A Selection of the Longest TV Series in Human History (10 photos)

We present a selection of the ten most ambitious television series in history, with runtimes spanning decades and, in some cases, exceeding 15,000 episodes. Contrary to popular belief, the iconic "Santa Barbara," with its 2,137 episodes, lags far behind the top-ranked series, many of which premiered in the mid-20th century and continue to air today. In this article, we rank the projects by the number of episodes released and determine which series officially holds the title of longest-running in the world.

10. Another World (1964-1999)





Number of episodes: 8,891

A distinctive feature of this series was the epigraph that opened each new episode until 1987. It read: "We live not only in this world, but in a thousand other worlds." With this postulate, creator Irna Phillips wanted to convey to viewers that in addition to reality, which can be touched and tasted, people also have a dream world. And everything is different there.

The series tells not only about the ordinary life collisions of ordinary people. It also depicts rather rare, almost exotic situations in which people of different social statuses and beliefs find themselves.

9. Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986)



Number of episodes: 9,130

The series premiered in September 1951 and ran for nearly thirty-five years, until December 1986.

Incidentally, its sponsor was the now world-famous Procter & Gamble company, as well as one of the leading manufacturers of vacuum cleaners and dishwashing detergents, so this television opera literally ran on soap opera money. Since 1967, the series has been shown in color.

Essentially, the series is a digest of all sorts of stories about people. These include comedies, tragedies, failed marriages and absurd divorces, lost children, betrayals and infidelities. The film fully lives up to its title: the characters are in a perpetual search for themselves and for tomorrow.

8. All My Children (1970-2013)





Number of episodes: 10,712

The series takes place in a small suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Agnes Nixon created more than just a run-of-the-mill soap opera with a syrupy plot; she infused the series with humor, wit, and real issues.

For the first time in the history of soap operas, the Vietnam War was discussed on screen. This latter circumstance was a real breakthrough in the history of American sitcoms for housewives.

The majority of viewers for this series were men. In its first year after its premiere, the series ranked 17th out of 19 soap operas broadcast on TV. In 1972, All My Children won its first Emmy Award.

7. One Life to Live (1968–2012)



Number of episodes: 11,136

The series first aired in the summer of 1968 on ABC and became the first true drama to tackle previously taboo topics. In particular, racial conflicts, socioeconomic issues, and, most importantly, the problems of the LGBT community and drug addiction among youth were addressed.

In 2002, the series won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

Fun fact: the set built for the series in 1988 became the largest in the history of soap operas. Multi-level, it reached a height of ten meters. That same year, the crew needed a drilling rig for the work, which was also purchased. However, it was not the actors who worked on it, but professional stunt doubles.

6. Coronation Street (1960-…)



Number of episodes: 11,820

A British television series that won four National Awards for Best Soap, four British Awards for Most Popular Drama Series, and a number of other awards and titles for the quality and urgency of its social issues.

The first episodes aired in the last century – at the end of 1960. In the fall of 2016, fans celebrated the broadcast of "Street"'s 9,000th episode, making it the longest-running soap opera filmed in the UK.

The series' plot is both simple and complex, like life itself. It follows the lives of ordinary residents of Coronation Street, a small English town. Most of the characters don't have much money or high birth, but that's precisely why they resonate with viewers. The series is filled with lively humor and genuine drama.

5. The Young and the Restless (1973-…)



Number of episodes: 13,343

On March 26, 1973, a soap opera set in the fictional city of Genoa City premiered. The first seasons focused primarily on the ups and downs of two Genoa City families: the millionaire Brookses and the impoverished Fosters.

However, due to constant cast turnover, in the early 1980s, the creators' attention shifted to the feuding Abbott and Newman families. Another recurring plot line between them: Jill versus Kay. It's the story of the hatred between an ordinary manicurist and her overbearing boss.

4. As the World Turns (1956-2010)



Number of episodes: 13,858

This series was something of a pioneer in the history of soap operas. It was the first soap opera to run for half an hour, while all previous episodes had been under fifteen minutes.

It premiered on April 2, 1956. Initially, the longer story lengths were not well received by viewers, but over time, viewers became hooked, and this daytime soap broke all popularity records from 1958 to 1978.

The action takes place in a fictional town in one of the American states. The story centers on the families of lawyers, police officers, and doctors who must deal with a variety of everyday problems every day—both half a century ago and today. It was this series that, in the early 1980s, first highlighted the issue of abortion in soap opera history.

3. Days of Our Lives (1965-…)



Number of episodes: 15,364

Another long-running series—the fourth-longest-running soap opera in the world. By 2003, the number of episodes of "Days of Our Lives" had surpassed 12,000.

The events unfold in a strange country, in the fictitious town of Salem. But that's not necessary, as the saga tells of eternal values ​​and problems that have existed throughout time and on every continent. It concerns the choice between duty and passion, worrying about loved ones and the joy of victories—both large and small.

2. General Hospital (1963-…)



Number of episodes: 15,949

This series holds the honorable distinction of being the second-longest-running show in the Guinness Book of World Records. It premiered on April 1, 1963, on ABC, making it the longest-running television show in its history.

The original idea was conceived by the married screenwriters the Hursleys, who created the fictional town of Port Charles, which houses the hospital where all the main events take place.

The series' ratings skyrocketed in the early 1980s, thanks to the incredible popularity of its lead characters, Luke and Laura. Their wedding, which aired as television guests, attracted 30 million viewers, an all-time record.

In 2003, TV Guide named the series "The Greatest Soap Opera of All Time."

1. Guiding Light (1952-2009)



Number of episodes: 18,262

This American soap opera tops the list of the ten longest-running series of all time – "Guiding Light" is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records!

The television premiere took place on June 20, 1952, and the radio broadcast was even earlier – in January 1937. The show's creators bid viewers their final farewell only in September 2009.

The film begins with Reverend Rutland leaving a lit lamp in his window so that those lost in the night and in life can find their way back to the light—both literally and figuratively.