While the 1990s were a golden age of TV shows, some excellent series never became as big as they deserved. Many of theclassic shows that defined the 1990seither trod new ground in terms of creating genres or started long-running franchises, likeBuffy the Vampire Slayer. That said, while someshows are essential for understanding the 1990s, others are equally rooted in the period but were forgotten.
Some of thebest 1990s TV shows have become cult classicsover time, but were not understood when they first aired. Others are still underrated, and this can happen for many different reasons. Some great 1990s shows were just too experimental for the time period, while others were overshadowed by similar TV shows that became popular more quickly.
Claire Danes' debut role was inMy So-Called Life, in which she played 15-year-old Angela Chase, who rebels against her social standing by dying her hair and finding new friends. The show helped to start the careers of some of its other stars, like Jared Leto and Wilson Cruz.My So-Called Lifeonly had one season, but it dealt with some heavy subjects.
The 1990s TV series in this list
1990
1991
1992
1994
1995
1996
La Femme Nikita
1997
The show covered alcoholism, homophobia, homelessness, and other serious issues, while other teen dramas had previously been much more lighthearted. ThoughMySo-Called Lifewas canceled after its first and only season, it provoked the first-ever online fan campaign to save a show. While this was unsuccessful,Claire Danes is looking to team up with Winnie Holzman, its creator, for another series.
There are now severaldifferent versions of theLa FemmeNikitastory, which began with Luc Besson’s movie,La Femme Nikita. While the more recent adaptation starring Maggie Q is better known, with an 85% positive critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, the 1990s show is still worth watching.The story is about Nikita, who is wrongfully convicted of murderand must become a spy.
The originalNikitamay have been largely forgotten now, but it has influenced many other TV shows involving tough female heroes, likeBuffy the Vampire Slayer.La Femme Nikitalasted for five seasons, but was eventually canceled due to falling ratingsand a rumored contract dispute with its star, Peta Wilson. The show was rebooted in 2010.
Melissa Joan Hart is best known now forSabrina the Teenage Witch, but her breakout role was in this 1990s sitcom.Clarissa Explains It Allis about the life of Clarissa Darling as she deals with everyday teenage problems, talking to the camera and breaking the fourth wall to make witty observations.
The show was very unusual for the time, being the first Nickelodeon show to have a female lead, and using interesting strategies to make Clarissa’s story stand out. She often used a fictional videogame to discuss the themes of each episode, and made reference to things Melissa Joan Hart liked, paving the way for a new wave of creativity at Nickelodeon.
NewsRadio
Cast
NewsRadio is a sitcom set in a fictional New York City AM news radio station, WNYX. Premiering in 1995, the series stars Dave Foley as the station’s news director and features a diverse cast including Phil Hartman, Stephen Root, and Maura Tierney. The show humorously explores the dynamics among the eclectic team of news anchors, producers, and office staff, blending workplace comedy with character-driven humor.
NewsRadiois a workplace sitcom that was ahead of its time, before shows likeThe OfficeandParks and Recreation. It was a witty comedy set in a New York City radio station, and its humor often centered on satire and one-liners. Unfortunately,NewsRadionever truly took off, partly due to timeslot changes, which never gave it the chance to attract an audience.
While the show eventually attracted good reviews and a loyal fanbase,NewsRadiois still one of thesitcoms from the 90s that barely anyone remembers. It might not have reached mainstream popularity when it first aired, but fans of workplace comedies with smart social commentary should still give it a go, as many of its main stars are comedians in their own right.
ThoughAre You Afraid of the Dark?came first, and it is often compared to the phenomenally successfulGoosebumpsseries. That said, the two shows are quite different.Are You Afraid of the Dark?was much more of a genuinely creepy horror series, whileGoosebumpsoften parodied the classic horror genre. The show was aimed at a young audience, but it had its scary moments.
It is possible thatAre You Afraid of the Dark?was too scary for its audienceand timeslot, and should have been aired at a slightly later time. Manymoments inAre You Afraid of the Dark?even scared adults, but that now works in the show’s favor, as it is imaginative, creative, and most of the special effects used have aged surprisingly well.
