Back in Time Today
Television has given us countless memorable shows, but only a select few have stood the test of time—spanning decades and maintaining loyal audiences. From daytime dramas to animated series, these programs have become cultural institutions, entertaining multiple generations of viewers. Let’s explore the 20 longest-running TV shows that have made television history with their remarkable staying power.
1. The Tonight Show (1954–Present)
Late-night television pioneer Steve Allen couldn’t have imagined his creation would still be running nearly seven decades later. This after-hours institution has survived through six official hosts, each bringing their distinct personality to the desk.
Johnny Carson’s 30-year reign established the show as an American cultural touchstone. From celebrity interviews to comedy sketches, the format evolved while maintaining its essence.
Whether watching Jack Paar’s emotional farewell or Jimmy Fallon’s viral games, generations have ended their day with this enduring broadcast.
2. As the World Turns (1956–2010)
For 54 years, viewers followed the intertwined lives of Oakdale residents with religious devotion. This groundbreaking soap opera pioneered the 30-minute daily drama format before eventually expanding to a full hour.
Created by soap opera visionary Irna Phillips, the show centered on two professional families—the Hugheses and Lowells (later Stewarts). Generations of viewers grew up alongside characters who experienced everything from mundane domestic issues to outlandish plot twists.
When the final episode aired in 2010, it had broadcast an astounding 13,858 episodes.
3. Coronation Street (1960–Present)
Cobblestone streets and working-class resilience define this British institution that’s been broadcasting continuously since 1960. Set in fictional Weatherfield, the show follows ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with quintessential British humor and grit.
Creator Tony Warren initially faced skepticism about a program focused on northern working-class lives. Now over 10,000 episodes later, “Corrie” holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-running TV soap opera.
Weatherfield’s Rovers Return pub has witnessed six decades of dramatic confrontations, romantic entanglements, and community solidarity.
4. Meet the Press (1947–Present)
America’s longest-running television show began as a simple panel discussion in 1947. For over 75 years, this pioneering news program has interviewed presidents, prime ministers, and pivotal figures who shaped history.
The format remains remarkably consistent despite technological evolutions—a moderator grilling newsmakers with hard-hitting questions. From the Cold War to the digital age, it has documented America’s political journey through weekly conversations.
Fun fact: Every U.S. president since John F. Kennedy has appeared on the show during their career.
5. General Hospital (1963–Present)
Originally focused on the seventh floor of General Hospital in fictional Port Charles, this medical drama has expanded far beyond hospital walls. For six decades, viewers have followed the intertwined lives of doctors, nurses, and the town’s prominent families.
The 1980s “Luke and Laura” wedding episode attracted 30 million viewers—still the highest-rated hour in American soap opera history. While many daytime dramas have been canceled, GH continues entertaining loyal viewers with melodramatic storylines.
With over 15,000 episodes aired, the show has launched countless careers including Demi Moore and John Stamos.
6. Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–Present)
A mysterious alien with two hearts travels through time and space in a police box that’s bigger on the inside. This quintessentially British sci-fi adventure began as children’s educational programming before evolving into a global phenomenon.
The ingenious “regeneration” concept allows new actors to take over the title role. Fourteen official Doctors later (plus several special incarnations), the show maintains its core themes of hope, pacifism, and scientific curiosity.
Despite a 16-year hiatus, the show’s 2005 revival attracted new generations while honoring its rich legacy of over 800 episodes.
7. Days of Our Lives (1965–Present)
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” This iconic opening has introduced over 14,000 episodes chronicling Salem’s prominent families for nearly six decades.
Created by husband-wife team Ted and Betty Corday, the soap opera has balanced everyday relationship drama with outlandish storylines including demonic possession and characters returning from the dead multiple times. The Horton family Christmas tree-decorating ceremony remains an annual tradition since the show’s earliest days.
In 2022, the series transitioned to streaming on Peacock while maintaining its dedicated multigenerational audience.
