List of longest-running scripted American primetime television series explained

This is a list of the longest-running scripted prime time television series in the United States, as measured by number of seasons. Only shows that have aired on a major broadcast network for seven or more seasons and at least 100 episodes are included. Those that moved to syndication, a cable network, or a streaming service are noted below.

Series shaded in aqua are in production.
Number of
seasons		Serieswidth=17%Networkwidth=15%First
air date		Last
air date		Number of
episodes
The SimpsonsFoxDecember 17, 1989[1] present
NBCSeptember 20, 1999present
Law & OrderNBCSeptember 13, 1990present[2]
Family GuyFoxApril 11, 1999[3] present[4]
NCISCBSSeptember 23, 2003present
20GunsmokeCBSSeptember 10, 1955March 31, 1975635
Grey's AnatomyABCMarch 27, 2005present
American Dad!Fox (2005–2014)
TBS (2014–present)[5] 		May 1, 2005[6] present
19LassieCBSSeptember 12, 1954March 21, 1971[7]
Criminal Minds[8] CBS (2005–2020)
Paramount+ (2022–present)		September 22, 2005present
CBSOctober 6, 2000February 15, 2015[9]
ERNBCSeptember 19, 1994April 2, 2009
SupernaturalThe WB (2005–2006)
The CW (2006–2020)		September 13, 2005November 19, 2020
15The Jack Benny ProgramCBS (1950–1964)
NBC (1964–1965)		October 28, 1950[10] April 16, 1965
14The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietABCOctober 3, 1952April 23, 1966
14BonanzaNBCSeptember 12, 1959January 16, 1973
DallasCBSApril 2, 1978May 3, 1991
Knots LandingCBSDecember 27, 1979May 13, 1993
14CBSSeptember 22, 2009May 21, 2023323
Blue BloodsCBSSeptember 24, 2010present
Bob's BurgersFoxJanuary 9, 2011present
King of the HillFoxJanuary 12, 1997May 6, 2010[11]
12My Three SonsABC (1960–1965)
CBS (1965–1972)		September 29, 1960April 13, 1972
12Hawaii Five-OCBSSeptember 26, 1968April 26, 1980
The Big Bang TheoryCBSSeptember 24, 2007May 16, 2019
Murder, She WroteCBSSeptember 30, 1984May 19, 1996
Two and a Half MenCBSSeptember 22, 2003February 19, 2015
NYPD BlueABCSeptember 21, 1993March 1, 2005
12Chicago FireNBCOctober 10, 2012present
BonesFoxSeptember 13, 2005March 28, 2017
11The Danny Thomas Show[12] ABC (1953–1957)
CBS (1957–1964)		September 29, 1953April 27, 1964343
11CheersNBCSeptember 30, 1982May 20, 1993275
11FrasierNBCSeptember 16, 1993May 13, 2004
11Murphy BrownCBSNovember 14, 1988December 20, 2018[13]
11Married... with ChildrenFoxApril 5, 1987June 9, 1997
11M*A*S*HCBSSeptember 17, 1972February 28, 1983
11Happy DaysABCJanuary 15, 1974September 24, 1984
11The JeffersonsCBSJanuary 18, 1975June 25, 1985
Modern FamilyABCSeptember 23, 2009April 8, 2020
11Will & GraceNBCSeptember 21, 1998April 23, 2020[14]
117th HeavenThe WB (1996–2006)
The CW (2006–2007)		August 26, 1996 May 13, 2007
11Chicago P.D.NBCJanuary 8, 2014present
11The X-FilesFoxSeptember 10, 1993March 21, 2018[15]
10Beverly Hills, 90210FoxOctober 4, 1990May 17, 2000
10Hawaii Five-0CBSSeptember 20, 2010April 3, 2020
10FriendsNBCSeptember 22, 1994May 6, 2004
10CBSSeptember 23, 2002April 8, 2012
10RoseanneABCOctober 18, 1988May 22, 2018[16]
10The GoldbergsABCSeptember 24, 2013May 3, 2023229
10JAGNBC (1995–1996)
CBS (1997–2005)		September 1, 1995April 29, 2005[17]
10SmallvilleThe WB (2001–2006)
The CW (2006–2011)		October 16, 2001May 13, 2011218
