Why are all the longest running shows Animated?

[MoonC A T]

Simpsons - 33
South Park - 25
Family Guy - 20

I'm curious to know why. Is it easier to instill humor and longevity through creation and art rather than forcing actors to do this for you? Is it easier to write?

Interested in opinions.

[steven1mac]

They don't age, the voice actors can easily be replace, and are cheaper to produce.

[Irene ❤]

Script is random and actors might not bring out that magic when doing random acts. Might create a try-hard feel.

[𝕎𝔸𝕃𝕋𝔼ℝ]

Easier to produce, afaik, real actors often drop long-running shows or demand higher pay checks. Besides, all these adult satire shows are just formulaic and kind of considered as "classics" so they're easier to milk.

[Devsman]

I would guess because voice acting isn't as high profile as live action acting.

I mean, I can name a lot of VA but I'm a werido. Most people don't know or care that The Boss and Pearl the Whale have the same voice actress. So naturally, if Lori Alan threatens to leave SpongeBob, I mean, nobody cares.

But Steve Carrell leaving the Office, welp, show's over. You know, after trying really super hard for a couple more seasons.

Originally posted by steven1mac:

They don't age, the voice actors can easily be replace, and are cheaper to produce.

I always liked in Ninja Turtles 2012 when Leonardo's voice actor left and next season they were like "wow you got beaten up so badly in the last episode that your voice changed" lol. "Man, I don't know if it'll ever be back to normal."

[Mad Scientist]

Most regular shows these days are poorly made, overtly political, poorly represent or do not at all represent the source material or are simply awful.

Animation allows a level of sillyness that quite simply, most shows cannot do or portray compared to animation.

Simpsons has gone downhill, family guy is overly repetitive, south park pokes & prods at everyone which is what makes it funny along with the older plain-silly episodes such as the "Pink Eye" episode, the Ginger Cow, alien based episodes etc.

Though if you want a show you might like that's not animation, try Resident Alien.

[Enterprofilenamehere]

Originally posted by steven1mac:

They don't age, the voice actors can easily be replace, and are cheaper to produce.

This.

I feel like The Simpsons days may be numbered though. It's been going downhill for so long.

[River]

The only positive to running forever, is more fan works and fan art.

The show itself is usually worse for it.

[MoonC A T]

Originally posted by Mr. Gentlebot:

Though if you want a show you might like that's not animation, try Resident Alien.

Absolutely LOVE this show.

Does anyone happen to know, offhand, the cost to produce a Simpson episode vs something really expensive like a long running show like Law and Order SUV?

[my new friend]

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

Why are all the longest running shows Animated?

Simpsons barely breaks into the top 20.

1. The Tonight Show // 68 Years
2. Coronation Street // 62 Years
3. General Hospital // 59 Years
4. Guiding Light // 58 Years
5. Days of Our Lives // 57 Years
6. As the World Turns // 55 Years
7. Sazae-san // 53 Years
8. Sesame Street // 51 Years
9. Emmerdale // 50 Years
10. The Price Is Right // 50 Years
11. The Young and the Restless // 49 Years
12. Saturday Night Live // 47 Years
13. One Life to Live // 46 Years
14. Doctor Who // 43 Years
15. All My Children // 42 Years
16. Wheel of Fortune // 39 Years
17. Jeopardy! // 38 Years
18. The Bold and the Beautiful // 35 years
19. Mister Rogers Neighborhood // 34 Years
20. The Simpsons // 33 Years

BUT the Simpsons, is the longest-running "scripted" American "primetime" show at 33 years and counting.

[MoonC A T]

Ah well damn. I would argue that most of those are live or for really old/young people but yeah.

[my new friend]

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

Ah well damn. I would argue that most of those are live or for really old/young people but yeah.

Doctor Who being a shining exception.

[MoonC A T]

So why the Dr Who longevity? Clearly bad writing could lose even the most fervent fanbase (i.e. TWD). Why has it been so successful? (I'm not a Dr Who fan at all so don't know)

[River]

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

So why the Dr Who longevity? Clearly bad writing could lose even the most fervent fanbase (i.e. TWD). Why has it been so successful? (I'm not a Dr Who fan at all so don't know)

DR who is a BBC show and people with tvs are made to pay the BBC. Its a government thing.

[my new friend]

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

So why the Dr Who longevity? Clearly bad writing could lose even the most fervent fanbase (i.e. TWD). Why has it been so successful? (I'm not a Dr Who fan at all so don't know)

The show was more fantastical and imaginative, going on adventures and also dealing with the political aspects of societies. The "new" Who went extremely modern with plenty of action, romance and the rather laughable cgi the first 5 seasons of the new Who. But then came Amy Pond. That red headed Scottish girl that grew up into the most lusted after companion, ever.
If they don't do well with the next Doctor, the show will die either by the fans destroying it or BBC just cancelling it again. Let's hope Sony Pictures, who purchased the majority of (or owns it outright) Bad Wolf (Russell T Davies) which is producing the show and hopefully can get it right before everyone jumps ship.

Originally posted by Dark:

DR who is a BBC show and people with tvs are made to pay the BBC. Its a government thing.

It has nothing to do with government. And I never paid for BBC programs here in the USofA.

[MoonC A T]

Originally posted by my new friend:

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

So why the Dr Who longevity? Clearly bad writing could lose even the most fervent fanbase (i.e. TWD). Why has it been so successful? (I'm not a Dr Who fan at all so don't know)

The show was more fantastical and imaginative, going on adventures and also dealing with the political aspects of societies. The "new" Who went extremely modern with plenty of action, romance and the rather laughable cgi the first 5 seasons of the new Who. But then came Amy Pond. That red headed Scottish girl that grew up into the most lusted after companion, ever.
If they don't do well with the next Doctor, the show will die either by the fans destroying it or BBC just cancelling it again. Let's hope Sony Pictures, who purchased the majority of (or owns it outright) Bad Wolf (Russell T Davies) which is producing the show and hopefully can get it right before everyone jumps ship.

Originally posted by Dark:

DR who is a BBC show and people with tvs are made to pay the BBC. Its a government thing.

It has nothing to do with government. And I never paid for BBC programs here in the USofA.

Thanks

As for the BBC post, isn't it on BBC America here? At least I think Xfinity has it. Like I said, I don't watch it.