8. Sesame Street (1969–Present)
Revolutionary in combining education with entertainment, this children’s program transformed how television could prepare preschoolers for learning. Research-based curriculum disguised as colorful puppet interactions has taught letters, numbers, and social skills to generations worldwide.
Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Elmo have become cultural icons transcending their puppet origins. The show pioneered diversity in children’s programming, representing various ethnicities, abilities, and family structures decades before others.
After 54 seasons and 4,500+ episodes, the street continues welcoming children to a neighborhood where humans and monsters coexist harmoniously.
9. Sazae-san (1969–Present)
Japan’s beloved animated matriarch has been entertaining families every Sunday evening since October 1969. Based on Machiko Hasegawa’s newspaper comic strip, this slice-of-life series follows the Fuguta family through everyday situations with gentle humor and traditional Japanese values.
The animation style has deliberately remained unchanged for over five decades, providing a nostalgic constant in rapidly changing Japanese society. With over 2,500 episodes aired without interruption until the COVID-19 pandemic, it holds the Guinness World Record for longest-running animated TV series.
Remarkably, the characters never age despite the show spanning multiple generations of viewers.
10. All My Children (1970–2011, 2013)
Pine Valley, Pennsylvania—the fictional setting for this beloved soap opera—became as familiar as viewers’ own hometowns during its 41-year run. Created by soap opera pioneer Agnes Nixon, the show broke ground with socially relevant storylines about Vietnam War opposition, abortion, and AIDS.
Erica Kane, portrayed by Susan Lucci for the entire original run, became daytime television’s most famous character. Lucci’s 19 Emmy nominations before finally winning became a running joke in popular culture.
Though canceled in 2011 and briefly revived online in 2013, its 10,755 episodes remain a testament to compelling daytime storytelling.
11. Saturday Night Live (1975–Present)
“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” That phrase has introduced over 900 episodes of comedy sketches, musical performances, and political satire for nearly five decades. Creator Lorne Michaels’ late-night experiment has become an American institution and career launchpad for comedy legends.
The show’s rotating cast system ensures continual reinvention while maintaining its rebellious spirit. From John Belushi’s samurai to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin, its characters regularly enter the cultural lexicon.
Presidential election seasons particularly showcase SNL’s unique ability to reflect and influence the national conversation through biting political impressions.
12. One Life to Live (1968–2012, 2013)
Creator Agnes Nixon brought socioeconomic diversity to daytime television with this groundbreaking soap opera set in fictional Llanview, Pennsylvania. Unlike many contemporaries, OLTL deliberately featured working-class, middle-class, and wealthy characters interacting across social boundaries.
The show pioneered socially conscious storytelling with television’s first Vietnam War storyline and daytime’s first gay teenager. Its willingness to address controversial topics while maintaining entertaining melodrama kept viewers engaged for over 11,000 episodes.
Even after ABC’s cancellation in 2012, passionate fans briefly revived the show online, demonstrating its multigenerational impact.
13. The Price Is Right (1972–Present)
“Come on down!” That enthusiastic invitation has welcomed contestants to television’s most famous pricing game for over five decades. While technically a revival of a 1956-1965 show, the Bob Barker-launched version has become the definitive American game show.
The winning formula combines audience participation with simple games testing consumer knowledge. Showcases featuring cars, furniture, and exotic vacations fulfill everyday dreams while creating genuine moments of jubilation.
After Barker’s 35-year hosting tenure, comedian Drew Carey seamlessly continued the tradition of giving away merchandise through entertaining pricing challenges.
14. Guiding Light (1952–2009)
Beginning as a 15-minute radio serial in 1937 before transitioning to television in 1952, this epic drama holds the record for longest overall broadcast history. The show’s original premise centered around Rev. John Ruthledge, whose lamp in his window served as a community guiding light.
Over 72 years (57 on television), the show evolved from ministerial advice to complex family sagas in fictional Springfield. The Bauer family formed the show’s backbone through multiple generations of doctors continuing the guiding light metaphor.
