1951 June 27, 1965 547
14 Pokémon Cartoon Network (2006 - present), Kids WB (1999 - 2006), First run syndication (1998 - 1999) April 1, 1997 (Japan version), September 18, 1998 (U.S version) present 698 (Japan version), 675 (U.S version)
14 Arthur PBS September 2, 1996 present 170 +
14 Barney & Friends [48] PBS April 6, 1992 present 238
14 The Adventures of
Ozzie and Harriet [49]		 ABC October 10, 1952 September 3, 1966 435
14 Bonanza [50] NBC September 12, 1959 January 16, 1973 430
14 Hollywood Squares NBC October 17, 1966 June 20, 1980 3,536
14 Knots Landing CBS December 27, 1979 May 13, 1993 344
14 Ryan's Hope ABC July 7, 1975 January 13, 1989 3,515
14 Marty Stouffer's Wild America PBS 1982 1996 120
14 Loving [51] ABC June 26, 1983 March 28, 1997
14 Late Show with David Letterman CBS August 30, 1993 present 2,600+
14 Late Night with Conan O'Brien [52] NBC October 17, 1993 February 20, 2009 2,300+
13 Truth or Consequences [53] CBS September 7, 1950 [54] 1951
NBC 1952 [55] 1952
NBC May 18, 1954 [56] September 24, 1965
13 Let's Make a Deal [57] NBC December 30, 1963 December 27, 1968
ABC December 30, 1968 July 9, 1976
13 The Howdy Doody Show NBC December 27, 1947 September 24, 1960
13 Armstrong Circle Theatre NBC June 6, 1950 June 1957
CBS October 1957 August 28, 1963
13 The 20th Century [58] CBS October 20, 1957 January 4, 1970
13 Fox NFL Sunday Fox September 18, 1994 present
13 Big Brother CBS July 5, 2000 present 412
13 Dallas CBS April 2, 1978 May 3, 1991 357
13 King of the Hill Fox January 12, 1997 September 13, 2009 255
13 Later NBC August 22, 1988 February 1, 2001
12 Unsolved Mysteries NBC January 20, 1987 [59] September 5, 1997
CBS November 13, 1997 June 11, 1999
12 The Late Late Show CBS January 9, 1995 present
12 To Tell the Truth CBS December 18, 1956 September 6, 1968
12 CBS Reports CBS October 27, 1959 September 7, 1971
12 The Lucy Show [60] CBS October 1, 1962 September 2, 1974
12 My Three Sons ABC September 29, 1960 September 2, 1965
CBS September 16, 1965 August 24, 1972
12 CBS This Morning [61] CBS November 30, 1987 October 29, 1999
12 Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids [62] CBS September 9, 1972 August 25, 1984
12 N.Y.P.D. Blue ABC September 21, 1993 March 1, 2005 261
12 Murder, She Wrote CBS September 1, 1984 May 19, 1996 264
12 Hawaii Five-O CBS September 26, 1968 April 26, 1980 284
12 Loving ABC June 27, 1983 November 10, 1995 3,169
12 WWE Friday Night Smackdown UPN (1999-2006), CW (2006-08), MyNet TV (2008-10), Syfy (2010-present) April 29 and August 26, 1999 present 643+
12 MADtv Fox October 14, 1995 May 16, 2009
12 The Danny Thomas Show ABC September 29, 1953 [63] July 1957
CBS [64] September 1957 September 2, 1971
11 Kraft Television Theatre [65] NBC May 7, 1947 October 1, 1958
11 The Voice of Firestone NBC September 5, 1949 June 1954
ABC June 1954 June 1959
ABC September 1962 June 16, 1963
11 You Bet Your Life NBC October 5, 1950 June 29, 1961 429
11 The Andy Williams Show CBS 1957 1959
NBC 1962 1971
11 Jeopardy! (original NBC series) [66] NBC March 30, 1964 January 3, 1975 2,753
11 The General Electric College Bowl [67] CBS January 4, 1959 1963
NBC 1963 June 14, 1970
11 The Carol Burnett Show CBS September 11, 1967 March 29, 1978 278
11 M*A*S*H CBS September 17, 1972 February 28, 1983 251
11 Cheers NBC September 30, 1982 May 20, 1993 273
11 Late Night with David Letterman NBC February 1, 1982 June 25, 1993 1,810
11 Frasier NBC September 16, 1993 May 13, 2004 265
11 Married... with Children Fox April 5, 1987 June 9, 1997 259
11 The Jeffersons CBS January 18, 1975 July 23, 1985 255
11 For Your Home PBS June 1996 present
11 7th Heaven [68] WB August 26, 1996 September 18, 2006 221
CW September 25, 2006 May 13, 2007 [69]
11 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC September 20, 1999 present 230
11 Fox News Sunday Fox [70] 1996 present
11 Antiques Roadshow PBS January 1, 1977 present
11 Arthur Godfrey and His Friends CBS January 12, 1949 April 28, 1959
11 Beat the Clock (original series)[71] CBS March 23, 1950 September 12, 1958
ABC October 13, 1958 January 30, 1961
10 Smallville The WB October 16, 2001 May 11, 2006 132 episodes
The CW September 28, 2006 Present 80 episodes
10 Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts [72] CBS December 6, 1948 July 21, 1958
