List of longest-running American primetime television series explained

This is a list of the longest running U.S. primetime television series, ordered by the number of broadcast seasons offered by a U.S. broadcast network or cable network in prime time on the show's original run. Broadcast syndication that could have been scheduled by local stations in prime time have been omitted.

Longest lasting series

Series shaded in light blue are in production.

50 seasons or more

Number of
seasons 		Series Genre/subjectNetwork First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
Hallmark Hall of Fame[1] AnthologyNBCDecember 24, 1951December 17, 1978
CBSNovember 14, 1979April 30, 1981
PBSFebruary 9, 1981May 6, 1981
CBSDecember 1, 1981January 29, 1989
ABCApril 30, 1989April 23, 1995
CBSDecember 10, 1995April 24, 2011
ABCNovember 27, 2011April 20, 2014
Hallmark ChannelNovember 30, 2014present
The Wonderful World of Disney[2] AnthologyABCOctober 27, 1954June 11, 1961
NBCSeptember 24, 1961August 16, 1981
CBSSeptember 26, 1981September 24, 1983
ABCFebruary 1, 1986May 21, 1988
NBCOctober 8, 1988August 25, 1990
CBSSeptember 23, 1990December 1, 1996
ABCSeptember 28, 1997December 24, 2008
December 12, 2015present
Disney+May 20, 2020present
60 MinutesNews magazineCBSSeptember 24, 1968present
Monday Night FootballSports, footballABCSeptember 21, 1970December 26, 2005
ESPNAugust 14, 2006present
Sábado Gigante[3] Spanish programmingUnivisiónAugust 5, 1962 (Chile)May 20, 1986 (United States)September 19, 2015
NovaSciencePBSFebruary 24, 1974present
Austin City LimitsMusicPBSJanuary 3, 1976present

30–49 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Genre/subjectNetwork First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
Saturday Night LiveVariety showNBCOctober 11, 1975present
48Masterpiece[4] AnthologyPBSJanuary 10, 1971present
20/20News magazineABCJune 6, 1978present
SurvivorReality competitionCBSMay 31, 2000present
This Old HouseHome improvementPBSFebruary 20, 1979present
Live from Lincoln CenterMusicPBSJanuary 30, 1976present[5]
42Inside the NFLSports, footballHBOSeptember 22, 1977February 6, 2008
ShowtimeSeptember 10, 2008February 24, 2021
Paramount+September 7, 2021April 5, 2023
The CWSeptember 9, 2023present
FrontlinePublic affairsPBSJanuary 17, 1983present813
NatureDocumentaryPBSOctober 10, 1982present615
The ChallengeReality game showMTVJune 1, 1998present
National Geographic Explorer[6] DocumentaryNickelodeonApril 7, 1985February 1986
WTBS/TBSFebruary 1986September 1999
CNBCSeptember 1999October 2001
MSNBC[7] October 2001July 2004
National Geographic ChannelJuly 8, 2004present
The Woodwright's ShopWoodworkingPBS19792017
The Victory GardenGardeningPBSApril 16, 19752010
48 Hours[8] Documentary/news magazineCBSJanuary 2, 1988present
Cops[9] RealityFoxMarch 11, 1989May 4, 2013
Spike / Paramount NetworkSeptember 14, 2013May 11, 2020
Fox NationOctober 1, 2021present
The Amazing RaceReality competitionCBSSeptember 5, 2001present
35Wall Street Week[10] News, economicsPBSNovember 20, 1970June 24, 2005
American ExperienceDocumentary PBSOctober 1, 1988present
The Simpsons[11] Animated sitcomFoxJanuary 14, 1990[12] present
America's Funniest Home VideosReality, comedyABCNovember 26, 1989present
POVDocumentaryPBSJuly 5, 1988present
Firing LinePublic affairsSyndication1966[13] 1971
PBS1971December 26, 1999
June 22, 2018present
The Real World[14] RealityMTVMay 21, 1992January 4, 2017
Facebook WatchJune 13, 2019August 29, 2019
Dateline NBC[15] News magazineNBCMarch 31, 1992present
Dancing with the StarsReality competitionABCJune 1, 2005November 22, 2021
Disney+September 19, 2022present
ABCSeptember 26, 2023present
WWE Monday Night RawProfessional wrestlingUSAJanuary 11, 1993September 18, 2000
TNN / SpikeSeptember 25, 2000September 26, 2005
USAOctober 3, 2005present

