What Are TV’s Longest Running Success Stories?

I ‘m a big fan of TV, more so than is probably healthy.  Since the first tiny screen flickered on a big box, black and white set in our simple Dakota prairie farm house I have been addicted to the escape and adventure offered on TV.  Oddly enough, of all the longest running series, the only one I haven’t watched is the one that will soon set the all-time record.

Last night's episode of "The Simpsons" was its 600th episode, the 27th "Treehouse of Horror."  Only one show has had more episodes on the air and that’s one of my all-time favorites – Gunsmoke.

But --"The Simpsons" has been running for 21 seasons, and sometime in 2018 when episode 16 of season 29 airs, The Simpsons willl hold both records for most seasons and most episodes as well.  A cartoon!  Nope, I don't get it, but you have to acknowledge the consistency of the creators!

So what shows have lasted the longest on TV? According to Deadline, here's the top-10 list of shows with the most episodes:

10. "Knots Landing," (CBS): 344 episodes; 14 seasons.
9. "Dallas," (CBS): 357 episodes; 14 seasons.
8. "My Three Sons," (ABC/CBS): 380 episodes; 12 seasons.
7. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," (NBC): 393 episodes; 18 seasons.
6. "Bonanza," (NBC): 431 episodes; 14 seasons.
5. "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," (ABC): 435 episodes; 14 seasons.
4. "Law & Order," (NBC): 456 episodes; 20 seasons.
3. "Lassie," (CBS and Syndication): 591 episodes; 19 seasons.
2. "The Simpsons," (FOX): 600 episodes; 28 seasons
1. "Gunsmoke," (CBS): 635 episodes; 20 seasons