List of longest running U.S. syndicated television series

This is a list of the longest running U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...

television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...

, ordered by number of broadcast seasons.

To qualify for this list, the programming must originate in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

, shown nationally in the United States, and be first-run (as opposed to a repackaging of previously-aired material or material released in other media). For the purposes of this list, series that were available only on a local or regional basis will be excluded. For series that were also presented on U.S. broadcast network

Broadcast network

A broadcast network is an organization, such as a corporation or other voluntary association, that provides live television or recorded content, such as movies, newscasts, sports, Public affairs programming, and other television programs for broadcast over a group of radio stations or television...

s or cable networks

Cable television

Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...

, only the amount aired nationally original syndicated programming is represented here.

Several long-lasting series were both in first-run syndication and on U.S. network television. For those that were in syndication for fewer than ten seasons, see List of longest running U.S. television series.

20 seasons or more

Number of seasons	Series	First broadcast	Last broadcast	Number of episodes
38	700 Club	1972	present
35	Soul Train Soul Train Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...	October 2, 1971	March 25, 2006	1,117
33	America's Black Forum America's Black Forum America's Black Forum is an Emmy Award-winning nationally syndicated weekly news broadcast targeted to an African American audience. The show started in 1977, and is one of the longest running U.S...	1977	present
29	NFL Films Presents	1968	1997
29	At the Movies	1981	present
29	Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...	September 14, 1981	present
28	MotorWeek MotorWeek MotorWeek is an American automotive television series. The program premiered in 1981 and is hosted by auto expertJohn H. Davis, who is also the series’ creator and executive producer...	1982	present
28	The McLaughlin Group The McLaughlin Group The McLaughlin Group is a syndicated half-hour weekly public affairs television program in the United States, where a group of five pundits discuss current political issues in a round table format. It has been broadcast since 1982, and is currently sponsored by MetLife...	1982	present
27	Wheel of Fortune Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show) Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...	September 19, 1983	present
27	Donahue The Phil Donahue Show The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, is an American television talk show that ran for 26 years on national television. Its run was preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, and it was broadcast nationwide between 1967 and 1996.In 2002, Donahue was ranked #29 on TV Guide's...	1969	1996
26	Jeopardy! Jeopardy! Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories... (revival)	September 10, 1984	present	6253+
26	David Susskind Show David Susskind Show The David Susskind Show was an American television talk show hosted by David Susskind. The program began its existence in 1958 as Open End, and was broadcast by WNTA-TV in New York City...	1961	1987
26	Faith for Today	1955	1981
25	Insight Insight (TV series) Insight was an Emmy-winning syndicated television series produced by Paulist Productions that aired 250 episodes from 1960 to 1983. The series presented half-hour dramas illuminating the contemporary search for meaning, freedom, and love...	October 2, 1960	January 21, 1985
24	The Oprah Winfrey Show The Oprah Winfrey Show The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....	September 8, 1986	May 25, 2011
23	Death Valley Days Death Valley Days Death Valley Days is an American radio and television anthology series featuring true stories of the old American West, particularly the Death Valley area. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was broadcast on radio until 1945. It continued from 1952 to 1975 as a syndicated television series...	March 1, 1952	August 1, 1975	558
23	Showtime at the Apollo Showtime at the Apollo Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...	1987	present
22	Live With Regis and Kelly Live with Regis and Kelly Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...	September 5, 1988	present
21	Hee Haw Hee Haw Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...	1971	1992
21	This Week in Baseball This Week in Baseball This Week in Baseball is a weekly television program, originally designed to show highlights of the previous week's Major League Baseball action. TWIB debuted in .-Genesis of the series:...	1977	1998
21	Inside Edition Inside Edition Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...	January 9, 1989	present