20–29 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Genre/subjectNetwork First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
Real Sports with Bryant GumbelMonthly sports new magazineHBOApril 2, 1995December 19, 2023
The BachelorRomance, realityABCMarch 25, 2002present
America's Most WantedRealityFoxFebruary 7, 1988June 18, 20111,101
LifetimeDecember 2, 2011October 12, 2012
FoxMarch 15, 2021present
Live from the Met[16] MusicPBS1977present
Antiques RoadshowBargain huntPBSJanuary 1, 1997present
South ParkAnimated sitcomComedy CentralAugust 13, 1997present
26Mystery!AnthologyPBS19802006
26Grand Ole Opry[17] MusicTNNApril 20, 1985August 2001
CMTAugust 20012003
GAC[18] 20032011
25Camera ThreeAnthologyCBSJanuary 22, 19561979
PBS1979July 1, 1980
What's My Line?[19]
(network version)		Panel game showCBSFebruary 16, 1950September 3, 1967
SyndicationSeptember 1968September 3, 1975
25Nick News[20] Children's news programNickelodeonApril 18, 1992 December 15, 2015
June 29, 2020present
[21] Crime dramaNBCSeptember 20, 1999present
Big BrotherReality competitionCBSJuly 5, 2000present
The Ed Sullivan Show[22] Variety showCBSJune 20, 1948June 6, 1971
24ConcentrationGame showNBCAugust 25, 1958March 20, 1973
SyndicationSeptember 10, 1973September 8, 1978
NBCMay 4, 1987August 30, 1991
23CrossfireTalk/news programCNN1982June 3, 2005
September 9, 2013August 6, 2014
Law & Order[23] Crime dramaNBCSeptember 13, 1990May 24, 2010
February 24, 2022present
22E! News[24] News LiveEntertainment newscastE!September 1, 1991present
22Investigative ReportsRealityA&ESeptember 27, 19912004
Family GuyAnimated sitcomFoxApril 11, 1999[25] February 14, 2002[26]
May 1, 2005present
22Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour[27] RealityDuMontJanuary 18, 1948October 1949
NBCOctober 1949September 1954
ABCOctober 1955June 1957
NBCJuly 1957October 1958
CBSMay 1959October 1959
ABCMarch 1960September 26, 1960
CBSOctober 2, 1960September 27, 1970
American IdolRealityFoxJune 11, 2002April 7, 2016
ABCMarch 11, 2018present
The New Yankee WorkshopWestern woodworkingPBSJanuary 1988June 27, 2009
NCISMilitary police proceduralCBSSeptember 23, 2003present
20NFL PrimetimeSports, footballESPN1987present
20Biography[28] DocumentaryA&EApril 6, 1987[29] August 2006
Biography ChannelAugust 2006present[30]
The Red Skelton ShowVariety showNBCSeptember 30, 1951June 21, 1953
CBSSeptember 22, 1953June 23, 1970
NBCSeptember 14, 1970August 29, 1971
20Gunsmoke[31] DramaCBSSeptember 10, 1955March 31, 1975635
20MoneylineEditorialCNNJune 1, 1980November 11, 2000
American Dad!Animated sitcomFoxMay 1, 2005[32] September 21, 2014
TBSOctober 24, 2014present
Grey's Anatomy[33] DramaABCMarch 27, 2005present

