Longest-Running TV Shows, 5-7
Our list of longest-running TV shows continues with Bonanza.
5. Bonanza (1959-1973)
Airing for 430 episodes, this Western was set in the mid-1800s on a Nevada ranch called "The Ponderosa." The show revolved around the life of Ben Cartwright and his sons, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe (played by Michael Landon). Bonanza was the first series to tape all of its shows in color, and it held the number one spot on the Nielsen ratings chart from 1964 to 1967.
6. The Simpsons (1989-????)
With more than 400 episodes (and counting), the most successful animated family in the history of TV has been going strong since 1989. Creator Matt Groening parodies the average (albeit dysfunctional) American family with buffoonish yet lovable Homer Simpson; his wife, Marge; their brilliant daughter, Lisa; bad-seed son, Bart; and baby, Maggie. There are enough interesting factoids about this show to make a book of its own! For starters, snagging a voice-over gig to play oneself on the show is a real show-biz coup. Even rock bands like U2, Smashing Pumpkins, and Aerosmith have contributed their likenesses and voices to the effort.
7. Law & Order (1990-????)
With 390 episodes (and counting) under its belt since it premiered in 1990, the key to this show's success may lie in its ever-revolving
cast. None of the original actors remain on the show, and most cast members only stick around a couple of seasons. Still, the show must go on, and the New York City Police Department and District Attorney's office have their hands (and squad cars and jail cells) full as they clean up the streets of Manhattan on this award-winning drama. Halfway through each episode, the focus shifts from investigation to prosecution of the same case.
Our list of TV's longest-running shows concludes on the next page.
