Top 10 TV Shows That Will Last Forever

 
By its very nature as a sketch comedy program, “Saturday Night Live” has seen its ups and downs. The show began in 1975, and the cast included comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, John Belushi, and Chevy Chase, with Bill Murray later joining on January 15, 1977. In terms of television ratings, “SNL” peaked during the 1979-80 season with an average “rating” of 13.5. Along the way, the show has kickstarted careers, tanked careers, generated controversy, and launched many a classic bit. Somehow, someway, the show is still going strong, and it has given way to new comedy legends like Tina Fey, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader,  and Andy Samberg, just to name a few. 

If you’re looking for your next binge watch, may we suggest various soap operas with over 10,000 episodes each!  Both “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless” have reached that milestone. And then there’s “General Hospital.” Created by a husband-wife team, “General Hospital” debuted on April 1, 1963 and aired its 14,000th episode on February 23, 2018. In that time, the series has won 13 Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series and generated a series-high thirty million viewers in 1981 for the wedding of supercouple Luke and Laura. It is currently listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera and even made the transition to 4K in 2018! 
 

 
Even if you’ve never seen an episode of “Law & Order,” you surely know that iconic music cue. Such is the ubiquity of this classic franchise. Wanting to depict the criminal justice system in a positive light, Dick Wolf created “Law & Order,” which aired its first episode on September 13, 1990. It was an enormous ratings hit, earning well over ten million viewers per episode throughout the 90s and early 2000s. The original series came to an end in 2010 but gave way to numerous spinoffs along the way, including “Special Victims Unit.” “SVU,” as it's commonly called, began in September 1999 and has officially surpassed its predecessor in both seasons and episodes. In September 2019, it became the longest-running live-action scripted series currently airing during the primetime hours. 
 

 
“SpongeBob” earns fans for life, as the surreal style of comedy that the show employs catches interest from older demographics who may have started watching while young. Debuting on May 1, 1999, “SpongeBob SquarePants” quickly became Nickelodeon’s primary cash cow, generating over $13 billion in revenue. Its abundant popularity led to a bonafide media franchise, which includes numerous movies, merchandise, spin-offs, and even a Tony-winning Broadway musical. Against all odds, the franchise is still going strong. “Sponge Out of Water” grossed over $320 million in 2015, the episodes still earn over one million viewers per episode, and the spicy memes generated from the show just keep on comin’. 
 

And speaking of children’s franchises that have gone on forever, who can forget the endlessly enjoyable Power Rangers? This franchise began back in 1993 with “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” which spawned three seasons, over 150 episodes, and a movie that grossed over $60 million. The series uses live-action footage from a Japanese program called “Super Sentai,” which itself has been going strong since 1975! “Power Rangers” proved very popular and prosperous throughout the 90s, generating over $6 billion in toy sales alone. Over twenty years and twenty seasons later, the movie series was rebooted with 2017’s “Power Rangers,” which grossed over $140 million. 
 

 
“Family Guy” is well on its way to being the next “Simpsons” not just in terms of seasons and  episodes, but in waning popularity. Despite being cancelled by Fox in 2003, outstanding DVD sales, highly-rated reruns, and a vocal fanbase brought about its return in 2005. Following its reappearance, the series hovered around ten million viewers per episode until the early 2010s, when ratings promptly plummeted. The eighteenth season, which aired throughout 2019 and 2020, averaged around two million viewers per episode, and Fox renewed the series for a nineteenth season on May 11, 2020. If the series was told in real time, Stewie would now be graduating college...

While “South Park” is even older than “Family Guy,” it has arguably stayed more relevant thanks to its timely social commentary. That’s thanks in large part to the show’s amazingly quick turnaround, as episodes only take a week to produce. Also, the seemingly endless controversy helps. Controversy has followed the show from its inception on August 13, 1997, when “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe” was publicly eviscerated owing to its crass and intentionally offensive humor. Despite the near-constant media scrutiny, the “South Park” franchise has generated wide critical praise, earning five Emmys, a Peabody, and even an Academy Award nomination. The series’ 23rd season, which included the 300th episode, aired throughout 2019. 

 
It’s rare for a science fiction program to breach the mainstream, but “Doctor Who” has managed it with incredible longevity. The show never shies away from its camp, and a limitless imagination, thrilling stories, gorgeous visual effects, and a strong cast have long-ensured its success. The show began way back in 1963 with William Hartnell portraying the First Doctor. It ran until 1989, and following a film in 1996, the franchise was revived in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston in the titular role. It has long-been one of the BBC’s flagship shows, and it made history in 2017 by casting Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, making her the first female to portray the iconic Doctor.
 

 
Generations of children have been raised on “Sesame Street.” Co-created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, this timeless series debuted on November 10, 1969. By the following year, it had garnered high praise, three Emmys, and a Peabody Award. It has since taken home 189 Emmy Awards and has become a bonafide cultural institution. HBO scored first run rights for the show in 2016, and these rights were moved to HBO Max in 2020, proving that “Sesame Street” had officially entered the future of subscription-based streaming services. That said, second runs are still aired on PBS, just as they have been since 1970. Let’s hope it continues well into the future. We could all use a little more “Sesame Street” in our lives.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
 
“Survivor” (2000-)
“Survivor” Is Itself a Survivor of the 2000s’ Reality TV Boom 

“Family Feud” (1976-)
As Long as There Are Families to Feud, “Family Feud” Will Keep on Going

“Coronation Street” (1960-)
This British Phenomenon Has Been Going Strong Since 1960!

“The Tonight Show” (1954-)
The World’s Longest-Running Talk Show Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

“The Price Is Right” (1972-)
If This Show Survived the Bob Barker Transition, It Can Survive Anything

 
Debuting on December 17, 1989, “The Simpsons” has become the longest-running American sitcom and the longest-running American scripted primetime series. On May 17, 2020, the show completed its 31st season and aired its 684th episode, which is probably not something that audiences in 1989 would ever imagine! During its heyday (which many people argue were seasons three through nine), “The Simpsons” was enjoying between fifteen and twenty million viewers per episode. But even now, long after its critical reception has declined, “The Simpsons” is still scoring upwards of five million viewers a week! It’s clear that the show still enjoys a dedicated fanbase after all these years. “The Simpsons” can seemingly survive anything, and it’ll be interesting to see just how far it will go.