15–19 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
19ESPN Sunday Night Football[34] ESPNNovember 8, 1987[35] January 1, 2006
LassieCBSSeptember 12, 1954March 21, 1971
SyndicationOctober 7, 1971March 24, 1973
America's Got TalentNBCJune 21, 2006present
18ESPN Major League Baseball[36] ESPN / ESPN2[37] April 15, 1990present
17Outside the LinesESPN1990present
17Showbiz TodayCNNOctober 29, 19842001
17USA Tuesday Night FightsUSAMarch 30, 19821998
17Capital GangCNNSeptember 7, 19882005
Criminal MindsCBSSeptember 22, 2005February 19, 2020
Paramount+November 24, 2022present
Unsolved MysteriesNBCJanuary 20, 1987[38] September 5, 1997
CBSNovember 13, 1997June 11, 1999
LifetimeJuly 2, 2001September 20, 2002
SpikeOctober 13, 2008April 27, 2010
16BleachCartoon Network (Toonami)October 5, 2004March 27, 2012
Ghost HuntersSci Fi Channel / SyfyOctober 6, 2004October 26, 2016
A&EAugust 21, 2019May 27, 2020
Discovery+December 31, 2021March 19, 2022
Travel ChannelOctober 1, 2022present
16MTV UnpluggedMTVNovember 26, 1989present
BooknotesC-SPANApril 2, 1989December 5, 2004
16The Lawrence Welk Show[39] ABCJuly 2, 1955September 4, 1971
SupernaturalThe CWSeptember 13, 2005November 19, 2020
ERNBCSeptember 19, 1994April 2, 2009
15I've Got a SecretCBSJune 19, 1952April 3, 1967
The Jack Benny ProgramCBSOctober 29, 1950September 15, 1964
NBCSeptember 25, 1964September 10, 1965
15CBSOctober 6, 2000September 27, 2015

12–14 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
14World Poker TourFox Sports NetworksMarch 30, 2003present420
Armstrong Circle TheatreNBCJune 6, 1950June 1957
CBSOctober 1957August 28, 1963
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet[40] ABCOctober 10, 1952September 3, 1966
Bonanza[41] NBCSeptember 12, 1959January 16, 1973
DallasCBSApril 2, 1978May 3, 1991
Knots LandingCBSDecember 27, 1979May 13, 1993
14An Evening at the ImprovA&EFebruary 3, 1982January 1, 1996
14Video SoulBETJune 26, 19831997
CBSSeptember 22, 2009May 21, 2023
Bob's BurgersFoxJanuary 9, 2011present
13Private ScreeningsTCM19952010
King of the HillFoxJanuary 12, 1997September 13, 2009
Mystery Science Theater 3000KTMANovember 24, 1988May 28, 1989
The Comedy ChannelNovember 18, 1989February 2, 1991
Comedy CentralJune 1, 1991May 18, 1996
Sci Fi ChannelFebruary 1, 1997August 8, 1999[42]
NetflixApril 14, 2017November 22, 2018
GizmoplexMay 6, 2022[43] present
13Tim RussertCNBC19942008
The Big Bang TheoryCBSSeptember 24, 2007May 16, 2019
12To Tell the TruthCBSDecember 18, 1956September 6, 1968
12CBS ReportsCBSOctober 27, 1959September 7, 1971
My Three SonsABCSeptember 29, 1960September 2, 1965
CBSSeptember 16, 1965August 24, 1972
NYPD BlueABCSeptember 21, 1993March 1, 2005
Wild AmericaPBS19821996
Murder, She WroteCBSSeptember 1, 1984May 19, 1996
Hawaii Five-OCBSSeptember 26, 1968April 26, 1980
12Don Francisco PresentaUnivisionOctober 10, 2001January 30, 2012
Two and a Half MenCBSSeptember 22, 2003February 19, 2015
BonesFoxSeptember 13, 2005March 28, 2017
Curb Your EnthusiasmHBOOctober 15, 2000April 7, 2024

