Some of the fans of television series have repeatedly asked the question: "And what is the longest series in the world?". The well-known saga immediately comes to mind, the action of which takes place in the town of Santa Barbara. However, this is not the longest project in the history of television.
World record holder for soap operas
The longest series in the world is the television movie Guiding Light. Its beginning dates back to 1937, when the first series was broadcast on the radio. The author of the stories was Irna Philips. She taught children at school, but due to the growing popularity of her offspring, she left her professional activities and took up scripts closely.
After 15 years, the series "Guiding Light" was first shown on television. The plot was originally built around a clergyman who, with a lamp burning in the window, illuminated the path of the lost. Over the years, the number of characters has increased, the storylines are closely intertwined, and Irna Philips became the founder of the creation of a new direction in television - soap operas.
The series "Guiding Light" for more than 70 years of its existence was watched by millions of viewers. Almost 20 thousand series were shot. The last one was released in September 2009. Further, the project was closed. Due to its duration, the tape won a place in the Guinness Book of Records. From more than 300 nominations in various directions, the series received almost 100 awards!
Honorary Second Place
In 1956, CBS began showing the television movie How the World Turns. The series did not immediately gain popularity with the audience. It happened a couple of years later. All actions take place in the fictional town of Oakdale. It is noteworthy that the shooting of the project took place only within the city of New York.
The television project ended in 2010. For all time, about 16 thousand series were shot. The project has also been awarded a number of film industry awards. For example, actress Helen Wagner - the performer of the role of Nancy Hughes, spent almost all 55 years in the series!
Also, the project is different in that it was his series for the first time “stretched out” for half an hour, and not 15 minutes, as it was before. Since 1967, the show began to be released "in recordings" and in color.
In the top three
Closes the three leaders of the top "The Longest Series in the World" - "The Main Hospital" (more than 13,000 episodes). The start of the telecast was in 1963. The show was the longest in the history of ABC and received many awards. Among them, only 10 Emmy Awards as "the best drama series."
The television movie takes place in Port Charles, where the central hospital is located. Doctors and their relationships have become the main storyline. The peak of popularity of the series came in the 80s, when the characters Laura and Luke were introduced. Subsequently, several spin-offs were filmed.
Fourth and fifth lines of the rating
Position number 4 - "One Life". The series was released on the ABC channel in 1968. In total, more than 10 thousand episodes were filmed. During its existence, the project has become an integral part of the life of many actors. Some of them subsequently hit the big movie. And Erica Slezak devoted the film more than 40 years of her life. She played one of the central characters - Victoria Banks.
"One Life" is a dramatic series. He was one of the first to draw the attention of society not only to the problems of racism, but also to sexual minorities. The project has repeatedly been awarded an Emmy as the "Best Day Show". But in 2001, the television company said that in a year the series would be closed. And so it happened. However, in 2013, one not-so-well-known company seized the rights to shoot the continuation of the film. And the series received a rebirth in the worldwide network.
Fifth place went to the television movie "All My Children", which was released from 1970 to 2011. The series reflected not only the various problems of that time, but also for the first time for such a format touched on the theme of the Vietnam War.
The project became the "launching pad" in the movie for the incomparable Elizabeth Taylor. Also in the series was attended by many now famous actors. It is noteworthy that in this project, the main actress - Susan Lucci, starred in all series.
Number six
The project "Young and the Bold" is widely confused with the series "The Bold and the Beautiful." And this is not surprising, since their creators are the same - Philip Bellamy and William G.
"Young and Bold" appeared on the screens in 1973 and the cast was mostly under 30 years old. The plot is based on the relationship between the influential Brooks and the less affluent Fosters who live in Genoa, the invented city.
The rating of the series almost always remained high for 4 decades. Moreover, the project is popular in many countries to this day.
One of the star actresses of the series is Genie Cooper, who was invited to the role of Katherine Chancellor. The heroine was so fond of the audience that the actress had to stay in the show for ... more than 30 years!
Seventh position
In the list of "The Longest Series in the World", the project "Another World" is considered a failure. The show began in 1964, and over the next 35 years the plot of the television movie attracted numerous viewers to the screens.
In the series, the topic of getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy was first covered. Against this background, producers and scriptwriters began conflicts, which led to the closure of the show. The thing is that in the society of that time, such situations were banned, and the authorities were extremely negative about its development on television.
In total, about 8 thousand series were shot. The plot painfully resembled "Guiding Light", and this is not surprising, because one of the creators of the show was the same Irna Phillips.
The project was also distinguished by the fact that the music written to the main theme of the series fell into the rating of America's 100 best songs. For the "serial" theme, such luck was the first.
Eighth place
"Neighbors" - a series born not in the United States, but in Australia. In 1985, Reg Watson launched a new show on the famous channel. The plot was simple and narrated about the life of ordinary people. With this he attracted the townsfolk.
Most of the project was filmed in Melbourne in the homes of ordinary residents. The action of the series for the most part takes place in closed rooms - cafes, houses, at work.
In 2011, the project moved to one of Australia's digital channels. In total, about 8 thousand episodes were filmed. The film is replete with humor, so it looks easy. The series "Neighbors" is not only the longest for Australia, but also sold well in other countries of the world.
Penultimate place
The series “Bold and Beautiful” was created at the request of CBS channel by the “parent” of “Young and Bold” - Philip Bellamy. The saga truly turned out to be "family", because in its creation took the wife and sons of Bellamy.
The storyline is based on fashion shows. One of the families owns a fashion agency and most of the characters revolve around it. Many of the actors really worked in the modeling business.
The series “Bold and Beautiful” is similar not only to the plot of “Young and Bold”. The cast of DiK was constantly replenished at the expense of former MiD actors.
The project goes on air in series of 20 minutes. And this is the only show that translates into Spanish for a specific audience of viewers.
This is also the first series in which an actor with Down's disease participated. Keith Jones played bartender Kevin.
The project has about 5 thousand series, of which about 200 have not been shown to viewers.
The series closes the top ten
The last rated “Longest TV Show in the World,” but not by the significance and love of the fans, is Santa Barbara.
At the center of the story is the wealthy family of the influential Sisi Capwell. Around them are constantly boiling events of various kinds. The series has many beautiful actresses, humor, luxurious mansions, which made him so popular around the world.
The project consisted of only 2134 series. So still, how many years has the Santa Barbara show been shown in America? The answer to this question is 9. The project began in 1984 and ended in 1993.
The creators of the script are the spouses Jerome and Bridget Dobson. Moreover, the wife was always engaged in writing, but Jer was engaged in growing nuts. Work in the project brought them about $ 30 million.
I must say that at home the show was not very popular in the early years. Ratings began to rise only after a complete change of plot. Many characters were removed, new ones came in their place.
Not everyone was able to withstand such a long soap opera marathon. The hero Sisi at different times was performed by 6 actors, but only Jed Allan lingered on this role for a long time. But the departure of Lane Davis, who played the irresistible Mason, so afflicted the lovers of the series that his ratings began to fall.
During its existence, Santa Barbara received 24 Emmy Awards. The project was attended by over 200 actors. For example, the role of young Mason was played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. And the newborn Adriana was “played” by the newly born son Marcy Walker (Eden).
Of course, this is not a complete list of the longest series in the world. But it is these sagas that are world famous and beloved in many parts of the world.