The television industry is fiercely competitive, making it a stroke of luck for any TV series to secure a renewal beyond its initial season. Surviving casting changes, cultural fluctuations, and shifts in the media landscape is a rarity. Spanning from daytime soap operas to late-night comedy programs, here are the 40 longest-running TV shows in history.

#40 Gunsmoke (1955-1975)

This pioneering Western drama revolutionized the genre on television, setting a new standard for storytelling with its rich character development and moral complexities. Over its 20-year run, it captivated audiences with tales of law and order in the frontier town of Dodge City, making cultural icons of characters like Marshal Matt Dillon.