10The BlacklistNBCSeptember 23, 2013July 13, 2023218
10NBC (2001–2007)
USA (2007–2011)		September 30, 2001June 26, 2011195
9The Beverly HillbilliesCBSSeptember 26, 1962March 23, 1971
9Perry MasonCBSSeptember 21, 1957May 22, 1966
9The Virginian[18] NBCSeptember 19, 1962March 24, 1971
9The Love BoatABCSeptember 24, 1977[19] May 24, 1986
9The F.B.I.ABCSeptember 19, 1965April 28, 1974
9The Drew Carey ShowABCSeptember 13, 1995September 8, 2004
9Falcon CrestCBSDecember 4, 1981May 17, 1990
9The WaltonsCBSSeptember 14, 1972June 4, 1981
9DynastyABCJanuary 13, 1981May 11, 1989220
9Family MattersABC (1989–1997)
CBS (1997–1998)		September 22, 1989July 17, 1998
9The MiddleABCSeptember 30, 2009May 22, 2018
9Touched by an AngelCBSSeptember 21, 1994May 27, 2003
9Everybody Loves RaymondCBSSeptember 13, 1996May 16, 2005
9One Day at a TimeCBSDecember 16, 1975May 28, 1984
9How I Met Your MotherCBSSeptember 19, 2005March 31, 2014
9The King of QueensCBSSeptember 21, 1998May 14, 2007
9All in the FamilyCBSJanuary 12, 1971April 8, 1979
9Little House on the Prairie[20] NBCSeptember 11, 1974March 21, 1983
924FoxNovember 6, 2001July 14, 2014[21]
9AliceCBSAugust 31, 1976March 19, 1985
9The Facts of LifeNBCAugust 24, 1979May 7, 1988
9The OfficeNBCMarch 24, 2005May 16, 2013
9CoachABCFebruary 28, 1989May 14, 1997
9CBSSeptember 22, 2004February 22, 2013
9Last Man StandingABC (2011–2017)
Fox (2018–2021)		October 11, 2011May 20, 2021
9Night CourtNBCJanuary 4, 1984May 31, 1992
9MatlockNBC (1986–1992)
ABC (1992–1995)		September 23, 1986May 7, 1995
9One Tree HillThe WB (2003–2006)
The CW (2006–2012)		September 23, 2003April 4, 2012
9The FlashThe CWOctober 7, 2014May 24, 2023184
9ScrubsNBC (2001–2008)
ABC (2009–2010)		October 2, 2001March 17, 2010
9SeinfeldNBCJuly 5, 1989May 14, 1998
10Chicago MedNBCNovember 17, 2015present
8The George Burns and Gracie Allen ShowCBSOctober 12, 1950September 15, 1958
8Wagon TrainNBC (1957–1962)
ABC (1962–1965)		September 18, 1957May 2, 1965
8DragnetNBCDecember 16, 1951August 23, 1959
8The Donna Reed ShowABCSeptember 24, 1958March 19, 1966
8[22] MamaCBSJuly 1, 1949July 27, 1956261
8BewitchedABCSeptember 17, 1964March 25, 1972
8The Andy Griffith ShowCBSOctober 3, 1960April 1, 1968
8RawhideCBSJanuary 9, 1959December 7, 1965
8Home ImprovementABCSeptember 17, 1991May 25, 1999
8The Cosby ShowNBCSeptember 20, 1984April 30, 1992
8Walker, Texas RangerCBSApril 21, 1993May 19, 2001200
8That '70s ShowFoxAugust 23, 1998May 18, 2006
8IronsideNBCSeptember 14, 1967[23] January 16, 1975[24]
8Who's the Boss?ABCSeptember 20, 1984April 25, 1992
8MannixCBSSeptember 16, 1967April 13, 1975
8Full HouseABCSeptember 22, 1987May 23, 1995
8Diff'rent StrokesNBC (1978–1985)
ABC (1985–1986)		November 3, 1978May 7, 1986
8NewhartCBSOctober 25, 1982May 21, 1990
8According to JimABCOctober 3, 2001June 2, 2009
8Desperate HousewivesABCOctober 3, 2004May 13, 2012
8Barnaby JonesCBSJanuary 28, 1973April 3, 1980
8Laverne & ShirleyABCJanuary 27, 1976May 10, 1983
8CBSOctober 29, 1993May 11, 2001
8CharmedThe WBOctober 7, 1998May 21, 2006
8HouseFoxNovember 16, 2004May 21, 2012
8Mad About YouNBC (1992–1999)
Spectrum (2019)		September 23, 1992December 18, 2019
8Black-ishABCSeptember 24, 2014April 19, 2022
8CastleABCMarch 9, 2009May 16, 2016
8Three's CompanyABCMarch 15, 1977September 18, 1984
