Ancient Western Record-Breaker Will Keep You Hooked for 20 Seasons Straight
The hit series was a record-breaking matter until, well, The Simpsons came along.
Western movies have been captivating everyone’s attention with their wild stories unfolding with the background of exotic landscapes, but all this became even more fun when Western TV shows were introduced.
The longer format not only helped those stories keep the audiences on the hook — it also contributed to creating a way more profound narrative with complex characters and intriguing plot twists so that such shows’ fans wouldn’t be quite ready to let it all go.
This was likely the case for one of the longest-lasting series that ever existed in TV history; initially started back in 1955, the Western show had an impressive run of 20 seasons, proving that the story can go just as far if it’s built in the right way.
However, the initial record breaker was soon surpassed by another hit show, though this time it had nothing to do with Westerns.
Gunsmoke Was a Radio Series That Reached Its Heights on Television
Modern Western series like Taylor Sheridan ’s Yellowstone or Landman might be the biggest hits of most popular streaming platforms nowadays, but even those got nothing on Norman Macdonnell’s monumental drama show Gunsmoke.
Started as a radio series back in 1952, it primarily followed Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by William Conrad, a lawman trying to prevent crime deeds in the 1870’s Dodge City during the settlement of the American West.
The radio show’s popularity quickly went on a higher level, allowing its creators to set up its TV version, with the first season released in 1955; the series followed pretty much the same story, but this time starred newcomer James Arness in the leading role.
Gunsmoke Set Up a Record Later Taken Over by The Simpsons
With a whopping amount of 20 seasons that the initial radio series eventually spawned, Gunsmoke remained the longest-standing TV show of all time and even paved the way for five made-for-TV movies after it concluded its run back in 1975, though things changed several years later.
While no one else dared challenge Gunsmoke’s impressive TV run for quite a long time, it was The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening who ultimately risked it all.
Launched in 1989, the animated sitcom still keeps the score, currently having its season 36 airing until April 27. As of now, The Simpsons comprises 783 episodes (which is 148 episodes more than what Gunsmoke owns) and is regarded as the longest-running American animated series, American sitcom and American scripted primetime television series.
Meanwhile, even with its TV run being long over, Gunsmoke is still available for watching and is currently streaming on Peacock and Paramount+.
