Some TV shows become so loved that they last for decades, entertaining generations of viewers. These long-running shows have strong stories, memorable characters, and a special charm that keeps people coming back year after year. From animated comedies to dramatic soap operas, those shows have made history by staying on air for an incredibly long time. Let’s explore some of the longest-running TV shows in history.
The longest-running TV show is “General Hospital” on ABC. It has been on air since 1963 and has crossed more than 13,550 episodes. This daytime soap opera takes place in the fictional town of Port Charles and follows the personal lives, relationships, and challenges of its people. It proudly holds the record as the longest-running drama series in television history.
Longest-running TV shows have captured audiences for decades with their engaging stories. From soap operas to animated series, these shows have become part of television history, with some running for over 50 years and continuing to entertain viewers worldwide.
Here is the list of longest-running TV shows in the history:
| Network | Show Name | Years Active | Episodes | Description |
| NBC | Saturday Night Live | 1975-present | 981 | A sketch comedy show featuring a mix of celebrity guest appearance and musical performances. |
| CBS | The Young and the Restless | 1973-present | 13,297 | A drama about two rich families in a town, focusing on love and business. |
| ABC | General Hospital | 1963-present | 13,550 | A daytime drama about people living in a hospital and their personal lives. |
| FOX | The Simpsons | 1989-present | 780 | An animated show that makes fun of American culture through the Simpson family. |
| The CW | Supernatural | 2005-2020 | 327 | A show about two brothers fighting monsters and other supernatural beings. |
| PBS | Sesame Street | 1969-present | 3,180 | An educational show for kids with puppets and live actors teaching fun topics. |
| PBS Kids | Arthur | 1996-2022 | 259 | An animated series about Arthur the aardvark and his life lessons. |
| Univision | Sabado gigante | 1986-2015 | 1,594 | A Spanish show with music comedy, and audience games. |
| TBS | House of Payne | 2006-present | 372 | A sitcom about a family living together in Atlanta. |
| TLC | Little People, Big World | 2006-present | 392 | A reality show following the lives of a family with dwarfism. |
| HBO | Curb Your Enthusiasm | 2000-present | 120 | A comedy starring Larry David as the deals with life’s small annoyances. |
| Showtime | Shameless | 2011-2021 | 134 | A drama-comedy about a family with a wild father and loyal children. |
| USA Network | Suits | 2011-2019 | 134 | A legal drama about a man without a law degree working in a big law firm. |
| Freeform | Pretty Little Liars | 2010-2017 | 160 | A mystery show about four girls hiding secrets after one disappears. |
| Nickelodeon | SpongeBob SquarePants | 1999-present | 322 | An animated show about a sea sponge who works at a restaurant and has fun. |
| BET | Being Mary Jane | 2013-2019 | 52 | A drama about a TV anchor juggling her work and personal life. |
| Bravo TV | The Real Housewives of Orange Country | 2006-present | 334 | A reality show about rich women in Southern California. |
| MTV | The Real World | 1992-present | 654 | A reality show where young people live together and face different challenges. |
| CMT | Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team | 2006-present | 168 | A reality series about the audition process for the Cowboys cheerleaders. |
| Paramount Network | Yellowstone | 2018-2024 | 53 | A drama about a family trying to protect their ranch from others. |
| Disney Channel | Bunk’d | 2015-2024 | 161 | A family show about kids having adventures and making friends at a summer camp. |
| A&E | The First 48 | 2004-present | 583 | A true crime show about detectives solving murders within the first 48 hours. |
| Lifetime | Army Wives | 2007-2013 | 117 | A drama about women married to soldiers and their lives in the military. |
| AMC | The Walking Dead | 2010-2022 | 177 | A horror series about people surviving in a world filled with zombies. |
| Discovery Channel | MythBusters | 2003-2018 | 300 | A show where hosts test out popular myths and stories using science. |
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