- Some popular TV shows have proven they can stand the test of time, with runs that span decades.
- Animated classics like “The Simpsons” and even “Family Guy” have been on for numerous seasons, while soap operas like “Days of Our Lives” and “As the World Turns” aired for over 50 years.
- Other shows like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Jeopardy” have also been airing for many years.
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While some television shows come to an untimely end, others just seem to go on forever.
It’s impressive when a show lasts more than 10 years, but that doesn’t come close to how long some hit shows have lasted. “The Bachelor” has been on for 16 years, while “The Simpsons” has been on the air for 29 years. Even longer? A few soap operas have been on TV for more than half a century.
Excluding British shows like “Doctor Who” and news and talk shows, we’ve come up with the shows that have been around for 12 years or longer.
Here are 58 of America’s longest-running shows.
Anjelica Oswald contributed to an earlier version of this story.
"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.
"General Hospital" (56 years)
The medical soap opera started back in 1963 and is still going strong.
"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.
"Days of Our Lives" (55 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 drama.
"Sesame Street" (50 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" (47 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" (46 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.
"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.
"Saturday Night Live" (43 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.
"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 tried to revive it in 2013, but production was suspended after 40 episodes.
"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.
"Wheel of Fortune" (36 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. It's current syndicated version started in 1983.
"Jeopardy!" (35 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. It's most recent iteration, the daily syndicated version, has been on air since 1984.
"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 Bold and the Beautiful" (32 years)
This soap started as a sister show to "The Young and the Restless," so it allows for characters to crossover. It's won 31 Daytime Emmys.
"The Simpsons" (30 years)
The Simpson family has been a cartoon staple for since 1989. Now into its 31st season, the characters still haven't aged, but the timeline continues to move forward. The show has won 32 Emmys throughout the years.
"Cops" (30 years)
"Cops" has been running for just as long as "The Simpsons." The reality and documentary series follows various officers as they do their job during their patrols. Though it has changed networks, the show is still going.
"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.
"The Edge of Night" (28 years)
The mystery soap opera focused on crime, rather than familial drama like most soaps of the time. It aired from 1956 until 1984.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" (29 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.
"The Real World" (27 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.
"Power Rangers" (26 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.
"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.
"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. Burton started a Kickstarter in 2014 to revive the show. It surpassed the goal and raised more than $6 million, but the show hasn't returned yet.
"The Ed Sullivan Show" (23 years)
Ed Sullivan hosted his variety show for more than 1,000. People were entertained with funny sketches and incredible talent.
"Arthur" (23 years)
Arthur the aardvark has been teaching and entertaining kids since 1996. Since the show premiered, eight different actors have voiced the main character.
"South Park" (22 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.
"The Challenge" (21 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.
"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. It currently holds the record as the longest-running scripted US primetime TV series, but will soon be surpassed by "The Simpsons."
"Law and Order" (20 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.
"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.
"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (20 years)
With Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, and Ice-T at the helm, the "Law and Order" spin-off 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.
"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 also there.
"The Doctors" (19 years)
The medial soap opera started out as an anthology series. The show premiered in 1963 and ran until 1982.
"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.
"Family Feud" (20 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.
"Spongebob Squarepants" (20 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.
"Family Guy" (20 years)
"Family Guy" introduced the Griffins in 1999. The dysfunctional family has now been on TV for 18 seasons and 20 years.
"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.
"Survivor" (19 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 heading into its 39th season this year.
"Big Brother" (19 years)
The American version of the Dutch reality game show follows contestants as the live in the same house and compete for a grand prize. They are isolated from the world and constantly watched.
"The Amazing Race" (18 years)
The reality competition show 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 out of 15 times.
"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 Bachelor" (17 years)
"The Bachelor" has tried to help people find love on TV since 2002, but only one couple from the 22 seasons is still together.
"The Fairly OddParents" (16 years)
So 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.
"American Dad!" (16 years)
This animated sitcom from "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane has been on the air for 16 seasons and counting.
"American Dad!" was recently renewed by TBS for an 18th and 19th season, which means it's not going off the air anytime soon.
"Grey's Anatomy" (14 years)
Early seasons of the show, which 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, and the 16th season will premiere on September 26.
"Knots Landing" (14 years)
This spin-off 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.
"Supernatural" (13 years)
The show focuses on the Winchester brothers as they hunt supernatural beings, and was just renewed for a 15th and final season, which will premiere on October 10. "Supernatural" is also one of the longest-running sci-fi shows in the US.
"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, and was even revived for three seasons starting in 2012.
"Criminal Minds" (13 years)
The show follows a group of FBI behavioral profilers, and will air its 15th and final season later this year.
"The Big Bang Theory" (12 years)
This beloved CBS sitcom was so popular, it even spawned a prequel series called "Young Sheldon" that aired in 2017.
"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.
"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.
