Primetime American Television Superstars

Cafe Society
1

Who are the Prime-Time American TV superstars?

For the purposes of this discussion, Prime Time is from 7 to 11PM (Eastern) and I’m only interested in scripted live-action dramas or comedies, and people who are main characters (for the purposes of this discussion, a main character is one one appearing in 90% or more of episodes in a television season (since main character status is usually contracted on a seasonal basis, I won’t worry about people who have been demoted from “main” or achieved “main” midway through a season). And I’m only interested in successful series, which for the purposes of this discussion means “had 3 or more seasons.” (but the character doesn’t have to be in all of the seasons).

Who is the person who has been a main character in the most successful series?

Who is the person who has been a main character in the most seasons of a successful series?

Who is the person who has been a main character in the most episodes of a successful series?

I think top contenders include Lucille Ball (three successful series, with lots of seasons and episodes), William Shatner (three successful series, etc.), William Conrad, and Kelsey Grammer, but I’m no doubt missing people.

2

Sam Waterson has been in 397/488 episodes of Law & Order and S. Epatha Merkerson is on his heels with 391 episodes (although 2 of them she was a different character). Waterson is still going.

3

Bea Benaderet. Main character in Burns and Allen, The Flintstones, and Petticoat Junction.

Harry Morgan – December Bride, Dragnet 1970 and MASH. Pete and Gladys ran 72 episodes, too.

4

Ted Danson, perhaps?

5

I think Ted Danson qualifies with three series; Cheers, Becker, and The Good Place.

David Boreanaz with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Bones, and SEAL Team.

Mariska Hargitay is credited with 535 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

6

Also three seasons of Bored to Death, if an HBO sitcom counts. And several years on CSI.

7

Pretty sure The Flintstones wasn’t a live-action series.

8

Go, Ted!

I was thinking of Conrad’s years on radio as Matt Dillon. Oops. Still, let’s not forget James Arness and Dennis Weaver.

And @Dendarii_Dame reminded me of Michael Landon of Bonanza, Little House and Highway to Heaven

9

Andy Griffith has The Andy Griffith Show (1960-‘68), Mayberry R.F.D. (‘68-‘71), and Matlock (‘86-‘95).

10

I bet I have a winner for most tv series:
Joey Lawrence

Woah!

When he was little, he was one of the leads on Gimme a Break’s ensemble cast

Then, he went to Blossom as a teenager

After that, he teamed with his brothers on Brotherly Love as a young man

Then he was on 4 seasons of Half & Half

And IMDB tells me that he was on Melissa and Joey (with Melissa Joan Hart) from 2010-2015

(I haven’t seen that last two either. Do the UPN and ABC Family count as prime time television?)

11

Ken Berry replaced Andy Griffith as the leading man of Mayberry RFD. I don’t think Andy was in a single episode of that series.

The only other thing I remember Ken in is F Troop.

12

Bill Cosby
Nell Carter
Sherman Hemsley

13

He’s been very lucky. Most people don’t get as many shows as him and almost everything he has done has run 5+ seasons.

14

He was on Mama’s Family for 130 episodes.

15

Nice work if you can get it.

16

Betty White - @NotherYinzer reminded me that she also was on Mama’s Family

17

130 (Mama’s Family) + 65 (F Troop) + 78 (Mayberry, RFD) episodes must put Ken up there too.

How about Buddy Ebsen? 274 (The Beverly Hillbillies) + 178 (Barnaby Jones) episodes over 9 + 8 seasons, respectively. Pretty good for an old guy!

18

Dick Van Dyke: 158 (The Dick Van Dyke Show) + 72 (The New Dick Van Dyke Show) + 178 (Diagnosis: Murder) episodes over 5 + 3 + 8 seasons, respectively. Plus 5 D:M TV movies and the series’ backdoor pilot.

19

Add two seasons of Mr. Mayor.

ETA: Oops, only two seasons. I should read the OP completely before posting…

20

Bea was also “Cousin Pearl Bodine” in 23 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies and “Kate Bradley” in 6 episodes of Green Acres.