58 of the longest-running American TV shows of all time

“General Hospital” (60 years)

The medical soap opera premiered back in 1963, and recently celebrated 60 years on the air.

“Guiding Light” (57 years)

If you count the soap opera’s radio run, “Guiding Light” was on for 72 years, but the soap only aired on TV for 57. Its final episode aired in 2009.

“Days of Our Lives” (57 years)

“Days of Our Lives” first emerged into the soap world in 1965, and the show isn’t done yet. With more than 13,000 episodes having aired, the show has featured a lot of dramatic storylines.

“As the World Turns” (54 years)

More than 13,000 episodes of “As the World Turns” aired on TV during its 54-year run. It was on from 1956 until 2010.

“Sesame Street” (53 years)

The educational puppets on “Sesame Street” were first brought to life back in 1969. The show helps teach kids valuable life skills, as well as basic school lessons.

“The Price is Right” (50 years)

The game show first premiered in 1972. Contestants from the audience compete for prizes by guessing how much something costs. Drew Carey replaced Bob Barker as host in 2007.

“The Young and the Restless” (50 years)

The cast has undergone significant changes since first starting in 1973. But with more than 11,000 episodes aired, the drama is still pushing forward.

“Saturday Night Live” (47 years)

NBC’s sketch comedy show has been helping launch comedians’ careers since 1975. A rotating cast and new guest hosts each week, the show can still be fresh in its 45th season.

“One Life to Live” (44 years)

“One Life to Live” aired its final episode in 2012, after starting back in 1968. The Online Network tried to continue it in 2013, but it was quickly canceled.

“All My Children” (41 years)

Another popular soap opera, “All My Children” aired over 10,000 episodes from 1970 until its cancellation in 2011. The Online Network also tried to revive it in 2013, but production was suspended after 40 episodes.

“Wheel of Fortune” (39 years)

Contestants spin a wheel and try to solve word puzzles for prizes on “Wheel of Fortune.” The show first started on a network and has gone through multiple iterations. Its current syndicated version started in 1983.

“Jeopardy!” (39 years)

The same thing that happened to “Wheel of Fortune” also happened to “Jeopardy!” When the quiz competition first started, it aired during the daytime. Its most recent iteration, the daily syndicated version, has been on air since 1984.

“The Bold and the Beautiful” (36 years)

This soap started as a sister show to “The Young and the Restless,” so it allows for characters to crossover.

“Search For Tomorrow” (35 years)

This soap opera switched networks over its 35-season run, but it still aired over 9,000 episodes.

“Another World” (35 years)

This soap opera also aired for years. It debuted on TV in 1964, but after ratings declined, it was canceled in 1999.

“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” (33 years)

“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was an educational children’s show that first premiered in 1968. The series ended in 2001.

“The Simpsons” (33 years)

The Simpson family has been a cartoon staple since 1989. Now into its 34th season, the characters still haven’t aged, but the timeline continues to move forward.

The show has won 35 Emmys throughout the years.

“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (33 years)

First introduced in 1989 as a special, “AFV” debuted as a series in 1990. Since then, the show has made audiences laugh with hilarious viewer-submitted videos. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” actor Alfonso Ribeiro is the show’s current host.

“Cops” (31 years)

The reality and documentary series followed various police officers on the job, but drew criticism after protests about the death of George Floyd grew across the US.

“Cops” was canceled in June 2020, as Floyd’s death at the hands of police led to increased criticism of law enforcement.

“The Real World” (30 years)

MTV’s longest-running program has gone through multiple iterations in multiple cities.

The reality show moves strangers into a house and documents their interactions as they meet new people and deal with living with strangers that come from a variety of backgrounds. It has also generated multiple spin-offs.

“Love of Life” (29 years)

The soap opera originally following two sisters debuted in 1951. After 29 seasons, the show ended in 1980 but is still one of the longest-lasting shows of all time.

“Captain Kangaroo” (29 years)

The children’s show featured Bob Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo who told stories, acted silly, and interacted with other characters. The show started in 1955 and ran until 1984.

“Power Rangers” (29 years)

The group of superhero teens known as the Power Rangers hit the TV screen in 1993 and have been on ever since. The characters, costumes, and stories have changed, but the heart of the show remains.

“The Edge of Night” (28 years)

The mystery soap opera focused on crime, rather than a familial drama like most soaps of the time. It aired from 1956 until 1984.

“Arthur” (25 years)

Arthur the aardvark was a mainstay on children’s television for 25 seasons. The show ended in February 2022.

“South Park” (25 years)

Dark and satirical, “South Park” has consistently pushed the envelope of what a TV show can do. The animated series is typically timely, usually being written and produced in the week before the episode airs, and is able to hit on every piece of pop culture news.

“America’s Most Wanted” (24 years)

Over 1,000 criminals were caught thanks to “America’s Most Wanted.” The show featured reenactments of crimes, interviews with real people, and photographs of the wanted criminal. It ran from 1988 until 2012.

“The Challenge” (24 years)

Originally known as “Road Rules: All Stars,” this competition series started as a spin-off of MTV’s “Real World” and “Road Rules.” It’s been on TV since 1998.

“Family Guy” (24 years)

“Family Guy” introduced the Griffins in 1999. The dysfunctional family has now been on TV for 21 seasons and 24 years.

“Reading Rainbow” (23 years)

Each episode of this children’s show featured a new book and corresponding theme that was presented through little segments.

The show ended in 2006, and host Burton started a Kickstarter in 2014 to revive the show. It surpassed the goal and raised more than $6 million, but “Reading Rainbow” hasn’t returned yet.

