Amid the era of streaming wars and binge-watching, the idea of a show lasting more than a few seasons feels like a relic from a bygone era. We get attached, we get invested, the writers build up to an epic cliffhanger and then… poof! It’s gone. But it wasn’t always this way. While new series come and go faster than we can even keep up with, some TV shows have managed to stick around for what feels like a timelord’s lifespan. From classic soap operas to educational shows starring family-friendly puppets, these series managed to greenlight new episodes for decades.
Today, we’re looking at the longest-running shows in American television.
1. Longest-Running Sports Broadcast: NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC, Football Night in America (FNIA); Image credit: National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Whether or not you’re a fan, you can’t deny that football and Sundays go hand in hand. But did you know that NFL on NBC has been part of that tradition since 1939? That’s right, before color TV, before instant replay, and long before fantasy football, NBC was (sporadically, at first) broadcasting the gridiron action to living rooms across America. Over the last 80 years, the network’s coverage has evolved with the times, from grainy black-and-white images to today’s HD slow-motion replays.
2. Longest-Running Religious Broadcast: Music & the Spoken Word
Music & the Spoken Word; Image credit: Bonneville International Corporation
When it comes to consistency, Music & the Spoken Word takes the cake. While it first aired on the radio in 1929, it started its television run in 1949. Presented by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, each broadcast offers viewers a mix of serene choral music and uplifting messages, all centered around a particular weekly theme. Its peaceful and consistent presence has made it the longest-running non-news or sports program in American television history.
3. Longest-Running Scripted Show: General Hospital
General Hospital; Image credit: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
General Hospital premiered in 1963, and since then, it’s been serving up more drama than a bridal party’s group chat. Set in the fictional town of Port Charles, this soap opera has featured countless weddings, betrayals, and miraculous comebacks from the dead. In that time, the show has expanded from just being about the hospital to focusing on the town as a whole. With over 15,000 episodes, General Hospital wins the trophy not only for the longest-running soap opera, but also the longest-running scripted show overall!
4. Longest-Running Animated Show: The Simpsons
The Simpsons; Image credit: Fox Broadcasting Company
It’s hard to imagine television without The Simpsons. Since 1989, this 2D family has been delivering laughs, satire, and the occasional heartfelt moment from their home in Springfield. Homer’s “D’oh!” is now part of the English language, and the charm of the family’s questionable antics still makes us laugh 36 years in. Whether poking fun at pop culture or predicting the future (eerily accurately), The Simpsons remains a cultural cornerstone as the longest-running animated series, the longest-running sitcom, and the longest-running scripted primetime series in American television history.
5. Longest-Running News Show: Meet the Press
Meet the Press with Chuck Todd; Image credit: National Public Broadcasting (NBC)
For 77 years, Meet the Press has been the place for major political conversations. As the longest, consistently running show on television, period, it has set the standard for Sunday morning news programs. Since its debut in 1947, influential leaders, politicians, and journalists have sat down every week to discuss the most pressing issues facing the nation and the world. The show has been a constant source of information through 14 presidencies and countless historical events, providing a platform for debate and analysis for longer than most of us have even been alive.
6. Longest-Running Talk Show: The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; Image credit: National Public Broadcasting (NBC)
Late-night television as we know it was practically invented by The Tonight Show. For 70 years, this program has been America’s on-screen nightcap, featuring a mix of celebrity interviews, comedy sketches, and musical performances. From Jack Paar and Johnny Carson to Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon, each host has brought their own spin to the late-night stage. In addition to the countless historical viral moments, the show has been providing a nightly dose of timely (yet still traditional-feeling) entertainment since 1954.
7. Longest-Running Kids Show: Sesame Street
Sesame Street; Image credit: Sesame Workshop
In 1969, Sesame Street began teaching children their ABCs and 123s, along with valuable life lessons about kindness, friendship, and diversity. Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the gang have been cherished friends to countless kids. The show’s brilliant blend of education and entertainment, using puppets, animation, and music, has made it a beloved classic. It is the longest-running children’s program in American history. Despite some concerns for its future, it’s recently found a new home on Netflix, where it can continue to be a beacon for the next generation of kids.
8. Longest-Running Reality Show: America’s Funniest Home Videos
America’s Funniest Home Videos with Bob Saget; Image credit: Vin Di Bona Productions
America’s Funniest Home Videos premiered in 1989 as a sort of foreshadowing to today’s viral TikToks. From dad mishaps in the garage to endless cat videos, AFV has been turning funny home videos into primetime television for 30 years. It just goes to show that no matter how good our cameras get, some of the best videos will be the ones we catch by accident.
9. Longest-Running Game Show: The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right with Bob Barker; Image credit: Fremantle
“Come on down!” Since 1972, The Price Is Right has had hopeful contestants guessing, spinning, and cheering their way to fabulous prizes. From Bob Barker’s legendary run to Drew Carey’s dry wit, the show has been a morning staple on grandmas’ TVs for over 50 years.
So, which one of these legends has been part of your life? Maybe you’ve got fond memories of Sesame Street, laughed through AFV, or wound down with The Tonight Show. All of these shows have outlasted trends, tech shifts, and more than one streaming service. These days, it’s hard to imagine one of the big streamers keeping something on the air long enough to finish a story, let alone for over 50 years. However, these TV shows are proof that when a program connects with its audience (and makes the network enough money), it might just run forever.
Source: Wikipedia
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