# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/41 "2023-04-16T10:43:13Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > William Shatner is up there: > … > Plus lots and lots of guest roles. Just to add … two of those guest roles were on _Alfred Hitchcock Presents_, a classic old series I’m rather fond of. The first was “The Glass Eye” (1957) and the second was “Mother, May I Go Out to Swim?” (1960). Despite criticism of his quirky acting in later years, I thought he was pretty good in these. A screenshot from the first one – a very young William Shatner in 1957. Looks much closer to Captain Kirk than he does today. He first became Captain Kirk in 1966, the original series running until 1969: [![](https://i.imgur.com/ECa02lp.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ECa02lp.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/42 "2023-04-16T10:48:55Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > 60’episodes of _Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place_ > > Man that was the most popular, forgotten show ever. I remember everyone talking about it, probably because of its long name (which they then shortened) and how it kept getting renewed to everyone’s surprise then finally it died and I’ve never heard anyone mention it since. Not even, like, people discovering Ryan Reynold’s body of work. It probably woulda been a cult favorite if it wasn’t on broadcast tv. > > I never watched it myself. I was in college at the time, way too cool for prime time broadcast tv. > > Anyway sorry to hijack. Just one of those show names that hits you in the “whatever happened to that thing??” button. I remember watching it at the time. The only thing I remember about it is thinking it was amusing and that I thought Traylor Howard was adorable. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/43 "2023-04-16T12:57:03Z")
I’m wondering if Ice-T has appeared in the most the most primetime episodes during the 2000’s (not counting animated shows). He started in Law and Order SVU in 2000. Mariska Hargitay wasn’t in some episodes (I believe maternity leave). ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/44 "2023-04-16T14:01:33Z")
Hijack Alert: If we consider _local_ television superstars, then [Traynor Ora Halftown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traynor_Ora_Halftown) must top the list. He hosted the very popular **Chief Halftown Show** in Philadelphia for nearly 50 years (1950 to 1999) making it _“the world’s longest-running local TV children’s show.”_ It was a great show, and Traynor was a [great guy](https://www.broadcastpioneers.com/chief.html). [Larry Ferrari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Ferrari), the organist on the show, lived in my neighborhood growing up. We kids loved to trick or treat at his house. It was a blast seeing him open his solid marble front door, and he handed out the best candy! Larry also had his own long-running weekly show for grownups, The **Larry Ferrari Show**. It ran for 43 years (from 1954 to 1997). Sorry for the hijack, but there are just some things everyone needs to know. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/45 "2023-04-16T14:30:08Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Who is the person who has been a main character in the most seasons of a successful series? Mariska Hartigay has appeared in 24 seasons (and counting) of _Law & Order SVU_, with 535 episodes to date. > [@](#): > > Who is the person who has been a main character in the most episodes of a successful series? James Arness, who played Matt Dillon in [_Gunsmoke_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047736/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_q_Gu%2520smoke), 1955-1975, appeared in 635 episodes over 20 seasons. Second place is costar Milburn Stone, who played Doc, with 605 episodes. If the OP hadn’t specified live action, the far-and-away winners of these categories would have been the main cast of _The Simpsons_, with 34 seasons and counting and 749 episodes to date each for Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer, and a few less for the others, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith, and Hank Azaria. BTW, here is a Wikipedia page that may help answer some of the OP’s questions. > **[List of longest-running scripted American primetime television series](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-running_scripted_American_primetime_television_series)** > > This is a list of the longest-running scripted prime time television series in the United States, as measured by number of seasons. Only shows that have aired on a major broadcast network for seven or more seasons and at least 100 episodes are included. Those that moved to syndication, a cable network, or a streaming service are noted below. ---
**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 16, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/46 "2023-04-16T15:16:22Z")
Peter Falk as _ **Columbo** _ in 69 episodes from 1971 to 2003 (70 if you count the “first pilot” of 1968). Kind of a short list compared to some other actors, but none are more memorable. ---
**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 16, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/47 "2023-04-16T15:21:46Z")
Tony Shaloub – _Wings, Monk_ and _The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel._ The latter is streaming, but the show had gotten a ton of buzz. ---
**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 16, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/48 "2023-04-16T18:25:39Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I was thinking of Conrad’s years on radio as Matt Dillon. Oops. Still, let’s not forget James Arness and Dennis Weaver. And Dennis Weaver has 20 seasons on Gunsmoke plus 7 on McCloud ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/49 "2023-04-16T19:04:37Z")
Michael Landon Bonanza - 430 Little House on the Prairie - 204 Highway to Heaven - 111 ---
**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 16, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/50 "2023-04-16T19:46:27Z")
Sorry, only 9 seasons on _ **Gunsmoke** _, not 20. Weaver left in 1964 to star in his own series _ **Kentucky Jones** _, which lasted just one season. ---
**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 16, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/51 "2023-04-16T19:55:57Z")
D’oh! Thanks ---
**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 16, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/52 "2023-04-16T19:59:39Z")
He was also in _ **Gentle Ben** _, 1967–1969. (56 episodes) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/53 "2023-04-16T21:30:18Z")
Shatner was also the host for 7 seasons(186 episodes) of Rescue 911. ---
**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 16, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/54 "2023-04-16T21:51:18Z")
He really has had a terrific television career. I guess he is supposed to be a pain to work with, but he must be reliable and get the job done. I mean, if everyone hated Bill Shatner, he’d never be able to find work. And yet, he has a huge amount of TV appearances. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/55 "2023-04-16T21:59:41Z")
We needs to have a special category for character actors, like [Frank Cady](https://youtu.be/1x93iqtAebo?t=6671), who played the merchant Sam Drucker in 142 episodes of Green Acres and 168 episodes of Petticoat Junction, and rounded out the trifecta with 91 episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. [Gavin McLeod](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533891/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_0_nm_8_q_gavin%2520McLeod), though hardly what anyone would think of as a superstar, can claim the starring role in Love Boat, and major roles in Mary Tyler Moore and McHale’s Navy. ---
**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 16, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/56 "2023-04-16T22:38:28Z")
I forgot about McHale’s Navy. Gavin is a contender! ---
**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 16, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/57 "2023-04-16T22:42:32Z")
He also did two years of _ **Weird or What** _ and three years of _ **The UnXplained** _. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/58 "2023-04-16T22:53:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Tom Selleck: > > 158 episodes of _Magnum P.I._ > > 9 different Jesse Stone TV movies > > 275 episodes and counting of _Blue Bloods_ > > That’s not counting multi-episode guest roles on shows like _Friends_ And still going strong as the police commisioner, patriarch, of a law enforcement family in _Blue Bloods_. ---
**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 16, 2023, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/59 "2023-04-16T23:45:50Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > And still going strong as the police commisioner, patriarch, of a law enforcement family in _Blue Bloods_. Yeah, mentioned in your quote. I’ve never even seen this show or even a clip and he 's pushing 300 episodes of it. Good for him, get that money! ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725/60 "2023-04-17T05:53:28Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Mary Tyler Moore also ranks as a TV Superstar, IMHO: > > - The Dick Van Dyke Show – 158 episodes > - The Mary Tyler Moore Show – 168 episodes Related, Ed Asner: - The Mary Tyler Moore Show - 166 episodes - Lou Grant - 114 episodes [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-american-television-superstars/982725.md?page=4)