Where Does ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Rank Among the Longest-Running TV Sitcoms?
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (435 episodes)
This ABC sitcom — starring real-life couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and their sons — made its television debut in 1952, though it actually got started on radio eight years prior.
My Three Sons (380 episodes)
Double Indemnity star Fred MacMurray went from film noir to family fare for this sitcom, which aired 12 seasons across its runs on ABC and CBS.
The Danny Thomas Show (344 episodes)
Another ABC-to-CBS transfer, this sitcom changed names mid-run, going from Make Room For Daddy to The Danny Thomas Show.
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (291 episodes)
After success in vaudeville in the 1920s and radio in the 1930s and 1940s, George Burns and Gracie Allen took their comedy to the small screen. These days, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation carry on Allen’s legacy by handing out Gracie Awards each year.
Cheers (275 episodes)
Ranked by the Writers Guild of America as the eighth best-written TV series of all time, this NBC sitcom made stars out such actors as Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Woody Harrelson.
The Donna Reed Show (275 episodes)
If you don’t know Donna Reed from It’s a Wonderful Life or From Here to Eternity, you likely know her from her eponymous ABC sitcom, which was groundbreaking at the time for focusing on a mother.
The Beverly Hillbillies (274 episodes)
This CBS sitcom struck (black) gold — running for nine seasons, ranking as the top-rated broadcast for two years in a row, and even spawning a big-screen adaptation.
Frasier (264 episodes)
This spin-off of Cheers nearly matched its predecessor’s length. And until Game of Thrones’ sweep in 2016, this NBC sitcom held the record for the most Emmys ever won by a scripted series.
Two and a Half Men (262 episodes)
Before co-creating The Big Bang Theory, Chuck Lorre co-created this CBS sitcom… which aired longer than Angus T. Jones wanted it to, apparently.
Married… With Children (259 episodes)
This sitcom — which launched the careers of Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal, and Ed O’Neill — survived a boycott and multiple Parents Television Council condemnations and ran for 11 seasons on FOX.
The Big Bang Theory (255 episodes)
It’s currently #11 on this list, but after its 24-episode 12th and final season, The Big Bang Theory will have aired 277 episodes, ranking it in fifth place.
The Big Bang Theory will end after its upcoming 12th season, meaning it won’t become the longest-running American sitcom… but it will come awfully close.
We’re breaking down all of the live-action American sitcoms with the highest episode counts, which includes series like Married… With Children, Cheers, Frasier, and more.
Click through the gallery above to see where Sheldon & Co. currently land among these shows — and how the show will rank following its 2019 series finale.
See Also