The second longest-running TV series depends on how you define "longest," but generally, it's either The Young and the Restless (soap opera) for episodes in the US or a show like Sábado Gigante (variety, ended 2015) if counting global/Spanish-language, with General Hospital usually holding the #1 spot for U.S. scripted shows by episode count, while The Simpsons leads scripted primetime.
Longest Running TV Shows
Series with most episodes
Late night: The Tonight Show, 70 seasons
Late-night programming lends itself to cultural commentary like no other type of television.
There's no single definitive list, but critically acclaimed and fan-favorite top TV shows often include Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Band of Brothers, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Twilight Zone, Better Call Saul, and Seinfeld, frequently praised for their compelling storytelling, complex characters, and cultural impact, with lists varying by source like IMDb, critics, or general audiences.
There's no single "world #1" series, as rankings vary by criteria (ratings, popularity, genre), but IMDb users consistently rank Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones as top contenders, often swapping the top spots, with The Sopranos, The Wire, and Stranger Things also frequently cited among the best of all time. Breaking Bad often leads for critical acclaim (Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb ratings), while Game of Thrones was a massive cultural phenomenon, notes IMDb and IMDb, says IMDb.
When the cinematography, editing, writing, sound, music, acting and direction come together, there is the potential for the film to be great. This aspect is not always guaranteed, but it is beautiful when it does come together. Satisfying audiences artistically in more than one scene or one line from a film.
Top 100 most watched tv shows of all time
Apparently, the decision to end "M*A*S*H" came down to star, writer, and director Alan Alda. In an interview shared by the National Museum of American History, Alda said, "I felt that we were running out of steam, and repeating ourselves.
However, M*A*S*H's final episode remains the all-time most-watched U.S. television episode (and so far, the only single television episode in American history to be watched by at least 100 million viewers for a single telecast).
Turn-On is an American surreal sketch comedy series created by Digby Wolfe and George Schlatter that aired once on ABC on Wednesday, February 5, 1969. Only one episode was shown partially before being pulled from ABC's airing schedule, leaving another episode unaired.
At over 7000 episodes and counting, this is the longest Japanese animation series in history (and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the longest running animated television series in the world).
In terms of primetime scripted series, “The Simpsons” is often touted as one of the longest-lasting comedies out there; however, it doesn't hold a candle when compared to daytime soap operas like “Guiding Light,” which ran for an astonishing 72 years before concluding its run in 2009.
Television's first drama,The Queen's Messenger, is broadcast from Schenectady, New York station WGY on September 11, 1928.
There's no single definitive "Top 50 Series," as lists vary by critic and audience, but universally acclaimed shows often include The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Better Call Saul, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and Friends, frequently appearing in top spots across IMDb, TV Guide, and general fan lists, showcasing drama, comedy, and cultural impact. Other consistent contenders feature shows like The Office, Chernobyl, Band of Brothers, Fleabag, The Leftovers, Succession, and classics like I Love Lucy, often praised for storytelling, influence, or enduring humor.
Top 10 Television Shows of 1975
Highest rated episodes on IMDB(with votes over 10k).
As of 2025, the 37 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe form the highest-grossing film series even when adjusted for inflation, surpassing J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World (11 films), Star Wars (12 films), Ian Fleming's James Bond (27 films), and J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth (8 films) series.
Branching out from five central subject areas, the five C's—Camera Angles, Continuity, Cutting, Close-ups, Composition—Mascelli offers filmmakers a detailed and practical course in visual thinking.
These three super simple rules will transform your footage and prevent editing nightmares from ruining your films. Change your camera position by a minimum of 30 degrees if you want your shots to cut together. Ensure your shots are a minimum of 20% different from each other to guarantee cuttability in the edit suite.