What is the longest running dramatic entertainment series of any genre on network TV?

The longest running dramatic series of any genre on television is The Guiding Light (June 30, 1952 until September 18, 2009). This television show appeared for 57 years on the CBS network. It is the longest running entertainment daytime soap opera drama. While its television debut was on June 30, 1952, The Guiding Light's first incarnation was as a radio show, which premiered on January 25, 1937.

The Guiding Light is the longest running soap opera, and the fifth longest running program in all of broadcast history. It was originally created by Irna Phillips. It had a number of plot sequences during the series' long history, on both radio and television. These plot sequences include complex story lines, and different writers and casting.