8L.A. LawNBCOctober 3, 1986[25] May 19, 1994
8WingsNBCApril 19, 1990May 21, 1997
8GirlfriendsUPN (2000–2006)
The CW (2006–2008)		September 11, 2000February 11, 2008 172
8The Vampire DiariesThe CWSeptember 10, 2009March 10, 2017
8ArrowThe CWOctober 6, 2012January 28, 2020
8MomCBSSeptember 23, 2013May 13, 2021
8Barney MillerABCJanuary 23, 1975May 20, 1982
8The PracticeABCMarch 4, 1997May 16, 2004
8Magnum, P.I.CBSDecember 11, 1980May 8, 1988
8Simon & SimonCBSNovember 24, 1981January 21, 1989
8Brooklyn Nine-NineFox (2013–2018)
NBC (2019–2021)		September 17, 2013September 16, 2021
8Perfect StrangersABCMarch 25, 1986August 6, 1993150
8Quincy, M.E.NBCOctober 3, 1976September 4, 1983
7Melrose PlaceFoxJuly 8, 1992May 24, 1999
7Petticoat JunctionCBSSeptember 24, 1963April 4, 1970222
7The Golden GirlsNBCSeptember 14, 1985May 21, 1992
7CBSSeptember 28, 1987May 23, 1994
7CBSJanuary 3, 1993June 2, 1999176
7Family TiesNBCSeptember 22, 1982May 14, 1989
7Adam-12NBCSeptember 21, 1968May 20, 1975174
7UPNJanuary 16, 1995May 23, 2001
7Mission: ImpossibleCBSSeptember 17, 1966March 30, 1973
7Medical CenterCBSSeptember 24, 1969[26] September 6, 1976
7Empty NestNBCOctober 8, 1988April 29, 1995
7Marcus Welby, M.D.ABCSeptember 23, 1969[27] May 4, 1976
7The Mary Tyler Moore ShowCBSSeptember 19, 1970March 19, 1977
7Growing PainsABCSeptember 24, 1985April 25, 1992
7Designing WomenCBSSeptember 29, 1986May 24, 1993
7Sabrina, the Teenage WitchABC (1996–2000)
The WB (2000–2003)		September 27, 1996April 24, 2003163
7Step by StepABC (1991–1997)
CBS (1997–1998)		September 20, 1991June 26, 1998
7Without a TraceCBSSeptember 26, 2002May 19, 2009
7BensonABCSeptember 13, 1979April 19, 1986
7Boy Meets WorldABCSeptember 24, 1993May 5, 2000
7Cold CaseCBSSeptember 28, 2003May 2, 2010
7The Good WifeCBSSeptember 22, 2009May 8, 2016
7CBSSeptember 23, 2014May 23, 2021
7Once Upon a TimeABCOctober 23, 2011May 18, 2018
7The West WingNBCSeptember 22, 1999May 14, 2006
7ElementaryCBSSeptember 27, 2012August 15, 2019
7Gilmore GirlsThe WB (2000–2006)
The CW (2006–2007)		October 5, 2000May 15, 2007
7HunterNBCSeptember 18, 1984April 26, 1991
7Fantasy IslandABCJanuary 28, 1978May 19, 1984[28]
7Trapper John, M.D.CBSSeptember 23, 1979September 4, 1986
7Malcolm in the MiddleFoxJanuary 9, 2000May 14, 2006
7The MentalistCBSSeptember 23, 2008February 28, 2015
7Just Shoot Me!NBCMarch 4, 1997August 16, 2003
7The Dukes of HazzardCBSJanuary 26, 1979February 8, 1985
7Hill Street BluesNBCJanuary 15, 1981May 12, 1987
7New GirlFoxSeptember 20, 2011May 15, 2018
7Buffy the Vampire SlayerThe WB (1997–2001)
UPN (2001–2003)		March 10, 1997May 20, 2003
7In the Heat of the NightNBC (1988–1992)
CBS (1992–1994)		March 6, 1988May 11, 1994
7S.W.A.T.CBSNovember 2, 2017present
7Young SheldonCBSSeptember 25, 2017May 16, 2024
7MacGyverABCSeptember 29, 1985May 21, 1992
730 RockNBCOctober 11, 2006January 31, 2013
7RiverdaleThe CWJanuary 26, 2017August 23, 2023137
7Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.ABCSeptember 24, 2013August 12, 2020
7MediumNBC (2005–2009)
CBS (2009–2011)		January 3, 2005January 21, 2011
7Parks and RecreationNBCApril 9, 2009February 24, 2015
7Cagney & LaceyCBSMarch 25, 1982[29] May 16, 1988
7The Good DoctorABCSeptember 25, 2017May 21, 2024
7ScandalABCApril 5, 2012April 19, 2018
7NBCJanuary 31, 1993May 21, 1999
