You’ll Be Surprised How Long These Television Shows Ran
When you have a hit on television, it can be hard for everyone involved, be it the writers, actors or even executives, to ever want to pull the plug. That ended up being the downfall of some shows which lasted well beyond the point of audience interest.
Californication
People were initially thrilled by David Duchovny’s television comeback Californication, but after seven seasons, the shtick of his virile writer character, Hank Moody, soon grew thin.
Paramount, Californication (2007–2014)
The Walking Dead
This comic book adaptation was one of the AMC Network's flagship shows, alongside Mad Men and Breaking Bad. But did it need 11 seasons and countless spin-offs?
AMC, The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
Fear The Walking Dead
Speaking of The Walking Dead spin-offs, did you know the very first one of them lasted eight whole seasons? Try to think of anybody you know who watched the entire thing.
AMC, Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2023)
Dexter
They tended to run it into the ground when the cable channel Showtime had a popular program. Case in point, who needed eight seasons of Dexter, which was already starting to grow tired after three?
Showtime Networks, Dexter (2006–2013)
Grey’s Anatomy
21 seasons, that’s how long Grey’s Anatomy has been running. Just for context, it premiered as a mid-season replacement two months after the beginning of George W Bush’s second presidential term and is still on the air five years past the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shondaland, Grey's Anatomy (2005-)
Ray Donovan
One of those Showtime dramas your parents probably like, Ray Donovan, lasted a surprising seven seasons. The kicker is that the show’s creators wanted even more, getting a TV movie in the process.
The Mark Gordon Company, Ray Donovan (2013–2020)
Shameless
Cable shows, even the most popular, tend to only run for seven to eight seasons max. So you’d be stunned to find out that the Showtime comedy Shameless went on for 11.
Warner Bros., Shameless (2011–2021)
Suits
Perpetually “the show that your one co-worker watches”, Suits is one of the most inexplicably popular television dramas of the 21st century. It was popular enough to last nine seasons at least, even if nobody was watching by the end.
Supernatural
Initially a charming amalgamation of The X-Files and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Supernatural lasted almost as long as both those shows combined, with a whopping 15 seasons. Who dared watch it all?
Warner Bros., Supernatural (2005-2020)
How I Met Your Mother
Sitcoms always benefit from familiarity and comfort. But that doesn’t mean that How I Met Your Mother’s characters and situations quite justified nine seasons.
20th Century, How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)
Glee
While six seasons isn’t necessarily too much for a popular program, it can be said that show creator Ryan Murphy’s attention was definitely gone by the time Glee concluded.
Twentieth Century, Glee (2009-2015)
Scrubs
The eighth season of Scrubs was conceived as the show’s final one. So when it got a surprising renewal for a ninth season, none of the original cast was around to participate.
ABC Signature, Scrubs (2001–2010)
The Big Bang Theory
There are only so many times you can hear “Bazinga!”, especially for 12 seasons. Frankly, don’t be shocked if there’s still a reboot down the line of this one-time sitcom juggernaut.
Chuck Lorre Productions, The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)
The Simpsons
Perhaps the ultimate example on this list is the animated sitcom, which is currently in season 36. For the record, most fans will tell you that the ninth season was the last consistently good one.
Gracie Films, The Simpsons (1989-)
Riverdale
By halfway through its seven-season run, Riverdale was already filling time by having episodes ripping off popular movies like Uncut Gems. The gas was out of the tank well before the end.
Homeland
One of countless Showtime entries on this list, Homeland was initially one of the most acclaimed television shows on air, until it dragged its way to an eighth season.
Keshet Studios, Homeland (2011-2020
Two And A Half Men
For those keeping track, Charlie Sheen was fired from this incredibly popular sitcom after the eighth season due to his infamous “tiger blood” meltdown. Yet there were still four more seasons with his replacement, Ashton Kutcher.
Chuck Lorre Productions, Two and a Half Men (2003–2015)
One Tree Hill
Likely nobody’s favorite teen drama of the 2000s, One Tree Hill still lasted nine seasons, by the end of which almost none of the original cast remained.
Warner Bros., One Tree Hill (2003–2012)
Modern Family
While consistently a ratings smash, the laughs had worn pretty thin by the end of the 11-season run of this ABC sitcom.
Twentieth Century, Modern Family (2009–2020)
Once Upon A Time
This fairy-tale-themed drama on ABC saw its steady viewership decline by the third season—so, we have no idea how it lasted a whole seven.
