In the ever-changing landscape of television, where shows are frequently canceled after a single season, achieving longevity is a remarkable feat. It requires a special alchemy of relatable characters, compelling stories, and an undeniable connection with the audience that lasts for years, and sometimes decades. This listicle celebrates ten such television titans—series that have defined generations, launched countless imitators, and set records for their sheer staying power. From the animated streets of Springfield to the gritty precincts of New York, these are the shows that refused to fade to black. Here, we explore their origins, their milestones, and the impressive numbers that cement their places in TV history.
1. The Simpsons
The Simpsonsis an American adult animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. This satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family (Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie), is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture and society, television, and the human condition. A joint production by Gracie Films and 20th Television, the series originally debuted on December 17, 1989, and is still present on the air. Since its debut, 706 episodes of the show have been broadcast across 32 seasons, with the 32nd season having aired on September 27, 2020. It holds the distinguished title of being the longest-running American animated series, the longest-running American sitcom, and the longest-running American scripted primetime television series, both in terms of seasons and number of episodes. Furthermore, as of April 29, 2018, The Simpsons surpassed Gunsmoke for the most scripted episodes of any U.S. primetime series.
2. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(often abbreviated to SVU) is an American crime drama television series created by Dick Wolf's own production company, Wolf Entertainment, for NBC. As the first spinoff of Law & Order, it stars Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, who commands the Special Victims Unit in a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department. The show premiered on September 20, 1999, and is still present today. To date, it has produced 22 seasons and 494 episodes, with the 22nd season having aired on November 12, 2020. After the premiere of its 21st season in September 2019, the series earned the record as the longest-running primetime U.S. live-action series in the history of television. It is also the only live-action primetime series that debuted in the 1990s and is still producing new episodes. Within its own franchise, Law & Order's twenty seasons are second only to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the longest-running live-action scripted American primetime series.
3. Gunsmoke
Gunsmokeis an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. Set in and around Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s during the settlement of the American West, the radio series ran from 1952 to 1961. The television series ran for 20 seasons from September 10, 1955, to March 31, 1975, on CBS, lasting for 635 total episodes. For decades, Gunsmoke was the longest-running, primetime, live-action television series at 20 seasons, a record it held until September 2019 with the 21st-season premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. It remains the longest-running, primetime, live-action series of the 20th century. As of 2017, it also held the record for the highest number of scripted episodes for any U.S. primetime, commercial, live-action television series, a record later surpassed by The Simpsons on April 29, 2018. The original Law & Order is tied with Gunsmoke for longest running primetime scripted drama.
4. Law & Order
Law & Orderis an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, which launched the entire Law & Order franchise. Airing its entire run on NBC, the show premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its twentieth and final season on May 24, 2010. In total, 456 episodes were aired and produced over its 20 seasons. The show was NBC's longest-running crime drama and was tied with Gunsmoke for the longest-running primetime scripted drama. Within the broader context of American television, Law & Order's twenty seasons are second only to its spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present), for the title of longest-running live-action scripted American primetime series.
5. Lassie
Lassieis an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie dog named Lassie and her companions. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 25, 1973. It ran for 19 seasons and produced 591 episodes. The show aired for 17 seasons on CBS before entering first-run syndication for its final two seasons. Initially filmed in black and white, the show transitioned to color in 1965. In the pantheon of long-running series, Lassie is the fifth longest-running U.S. primetime television series, coming after The Simpsons, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Gunsmoke, and Law & Order.
6. Family Guy
Family Guyis an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane and developed by MacFarlane and David Zuckerman for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is produced by Fuzzy Door Productions and premiered on January 31, 1999. It remains present on the air today. To date, Family Guy has produced 19 seasons and 369 episodes. The 19th season premiered on September 27, 2020.
7. NCIS
NCISis an American police procedural television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It was created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. As a spin-off from JAG, the show premiered on September 23, 2003, on CBS and is still present today. It has entered its eighteenth full season, with the 18th season having started on November 17, 2020, and has produced 414 episodes to date. The series has also gone into broadcast syndication on the USA Network. As of 2021, NCIS holds the position of the second-longest-running scripted, non-animated U.S. primetime TV series currently airing, surpassed only by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present). Overall, it is the 7th-longest-running scripted U.S. primetime TV series.
8. Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomyis an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. It premiered on March 27, 2005, on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) as a mid-season replacement and is still on the air today. The series has run for 17 seasons, producing 380 episodes. The 16th season premiered on September 26, 2019, and the 17th season premiered on November 12, 2020. Grey's Anatomy is the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC and the longest scripted primetime series ever carried by the network. As of February 28, 2019, it was also recognized as the longest-running American primetime medical drama series.
9. American Dad!
American Dad!is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman. It originally aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company and later moved to TBS. Notably, it is the first television series to have its inception on Fox's Animation Domination block. The series premiered on February 6, 2005, following Super Bowl XXXIX, with the rest of the first season airing three months later beginning May 1, 2005. American Dad! is a joint production between Fuzzy Door Productions and 20th Television Animation and is syndicated by Disney–ABC Domestic Television. The show is still present and has produced 18 seasons and 319 episodes, with the 18th season having premiered on April 19, 2021.
10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(also referred to as CSI and CSI: Las Vegas) is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series created by Anthony E. Zuiker. It ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons and 337 episodes. The series starred William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Ted Danson, Laurence Fishburne, Elisabeth Shue, and Jorja Fox and was the first in the CSI franchise. The series concluded with a feature-length finale titled "Immortality," and a sequel, CSI: Vegas, was announced to premiere in 2021. During its run and at the time of its conclusion, CSI was recognized as the seventh-longest-running scripted U.S. primetime TV series overall. It had also been recognized by the Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo as the most popular dramatic series internationally.
0 Comments