When CBS aired the final episode in 2009, it concluded an astonishing 18,262 combined radio/television episodes.
15. Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–Present)
“I’ll take Television History for $1000, Alex.” This answer-and-question format revolutionized game shows by rewarding knowledge rather than luck. Created by Merv Griffin, the show’s distinctive reversed question format has challenged contestants and home viewers for over 8,000 episodes.
Alex Trebek’s 37-year hosting tenure made him synonymous with intellectual competition. His calm demeanor and precise pronunciation of foreign terms set the standard for quiz show hosting.
Beyond entertainment, the show promotes learning through categories spanning science, literature, history, and pop culture—making intelligence aspirational for millions of viewers.
16. The Simpsons (1989–Present)
What began as animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show evolved into television’s longest-running scripted primetime series. Springfield’s dysfunctional yellow family has remained perpetually the same age while commenting on ever-changing American society for over three decades.
The show’s golden age (seasons 3-9) revolutionized adult animation with sophisticated humor blending highbrow literary references with lowbrow slapstick. Its cultural influence extends beyond entertainment—”d’oh” entered the Oxford English Dictionary, and numerous Simpsons predictions have seemingly come true.
After 750+ episodes, the show continues finding new stories for its expansive cast of characters.
17. Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
Marshal Matt Dillon kept the peace in Dodge City, Kansas, for an unprecedented 20 seasons and 635 episodes. This gritty, character-driven Western set the standard for adult television drama when most shows still catered to family audiences.
James Arness portrayed the towering lawman for the entire run—one of television’s longest character portrayals. The show evolved from half-hour black-and-white episodes to hour-long color productions, maintaining relevance through changing American tastes.
Despite ending in 1975, it remained the longest-running American primetime drama series until Law & Order: SVU surpassed it in 2020.
18. Lassie (1954–1973)
Television’s most famous collie bounded across American screens for nearly two decades, becoming a cultural icon of loyalty and heroism. The intelligent canine companion constantly rescued humans from danger with her remarkable problem-solving abilities.
While the titular character remained the same, the human cast changed multiple times. Lassie began with farm boy Jeff Miller before transitioning to Timmy Martin, then forest ranger settings, and finally independent adventures.
Despite its seemingly simple premise, the show tackled serious topics like conservation and human-animal bonds through heartwarming stories that appealed across generations.
19. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–Present)
“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous.” This iconic introduction has opened over 500 episodes examining the darkest crimes through the eyes of dedicated detectives.
Mariska Hargitay’s portrayal of Olivia Benson evolved from rookie detective to commanding officer, becoming television’s longest-running primetime drama character. The show balances procedural case-solving with character development, particularly exploring Benson’s journey from survivor to advocate.
By tackling difficult subjects like sexual assault and domestic violence, SVU has not only entertained but educated viewers about victims’ experiences for over two decades.
20. 60 Minutes (1968–Present)
The ticking stopwatch has introduced hard-hitting journalism to American living rooms every Sunday evening for over five decades. This pioneering newsmagazine revolutionized television journalism by combining investigative reporting with personality profiles and cultural pieces.
The show’s format of three distinct segments separated by commentaries proved so successful it rarely changed. Legendary correspondents like Mike Wallace became known for confrontational interviews that made powerful figures squirm.
Despite the changing media landscape, the program maintains its reputation for thorough research and compelling storytelling across 55 seasons and over 2,500 broadcasts.
21. EastEnders (1985–Present)
The fictional borough of Walford E20 has witnessed nearly four decades of cockney drama in this gritty British soap opera. Set in London’s East End, the show deliberately contrasted with the more middle-class Coronation Street by focusing on working-class families facing realistic urban challenges.
The Queen Vic pub serves as the community hub where characters clash in explosive confrontations. The show earned reputation for tackling controversial social issues including racism, domestic violence, and mental health before mainstream discussion.
With over 6,500 episodes aired, its distinctive drum-beat ending theme signals cliffhangers that keep millions returning for more.