Some of the best shows in television historycame out in the 1990s. The last decade of the century was extremely important in terms of entertainment, as the big and small screens crossed their beams and both mediums started displaying similar levels of quality, which TV detractors still deny to this day. High definition was still years away, but people relied heavily on TV entertainment, so production simply grew. The small box in your living room was able to bring together enough viewers for specific events that were no longer annual matches. On a weekly basis, sitcoms were able to gather millions for 21-minute episodes.
However, in the phenomenon that iscomedy TV in the ’90s, only a handful of series are always part of the conversation.Friends,The Simpsons,andSeinfeldare some of the popular sitcoms that are regarded as the most popular cultural pieces of the 1990s, when in reality there are many, many more. Digging around the bin of this groundbreaking decade of TV shows, we came upon some of the most underrated comedy shows of the 1990s. What’s even more important is that, due to one reason or another, they still hold up and make for a great rewatching binge.
10The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004)
The Drew Carey Show
InThe Drew Carey Show, the famous standup comedian and TV personality plays a fictionalized version of himself. Drew is a regular dude who has to face the issues of working as an assistant director in a department store with quirky personnel. The show also sees him in constant interaction with his very close friends and some sketchy characters in the workplace. Yes, it could bea show about nothingif it weren’t for some signature characters that were capitalized to be exactly the same all the time.
Relatively Harmless Show About Comedy in the Workplace
And that goes for Mimi Bobeck, Kathy Kinney’s character who became a staple and one of the most recognizable elements of the show, as well as her relationship with Carey.The Drew Carey Showwent on to air for nine seasons on ABC, a great run considering it was a show that basically stayed the same for almost a decade. It still holds up today because of the harmless tone of its premise, and it plays easily in rewatch mode.
The problem is that, due to music licensing, the show’s actually hard to find as it’s not available on streaming services, except for the first season.You can rent season one ofThe Drew Carey Showon Prime Video.
93rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001)
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Suntells the story of four extraterrestrials who decide to conduct human behavior experiments in Rutherford, Ohio. They land in this small town and start living in an attic apartment. Dick, Sally, Harry, and Tommy each have different personalities and different ways to approach their human body vessels, but they all share one thing: a complete disdain for the human race. However, as they start entering society and studying our ways, they start falling for us.
The Importance of a Wonderful Cast
An outstanding cast is the reason for the show’s sentimental value. Starring John Lithgow, Jane Curtin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kristen Johnston, and French Stewart, the show won audiences over quickly and stayed on the run for six seasons of physical comedy bliss. It still holds up because in every episode, writers made sure to add the naive views of supposedly smart aliens to everyday human situations.
Also, Dick and Mary’s relationship isextremely adorable by sitcom standards. This was showrunners Bonnie and Terry Turner’s introduction to the industry before they createdThat ’70s Show.You can stream3rd Rock from the Sunon The Roku Channel.
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8Coach (1989-1997)
InCoach, Craig T. Nelson gives life to Hayden Fox, head coach of a fictional football team. Always accompanied by his crew of coaches, Dauber and Luther Van Dam Fox will face every kind of tribulation during his leadership on the team. From having to deal with his daughter’s sudden emancipation and marriage, to facing the constant threat of pranks executed by Judy Watkins, another coach and Dauber’s romantic partner. Even with that simple premise,Coachended up beingone of the most fun sitcomsof its era.
Sports Comedy with a Punch
How does a comedy likeCoachhold up today, considering its premise sounds ancient and out of tune with today’s audiences? The secret lies in the clever design of a character that was never intended to be someone to look up to, a hero, or even an inspiring dude. Coach Fox is as dumb, desperate, and irrational as the situation requires, but he is an adorable dude nonetheless. The performance by Nelson was key throughout its nine-season run.You can streamCoachon The Roku Channel.
7Married… with Children (1987-1997)
Married… With Children
Married… with Childrentakes viewers to the Chicago suburbs, where a miserable man called Al Bundy appears to be very unhappy with his family. Bud is his dumb son, Kelly is his daughter who indulges in questionable behavior, and Peggy is a housewife who Al can’t satisfy. The shoe salesman just wants to arrive home after a horrible day at work and watch TV and relax, but every day, Al Bundy is forced to face problems brought on by his own family and sometimes by their neighbors, the D’Arcys.
A Risky, Yet Adorable Sitcom
Al Bundy is easilyone of the funniest TV characters of the ’90s. But he’s also one of the most obnoxious, offensive, and foul-mouthed dudes in TV history. So, how doesMarried… with Childrenhold up in the modern age of politically correct television? It has to do with the fact that Bundy’s so idiotic that it’s impossible to take him seriously.
It wouldn’t probably be made today, just like some other sitcoms from the ’90s, but this doesn’t mean Al’s next on the “cancel culture” list. On the contrary, the father and husband, with his unique caring ways, still has the power to make heads turn and make viewers wonder how he kept himself sane for 11 seasons.
6The Critic (1994-1995)
The Critic
The Criticwas an animated sitcom that told the story of Jay Sherman, a film critic who hosted a TV show called Coming Attractions in which he reviewed films, often ending his statement with the line “It stinks!” Created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss, two writers who had worked on The Simpsons,The Criticwas perhaps the first animated show for adults ever produced to be featured in the primetime slot of a major network.