15-19 seasons

Number of seasons	Series	First broadcast	Last broadcast	Number of episodes
19	The Porter Wagoner Show	1960	1979
19	The Jerry Springer Show The Jerry Springer Show The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...	September 30, 1991	present	3000+
18	The Merv Griffin Show The Merv Griffin Show The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...	1965	1969
		April 1972	September 1986
17	Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures is a reality television series about animals and their exciting adventures. This series is hosted by Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium...	September 1, 1993	present
17	Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Wild Kingdom Wild Kingdom, sometimes known as Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, is an American television show that features wildlife and nature. It was originally produced from 1963 until 1988, and was revived in 2002...	1971	1988
16	Fight Back! with David Horowitz	1976	1992
16	George Michael Sports Machine	September 15, 1991	March 25, 2007
16	The Montel Williams Show The Montel Williams Show The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...	June 24, 1991	May 16, 2008	3000+
16	Extra Extra (TV series) Extra is an American entertainment television news program covering events and celebrities which debuted on September 5, 1994 in syndication. It is produced at Victory Studios in Glendale, California by Telepictures Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution...	September 5, 1994	present
16	Entertainers with Byron Allen	September 1994	present
16	Kickin' It with Byron Allen	1994	present
15	That Good Ole Nashville Music	1970	1985

10-14 seasons

Number of seasons	Series	First broadcast	Last broadcast	Number of episodes
14	Jack LaLanne Show	1956	1970
14	Access Hollywood Access Hollywood Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...	September 9, 1996	present
14	Judge Judy Judge Judy Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...	September 16, 1996	present
13	PM Magazine PM Magazine PM/Evening Magazine was a television series with a news and entertainment format. It was syndicated to stations throughout the United States...	September 1978	January 1, 1991
13	The People's Court The People's Court The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration.... (revival)	September 1997	present	1500+
12	Star Search Star Search Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...	September 10, 1983	May 20, 1995
12	Divorce Court Divorce Court Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest... (original series)	1957	1969
12	The People's Court The People's Court The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration.... (original series)	September 1981	1993	2,484
12	Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is a television series that aired in syndication from 1984 to 1995. The show featured the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers, athletes and business moguls....	January 1984	September 1996
12	The Jenny Jones Show The Jenny Jones Show The Jenny Jones Show is an American syndicated daytime tabloid talk show that was hosted by comedian/actress/singer Jenny Jones. It was produced by Telepictures and was distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution...	September 16, 1991	September 12, 2003
11	Divorce Court Divorce Court Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest... (revival)	September 5th, 1999	present	2,076+
11	The Wilburn Brothers Show	1963	1974	354
11	The Lawrence Welk Show The Lawrence Welk Show The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...	1971	February 1982
11	Love Connection Love Connection Love Connection is an American television game show, hosted by Chuck Woolery, in which singles attempted to connect with a compatible partner of the opposite gender. The show debuted in syndication on September 19, 1983 and ended on July 1, 1994, after more than 2,000 shows. Reruns continued to air...	September 12, 1983	July 1, 1994
11	The Geraldo Rivera Show	1987	1998
11	Martha Stewart Living Martha Stewart Living Martha Stewart Living is a magazine and a television show featuring entertaining and home decorating guru Martha Stewart. Both the magazine and the television program focus on the domestic arts. Martha Stewart Living began as a quarterly magazine in 1990, published by Time Inc..and is currently...	1993	2004
11	Ricki Lake Ricki Lake (talk show) Ricki Lake was the first daytime tabloid talk show hosted by American actress Ricki Lake.The show specialized in sensationalist topics involving invited guests and incorporated questions and comments from a studio audience...	September 13, 1993	August 27, 2004
10	A Current Affair A Current Affair (US TV series) A Current Affair is an American television newsmagazine that aired in syndicated from July 1986 to 1996 before reappearing briefly in March 2005. The show was produced by 20th Century Fox, and long based at Fox's New York flagship WNYW.-Overview:...	July 28, 1986	1996
10	Hard Copy Hard Copy Hard Copy is an American tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence....	September 18, 1989	April 26, 1999
10	Baywatch Baywatch Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...	October 1991	May 24, 2001
10	Friends Friends Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...	September 22, 1994	May 6, 2004	236
10	Cheaters Cheaters Cheaters is a weekly syndicated hidden camera reality television series that documents people who are suspected of committing adultery, or cheating, on their partners. Investigations are headed by the "Cheaters Detective Agency". The show is hosted by Joey Greco, the show airs on Saturday nights...	September 2000	Present	210+

20 seasons or more

15-19 seasons

10-14 seasons

See also