Isn’t that just a one time recording?
His work, sure, but not his voice or appearance.
The winner in that category is probably Ed McMchon with Here’s Johnny!
Late night and daytime have long-running shows with long-running talent. Susan Lucci was on All My Children for 41 years, although she probably took a few weeks off during that span.
That’s why I specifically mentioned prime time; it tends to have more turnover, so there aren’t a lot of people who’ve been on for 30+ years. Any of the main voice cast on The Simpsons would be up there. The record might be one of the long-term correspondents on 60 Minutes.
Cunnilingus and psychiatry brought us to this! - Tony Soprano. Don’t know the episode.
I’m wondering if the longest running people is interesting enough for a new thread.
From Seinfeld:
Elaine is looking at the line Kramer suggests for her “Ziggy-type” cartoon:
“The pig [at a Complaints window] says ‘My wife is a slut’”?!?
One of my favorites from Seinfeld. “The Implant,” S4E19. Elaine has just told Jerry that she’s sure that Jerry’s girlfriend of the week has breast implants, and he says that in that case, he’s going to break up with her (the girlfriend). And then Elaine’s line is “You know, sometimes when I think you’re the shallowest man I’ve ever met, you somehow manage to drain a little more out of the pool.”
You bring that up and you don’t mention Sidra’s (the girlfriend) final line???
And by the way, they’re real, and they’re spectacular.
Barney Miller- “Barney, divorce is like a horse with a broken leg. You can shoot the horse, but that don’t fix the leg.” Det. Nick Yemana.
You’re right. Personally I prefer the “shallow” line. Not because it’s strikingly profound or particularly original, but just because it’s soooo perfect in context. And because Elaine herself has drained more than a little water out of that pool.
But “real and spectacular” has to at least be acknowledged.
Just for the level of disgust it conveys, Derek Jacoby’s line in I, Claudius when John Hurt (as the mad Emperor Caligula) tells him “Now, me—I love my sisters!”:
“Yes, I know.” 
Paulie - He killed 16 Czechoslovakians, he was an interior decorator.
Chris - His apartment looked like shit.
Sam: What’s up, Norm?
Norm: My nipples. It’s freezing out there.
Hard-pressed here, because there’s a line from The Mary Tyler Moore Show that had the audience screaming with laughter so long, it is actually cut, and so is I don’t know how much footage of the actors just standing frozen. It’s a great line in context (it’s 1973, and it is probably the first time the line is said on TV), but, the next line actually tops it.
It requires a LOT on context, though.
First, Phyllis loves Mary and can’t stand Rhoda. Phyllis’s brother Ben, whom she admires to no end, is visiting, and Phyllis tries to fix him up with Mary, but he ends up spending a lot of time with Rhoda. Phyllis is beside herself.
Near the very end, Rhoda tells Phyllis to stop worrying, Ben isn’t her type, from which Phyllis takes insult, because Ben is perfect in her eyes she says “What do you mean, he’s not your type? He’s witty, he’s attractive, he’s successful, he’s single…”
At which point, Rhoda interrupts with the historic
“He’s gay.”
This is what sends the early 70s audience into screaming fits, but the line that actually tops it is what Phyllis says after the laughter finally dies down.
“Oh Rhoda, I’m so relieved!” and gives Rhoda a hug.
Maybe not remarkable out of context, but in context, so funny, I’m laughing as I type.
Ooh! I wasn’t going to reply, because I couldn’t think of any line that might possibly qualify. Much as I love the molotov cocktail line, though, The Good Place is the only show that has reduced me to sobs. SPOILER FOR THE FINAL EPISODE AHEAD:
It’s when Chidi is saying goodbye to the love of his life, the heartbroken Eleanor, before he chooses to leave the world:
It’s so beautiful, and so kind, and so sad, I’m almost tearing up again just rereading the line.
Two more:
And now for something completely different.
Well it’s certainly uncontaminated by cheese.
Mary Tyler Moore show: Mary has had a talk with Lou Grant about his weight and his health. He gets very offended, and keeps letting her know. Later they’re all eating together, and Lou holds up a carrot stick and says, “Do you think one little carrot would make me fat ?”
Mary replies, “Not if you stick it up your nose!”
Season 7, ep 1, “Mary Midwife”
Need Asner fast?
“It tastes like burning!”