The Animated Sitcom for Adults that Managed to Make an Impact With Very Little
Sherman is, without question, amemorable animated character from the ’90s, but most critics will differ. Their issue is probably the show’s contempt for the entertainment industry and its recognizable film critics.The Critictook Hollywood’s dynamics and spoofed them endlessly, with multiple parodic references to huge productions.
It holds up today because of its satirical humor, which seems to resonate with those who understand how Hollywood works in every aspect of its morally complex mechanism.You can streamThe Criticon Tubi.
5Wings (1990-1997)
InWings, Joe and Brian Hackett operate their airline at Tom Nevers Field airport. However, they’re not successful corporate moguls. They’re just very different siblings who attempt to do their best with the only plane they have. They don’t even fly that often, as they spend most of the time in the cafeteria at the airport. A handful of very likeable characters joined them in their adventures and actually stayed with them throughout all eight seasons of the show.
The Heartwarming Sitcom That Complies With Every Rule in the Book
Full of'90s clichés that are present in almost every comfort show,Wingsis a heartwarming sitcom that wasn’t as famous as the other shows that take place in its universe,FrasierandCheers.
However, it deserves as much praise because of its lighthearted nature and the lack of conflict that always kept the show outside of unnecessary dramatic territory. Do you want a show that feels as breezy as a stress-free Sunday morning? This is your way to go.Stream on Prime Video.
4Mr. Bean (1990-1995)
Mr. Beannarrates the adventures of a quirky, clever, but also idiotic British dude who defeated the system every chance he got. He showed up for an exam, and he knew none of the answers. He managed to give himself a dental treatment because he thought the pain under his hands was more tolerable. He spent a unique Christmas Eve and also had one of the loneliest birthdays ever. All this without speaking more than two words.
A Great Execution of Physical Comedy
In the best style of Chaplin-esque silent comedy,Bean rearrangedthe revolutionary style of comedy that America proposed in the ’90s, and he proved that sometimes the traditional is way funnier than convoluted plots. The beauty of the show is due to how funny and simple it is. It holds up today because it’s the best example of physical comedy in modern times and proves that good writing isn’t only based on dialogue. It’s based on setting and execution.Stream on Prime Video.
3The Nanny (1993-1999)
The Nannytells the story of Fran Fine, a beauty specialist who emerges from the Jewish, tight-knit community of Flushing and finds work in the most unlikely of places. When she knocks on the door of the Sheffields, an upper-class family in New York City, they don’t exactly buy the cosmetic supplies she’s selling. She gets hired as the nanny, and Maxwell’s children accept her immediately, as does the British producer of Broadway shows.
A Beautiful and Endearing Clash of Cultures
The show became part of pop culture after a couple of seasons, but it has always been seen as a lesser version of its formulaic premise.
However,The Nannyis a wonderful show that has enough innocence in its plot to appeal to all family members. Fran’s more traditional ways collided with the posh values of the Sheffields, but this was crucial for making every bit of the show extremely funny. Additionally, Fran Drescher’s physical performance is outlandish andvery, very effective. A modern version of Lucille Ball.Stream on Peacock Premium.
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2Freaks and Geeks (1999)
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks, Sam and Lindsay Weir are siblings attending the same high school in the early 1980s. They each become part of their own posse: on one side, Lindsay becomes a Freak, and Sam becomes a Geek, and they each navigate the rocky path to adulthood through a series of very funny situations. Wonderfully cinematic,Freaks and Geeksis perhaps the most important inspiration for modern comedy that you still haven’t watched.
How Does it Feel to be a Teenage Outcast?
The show created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow is probably the most underrated comedy drama that people still feel was wrongly canceled. Inexplicably, it ended with anunresolved cliffhanger, and the show never returned, and audiences are still claiming for it (although Apatow followed up on the show’s style by giving a career to just about everyone who participated in it).
It still resonates because it feels like a very honest depiction of teenage culture and all the chaos that teenagehood brings for just about everyone.Stream on Prime Video.
1The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Showpremiered on HBO in 1993 and provided a satirical glance into the world of late-night shows. In the show, Larry Sanders is the host of a fictional talk show who’s always having to deal with the different views of his producer Artie and his sidekick Hank. Usual plots included Sanders' confrontation with powerful Hollywood figures that had to participate in the show.
Clever Comedy for Adults
The sitcom isone of those ’90s shows that is much betterthan you’d remember. And the reason is probably its great script by Garry Shandling (who also played Sanders) and Dennis Klein, and the mockumentary approach that worked very well under the direction of Todd Holland and Ken Kwapis, among others.
It’s a sitcom by standards, but it’s unlike anything else that was shown on television (even cable) in the ’90s: it’s very clever, adult-appropriate, and doesn’t flinch at the idea of being a satire of the industry it portrays.You can streamThe Larry Sanders Showon Max.
To stay in tune with the nostalgia that the previous list hopefully made you feel, here’s a video about the iconic catchphrases of TV in the 1990s:
