List of the longest-running sitcoms in US history. These funny TV series have more episodes than any others in American television. Some of the shows ran and have since gone off the air or been canceled, while others remain ongoing and are still being produced. Typically, these shows were collected into "seasons" of television, each with a pre-set amount of episodes. Sometimes, these seasons were broken up, in some cases with years or even decades between production of the series, while still being considered the run of a single TV show. (Spin-offs and other shows that were reinvented and debuted as new series are not considered.) This list contains all the longest-running shows in the history of TV comedy.
What is the longest running sitcom? Popular sitcoms making it to 7, or even 10, seasons are not particularly rare. Many popular shows - such as Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond or Friends - are able to keep the central cast together and maintain narrative momentum to hit that landmark, or at least get close. But very rarely will a situation comedy exceed the 10th season or get close to 300 episodes, at least not without major cast shake-ups that change the basic nature of the show. So what is the longest running TV show? The Kelsey Grammar series in which he plays Dr. Frasier Crane, however, seems to be the exception to the rule. Not only was Cheers, the show introducing Frasier, a consistent hit for 11 years (and 275 episodes!), but the spinoff show "Frasier" also made it to 11 seasons and had a grand total of 264 episodes. That's a lot of listening! In 2020, It's Always Sunny In Philedelphia broke the record for longest-running live-action comedy series by being renewed for its 15th season, although it has less episodes than the older sitcoms that previously held the record.
1
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton14 Seasons, 154 episodes, renewed for season 15
2
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard14 Seasons. 435 Episodes.3
My Three Sons
Fred MacMurray, Stanley Livingston12 Seasons. 3804
The Danny Thomas Show
Annette Funicello, Danny Thomas11 Seasons. 351 Episodes.5
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
George Burns, Gracie Allen8 Seasons. 291 Episodes.6
Cheers
Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman11 Seasons. 275 Episodes.7
Frasier
Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves11 Seasons. 264 Episodes.8
Married... with Children
Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate11 Seasons. 263 Episodes.9
Happy Days
Ron Howard, Henry Winkler11 Seasons. 255 Episodes.10
The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley11 Seasons. 253 Episodes.11
M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers11 Seasons. 251 Episodes.12
Friends
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox10 Seasons. 236 Episodes.13
Murphy Brown
Candice Bergen, Grant Shaud10 Seasons. 247 Episodes.14
The Andy Griffith Show
Andy Griffith, Ron Howard8 Seasons. 249 Episodes.15
The Love Boat
Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell9 Seasons. 249 Episodes.16
Father Knows Best
Robert Young, Jane Wyatt8 Seasons. 203 Episodes.17
Family Matters
Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel White9 Seasons. 215 Episodes.18
Everybody Loves Raymond
Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton9 Seasons. 210 Episodes.19
All in the Family
Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton9 Seasons. 210 Episodes.20
The Facts of Life
Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields9 Seasons. 209 Episodes.21
One Day at a Time
Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips9 Seasons. 209 Episodes.22
The King of Queens
Kevin James, Leah Remini9 Seasons. 207 Episodes.23
Home Improvement
Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson204 Episodes.24
The Drew Carey Show
Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader9 Seasons. 233 Episodes.25
Leave It to Beaver
Jerry Mathers, Hugh Beaumont6 Seasons. 234 Episodes.