Is SG-1 Really The Longest Running Sci-Fi Series Ever?

POSTED BY: RelFexive
UPDATED: Sunday, November 12, 2006 00:55
VIEWED: 15929
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RELFEXIVE

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:39 PM

I had wondered about this strange claim my own self when I heard it, and I'm glad these people have done the maths for me...

From here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2006/09/25/36558.s
html

Quote:
When the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records landed on the Doctor Who website team's desk, we were eager to see if Doctor Who gets another mention in the new volume.

It does, but not quite in the way were expecting.

Baffled by its claims, we asked Tom Spilsbury, the statistically-minded assistant editor of Doctor Who Magazine, to do the maths for us:

"I was pleased to see that Doctor Who is mentioned on page 178, as 'the longest-running science-fiction TV series'," says Tom, "although there have been 723 episodes now, not just 709, tsk!

"But I was left rather baffled by the entry on page 180, which lists the record for 'Longest running sci-fi TV show (consecutive)'.

"The book has awarded this particular record to the US series Stargate SG-1, which started in July 1997 and had notched up 203 episodes, beating the previous record of 202, allegedly held by The X Files. (There's even a picture of the SG-1 cast with their certificate!)

"Why isn't Doctor Who given this record, when the programme had a new series of episodes every year without fail between 1963 and 1989, racking up 695 episodes in the process? Why doesn't this count as a much longer 'consecutive' run? Surely 695 consecutive episodes beats 203, doesn't it? Doesn't it?"

I look forward to reading the "exciting development to this story later in the week"...

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"SUMMER!!"
http://www.theshadowdepository.co.uk/index.htm

DHAERUVUSRAVENSHADOW

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:48 PM

Does FOX news count?

CYBERSNARK

Tuesday, September 26, 2006 11:52 PM

Okay, longest-running good sci-fi series.

I'm honestly not sure. I thought 10 consecutive years was the record, but I'm no expert on the Doctor. Maybe there's some semantical difference between a single American series (broken into seasons) and a British "series" (where "series" is usually equivalent to one season here in NorAm).

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NESS

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 12:52 AM

For SG-1 I think they're saying that it's been on the air for 10 years straight, with no breaks between the seasons longer than a year. I think Doctor Who doesn't count because of the long break between the original series and the new series. Put I don't know. Insert shrug here.

But it could also be that SG-1 is the longest running North American Sci-Fi series. Internationally, I suppose Doctor Who does beat SG-1's record.

"Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing." - Zoe

TRAVELER

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 2:37 AM

I remember seeing some very early Doctor Who's from the sixties, so it may be the longest. They went through several Doctors in the first series. Some last several years, while others only lasted one. Have to look this one up and find out. If I learn anything will return. If anybody else can find out let us know.

One thing I have been discovering about Stargate is they love to get their new characters from other Scifi shows. I recognize several people over the years who came Startrek and Farscape.

Traveler

DUG

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 3:41 AM

Forget the break before the new series; barely a blip on the radar in this context. As stated earlier there were over 600 episodes in a row before that break.

A Brief History of Timelords: There were some brief breaks in the Doctor's run in the 80's. First an 18 month break in 1985 and then another short break between Colin Baker getting sacked in 1986 and Sylvester McCoy starting up in 1987. Then from McCoy's end in 1989 until the F@X telemovie starring Paul McGann in 1996. Then after the Doctor got F@Xed there was more break until the new series started up with Eccleston.

However, before that first 1985 break during Colin Baker's time there was a conitinuous run from Hartnell in 1963. For full details I would suggest http://www.gallifreyone.com.

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FINN MAC CUMHAL

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 3:54 AM

It depends a lot on what is meant by longest running sci fi show?

Are they breaking it up by continent? That would certainly make a difference, but other things also have an impact.

Longest running sci fi show without any breaks? That would be Stargate, because Doctor Who has had at least who breaks.

Longest running sci fi show regardless of breaks? That would be Doctor Who, which ran continuously from 1963 to 1989, and then some.

Most episodes? As surprising as it may seem to American audiences, who are used to self-contained episodes, this one is really hard to pin down. It depends on what you mean by an episode. Most of the time, if you watch Stargate, you will see a complete story from beginning to end in each episode. There are often long arcs throughout the season, just as in the X-files, but each episode had a definable beginning and end that stood on its own. That is not the case with Doctor Who, which ran episodes that were segments in larger arcs. Any single Doctor Who episode isn’t guaranteed to have a definable beginning and end, which is the case with a lot of European television. So if you count the number of actual stories as the number of episodes, the Doctor has much fewer then the often stated ~600-700 episodes. Whether it is fewer then ~200, I don’t know, but probably a lot closer to 200 then 700.

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BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 5:03 AM

Gotta agree with Finn Mac Cumhal...Doctor Who ran for 26 years approximately with little in the way of breaks, though the seasons got shorter by the time Colin Baker got in as the Doctor, but you have to factor in that the BBC really churned about about 13 or so episodes per "series" cuz each episode ran for several weeks via multiple TBC moments. Hell, they even did season-long episodes to kiss off Troughton (Doctor #2) and Baker (Doctor #6).

So...if you take the expanded arc issue into consideration? Then Doctor Who and SG-1 are a lot closer in numbers than people think. Plus maybe the Guinness Book of Records ain't counting the Eccelston & Tennant series as part of the continuity cuz of the 16 year gap.

BlueEyedBrigadier

Literature has shown us some of humanity's greatest achievements; history, some of our greatest failures -- Alun Lewis

SICKDUDE

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 5:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ness:
But it could also be that SG-1 is the longest running North American Sci-Fi series. Internationally, I suppose Doctor Who does beat SG-1's record.

Good point.

But for International SciFi series, I'm not even sure Dr Who gets it. There are some Japanese shows you would have to characterize as SF that have run a while. I'd have to check....

"I am your father, Luke. Give in to the Dark Side, you nob!" - Doug McKenzie

SEANHARRY

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 5:51 PM

DOCTOR WHO is the longest running sci-fi series in the world. Period. STARGATE doesn't even come close.

As to this breaks thing, STARGATE has season breaks as well, and averages about 22 episodes a year. During DR WHO's first 6 seasons it was averaging around 40 episodes a year, with repeats shown during it's 2 month hiatus.

In fact, DR WHO ran for 20 seasons without a break any longer than STARGATE has each year; and then returned for another 6 seasons after an 18 month break.

In terms of viewing figures, and numbers of countries shown in, it is also the world beater. STARGATE doesn't even come close.

And as for the poster who commented that SG1 was 'good sci-fi' and implied that DR WHO wasn't; have you ever watched the two shows? I find STARGATE, and it's equally turgid spin off series ATLANTIS, to be one of the most creatively barren and middle of the road sci-fi shows ever.

If only it had 1% of DR WHO's creativity, it may be watchable (I'm having to watch it at the moment because of Morena, and I'm finding it painful).

And interestingly enough, Joss Whedon is an admitted fan of Dr Who (and at a convention last weekend Mark Sheppard commented that it was his favourite show). When interviewed on Channel 4 last year, Joss admitted to never having even seen STARGATE.

Sean Harry

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