Round the Twist
Round the Twist is a children’s television series that follows the whimsical experiences of three siblings and their father as they navigate magical adventures while living in a lighthouse. Released in 1990, the Logie Award-winning Australian series combines elements of fantasy and comedy in its storytelling.
Round the Twistis instantly memorable from its theme song alone, and while it did not get the attention it deserved in the 1990s, it is still one of the strangest kids' TV shows of all time.Round the Twistis an Australian children’s show about the strange goings-on in the Twist family, who live in a lighthouse.
Round the Twistwas a strange blend of genres, which made it agenuinely frightening kids' TV showat times, but it could also be hilarious. The show’s plots included the children finding a strange green baby in their cabbage patch, and one character being cursed to say “without my pants” at the end of every sentence.
The 1990s had some excellent and long-running sci-fi shows, like TheX-Files, butSlidersoffered a new take on parallel universe storytelling long before multiverses became mainstream. The show followed Quinn, who found a way to open up parallel universes but became trapped in the multiverse. Each episode reflected a “what if” question, tied to our world, like “what if society was a matriarchy?”
Slidershad a strong start, but the series grew inconsistent. That said, Jerry O’Connell, who played Quinn, has floated the idea ofa possibleSlidersreboot, with one condition. O’Connell wants to see more done with special effects and explosions, which would make a rebootedSlidersfeel more like the first and arguably most popular season.
There are now some fantastic Canadian sitcoms, likeNorth of NorthandLetterkenny, butNorthern Exposurewas fairly unusual for the 1990s.Northern Exposureis a greatshow to watch if you likedNorth of North, as both are very tied to their locations and feature quirky humor as a main source of comedy. The story follows a New York doctor adapting to life in Alaska.
Northern Exposurehas been nominated for 116 awards, winning 27 of them, including seven Emmy Awards.
The show was highly praised, with excellent reviews and an 87% positive audience ratingon Rotten Tomatoes. Still, despite this, it never managed to achieve the recognition that it deserved. It is possible thatNorthern Exposurewas ahead of its time, as quirky humor, mixes of genres, and character-driven storytelling have only grown in popularity since the 1990s.
Eerie, Indianais a genre-bending mix of mystery, satire, and sci-fi, while remaining an exciting kids' show with a coming-of-age storyline. The show follows Marshall Teller, whose parents leave New Jersey for Indiana, where he starts to uncover strange happenings and even stranger people. His new friend appears to be the only other normal person, and the two become teenage amateur paranormal investigators.
Critics have givenEerie, Indianaa 100% positive critical review on Rotten Tomatoes.
Eerie, Indianais an unfairlyforgotten 90s TV show that deserves a rewatch, despite only lasting for one season. While it had a generally serious tone, it introduced funny moments and cryptids, and the show has grown a moderate cult following for this.
Millennium
Millennium is a TV show that aired in 1996, starring Lance Henriksen as Frank Black, a former FBI agent with the ability to see into the minds of criminals. Set in the lead-up to the year 2000, the series follows Black as he works for the mysterious Millennium Group, investigating crimes that hint at an impending apocalypse. Created by Chris Carter, the show blends elements of crime, horror, and the supernatural.
Millenniumwas created by Chris Carter, whose most famous work is arguablyThe X-Files, so it may not be surprising that the two shows have several factors in common.Millenniumstars Lance Henriksen as Frank Black, as he confronts disturbing crimes that might foreshadow a coming apocalypse. The show gets extremely dark as it explores the potential for evil throughout society.
With so many groundbreaking horror-themed shows likeBuffy the Vampire Slayertaking the spotlight,Millenniumbecamethe best-forgotten horror series of the 1990s. The show was canceled after its third season, but in that time, it carved out its own niche for its psychological horror elements.Frank Black even appeared as a crossover character inThe X-Filesseason 7episode, “Millennium.”
