The Simpsons - Renewed for two more Seasons

Longest. TV show. Ever.

Fox has ordered two more seasons of "The Simpsons" that will make the animated hit the longest-running series in primetime TV history.

The 44-episode pickup will bring the show to a whopping 493 episodes.

"Gunsmoke" has held the record as the longest-running series and was on the air for 20 years (airing on CBS from 1955 to 1975 with 635 episodes). "The Simpsons" and NBC's "Law & Order" have been closing in on the Western classic, with Fox's comedy tying "Gunsmoke" this year and "Order" currently airing its 19th season.

With this renewal, "The Simpsons" (which debuted in 1990) will easily take the lead. And with NBC shedding its 10 p.m. hour and the "L&O" flagship pulling modest numbers, the chances of the crime drama outlasting "The Simpsons" seems unlikely.

"The Simpsons" launched in 1990. Twelve years ago, the show surpassed "The Flintstones" as the longest-running animated series. Outside of ultra-competitive primetime, other programs have been on the air considerably longer. NBC's "Meet the Press" has been around since 1947. CBS' soap "Guiding Light" has been airing since 1952 and NBC's "The Tonight Show" has been in production since 1954.

Source: Hollywood Reporter