LASSIE, 1954-1974 (
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DALLAS,1978-1991 (Everett Collection)
In the early days of TV production, shows often cranked out 30 to 40 episodes per season. Many series today produce 22 episodes per season and it takes them much longer to reach the milestones reached by “Bonanza” and “My Three Sons.” Reality series such as “American Idol” have a leg up as multiple episodes air per week. Here are the top 15 series that have logged the most episodes.
1. Gunsmoke
633 episodes (1955-75)
Iconic lawman Matt Dillon (James Arness) and his sidekicks delighted fans for two decades by instructing hoodlums to “get the hell out of Dodge.”
2. Lassie
588 episodes (1954-73)
Even “The Simpsons” will have a hard time nudging the world’s most famous collie from the No. 2 spot.
3. The Simpsons
500 episodes (1989-present)
4. “Law & Order”
456 episodes (1990-2010)
Known for tidy wrap-ups, the show ended its run without one, as its cancellation seemed unfathomable. After countless stories “ripped from the headlines,” it touchingly highlighted the cancer diagnosis of Lt. Anita Van Buren (played by S. Ephata Merkerson).
5. Death Valley Days
452 episodes (1952-75)
The series depicted true tales from the old West, with narration by a string of hosts — including pre-politico Ronald Reagan (left).
6. The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet
435 episodes (1952-66)
The Nelson family – Ozzie, Harriet and their teen mag cover-ready sons David and Ricky – played themselves in this wholesome comedy, but it was far from today’s trashy reality TV; the Kardashians they were not.
7. Bonanza
430 episodes (1959-72)
If “Gunsmoke” tamed the Wild West, “Bonanza” tamed bigotry and other social issues in its story lines while offering up a teen idol, Michael Landon as Little Joe.
8. American Idol
399 episodes (2002-present)
“Idol” set the standard for star-making competitions and still TV’s most popular show.
9. My Three Sons
369 episodes (1960-72)
This comedy’s cast included actor William Frawley, who played Fred Mertz on the iconic “I Love Lucy.”
10. Alfred Hitchcock
Presents” 361 episodes (1955-65)
It was no “Psycho,” but Hitchcock’s held fans from his trademark greeting of “Good evening” to his oft-droll summations in the end.
11. Dallas
357 episodes (1978-91)
In November 1980, more than 80 million Americans tuned in to find out “Who Shot J.R. (Larry Hagman, below)?”
12. Survivor
356 episodes (2000-present)
The globe-trotting competition will air its 356th episode this Wednesday and tie “Dallas” with its 357th on Feb. 29.
13. Knots Landing
344 episodes (1979-83)
This “Dallas” spinoff was kitchen-sink drama at its soggiest.
14. Make Room For Daddy
336 episodes (1953-64)
Danny Thomas starred as an entertainer with a long-suffering wife. Sound familiar? That’s because the show was produced by Desilu, the company behind “I Love Lucy.”
15. ER
331 episodes (1994-2009)
George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross. Need we say more?
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