10–11 seasons

Number of
seasons 		Series Network First broadcast Last broadcast Number of
episodes
Murphy BrownCBSNovember 14, 1988May 18, 1998
September 27, 2018December 20, 2018
Kraft Television Theatre[44] NBCMay 7, 1947October 1, 1958
11The Voice of FirestoneNBCSeptember 5, 1949June 1954
ABCJune 1954June 1959
ABCSeptember 1962June 16, 1963
11You Bet Your LifeNBCOctober 5, 1950June 29, 1961
11The Andy Williams ShowCBS19571959
NBC19621971
The Carol Burnett ShowCBSSeptember 11, 1967March 29, 1978
M*A*S*HCBSSeptember 17, 1972February 28, 1983
Happy DaysABCJanuary 15, 1974May 8, 1984
CheersNBCSeptember 30, 1982May 20, 1993
The Danny Thomas ShowABCSeptember 20, 19531957
CBS1957September 14, 1964
FrasierNBCSeptember 16, 1993May 13, 2004
Married... with ChildrenFoxApril 5, 1987June 9, 1997
The JeffersonsCBSJanuary 18, 1975July 23, 1985
7th Heaven[45] The WBAugust 26, 1996May 8, 2006
The CWSeptember 25, 2006May 13, 2007
Modern FamilyABCSeptember 23, 2009April 8, 2020
Will & GraceNBCSeptember 21, 1998April 23, 2020
The GoldbergsABCSeptember 24, 2013May 3, 2023
Arthur Godfrey and His FriendsCBSJanuary 12, 1949April 28, 1959
10Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts[46] CBSDecember 6, 1948July 21, 1958
10Studio One[47] CBSNovember 7, 1948September 29, 1958
10The Arthur Murray Party[48] ABCJuly 20, 1950September 1950
DuMontOctober 1950March 1951
ABCApril 1951May 1952
CBSJuly 1952August 1952
NBCOctober 1953September 1955
CBSApril 1956September 1956
NBCJuly 1957September 6, 1960
General Electric TheaterCBSFebruary 1, 1953September 16, 1962
Stargate SG-1[49] ShowtimeJuly 27, 1997May 17, 2002214 + 2 DVD films
Sci FiJune 7, 20022007[50]
Alfred Hitchcock Presents[51] NBCOctober 2, 1955June 26, 1960
CBSSeptember 25, 1960June 26, 1962[52]
NBCSeptember 20, 1962July 3, 1964
CBSOctober 5, 1964May 10, 1965
10Nashville NowTNNMarch 1, 1983January 1, 1993Unknown
FriendsNBCSeptember 22, 1994May 6, 2004
JAGNBCSeptember 1, 1995May 22, 1996[53]
CBSJanuary 3, 1997April 29, 2005
Beverly Hills, 90210FoxOctober 4, 1990May 17, 2000
10Pantomime Quiz[54] CBSJuly 1, 1950August 1951
NBCJanuary 1952March 1952
CBSJuly 1952May 1952
CBSJuly 1952August 1953
DuMontOctober 1953April 1954
CBSJune 1954August 1954
ABCJanuary 1955March 1955
CBSJuly 1955July 1957
ABCApril 1958September 1959
The United States Steel HourABCOctober 27, 1953June 21, 1955315
CBSJuly 6, 1955August 13, 1963
Smallville[55] The WBOctober 16, 2001May 11, 2006
The CWSeptember 28, 2006May 13, 2011
NBCSeptember 30, 2001May 21, 2007
USAOctober 4, 2007June 26, 2011
CBSSeptember 23, 2002April 8, 2012

