Casualty

We would call Casualty the UK version of ER, but that wouldn't be fair to the BBC One medical drama. While you might think ER was something special for lasting from 1994 to 2009, or that Gray's Anatomy still being on the small screen after debuting in 2005 is rather remarkable, Casualty debuted in 1986 and is still airing new episodes 37 years later! Yes, that makes it the longest running primetime medical drama series in the world, by far. The show takes place at Holby City Hospital, which is both a fake English city and a fake hospital, specifically within the Accident and Emergency Department. Derek Thompson's been the head of the cast nearly the entire time but with 37 seasons under their belt, there've been all sorts of cast changes and shakeups. Some of the most lauded episodes include "Boiling Point" where the hospital has to deal with the fallout of a violent riot breaking out, "Charlie's Angels" which revolves around Scarlett (Madeleine Mantock) questioning her abilities when a stab victim shows up and she's not sure she can save him, and "Banking for Beginners" where Alex (Belinda Davison) considers ditching the medical field for the far less life and death life of a banker. There was no George Clooney style breakout star from this one, but all sorts of very familiar names popped up in this show, from a young Kate Winslet appearing as an abused girlfriend in 1993 to Orlando Bloom playing a cutter in 1996, all the way to Minnie Driver appearing as a bloody girl who's hiding that she has HIV in a very special 1991 episode. But while this one had a few episodes with inter-hospital casual sex, there hasn't been any real skin scenes. The closest thing we get is Sarah Manners appearing in a pink bra, but minding her manners and never taking it off. All those missed skin opportunities are the real casualties of Casualty!