“The Ed Sullivan Show” (23 years)

Ed Sullivan hosted his variety show for more than 1,000 episodes. People were entertained with funny sketches and incredible talent.

“SpongeBob SquarePants” (23 years)

SpongeBob and his friends have been around since 1999. The hit animated series has spawned feature films and games and is still releasing new episodes.

“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” (23 years)

With Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, and Ice-T at the helm, the “Law and Order” spinoff became a hit. Meloni eventually left in season 12, but Hargitay as well as Ice-T — who started on season two — still star on the show.

“Family Feud” (23 years)

Though originally premiering in 1976, “Family Feud” went off-and-on the air for a couple of years. The game show has aired in its current iteration since 1999. Steve Harvey has been the host since 2010.

“Survivor” (22 years)

The American “Survivor” has placed strangers on a remote island and forced them to survive and compete with each other for a monetary prize since 2000. The set-up still works, as the show is currently airing its 44th season.

“Big Brother” (22 years)

The American version of the Dutch reality game show began in 2000 and follows contestants as they live in the same house and compete for a grand prize. They are isolated from the world and constantly watched.

“The Amazing Race” (21 years)

The reality competition show, which began in 2001, sends teams around the world to complete challenges in an effort to win some money. It has won the Emmy for reality-competition program 10 times.

“The Bachelor” (21 years)

“The Bachelor” has tried to help people find love on TV since 2002, but only one “Bachelor” star is currently married to his season’s winner.

“Law and Order” (21 years)

The first in an incredibly successful crime show franchise, “Law and Order” ran for 20 seasons and featured a number of different actors. The last episode aired in 2010.

Eleven years later, NBC announced that the show would be revived. Its 21st season premiered in February 2022 and a 22nd season is currently airing.

“Gunsmoke” (20 years)

The Western started as a radio series in 1952. The TV series began in 1955 and aired 635 episodes over the span of 20 years.

“The Secret Storm” (20 years)

The soap opera followed a father raising his three kids after the death of his wife. During its 20-year run, the father remarried twice.

“The Red Skelton Show” (20 years)

Splitting time on both NBC and CBS, the variety show from host Richard “Red” Skelton featured musical performers and hilarious sketches. Skelton also used the show to provide commentary.

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” (20 years)

Contestants answer questions in the hopes of winning $1 million on this game show. Regis Philbin was the show’s first host. “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison hosted the show from 2015 up until its cancellation in 2019.

“Lassie” (19 years)

The show about a border collie and her human and animal friends was a smash hit. The characters and plots shifted, but Lassie was always there.

“The Doctors” (19 years)

The medical soap opera started out as an anthology series. The show premiered in 1963 and ran until 1982.

“Death Valley Days” (18 years)

Before he was president, Ronald Reagan was an actor and starred on “Death Valley Days” for a year. The program was an anthology series based on true stories from the American West.

“American Dad!” (18 years)

This animated sitcom from “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane has been on the air for 20 seasons and counting.

“Grey’s Anatomy” (18 years)

Early seasons of the show, which began in 2005 and focuses on a group of surgeons and doctors in a Seattle hospital, featured famous actors like Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh.

Even though most of the original cast members have since left the show, it’s still airing on TV.

“Barney and Friends” (17 years)

The giant purple dinosaur and his dino and human friends entertained kids on PBS from 1992 until 2009. His infectious laugh and upbeat songs spread positivity to kids.

“What’s My Line?” (17 years)

The popular game show featured celebrity panelists asking a contestant questions to guess what career they had. When Colonel Sanders appeared as a contestant, he was still relatively new and unknown to the celebrities.

“The Fairly OddParents” (16 years)

Technically, “The Fairly OddParents” ended in 2006, but they quickly resumed production again and brought it back for more seasons in 2008. The popular show about a boy and his fairy godparents ran until 2017.

“Supernatural” (15 years)

The show focuses on the Winchester brothers as they hunt supernatural beings, and began airing its 15th and final season in 2019.

“Supernatural” is also one of the longest-running sci-fi shows in the US.

“Criminal Minds” (15 years)

The show follows a group of FBI behavioral profilers, and aired its 15th and final season in 2020.

Paramount+ revived the show for a 16th season that premiered in 2022 and announced in January 2023 that it would return for a 17th season.

“Knots Landing” (14 years)

This spinoff of the classic soap “Dallas” focused on four married couples living in a coastal suburb of Los Angeles, and eventually garnered critical acclaim.

“Bonanza” (14 years)

NBC’s western aired from 1959 to 1973 and is one of the longest-running western series on US network television.

The period drama centered on a wealthy family, the Cartwrights, who live in 19th-century Nevada.

“Dallas” (12 years)

The iconic soap focused on a Texas family called the Ewings, who own an oil company and consistently feud with other wealthy families. “Dallas” was famous for its cliffhangers, but was ultimately outlasted on the air by spinoff “Knots Landing.”

“The Big Bang Theory” (12 years)

This beloved CBS sitcom was so popular, it even spawned a prequel series called “Young Sheldon” that premiered in 2017 and is still airing.

“The Big Bang Theory” also garnered several Emmy nominations throughout its run, and Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper, won the award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series numerous times.

The sitcom ended in 2019 after a 12-season run.

“Hawaii Five-O” (12 years)

The CBS police drama was once one of the longest-running crime procedurals in American TV history and focused on a special task force stopping crime in Hawaii. It originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980.

It also spawned a remake that was on TV for a decade from 2010-2020.

Anjelica Oswald contributed to an earlier version of this story.