The 50 TV Shows with the Longest Running Time in History

Television is a highly competitive field, so any series that makes it past its debut season has already achieved something remarkable. It's uncommon for a show to maintain its popularity long enough to weather changes in cast, cultural shifts, and the evolution of the media landscape. From enduring daytime soap operas to iconic late-night comedy shows, here are the 50 TV programs that have lasted the longest in television history.

Soap operas are well-known for their staying power and complex storylines that unfold over multiple seasons. Among these, the British series Coronation Street has made an impressive mark. Since its premiere in 1960, it's still airing today. When considering its time as a radio program, Guiding Light holds the record for the longest-running, having started in 1937, transitioned to TV in 1952, and lasted an incredible 57 years before its cancellation in 2009.

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Among the longest-running TV shows are also several beloved comedies. The Tonight Show, which has had a variety of hosts over nearly seven decades, is still airing. Similarly, the classic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, which began in 1975, continues to entertain audiences. The longest-running scripted comedy, The Simpsons, debuted in 1989, while It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which premiered on FX in 2005, is currently the longest-running live-action sitcom.

Below is a list of TV’s longest-running programs. For those seeking something more binge-worthy, here’s a breakdown of how long it takes to watch over 50 popular shows.

50. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966) // 14 years

49. The Jack Benny Program (1950-1965) // 15 years

48. ER (1994-2009) // 15 years

47. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015) // 15 years

46. Supernatural

(2005-2020) // 15 years

45. Grey's Anatomy (2005-present) // 18 years

44. Criminal Minds (2005-2020; 2022-present) // 18 years

43. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present) // 18 years

42. American Dad! (2005-present) // 18 years

41. Lassie (1954-1973) // 19 years

40. Gunsmoke (1955-1975) // 20 years

39. NCIS (2003-present) // 20 years

38. Law & Order (1990-2010; 2022-present) // 22 years

37. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present) // 22 years

36. The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971) // 23 years

35. Reading Rainbow (1983-2006) // 23 years

34. The Merv Griffin Show (1962-1986) // 24 years

33. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present) // 24 years

32. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present) // 24 years

31. Family Guy (1999-present) // 24 years

30. Arthur (1996-2022) // 25 years

29. South Park (1997-present) // 26 years

28. The Daily Show (1996-present) // 27 years

27. Hee Haw (1969-1997) // 28 years

26. The Late Late Show (1995-present) // 28 years

25. Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984) // 29 years

24. The Late Show (1993-present) // 30 years

23. The Simpsons (1989-present) // 34 years

22. Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986) // 35 years

21. Another World (1964-1999) // 35 years

20. Columbo (1968-1978; 1989-2003) // 35 years

19. The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present) // 36 years

18. Casualty (1986-present) // 37 years

17. EastEnders (1985-present) // 38 years

16. All My Children (1970-2011) // 41 years

15. Late Night (1982-present) // 41 years

14. Doctor Who (1963-1989; 1996; 2005-present) // 45 years

13. One Life to Live (1968-2012; 2013) // 45 years

12. Top Gear (1977-2001; 2002-present) // 46 years

11. Saturday Night Live (1975-present) // 48 years

10. The Young and the Restless (1973-present) // 50 years

9. Emmerdale (1972-present) // 51 years

8. As the World Turns (1956-2010) // 54 years

7. Scooby-Doo (1969-present) // 54 years

6. Sesame Street (1969-present) // 54 years

5. Guiding Light (1952-2009) // 57 years

4. Days of Our Lives (1965-2022; 2022-present) // 58 years

3. General Hospital (1963-present) // 60 years

2. Coronation Street (1960–present) // 63 years

1. The Tonight Show (1954-present) // 69 years