10 best long-running TV shows

Some TV shows last because people keep watching them year after year. They are still around because they continue to matter. Some become part of pop culture and people mention them in everyday conversations. Others keep changing, and find new ways to stay topical. A show doesn’t last just because it has been on air for a long time. It lasts because people care about it.

Shows like The Simpsons and Law & Order: SVU have been around for decades. They helped shape their genres and stayed relevant. Animated comedies like South Park focus on current events and change with the times. Doctor Who reinvents itself with new characters and stories.

NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy follow a formula but keep people engaged because the characters grow and the stories evolve. Some shows have ended but they never really disappear. Friends and M*A*S*H are still watched today because they continue to mean something to people.

Some long-running shows lose their way and people stop watching. The best ones stay strong and keep their audience coming back. These shows become familiar, they turn into comfort shows. These are the series that lasted because people never got tired of them.

Here is our pick of 10 shows that we feel have stayed relevant with time.

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1) The Simpsons (1989–present)

The Simpsons has been on TV for more than three decades. It started as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show before becoming a full show in 1989. Matt Groening created it as a satire of American family life. The show follows the everyday life of Homer, Marge Bart, Lisa, and Maggie in the fictional town of Springfield. The show mixes humor with social and political commentary. It became a cultural landmark by mocking everything from politics to pop culture.

The series has lasted this long because it keeps changing. The animation has improved over the years. The jokes reflect current events and the humor adapts to new audiences. The show has influenced many other animated series and shaped modern satire. Its characters remain familiar even as the world around them changes. It set the foundation for adult animation and remains one of the most recognized shows in television history.

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2) Law & Order: SVU (1999–present)

Law & Order Special Victims Unit has been on TV for over 25 years. The show is the longest-running live-action primetime drama in the United States, and it focuses on crimes related to sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. The show draws inspiration from real cases and reflects changes in society, and keeps people engaged by balancing crime stories with strong character development.

Mariska Hargitay’s performance as Olivia Benson has been a key reason for its success. Benson started as a detective and became captain over the years. Her story adds depth to the show and gives it continuity.

The series has evolved with the times, addressing social media crimes, shifting laws and systemic failures. Unlike many crime procedurals, it does not just follow a case-of-the-week format. Rather, it explores the long-term effects of trauma and justice. It is a reason the show has stayed relevant for so long.

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3) Doctor Who (1963–present)

Doctor Who has been on air since 1963. It follows the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels through time and space in the TARDIS. The show reinvented itself with the idea of regeneration. When an actor leaves, the Doctor transforms into a new version. This keeps the show fresh without breaking continuity.

The classic series ran from 1963 to 1989, introducing time travel stories and shaping the sci-fi genre. The 2005 revival gave it a modern emotional depth. Every Doctor brings a different style. Some focus on adventure while others emphasize drama or mystery. The show has changed with the times while staying true to its core idea. It has influenced many sci-fi stories and introduced new generations to time travel fiction. Few shows can last as long and stay as exciting as Doctor Who has managed to do.

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4) South Park (1997–present)

South Park first aired in 1997 and has stayed relevant for over 25 years. Trey Parker and Matt Stone created it as a show about four boys in a small Colorado town. Known for its crude humor and sharp satire, the show is produced in a matter of days. This allows it to react to current events faster than most.

Its early seasons focused on shock humor, but later seasons introduced serialized storytelling and political commentary. The show takes on controversial topics without holding back and, while the animation remains simple, the writing keeps it unpredictable. It has influenced adult animation and modern satire. South Park does not follow trends but reacts to them in real time. This ability to evolve with culture is a reason it remains one of the most discussed shows on television.

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5) Grey’s Anatomy (2005–present)

Grey’s Anatomy has been on air since 2005. It started as a medical drama about surgical interns but grew into a multigenerational hospital story. The show follows Meredith Grey and her colleagues at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, focusing on their careers relationships and personal struggles while also tackling real-world issues in medicine.

The strength of the show comes from its characters. Many original cast members stayed for over a decade, and their personal growth keeps viewers invested. It explores serious topics like racial bias in healthcare and workplace harassment, beyond just showing medical cases.

The TV show focuses on how such cases affect doctors and patients. The show has changed over the years but it still finds new ways to tell emotional stories. It remains one of the longest-running medical dramas because the makers know how to reinvent the show while keeping its heart intact.

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6) NCIS (2003–present)

NCIS has been on television for more than 20 years. It started as a spin-off of JAG, and went on to become one of the most-watched crime dramas in the world. The show follows a team of special agents who investigate crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It stands out from other procedurals because it mixes military cases with strong relationships.

Mark Harmon’s portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs has played a big role in its success. His leadership gave the show stability even as cast members changed. The series keeps things fresh by introducing new characters while retaining familiar elements. It has expanded into spin-offs such as NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai’i. The cases remain engaging and the audience stays invested. It continues to be one of the most popular crime dramas on television even after two decades.

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7) The X-Files (1993–2018)

The X-Files ran for 11 seasons across 25 years. It followed FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigated paranormal cases. The show blended horror, government conspiracies, and the mysteries of the unknown to create something unique. Mulder believed in the supernatural, while Scully approached every case with skepticism. Their contrasting beliefs made their team dynamic, and one of the most memorable in television history.

The series lasted so long because it changed with time. Some seasons focused on standalone investigations while others built a larger mystery about government secrets. The show influenced several other sci-fi and mystery shows, and proved that this kind of storytelling could succeed. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s performances as Mulder and Scully helped build a strong fanbase. The show introduced unforgettable characters and left a lasting mark on science fiction television.

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8) Supernatural (2005–2020)

Supernatural aired for 15 seasons and became the longest-running American fantasy series. It followed Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunted demons, ghosts, and creatures from folklore. The early seasons focused on standalone stories, but later the show built an entire mythology involving angels, demons, and even God.

The show lasted because it knew what its audience wanted. It balanced horror, comedy, and emotional storytelling, in a way that kept fans engaged. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles brought depth to Sam and Dean’s relationship, which became the heart of the show.

The writers kept introducing new threats while respecting older storylines. A dedicated fanbase kept the show alive even when ratings dipped. It embraced meta-humor and broke the fourth wall in ways that made it different from other genre shows. It became one of the most successful fantasy series ever.

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9) Friends (1994–2004)

Friends aired for 10 seasons and became one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. It followed six friends — Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe — as they navigated life in New York City. It stood out from other sitcoms because of the chemistry between the cast and the way the episodic stories captured real-life experiences.

The series became a cultural phenomenon because it mixed humor with moments that felt relatable. It explored dating, careers, and friendships in ways that connected with viewers.

The show created moments that are still referenced today — from Ross’s “We were on a break” argument to Joey’s “How you doin’” catchphrase. It remains popular through reruns and streaming, which have introduced it to new generations. Few sitcoms have retained relevance as Friends. It still holds a place as a go-to comfort show for the wway it captures young adulthood.

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10) M*A*S*H (1972–1983)

M*A*S*H ran for 11 seasons and became one of the most significant shows in television history. It was set during the Korean War, and followed doctors and nurses at a mobile army surgical hospital. The series mixed humor with serious themes in a way that had never been attempted before on television.

It lasted because it adapted with time. The early seasons leaned more on comedy but later seasons focused on deeper, emotional storytelling. Alan Alda’s portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce became the emotional core of the show. The writing was sharp, and tackled real-world issues through the lens of war.

The series finale became one of the most-watched episodes in television history. Its influence can still be seen in modern shows that mix comedy with serious topics. It proved that television could be entertaining and meaningful at the same time.

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