The six longest-running TV series in history.
“Santa Barbara” has become synonymous with drawn-out stories and tangled relationships. However, there have been much longer projects in television history, with “Santa Barbara” only ranking seventh. Some shows run for years. So, if you miss your favorite characters and find short series frustrating, this selection is just for you.
“Guiding Light”
Guiding Light, 1952-2009, 57 seasons, episode duration 15-60 min.
This is the longest-running soap opera and one of the first in television history. The show aired for 72 years, with 15 years on radio, four years simultaneously on radio and television, and 53 years on TV. A total of 18,262 episodes (radio and television) were produced. The final episode aired on September 18, 2009. The cast and main characters changed numerous times. The plot significantly differs from modern series.
Over the years, many families changed in the series, around which the whimsically tangled story revolved. These included the Bauers, the Rutherlands, the Robertses, the Goldens, the Grants, the Norrises, the Fletchers, the Masons, the Thorpes, the Merlers, the Spoldings, and many others living in the fictional town of Springfield.
The writers aimed to create a series that would keep viewers engaged for a full 70 years. To binge-watch the entire series, it would take about a year.
“General Hospital”
General Hospital, 1963-present, 61 seasons, episode duration 43 min.
The series has won 10 Emmy Awards in the “Outstanding Drama Series” category, setting a record. It is the longest-running show filmed in Hollywood and the longest-running project on ABC.
The show was created by husband and wife writers Frank and Doris Hursley, who invented the town of Port Charles and a general hospital, leading to the name General Hospital. The main setting is the hospital, where romantic stories abound, mixed with criminal elements.
The popularity of the series led to the creation of several foreign adaptations and spin-offs. The show peaked in ratings in the early 1980s thanks to the popularity of characters Luke and Laura (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis), whose wedding in 1981 was watched by over 30 million viewers, a record in soap opera history.
The series is still airing. Viewers could binge-watch all episodes within a year and three months without breaks.
“One Life to Live”
One Life to Live, 1968-2013, 44 seasons, episode duration 45 min.
This series did not change its characters throughout its entire run. Erika Slezak and Robert S. Woods starred in the show for over 40 years. The plot is classic: the lives of several generations in a small town. The series is also known for addressing taboo topics on television: racism and drug use. With 11,096 episodes, viewers could watch all episodes over 44 years in just one year if they did nothing else.
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“The Young and the Restless”
The Young and the Restless, since 1973, 52 seasons, episode duration 45 min.
This series is still in production. It features elements of detective, drama, thriller, and romance. The intrigue never ends.
The story primarily focuses on the lives of two wealthy families in the American city of Genoa, involved in the cosmetics industry, while also touching on many contemporary issues faced by the townsfolk.
Over the years on air, the series has collected 116 Emmy Awards. A total of 12,061 episodes have been produced, which would take about a year to watch.
“The Simpsons”
The Simpsons, since 1989, 36 seasons, episode duration 21-24 min.
This animated series continues to amaze with its prophetic scenes. Recently, observant viewers have begun to notice plot elements that predicted the future. “The Simpsons” is the longest-running animated series in the history of American television.
Matt Groening created several short stories about the life of a marginal family, naming the characters after members of his own family, replacing his name with “Bart.” In 1998, in determining the greatest achievements of the 20th century in art and entertainment, Time magazine named “The Simpsons” the best television series of the century.
On January 14, 2000, “The Simpsons” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “The Simpsons” continues to have a significant impact on modern pop culture.
To binge-watch all seasons without breaks would take just 10 days.
“Doctor Who”
Doctor Who, since 1963, 26 original seasons, 1 film, and 12 seasons of the revived series, episode duration 25-45 min.
This is the longest-running British science fiction series with a cult following. The series follows the adventures of a time traveler known as the Doctor and his companions. Together, they explore time and space while solving various problems and restoring disrupted justice. Originally airing from 1963 to 1989, the series was canceled due to declining ratings. In 1996, a British-American television film “Doctor Who” was released. In 2005, it was successfully revived as a television series, restarting the season numbering while the old seasons were designated as “classic.”
Throughout its existence, the main character has been played by various actors, justified by the Doctor's ability to change his appearance and personality. Most portrayals of this character have been male. The thirteenth incarnation of the Doctor was played by Jodie Whittaker, who became the first woman in this role. Her first appearance as the Doctor was in the Christmas special episode “Twice Upon a Time.” Since October 24, 2022, the Fourteenth Doctor has been portrayed by David Tennant, who previously played the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010, an unprecedented situation in the history of the show. The Fifteenth Doctor is the Scottish actor of African descent, Ncuti Gatwa, the first Black actor in this role.
It would take only five days to binge-watch without breaks.