With the WGA and now SAG/AFTRA on strike some of our favorite shows may not return as soon as they would have. But don’t worry because we have you covered with a list of shows with 10 or more seasons to keep you busy in the meantime!
Ever stop and think about the days when every season of your favorite show had twenty-two episodes instead of eight, and when the series lasted for a decade instead of three years? Due to the convergence of film and television from separate mediums entirely to almost one and the same with the shortening of series lengths, movement towards streaming, and the overall more “cinematic” feel that screenwriters for television now aspire to. Not only is the medium changing but the structure of the industry is being challenged with the recent WGA and SAG/Aftra strikes, which has caused a backup in the entertainment industry. Meaning that we won’t be seeing new content, or the continuation of existing content, for an indefinite period of time. But don’t fret! We have a few recommendations of some of the best and longest-running (ten seasons or more) television series for you to binge in your downtime while your favorite shows are on hiatus.
The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
Imagine it being a normal day and while going about your business, a car crash injures you to the point that you are hospitalized for weeks. Next thing you know, you wake up to your post-apocalyptic nightmare where zombies are trying to eat you and everyone else alive. This is exactly what deputy sheriff, Rick Grimes goes through when he awakens to a world overcome by “walkers,” a disease-ridden mutated species of zombies that infect anyone who they bite. This series promises nail-biting intensity and the kind of grueling visual effects that will have you cowering under your parent’s covers for weeks.
Available on Netflix.
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
This is the longest-running show on primetime–to this day–and for good reason. Featuring a fantastic and semi-rotating cast of detectives and led by Mariska Hargitay, who has starred in every episode and has even directed/produced several others. I am in awe and obsessed with the character progression, the consistency, and the progress that the producers have made with the show over its almost twenty-five-year run. This one is not for the faint of heart, but it is a classic for you and the true crime lover in your life. This one ages like a fine wine–you don’t get two decades on air for making background noise!
Available on Hulu and Peacock.
Bob’s Burgers (2011-present)
When I originally streamed Bob’s Burgers as a teenager, there were only five seasons available. Now, there are fourteen seasons and even more on the way! My mind is blown. Now that we are on #hiatus, we can go back to what’s important and that’s catching up on the Belcher clan–and for me at least that means nine additional seasons to enjoy for the first time ever, without spending the emotional bandwidth of starting an entire new show. This is very exciting and if you’re new to the show, I highly recommend spending that extra emotional bandwidth here.
Available on Hulu.
Shameless (2011-2021)
Need some more chaos from the Gallaghers after two years off the air? I actually just got my first glimpse at the Gallagher lifestyle this year, and whoa was that a rollercoaster of a series? And the reason why it works so well is that, with every cut, every look as seen through the camera, and every action of each character just screams the theme of the show. That is, that these people are living, well, shamelessly. Again, fair warning, not for the faint of heart–or eyes.
Available on Netflix and Hulu.
Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2015)
The Degrassi-verse has been truly prolific throughout my television-watching experience. If you didn’t know, this one stars our favorite rapper out of Canada, Drake (then known as Aubrey Graham). I have a working theory that all of Hollywood is connected by certain key projects. But part of that theory involves Degrassi, where I think every major Canadian actor during that time has had a role on one of the five different iterations of the show (The Next Generation being the third). If you like heartfelt, cringey, semi-recent period pieces, you’ll love this cult classic.
Available on Prime Video.
