The rec.arts.tv FAQL:

Last updated:  May 21, 2004.
This version:  8.00
Note: The date of the last update is the date of the last change to this section; lack of an update since then means that the contents of this particular section are still true or valid to the present day. This page will be updated with every new major update (i.e. version x.00) of this FAQL, however.

Section 4.1.1: "What are the longest running 1-hour Primetime dramas of all time (in the U.S.)?"

Answer: The longest running 1-hour Primetime dramas on U.S. television are shown in the following list. Only the shows that were on TV for more than 10 years are listed.

Note: Some shows (e.g. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (30 minutes from 1955-1962), Armstrong Circle Theatre (30 minutes from 1955-1960), Dragnet (30 mins, except for the 2003 revival), etc.) are not listed here because they were 30-minute dramas for at least part of their run.

Also Note: This list does not contain British series, even though some of them have run quite a long time (e.g. Coronation Street (44+ years: 1960-pres), Doctor Who (26 years: 1963-1989), etc.).

(Note: * = still on the air (i.e. "first-run"); "pres" = to the present day):

  
 Rank  TV Show                 Net.         Run. Time   (Date)
 ----  -------                 ----         -----------------------
  
   1.  *Gunsmoke                CBS         *14/20 yrs  (1955-1975)
       (* = Gunsmoke was only 30 minutes long 
            from 1955-1961, so it's 60 minute 
            episode run was only 14 seasons, even 
            though the series actually ran 20 years.)
  
   2.  *Law & Order             NBC          14 years   (1990-pres)
  
   2.   Knots Landing           CBS          14 years   (1979-1993)
  
   3.   Bonanza                 NBC          13.5 years (1959-1973)
  
   4.   Dallas                  CBS          13 years   (1978-1991)
  
   5.   Hawaii Five-O           CBS          12 years   (1968-1980)
  
   5.   Murder, She Wrote       CBS          12 years   (1984-1996)
  
   6.  *NYPD Blue               ABC          11 years   (1993-[2005])
  
   6.   Kraft (Mystery)         NBC/ABC      11 years   (1947-1958, NBC; 
           Theatre / Kraft                               1953-1955, ABC)
           Television Theatre
  
   7.  *ER                      NBC          10 years   (1994-pres)
  
   7.   Beverly Hills, 90210    FOX          10 years   (1990-2000)
  
   7.   Studio One \ Studio     CBS          10 years   (1948-1958)
           One in Hollywood
  
   7.   The United States       ABC/CBS      10 years   (1953-1955, ABC; 
           Steel Hour                                    1955-1963, CBS)

Section 4.1.2: "What are the longest running 30-minute Primetime comedies (sitcoms) of all time (in the U.S.)?"

Answer: The longest running 30-minute Primetime comedies (sitcoms) on U.S. television are shown in the following list. Only the shows that were on TV for more than 10 years are listed.

(Note: * = still on the air (i.e. "first-run"); "pres" = to the present day):

  
 Rank  TV Show                 Net.         Run. Time   (Date)
 ----  -------                 ----         -----------------------
  
   0.  *The Simpsons            FOX          15 years   (1989-pres)
        (This is an animated sitcom, so technically 
         it should almost be in another category...)
  
   1.  [The Adventures of] 
           Ozzie and Harriet    ABC          14 years   (1952-1966)
  
   2.  †All in the Family / 
           Archie Bunker's 
           Place                CBS          12.5 years (1971-1983)
       († = I realize that this is a litte controversial 
            to lump these two together. If you count just 
            All in the Family, it ran only 8.5 years.)
  
   3.   My Three Sons           ABC/CBS      12 years   (1960-1965, ABC;
                                                         1965-1972, CBS)
  
   4.   Make Room for Daddy / 
           The Danny Thomas 
           Show / Make Room 
           for Granddaddy       ABC/CBS      11 years   (1953-1957, ABC; 
                                                         1957-1965, CBS;
         / Make Room for 
           Granddaddy (sequel)              [12 years]  [1970-1971, ABC])
  
   5.   Frasier                 NBC          11 years   (1993-2004)
  
   5.   Cheers                  NBC          11 years   (1982-1993)
  
   5.   M*A*S*H                 CBS          11 years   (1972-1983)
  
   6.   Happy Days              ABC          10.5 years (1974-1984)
  
   6.   The Jeffersons          CBS          10.5 years (1975-1985)
  
   6.   Married With Children   FOX          10.5 years (1987-1997)
  
   7.   Friends                 NBC          10 years   (1994-2004)
  
   7.   Murphy Brown            CBS          10 years   (1988-1998)

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