The 500-episode milestone isn't just a number — it's a survival test. These shows passed. And they're still on air.
NCIS just hit 500 episodes — and it didn’t do it quietly. The CBS drama aired its 500th episode on a spring night in 2026, calling it 'All Good Things,' which turned out to be anything but. Director Leroy Vance died in the episode, a move that stunned fans and proved NCIS still isn’t afraid to pull the rug out from under its audience.
It’s not the first time the franchise has taken risks, Mark Harmon’s Gibbs left years ago, and yet NCIS is still going strong in season 24. The entire NCIS universe now sits at over 1,120 episodes across its spinoffs, with no signs of slowing down. And yes, it’s still airing Tuesday nights.
That’s longevity. That’s momentum. That’s what happens when a show survives strikes, cast changes, and network reboots without losing its core identity. It’s not just surviving.
It’s dominating. But NCIS isn’t alone in this club. Law & Order: SVU reached 500 episodes in season 23, and is now racing toward 600. Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson remains the beating heart of the franchise, and her presence has kept the whole Dick Wolf universe alive.
Even after NBC canceled Law & Order in 2010, the revival in 2022. With SVU and Organized Crime joining the lineup, showed how much the brand still matters. The original Law & Order itself hit 500 in season 23, though it did so with less fanfare than others. Still, it’s now in season 26, and will cross the 550-episode mark before the year ends.
Then there’s Lassie. The 1954 classic, which began in black and white, is the oldest primetime show to reach 500 episodes. Nineteen seasons. A dog.
A legacy. It’s still streaming on Prime Video. Gunsmoke? Second oldest.
Over 600 episodes. James Arness as Matt Dillon. Burt Reynolds early in his career. It’s not just a Western.
It’s a blueprint. Abbott Elementary made it to 100 episodes in fall 2026, but even that feels like a footnote next to these giants. The real story isn’t just how long these shows have lasted. It’s how they’ve stayed relevant.
They’re not relics. They’re running machines. And in 2026, while new series come and go, the ones that endure are the ones that don’t just survive. They adapt.
They evolve. They keep going. So what’s next? Season 25 of NCIS.
Episode 508. And beyond. The question isn’t whether they’ll stop. It’s when they’ll finally run out of stories.
Because right now, they’re just getting started.
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