List of longest-running U.S. syndicated television series

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

To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America, shown nationally in the United States, 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 will be excluded. For series that were also presented on U.S. broadcast networks or cable networks, only the amount aired nationally original syndicated programming is represented here.

Several long-lasting series were both in first-run syndication and on U.S. network television. For those that were in syndication for fewer than ten seasons, see List of longest running U.S. television series.

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

Contents

20 seasons or more

Number of
seasons		 Series First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
38 700 Club [1] 1972[2] present
35 Soul Train October 2, 1971 March 25, 2006 [3] 1,117
33 America's Black Forum 1977 present
29 NFL Films Presents [4] 1968 1997
29 At the Movies [5] 1981 present
29 Entertainment Tonight September 14, 1981 present
28 MotorWeek [6] 1982 present
28 The McLaughlin Group 1982 present
27 Wheel of Fortune September 19, 1983 present
27 Donahue [7] 1969 1996
26 Jeopardy! (revival) [8] September 10, 1984 present 6253+
26 David Susskind Show [9] 1961 1987
26 Faith for Today [10] 1955 1981
25 Insight October 2, 1960 January 21, 1985
24 The Oprah Winfrey Show September 8, 1986 May 25, 2011
23 Death Valley Days March 1, 1952 August 1, 1975 558
23 Showtime at the Apollo [11] 1987 present
22 Live! With Kelly [12] September 5, 1988 [13] present
21 Hee Haw[14] 1971 1992
21 This Week in Baseball [15] 1977 1998
21 Inside Edition January 9, 1989 present

15-19 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
19 The Porter Wagoner Show 1960 1979
19 The Jerry Springer Show September 30, 1991 present 3000+
18 The Merv Griffin Show [16] 1965 1969
April 1972 September 1986
17 Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures September 1, 1993 present
17 Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom [17] 1971 1988
16 Fight Back! with David Horowitz 1976 1992
16 George Michael Sports Machine [18] September 15, 1991 March 25, 2007
16 The Montel Williams Show June 24, 1991 May 16, 2008 3000+
16 Extra [19] September 5, 1994 present
16 Entertainers with Byron Allen [20] September 1994 present
16 Kickin' It with Byron Allen [21] 1994 present
15 That Good Ole Nashville Music 1970 1985

10-14 seasons

Number of
seasons		 Series First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
14 Jack LaLanne Show 1956 1970
14 Access Hollywood September 9, 1996 present
14 Judge Judy September 16, 1996 present
13 PM Magazine [22] September 1978 January 1, 1991
13 The People's Court (revival) [23] September 1997 present 1500+
12 Star Search [24] September 10, 1983 May 20, 1995
12 Divorce Court (original series) [25] 1957 1969
12 The People's Court (original series) [26] September 1981 1993 2,484
12 Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous January 1984 September 1996
12 The Jenny Jones Show September 16, 1991 September 12, 2003
11 Divorce Court (revival) September 5th, 1999 present 2,076+
11 The Wilburn Brothers Show 1963 1974 354
11 The Lawrence Welk Show [27] 1971 February 1982
11 Love Connection September 12, 1983 July 1, 1994
11 The Geraldo Rivera Show 1987 1998
11 Martha Stewart Living 1993 2004

11

 Ricki Lake September 13, 1993 August 27, 2004
10 A Current Affair July 28, 1986 1996
10 Hard Copy September 18, 1989 April 26, 1999
10 Baywatch [28] October 1991 May 24, 2001
10 Friends September 22, 1994 May 6, 2004 236
10 Cheaters September 2000 Present 210+

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Aired locally on WYAH-TV Portsmouth, Virginia, 1966-1977, syndicated 1972-present; evolved from locally-broadcast telethons 1962-1966
  2. ^ Also simultaneously on CBN/Family/Fox Family/ABC Family nationally since 1977
  3. ^ Date of airing last first-run episode. Repeats continue to be syndicated as Best of Soul Train
  4. ^ Presented on ESPN since 1997 and on NFL Network since 2003
  5. ^ Title since 2007. Previously titled: At the Movies (1981–1986), Siskel & Ebert & the Movies (1986–1989), Siskel & Ebert (1989–1999), Roger Ebert & the Movies (1999–2000), Ebert & Roeper and the Movies (2000–2001), and Ebert & Roeper (2001-2007)
  6. ^ Also on PBS, 1982-present
  7. ^ Originally The Phil Donahue Show
  8. ^ Hosted by Alex Trebek
  9. ^ Originally Open End; prior to syndication, aired on WNTA-TV 1958-1961
  10. ^ On ABC 1950-1955; also Westbrook Hospital, 1975-1981
  11. ^ Also known as Showtime in Harlem, Showtime, Live in Hollywood
  12. ^ Other names: Live With Regis and Kathie Lee (1988-2000), Live With Regis (2000-2001), Live! With Regis and Kelly (2001-2011)
  13. ^ Date of first episode distributed nationally; was aired by WABC locally at The Morning Show, 1983-1988
  14. ^ On CBS 1969-1971; renamed Hee Haw Silver for 1992-1993 season ("greatest hits"); reruns aired on The Nashville Network 1992-1997
  15. ^ Original version hosted by Mel Allen (1977-1996), Warner Fusselle (1996), and Ozzie Smith (1997-1998)
  16. ^ On NBC 1962-1963; on CBS 1969-1972
  17. ^ Originally on NBC, 1963–1971; revival on Animal Planet, 2002–present
  18. ^ Originally on NBC, 1984-1991; evolved from George Michael's Sports Final, 1980-1984 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111600669.html)
  19. ^ Originally Extra:The Entertainment Magazine
  20. ^ Originally Entertainers
  21. ^ Evolved from Jammin, 1991-1994
  22. ^ Aired locally on KPIX San Francisco as Evening: The MTWTF Show, 1976-1978
  23. ^ Judges: Ed Koch (1997-1999), Jerry Sheindlin (1999-2001), Marilyn Milian (2001-present)
  24. ^ Ed McMahon's Star Search, 1992-1995
  25. ^ With Judge Voltaire Perkins
  26. ^ With Judge Joseph Wapner
  27. ^ Originally The Dodge Dancing Party; aired on ABC 1955-1971; reruns have been airing since 1982 on various PBS stations
  28. ^ Originally on NBC, 1989-1990