10 Studio One [73] CBS November 7, 1948 September 29, 1958
10 Pantomime Quiz[74] CBS October 4, 1949 August 28, 1951
NBC January 2, 1952 March 26, 1952
CBS July 4, 1952 September 1952
CBS July 1953 August 28, 1953
DuMont October 20, 1953 April 13, 1954
CBS July 9, 1954 August 27, 1954
ABC January 1955 March 1955
CBS July 8, 1955 September 6, 1957
ABC April 1958 September 1958
ABC January 1959 September 1959
10 The Arthur Murray Party[75] ABC July 20, 1950 September 1950
DuMont October 1950 March 1951
ABC April 1951 May 1952
CBS July 1952 August 1952
DuMont October 1952 April 1953
CBS June 1953 October 1953
NBC October 1953 September 1955
CBS April 1956 September 1956
NBC July 1957 September 6, 1960
10 Smilin' Ed's Gang [76] NBC August 26, 1950 May 19, 1951
CBS August 11, 1951 April 11, 1953
ABC August 22, 1953 April 23, 1955
CBS August 20, 1955 December 31, 1960
10 General Electric Theater CBS February 1, 1953 September 16, 1962
10 The Pink Panther Show [77] NBC September 13, 1969 September 2, 1978
ABC September 9, 1978 [78] September 1, 1979
10 Alfred Hitchcock Presents [79] NBC October 2, 1955 June 26, 1960 366
CBS September 25, 1960 June 26, 1962 [80]
NBC September 20, 1962 July 3, 1964
CBS October 5, 1964 May 10, 1965
10 Murphy Brown CBS November 14, 1988 May 18, 1998 247
10 Friends NBC September 22, 1994 May 6, 2004 236
10 JAG NBC September 1, 1995 May 22, 1996[81] 227
CBS January 3, 1997 April 29, 2005
10 Beverly Hills, 90210 Fox October 4, 1990 May 17, 2000 269
10 The United States Steel Hour ABC October 27, 1953 June 21, 1955 315
CBS July 6, 1955 August 13, 1963

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Only its time on television is counted here; it began on radio (as American Mercury Presents: Meet the Press) in 1945.
  2. ^ CBS Television News 1948-1951, Douglas Edwards with the News 1951-1963
  3. ^ Originally The Guiding Light. Only its time on television is counted here; it began on radio January 25, 1937.
  4. ^ ABC Evening News 1953-1965 and 1967-1978; Peter Jennings and the News 1965-1967; World News with Charles Gibson 2006-present
  5. ^ Originally Hallmark Playhouse radio series, was Hallmark Television Playhouse (1952-1954)
  6. ^ Originally Huntley-Brinkley Report, 1956-1970
  7. ^ Weekly broadcasts ended January 1, 1997; irregular airings afterward; officially ended with the absorption of ABC Sports into ESPN
  8. ^ Originally Washington Week in Review
  9. ^ Name often altered to reflect primary sponsor. Name on current ESPN broadcasts: Denny's PBA Tour
  10. ^ In addition, NBC televised the fall tour, 1984-1991
  11. ^ 1998-2000 broadcast seasons were shared by CBS and ESPN. ESPN has been carrying the series exclusively since 2000
  12. ^ On ESPN since 2006
  13. ^ Originally The New Price Is Right; longest running game show in American network television history.
  14. ^ Disney anthology television series aired under a variety of titles, including Disneyland, Disney's Wonderful World of Color and The Magical World of Disney. See the main article for a complete broadcast history. For this list rebroadcasts and cable presentations are omitted
  15. ^ Originally NBC Saturday Night
  16. ^ Became Wall $treet Week with Fortune after original host was fired in 2002
  17. ^ Jim Crockett's Victory Garden, 1976-79
  18. ^ Previously The Robert MacNeil Report (1975), The MacNeil/Lehrer Report (1975-1983), The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour 1975-1995
  19. ^ a b Not currently on a regular schedule
  20. ^ Also known as The Metropolitain Opera Presents
  21. ^ Evolved from The Iran Crisis - America Held Hostage (1979-80)
  22. ^ Continuation of Bandstand, which aired on WFIL 1952–1957; also, syndicated 1987-1988 and on USA Network 1989
  23. ^ Reruns aired in syndication, 1984-1992
  24. ^ Originally syndicated, 1966-1971
  25. ^ Broadcast locally only on WPBT, 1979-1981
  26. ^ Broadcast only in North Carolina, 1979-1981
  27. ^ Succeeded Issues and Answers; full title throughout its run is This Week With (host's name), beginning with David Brinkley, 1981-1996
  28. ^ Also syndicated, 1982-present
  29. ^ Continuation of series that aired 1962-1985 on Chile's Canal 13
  30. ^ Longest running prime time animated program in the United States.