7Legends of TomorrowThe CWJanuary 21, 2016March 2, 2022
7CheyenneABCSeptember 20, 1955[30] December 17, 1962
79-1-1Fox (2018–2023)
ABC (2024–present)		January 3, 2018present
7Station 19ABCMarch 22, 2018May 30, 2024
7Rules of EngagementCBSFebruary 5, 2007May 20, 2013
7The 100The CWMarch 19, 2014September 30, 2020

See also

Notes and References

  1. The Simpsons aired a sneak peek on December 17, 1989.
  2. Law & Order ended its original run in 2010, and was revived in 2022.
  3. Family Guy aired a sneak peek on January 31, 1999.
  4. Family Guy has two episodes that did not originally air on Fox. "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" originally aired on Adult Swim and "Partial Terms of Endearment" originally aired in the UK. Family Guy ended its original run in 2002 and was revived by Fox in 2005.
  5. American Dad! moved to TBS in 2014 for additional seasons.
  6. American Dad! aired a sneak peek on February 6, 2005.
  7. Lassie ran for a total of 20 seasons and 591 episodes. The final two seasons aired in syndication.
  8. Also known as Criminal Minds: Evolution (2022–present)
  9. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation officially ended its run with Immortality on September 27, 2015. The TV movie is considered the two-episode 16th season, bringing the episode total to 337.
  10. The Jack Benny Program began with a pilot episode on May 8, 1949.
  11. Four more episodes of King of the Hill aired after its official final broadcast, bringing the total to 259.
  12. For its first three seasons, The Danny Thomas Show aired as Make Room for Daddy.
  13. Murphy Brown ended its original run in 1998 and came back for one more season in 2018.
  14. Web site: 2017-01-18 . 'Will & Grace' to Return to NBC for New Season .
  15. In 2016, The X-Files ended its original run in 2002 and returned in 2016 for two more seasons.
  16. Roseanne ended its original run in 1997 and returned to television in 2018 for a single season. The revived show later continued as The Conners for the rest of the season and onward as its own program.
  17. The episode "Skeleton Crew" did not originally air on NBC.
  18. In its final season, the title of The Virginian was changed to The Men from Shiloh.
  19. The Love Boat had two pilot movies that aired on September 18, 1976 and January 21, 1977.
  20. In its final season, the title of Little House on the Prairie was changed to Little House: A New Beginning.
  21. In 2014, 24 returned to television with another 12-episode series .
  22. An additional season of Mama aired on Sunday afternoons, bringing the episode total to 283.
  23. Ironside began with the pilot movie A Man Called Ironside on March 28, 1967.
  24. Ironside had three additional episodes after its official final broadcast.
  25. L.A. Law began with a two-hour pilot on September 15, 1986.
  26. Medical Center began with the pilot movie U.M.C. on April 17, 1969.
  27. Marcus Welby, M.D. began with a pilot movie on March 26, 1969.
  28. Fantasy Island had two premiere movies that aired on January 14, 1977 and January 20, 1978.
  29. Cagney & Lacey began with a pilot movie on October 8, 1981.
  30. Cheyenne began as a rotating element of Warner Bros. Presents.

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