Top 4 Longest Running TV Show In History

Ashley | 11 - 26 - 2021
Longest Running TV Show

Get to know everything about the longest-running TV show in the History of America with a fun quiz now. Sandmännchen is the longest show but sadly it’s in German and doesn’t have a lot of audience across the world.

Longest Running TV Show In History

The longest-running TV shows are obviously the best because who will air a show nobody watches? So you are about to be hit with a train of fun facts and the plot of the top 4 long-running TV shows!

Guiding Light 

This is the longest show ever! The soap opera is the second longest-running show in the world and the first in American history. The CBS show aired for 72 years, 19 years on NBC radio(January 25, 1937 – June 29, 1956), and the rest on CBS TV (June 30, 1952 – September 18, 2009).  The show was later replaced by  Let’s Make a Deal, hosted by Wayne Brady.

Which Is the Longest-Running Show on TV Ever?
  • A. Coronation Street
  • B. Simpsons
  • C. Law & Order
  • D. Guiding Light

It was created by Irna Phillips and Emmons Carlson for NBC. Each live episode was 15 minutes long. The show went from live pre-taping to increase the duration to half an hour. 

The writers were inspired by the preachings of Preston Bradley, a Chicago-based preacher and founder of the People’s Church. The writer couple was able to cope with the loss of their stillborn baby after hearing his preaching. 

The plot was simple, a hard-working dad, a mother who wants to keep up with social expectations, and a son following the footsteps of his father. The lower-middle-class immigrant families face hardships together and several other dynamic characteristics and smaller plots make visits throughout the show. 

Coronation Street 

The British soap opera is still airing across the world and can overtake others soon! The show gained popularity in the US decades ago and has aired around 10500 episodes so far.  Its first episode was aired on ITV on 9 December 1960 with 12 other episodes ready on the line.

The show was not successful initially but it picked up soon after. The plot revolves around the life of Ken Barlow who is embarrassed about his social standard and his family background when he joins a famous university. The show extended from half an hour to 60 minutes following their 60th anniversary in 2020.

Simpsons 

Simpsons is the bull’s eye depiction of the ultimate American life. Matt Groening named the dysfunctional family after his very own. 1990 is considered as the golden age for the show where it had the highest grossing. The show first aired on December 17, 1989. It has 33 seasons and 714 episodes. 

The Simpsons received dozens of awards and titles so far. The large ensemble of characters represents American culture and society, television, and the human condition in a satirical fashion. Unlike the rest of the shows on this list, the Simpsons are behind several meme contents online.

Law & Order Victims Unit

Dick wolf’s crime drama created for NBC is a spin-off of the previous show Law & Order. The plot revolves around the commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit,  Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson in the 16th precinct, Manhattan, New York City Police Department. 

It premiered on September 20, 1999, and is currently airing its 23rd season. Characters have died, left the show in reel and in reality but the show never fails to tickle the detective within us. Plus, the show is written based on real criminal cases. 

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