  31. ^ Aired as Toast of the Town until 1955
  32. ^ According to CBS.com, has two 14-week seasons per year, similar to The Amazing Race
  33. ^ Originally GrandStand, then changed name to reflect year; was also NFL Live 1987-1997
  34. ^ Also called 48 Hours Investigates
  35. ^ Succeeded in time slot by This Week
  36. ^ Originally Opening Soon at a Theater Near You (1975-1977); Sneak Previews Goes Video (1989-1991)
  37. ^ Longest-running prime time entertainment program with a consistent setting and recurring characters. While other prime-time shows have run longer, they are all news, sports, anthology or variety programs.
  38. ^ Name changed to Friday Night 1994-2000, Late Friday 2001-2002. In both cases, the name change accompanied a change in program format
  39. ^ Mighty Morphin, Alien, Zeo, Turbo, in Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force, Wild Force, Ninja Storm, DinoThunder, SPD, Mystic Force, Operation Overdrive, Jungle Fury, RPM, Samurai
  40. ^ Longest-running game show in prime time network television; first-run syndication 1968-1975
  41. ^ Also on CBS Radio, 1945-1967
  42. ^ Also known as Dateline (day of week it airs), Dateline With Stone Phillips
  43. ^ Local transmission only (WCET), 1972-1996
  44. ^ Originally The Dodge Dancing Party; first-run syndication, 1971-1982; reruns have been airing since 1982 on various PBS stations
  45. ^ According to CBS.com, has two 13-week seasons per year, similar to Survivor
  46. ^ Longest-running prime time Medical drama in the United States.
  47. ^ First-run syndication 1973-1978
  48. ^ Reruns only (no first-run episodes) in 1994, 1996, and 2001. 2010 episodes (Season 14) were repackaged reruns
  49. ^ Longest running live-action sitcom in the United States.
  50. ^ First US network series to film all its episodes in color
  51. ^ Renamed The City (1995–1997)
  52. ^ To end in 2009 as O'Brien succeeds Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show
  53. ^ Originated on NBC Radio 1940–1951; first-run syndication 1966–1974.
  54. ^ Hosted by Ralph Edwards
  55. ^ Hosted by Jack Bailey
  56. ^ Hosted by Bob Barker; Steve Dunne also hosted a prime time version on NBC, 1958
  57. ^ original network series - syndicated version ran 1971-1977;short-lived "revivals" followed
  58. ^ The 21st Century 1967–1970
  59. ^ Includes series of specials, Jan. 1987 to May 1988; on Lifetime 2001-2002
  60. ^ Originally The Lucille Ball Show; was also Here's Lucy 1968-1974
  61. ^ This Morning 1996-1999
  62. ^ Syndicated 1984-1985
  63. ^ As Make Room for Daddy; NBC used the same name when airing reruns of this series, 1960-1965
  64. ^ As The Danny Thomas Show
  65. ^ Also known as Kraft Mystery Theatre (1958); another series of the same name ran concurrently on ABC, 1953–1955
  66. ^ Hosted by Art Fleming
  67. ^ Also known as G.E. College Bowl; on NBC radio, 1953-1955; pilot shot 1955
  68. ^ Longest-running family drama on television, per Reuters article about 7th Heaven finale
  69. ^ Scheduled date of last episode
  70. ^ First-run broadcast on Fox; repeated in the afternoon of the same day on Fox News Channel
  71. ^ Emcee: Bud Collyer
  72. ^ On CBS radio 1946-1956
  73. ^ Originated on CBS Radio, 1947
  74. ^ Originally aired locally in Los Angeles, 1947-1950
  75. ^ The first series to be shown on four US broadcasting networks
  76. ^ Began on radio as Ed McConnell and the Buster Brown Gang, 1929–1950; became Andy's Gang in 1954 when Andy Devine became host after McConnell's death
  77. ^ The Pink Panther Meets the Ant and the Aardvark 1970-1971; The New Pink Panther Show 1971-1974; The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half Hour and a Half Show 1976-1977; Think Pink Panther 1977-1978
  78. ^ As The All New Pink Panther Show
  79. ^ The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1962-1965
  80. ^ One episode wasn't aired on network TV, but was included in later syndication packages
  81. ^ One episode made its premiere on USA network as part of a JAG rerun package. The episode, planned to be the first of a two-part story, never aired on NBC before cancellation.