Television shows are a huge part of many children's formative years. Some families watch less TV than others, but generations are still defined, in part, by the shows they watched. Nostalgia never really abates, which means that whole books, articles, podcasts, and other media are dedicated to the topic.
Viewers can easily name a few longtime kids' series, but they'd be surprised to know just how long some have been on the air. Which ones have lasted the longest?
Dora The Explorer: 8 Seasons (14 Years)
It's hard to conceptualize a 14-year run for "Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer!" The days start to blend together for the spunky miniature adventurer. Back in 2000, she brought diversity to Nickelodeon with Latin American culture, including Spanish-speaking segments and songs, and launched another popular character with the spin-off Go, Diego, Go! Dora and Boots couldn't have been cuter as they took cues from the map and chided Swiper for swiping.
Kids Incorporated: 9 Seasons
Kids Incorporated is a sadly forgotten kids' series. It should definitely be remembered since it was one of the first shows on the Disney Channel in 1984. The series was kind of like a children's variety show. It featured musical numbers with the cast but also included dialogue in which the kids learned different lessons and solved problems together.
The funky workshop-type atmosphere was the perfect place to stimulate edutainment. Kids Incorporated is also known for launching Fergie's and Jennifer Love Hewitt's careers.
Rugrats: 9 Seasons
Rugrats was a huge force in the children's programming arena for over a decade. The show existed in more than one form, with many fans remembering the grown-up rugrats quite well. However, the cartoon is most remembered for its initial premise--zeroing in on the world of babies and tackling baby problems. Tommy, Dil, Chuckie, Angelica, and all the rest are a staple of 90s Nickelodeon, and they'll always be a treasure of the network.
All That: 9 Seasons
Tons of Nickelodeon talents got started on All That, which aired from 1994 to 2005. The series was a musical/comedy sketch show, not too far off from Saturday Night Live. Nick rebooted the show recently, but the nostalgia will always be high for the original crew, including Amanda Bynes, Lori Beth Denberg, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, Giovonnie Samuels, Jamie Lynn Spears, and so many others.
The Fairly Odd Parents: 10 Seasons
Butch Hartman is the talented creator of many animations, including Danny Phantom and The Fairly Odd Parents. The latter ran for a whopping sixteen years, beginning in 2001 and ending in 2017. The concept of the show was quite creative, letting viewers into the whimsical life of Timmy Turner with his strange godparents (Cosmo and Wanda) and his babysitter, Vicky. There were some stops and starts along the way, but the fans wanted it so badly that The Fairly Odd Parents stayed on for all those years.
Spongebob Squarepants: 13 Seasons
13 seasons strong, SpongeBob SquarePants is still in production. The show about the cheerful yellow sponge was created by Stephen Hillenburg, and it brought to life many other delightful characters, like Patrick Star, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy Cheeks. It's pretty unique to live "in a pineapple under the sea," and the premise obviously never got old for some people.
Barney & Friends: 14 Seasons
Barney's VHS collection and PBS episodes were quite an empire for many years. The big purple dinosaur had humble beginnings with Barney and the Backyard Gang, a direct-to-video series that began in 1988. Connecticut Public Television began transforming the concept into its own show in the early 90s, and the rest is history. The show Barney & Friends officially wrapped in 2010. It is known for getting Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato started in the entertainment industry before they left Texas.
Arthur: 23 Seasons
"What a wonderful kind of day" it is when it's time to watch Arthur. The animated before- and after-school series is beloved to many, and it all began in 1996, when Marc Brown's books were adapted into the heartfelt show. Early viewers still remember the frustration they felt when the original voice actor outgrew the title role. Arthur Read is a one-of-a-kind aardvark, and he is made complete by Buster Baxter, Muffy Crosswire, Francine Frensky, the Brain, Sue Ellen Armstrong, Binky Barnes, Prunella, and the rest of the Read family, of course. It is not clear whether or not the show will continue production, but the most recent episodes aired in 2019.
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: 31 Seasons
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood ran for 31 seasons on PBS from 1968 to 2001. The show's legacy has been documented in the documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018) and in the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) starring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers. Mr. Rogers devoted his life and career to teaching children through gentle language and understandable object lessons and stories. His impact is incredible, and children from multiple generations enjoyed his program.
Sesame Street: 50 Seasons
Sesame Street has a huge legacy, and not just because it's one of the longest-running shows ever. The program is the angel of children's television and has been since its early days. From 1969 to the present, the show has been a captivating and holistic sequence of music, counting, reading, and citizenship, with the help of unforgettable characters. Big Bird, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Zoe, Cookie Monster, and Elmo are just a few of the Muppet gems fans love. Sesame Street isn't going anywhere anytime soon and has entered a 5-year deal with HBO Max in which episodes will go there first.