Comedy Show Longevity Calculator
Compare Comedy Show Longevity
Calculate how many episodes your favorite comedy show has produced and see how it compares to The Simpsons' record-breaking 762 episodes.
The longest running comedy show in television history isn’t a live-action sitcom with studio audiences or a sketch comedy variety hour. It’s an animated show that’s been on the air for more than three decades, airing new episodes every week without interruption. That show is The Simpsons.
How The Simpsons Became the Record Holder
The Simpsons premiered on December 17, 1989, as a short on The Tracey Ullman Show before getting its own half-hour prime-time slot on Fox. What started as a quirky, satirical take on American family life quickly became a cultural phenomenon. By 2009, it had surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime scripted series in U.S. television history. It didn’t stop there. In 2018, it broke its own record for the most episodes of any animated series, and it’s still adding episodes every season.
As of December 2025, The Simpsons has aired 762 episodes across 36 seasons. No other comedy show comes close. The next longest-running sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has 17 seasons and 168 episodes - less than a quarter of The Simpsons’ total. Even Law & Order: SVU, often mistaken for the longest-running comedy, is a drama and has fewer episodes than The Simpsons.
Why It’s Still Going After 35+ Years
Most TV shows burn out after five or six seasons. The Simpsons has survived by constantly reinventing itself. Early seasons focused on sharp satire of middle-class life, suburbia, and American institutions. Later seasons added more absurd, surreal humor - think talking dogs, time travel, and alternate realities - while still keeping the core family dynamic intact.
The writing team has always included former stand-up comedians, cartoonists, and writers from Saturday Night Live. They’ve adapted to changing tastes by incorporating current events, internet culture, and celebrity cameos. Every episode still opens with the same couch gag, but the gag changes every week - a small detail that keeps longtime viewers engaged.
It also helped that the show never relied on a single gimmick. Unlike sitcoms built around a single premise - like a talking horse or a man pretending to be a woman - The Simpsons is a world. Springfield has its own geography, history, politics, and even a local news station. You can watch an episode from 1991 and still get references that make sense in 2025.
Other Long-Running Comedy Shows (And Why They Didn’t Last as Long)
There are other comedy shows with impressive runs, but none match The Simpsons’ scale.
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present) - 17 seasons, still ongoing. Its success comes from extreme characters and dark humor, but it’s limited by its small cast and single-location setting.
- Family Guy (1999-present) - 23 seasons. It’s the closest animated competitor, but it’s had multiple cancellations and revivals. The Simpsons never went off the air.
- South Park (1997-present) - 27 seasons. It’s faster-paced and more topical, but it airs only 10-12 episodes per year. The Simpsons airs 20-22.
- Friends (1994-2004) - 10 seasons. A global hit, but it ended on its own terms and never returned.
- Seinfeld (1989-1998) - 9 seasons. Often called a show about nothing, it was critically acclaimed but ran for less than half the time of The Simpsons.
The key difference? The Simpsons wasn’t tied to a specific era, cast, or cultural moment. It was built to last. Its characters don’t age. Homer doesn’t retire. Bart doesn’t grow up. That’s not a flaw - it’s the point.
What Makes a Comedy Show Last?
Longevity in comedy TV isn’t just about ratings. It’s about adaptability. Shows that fade out usually do so because they get stuck in a formula. The Simpsons avoided that by letting its writers take risks. One episode might parody superhero movies. The next could be a musical about Bart’s imaginary friend. The show has done silent episodes, black-and-white episodes, and even episodes told entirely from the perspective of a dog.
It also had the luxury of being animated. Live-action shows face real-world constraints: actor availability, aging, budget spikes, location permits. The Simpsons? You can draw a scene where Homer rides a dinosaur through downtown Springfield. No stunt team. No green screen. Just a pencil and a storyboard.
And then there’s the business side. The Simpsons generates billions in merchandise, licensing, and streaming rights. It’s not just a show - it’s a brand. Fox, and now Disney, have every reason to keep it going as long as viewers tune in.
Is There Any Chance Another Show Will Break the Record?
Right now, no. Even the most popular new comedies struggle to reach 10 seasons. Streaming platforms favor limited series. Networks are wary of committing to long-term animated shows because of high production costs. The Simpsons benefits from decades of accumulated episodes, which means it can be rerun endlessly - a huge financial safety net.
Some shows might come close. South Park could reach 30+ seasons if it keeps up its pace. Family Guy has a loyal fanbase and a syndication empire. But neither has the same consistent weekly output, global recognition, or cultural footprint.
The Simpsons isn’t just the longest-running comedy. It’s the only one that’s become a living archive of American pop culture. Each episode is a time capsule - from the Y2K panic to the rise of social media, from the first iPhone to the pandemic. It’s watched by grandparents, parents, and kids who were born after it started.
Where to Watch The Simpsons Today
All 36 seasons are available on Disney+ in the U.S. and most international markets. In some countries, it still airs on broadcast TV. The show’s syndication rights are among the most valuable in television history, so you’ll find reruns on local stations, cable networks, and even in-flight entertainment systems.
If you’re new to the show, start with Seasons 2 through 8. That’s widely considered its golden era - tight writing, memorable guest stars, and jokes that still land today. Don’t worry about watching from the beginning. The Simpsons has always been designed for casual viewing. You can jump in anywhere and still get the humor.
Final Thoughts
The Simpsons didn’t win the record by accident. It won because it never stopped evolving. It’s not perfect - later seasons have their critics. But no other comedy show has managed to stay relevant, funny, and culturally significant for over 35 years. That’s not luck. That’s mastery.
Whether you love it or think it’s past its prime, you can’t ignore it. It’s the show that redefined what a TV comedy could be - and still is.
What is the longest running comedy show on TV?
The longest running comedy show on TV is The Simpsons. It has aired 762 episodes across 36 seasons since its debut on December 17, 1989. It holds the record for the longest-running American animated series, primetime scripted series, and sitcom in television history.
How many seasons of The Simpsons are there?
As of December 2025, The Simpsons has 36 seasons. New episodes continue to be produced and aired weekly. The show is currently in its 36th season, with Season 37 already greenlit.
Is The Simpsons still making new episodes?
Yes, The Simpsons is still producing new episodes. Despite rumors of cancellation over the years, the show has consistently been renewed. Season 37 is confirmed for the 2025-2026 broadcast season, and Disney has indicated plans to continue the series as long as viewership remains strong.
What’s the second longest running comedy show?
The second longest running comedy show is South Park, with 27 seasons as of 2025. However, South Park produces fewer episodes per season (typically 10-12) compared to The Simpsons (20-22). In terms of total episodes, South Park has around 320, still less than half of The Simpsons’ count. It’s also had multiple cancellations and revivals, unlike The Simpsons, which has aired continuously.
Why hasn’t another animated show broken The Simpsons’ record?
Other animated comedies like Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers have long runs, but none match The Simpsons’ combination of consistent weekly output, global syndication, and cultural staying power. The Simpsons benefits from decades of accumulated episodes, which makes it a reliable revenue source for networks and streaming services. New shows face higher production costs and less guaranteed audience retention, making long-term commitments risky.
