# Primetime American Television Superstars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 15, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725 "2023-04-15T21:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/1 "2023-04-15T21:04:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/2 "2023-04-15T21:13:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/3 "2023-04-15T21:21:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/4 "2023-04-15T21:23:08Z")
Ted Danson, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/5 "2023-04-15T21:23:21Z")
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_. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > 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. Mariska Hargitay is credited with 535 episodes of _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit_. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/6 "2023-04-15T21:27:14Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think Ted Danson qualifies with three series; _Cheers_, _Becker_, and _The Good Place_. Also three seasons of Bored to Death, if an HBO sitcom counts. And several years on CSI. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/7 "2023-04-15T21:29:06Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Bea Benaderet. Main character in _Burns and Allen, The Flintstones, and Petticoat Junction._ Pretty sure _The Flintstones_ wasn’t a live-action series. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/8 "2023-04-15T21:41:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Also three seasons of Bored to Death, if an HBO sitcom counts. And several years on CSI Go, Ted! > [@Andy\_L](#): > > William Conrad 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 ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/9 "2023-04-15T21:45:55Z")
Andy Griffith has The Andy Griffith Show (1960-‘68), Mayberry R.F.D. (‘68-‘71), and Matlock (‘86-‘95). ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/10 "2023-04-15T21:58:23Z")
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?) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/11 "2023-04-15T22:10:01Z")
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** _. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/12 "2023-04-15T22:21:35Z")
Bill Cosby Nell Carter Sherman Hemsley ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/13 "2023-04-15T22:24:08Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > David Boreanaz with _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, _Angel_, _Bones_, and _SEAL Team_. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/14 "2023-04-15T22:34:46Z")
He was on **Mama’s Family** for 130 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/15 "2023-04-15T22:36:38Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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. Nice work if you can get it. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/16 "2023-04-15T22:46:25Z")
Betty White - @NotherYinzer reminded me that she also was on **Mama’s Family** ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/17 "2023-04-15T23:18:41Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/18 "2023-04-15T23:34:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/19 "2023-04-15T23:43:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > I think Ted Danson qualifies with three series; _Cheers_, _Becker_, and _The Good Place_. > > Also three seasons of Bored to Death, if an HBO sitcom counts. And several years on CSI. Add two seasons of _Mr. Mayor_. ETA: Oops, only two seasons. I should read the OP completely before posting… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/20 "2023-04-15T23:55:28Z")
Bea was also “Cousin Pearl Bodine” in 23 episodes of _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _ and “Kate Bradley” in 6 episodes of _ **Green Acres** _. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725.md?page=2)