ABC, Once Upon a Time (2011–2018)
Bones
You’d likely be stunned to find out that this Fox procedural starring the duo of Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz lasted 12 seasons. They probably could’ve replicated season 3 plotlines in season 10 for all the viewers cared.
Twentieth Century, Bones (2005–2017)
The Office
Likely one of the most successful and acclaimed television remakes ever, the American iteration of The Office seemed a shadow of its former self by the end of its ninth season, partly due to the departure of show star Steve Carrell.
3 Arts Entertainment, The Office (2005–2013)
That 70s Show
This popular 70s-set sitcom which launched many careers lasted eight whole seasons. The funny thing is that about half of the show was set in 1979.
Twentieth Century, That '70s Show (1998–2006)
Smallville
Smallville’s idea to depict a young Clark Kent’s high school years was a good one. But extending to 10 seasons, it was practically just the Superman show by the end.
Tollin, Smallville (2001–2017)
Happy Days
The term “jump the shark” is used to refer to when a television show or franchise loses its mojo. This originated from an episode of the fifth season of Happy Days, of which there were still six more to follow.
Paramount, Happy Days (1974–1984)
ER
Once one of the most popular dramas on television, ER began to decline in popularity around its eighth season. That being said, it still managed to hit 15 seasons total.
Amblin Entertainment, ER (1994–2009)
Weeds
The Mary Louise Parker-starring comedy Weeds was one of the freshest and edgiest shows on television when it premiered in 2005. Unfortunately, the bloom was off the rose by the time it tired viewers to an eighth season.
The X Files
With most of the central mysteries wrapped up and series star David Duchovny losing interest in season seven, it felt like it was the appropriate time for The X-Files to end. But there were still two more seasons of varying quality to go.
Twentieth Century, The X-Files (1993–2018)
Roseanne
The original Roseanne received a lot of praise for capturing a blue-collar America not often seen on television. That had disappeared by the show’s ninth and final season where, having seemingly run out of plotlines, the writers resorted to the family winning the lottery.
Wind Dancer Productions, Roseanne (1988–2018)
True Blood
The vampire drama True Blood seems to have topped its camp factor by the third season, which is why it’s unfortunate it still went on for another four after that.
Beverly Hills 90210
The quintessential teen drama took the characters well into adulthood, lasting 10 whole seasons. The question is who cared about seeing them into their late twenties?
Propaganda Films, Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)
Nip/Tuck
The Ryan Murphy-created drama received a lot of acclaim for its trashy storytelling and sense of humor but had trouble maintaining momentum all the way to its sixth and final season.
Stu Segall Productions, Nip/Tuck (2003–2010)
Bewitched
Bewitched was one of the most popular and enduring sitcoms of the 1960s, but by the time the show entered the 70s, things had changed, chiefly with its stars having left. By the eighth and final season, it hid the nadir of the 72nd most-watched show on television.
Ashmont Productions, Bewitched (1964–1972)
Pretty Little Liars
One of the biggest guilty pleasure shows of the 2010s, Pretty Little Liars delighted its audience with a teen-centric murder mystery—that is, until it overstayed its welcome through seven seasons.
ABC, Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)
The Vampire Diaries
Premiering during the height of the Twilight and True Blood vampire craze, this CW drama lived long past that phenomenon, at seven seasons.
Outerbanks Entertainment, The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)
24
The gimmicky terrorism-themed drama 24 always found a way to keep itself entertaining, but by season nine, it was hard to not feel like they’d run out of methods to keep the engine running.
Twentieth Century, 24 (2001–2010)
13 Reasons Why
This controversial Netflix drama went on for four seasons despite having about enough content for a single miniseries. The streaming content demands can place bad requirements on art.
Anonymous Content, 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020)
MASH
The final episode of MASH may be legendary for attracting the most viewers in television history, at a whopping 103 million, but there’s the question of if it needed to be 11 seasons in the first place. After all, that was longer than the actual Korean War the show was set during.
Twentieth Century, MASH (1972–1983)
Desperate Housewives
Recalling the bizarre genre and tone mashing of something like Twin Peaks when it first premiered in 2004, Desperate Housewives was instantly the most talked about television show. It seemed to become what it was satirizing though by the end of its eighth season.
Touchstone, Desperate Housewives (2004–2012)
Charmed
Charmed star Rose McGowan once remarked that she cried every time the show was renewed for another season due to how tiresome it was. Running for eight seasons, there must’ve been a lot of tears.
