This is a list of the longest running U.S. first-run syndicated television series , ordered by number of broadcast seasons.
To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America, shown nationally in the United States, and be first-run syndicated (as opposed to previously aired material, repackaging of previously aired material, or material released in other media). For the purposes of this list, series that were available only on a local or regional basis will be excluded. For series that were presented on U.S. broadcast networks or cable networks at other points in their runs, only the amount aired nationally as original first-run syndicated programming is represented here.
Several long-lasting series were both in first-run syndication and on U.S. network television. For those that were in syndication for fewer than ten seasons, see List of longest-running United States television series.
Series shaded in light blue are currently in production. |
Seasons | Series | First broadcast | Last broadcast | Number of episodes |
---|---|---|---|---|
53 | Sesame Street | November 10, 1969 | present | 4666 [note 1] |
41 | The 700 Club [1] | April 1, 1966 [2] | present | |
41 | Divorce Court | 1957 | present | 5,767+ |
38 | The People's Court | September 14, 1981 | July 21, 2023 | |
40 | Wheel of Fortune | September 19, 1983 | present | 7,000+ |
39 | Jeopardy! (revival series) [3] | September 10, 1984 | present | 8,000+ |
35 | Soul Train | October 2, 1971 | March 25, 2006 [4] | 1,117 |
32 | Entertainment Tonight | September 14, 1981 | present | |
40 | MotorWeek [5] | October 15, 1981 | present | |
31 | The Maury Povich Show | September 9, 1991 | September 8, 2022 | 5,545 |
31 | The McLaughlin Group | January 1, 1982 | December 25, 2020 | |
29 | NFL Films Presents [6] | 1968 | 1997 | |
29 | America's Black Forum | 1977 | present | |
29 | At the Movies [7] | 1981 | 2012 | |
27 | Donahue [8] | November 6, 1967 | September 13, 1996 | 5,515 |
27 | The Jerry Springer Show | September 30, 1991 | July 26, 2018 | 5,084 |
26 | The David Susskind Show [9] | 1961 | 1987 | |
26 | Faith for Today [10] | 1955 | 1981 | |
25 | Live! with Kelly and Ryan [11] | September 5, 1988 [12] | present | 7,580+ |
25 | Inside Edition | October 9, 1988 | present | 6,625+ |
25 | Insight | October 2, 1960 | January 21, 1985 | 250 |
25 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | September 8, 1986 | May 25, 2011 | 4,561 |
25 | Judge Judy | September 16, 1996 | July 23, 2021 | 6,280 |
Seasons | Series | First broadcast | Last broadcast | Number of episodes |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Death Valley Days | March 1, 1952 | August 1, 1975 | 558 |
23 | Family Feud (second revival series) | September 20, 1999 | present | 2,390 |
23 | Divorce Court (revival series) | September 5, 1999 | present | 2,076+ |
23 | Judge Mathis | September 13, 1999 | May 25, 2023 | 3,000+ |
21 | Showtime at the Apollo [13] | September 12, 1987 | May 24, 2008 | 1,093 |
21 | Hee Haw [14] | 1971 | 1992 | |
21 | This Week in Baseball [15] | 1977 | 1998 | |
21 | The Porter Wagoner Show | 1960 | 1981 | |
20 | Gunsmoke | September 10, 1955 | March 31, 1975 | 635 |
19 | Extra [16] | September 5, 1994 | present | |
19 | Entertainers with Byron Allen [17] | September 1994 | present | |
18 | The Merv Griffin Show [18] | 1965 | 1969 | |
April 1972 | September 1986 | |||
17 | Access Hollywood | September 9, 1996 | present | |
17 | Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom [19] | 1971 | 1988 | |
17 | The Montel Williams Show | June 24, 1991 | May 16, 2008 | 4,325 |
16 | Dr. Phil | September 16, 2002 | May 25, 2023 | 1,671 |
16 | The People's Court (revival series) [20] | September 8, 1997 | July 21, 2023 | 1,500+ |
16 | Kickin' It with Byron Allen [21] | 1994 | present | |
16 | Fight Back! with David Horowitz | 1976 | 1992 | |
16 | The George Michael Sports Machine [22] | September 15, 1991 | March 25, 2007 | |
15 | Supernatural | September 13, 2005 | November 19, 2020 [23] | 327 |
15 | That Good Ole Nashville Music | 1970 | 1985 | |
15 | Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures | September 1, 1993 | May 24, 2008 | |
Seasons | Series | First broadcast | Last broadcast | Number of episodes |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | The Doctors | September 8, 2008 | August 8, 2022 | 1,041+ |
14 | Family Feud (second revival series) | September 20, 1999 | present | 2,390 |
14 | Divorce Court (revival series) | September 5, 1999 | present | 2,076+ |
14 | The Jack LaLanne Show | 1956 | 1970 | |
13 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | September 8, 2003 | May 26, 2022 | 3,294 |
13 | Cheaters | October 2, 2000 | August 30, 2021 | 264 |
13 | PM Magazine [24] | September 1978 | January 1, 1991 | |
12 | Star Search [25] | September 10, 1983 | May 20, 1995 | |
12 | Divorce Court (original series) [26] | 1957 | 1969 | |
12 | The People's Court (original series) [27] | September 14, 1981 | May 28, 1993 | 2,484 |
12 | Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous | January 1984 | September 1996 | |
12 | The Jenny Jones Show | September 16, 1991 | September 12, 2003 | |
12 | America's Court with Judge Ross | September 20, 2010 | present | |
11 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | September 16, 2002 | May 31, 2019 | 1,950 |
11 | The Wendy Williams Show | July 14, 2008 | June 17, 2022 | 1,500+ |
11 | The Wilburn Brothers Show | 1963 | 1974 | 354 |
11 | The Lawrence Welk Show [28] | 1971 | February 1982 | |
11 | Love Connection | September 12, 1983 | July 1, 1994 | |
11 | Geraldo | 1987 | 1998 | |
11 | Martha Stewart Living | 1993 | 2004 | |
11 | Paula's Home Cooking | 2002 | 2013 | 123 |
11 | Ricki Lake | September 13, 1993 | August 27, 2004 | |
10 | A Current Affair | July 28, 1986 | September 1996 | |
10 | Hard Copy | September 18, 1989 | April 26, 1999 | 2159 |
10 | Baywatch [29] | October 1991 | May 24, 2001 | 242 |
10 | Smallville [30] | October 16, 2001 | May 13, 2011 | 217 |
10 | Stargate SG-1 [31] | July 27, 1997 | March 13, 2007 | 214 |
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