See also

Notes and References

  1. Originally Hallmark Playhouse radio series, was Hallmark Television Playhouse (1951–1954)
  2. [Disney anthology television series]
  3. Continuation of series that aired 1962–1985 on Chile's Canal 13
  4. Originally Masterpiece Theatre
  5. Not currently on a regular schedule
  6. Host: Tom Chapin (1985–1988), Robert Urich (1988–1995), Bob Ballard (1988–1995), Boyd Matson (1995–2003), Michael Fay (2001), Lisa Ling (2003–)
  7. Show renamed National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, 2003–2005
  8. Also called "48 Hours Investigates"
  9. https://deadline.com/2017/07/spike-tv-cops-beyond-the-bust-cops-terry-crews-john-langley-1202136657/ ‘Cops Beyond The Bust’: Spike Sets Special To Mark 1,000th Episode Of ‘Cops’
  10. Became Wall Street Week with Fortune after original host was fired in 2002
  11. Longest-running primetime animated program in the United States
  12. Sneak peek airing December 17, 1989
  13. Pilot taped April 4, 1966
  14. According to MTV, 18th season begins November 22, 2006
  15. Also known as Dateline (day of week it airs), Dateline With Stone Phillips
  16. Also known as The Metropolitan Opera Presents
  17. Oldest continuously running radio program, airing on WSM radio, Nashville, Tennessee
  18. As Grand Ole Opry Live!
  19. Longest-running game show in primetime network television; first-run syndication 1968–1975
  20. Previously Nick News W/5 and Nick News with Linda Ellerbee
  21. News: SVU Renewed for Season 20 at NBC. Roots. Kimberly. 2018-05-10. TVLine. 2018-05-14. en-US.
  22. Aired as Toast of the Town until 1955
  23. Longest-running live-action hour-long prime time entertainment program in the United States. While Gunsmoke has accumulated more episodes (635), 233 of its episodes were half-hour dramas. All of Law & Order's episodes have been one hour long.
  24. Previously E! News Daily and E
  25. Sneak peek airing January 31, 1999
  26. "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" originally aired on Adult Swim on November 9, 2003. It would later air on Fox on December 10, 2004.
  27. Originated on radio as Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour, 1934–1946
  28. Originated on CBS
  29. Reran CBS originals, 1984–1987
  30. Rebroadcast A&E originals, 1999–2006
  31. Longest-running live-action 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.
  32. Sneak peek airing February 6, 2005
  33. News: How Shonda Rhimes Celebrated the 20th Season of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ — And Yet Another History-Making Moment for the Hit Show. Venable. Malcolm. 2024-04-12. Shondaland. 2024-04-17. en-US.
  34. Moved to NBC in 2006, at which time Monday Night Football moved from ABC to ESPN
  35. Sunday Night Football shared with TNT, with TNT getting the first half of the season, ESPN the second half, 1990–1997
  36. Includes Sunday Night Baseball, Wednesday Night Baseball, etc.
  37. ESPN2 started broadcasting major league baseball games in 2002 in addition to those offered by ESPN
  38. Includes series of specials, Jan. 1987 to May 1988
  39. Originally The Dodge Dancing Party; first-run syndication 1971–1982; reruns have been airing since 1982 on various PBS stations
  40. Longest running live-action sitcom.
  41. First US network series to film all its episodes in color
  42. official end of series, although one "unofficial" episode (Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders) was shown on September 12, 1999
  43. Pre-release date, March 4, 2022
  44. Also known as Kraft Mystery Theatre (1958); another series of the same name ran concurrently on ABC, 1953–1955
  45. Longest-running family drama on television, per Reuters article about 7th Heaven finale
  46. On CBS radio 1946–1956
  47. Originated on CBS Radio, 1947
  48. The first series to be shown on four US broadcasting networks
  49. Longest-running science fiction series in the United States.
  50. Cancellation announced by Sci Fi Channel, August 21, 2006
  51. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1962–1965
  52. One episode wasn't aired on network TV, but was included in later syndication packages
  53. 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.
  54. Originally aired locally in Los Angeles, 1947–1950
  55. Web site: David Lambert. The Complete Series on DVD: Timeframe, Packaging, New Extras and Answer to 'Why Not On Blu-ray?'. TVShowsOnDVD.com. April 26, 2011. April 26, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110429061544/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smallville-The-Complete-Series/15315. April 29, 2011. mdy-all.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of longest-running American primetime television series".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.