Originally by Ranker TVList RulesThe greatest drama TV series that aired during the 1990s
The best ‘90s drama shows weighed heavily toward sci-fi premises, but gave equal time to angsty teen dramas and crime procedurals. In fact, we have the 1990s to thank for the exponential growth of the Law and Order franchise. Though some of the greatest TV dramas of the ‘90s might be comedy-drama hybrids rather than straight-up drama, the hour-long format allowed those shows to tackle more serious subjects than a sitcom.
Some of the ‘90s greatest dramas dominated what came to be known as water-cooler viewing, like The X-files, Twin Peaks, and The West Wing. Other shows didn’t quite dominate in the ratings, like Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and The Sopranos, yet they secured a spot in TV history as some of the best ever in the genre.
As the Internet grew in access and popularity, we saw some of the greatest ‘90s dramas draw from the new phenomenon. (Recall Ally McBeal’s use of the dancing baby meme.) Though DVR wasn’t introduced until 1999, VHS recording allowed for delayed viewing, necessitating the rise of the SPOILER ALERT.
Finally, we have to thank a few of the best ‘90s drama shows for launching the careers of Jessica Biel (7th Heaven), Claire Danes (My So-Called Life), and James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek), reviving the careers of James Spader (The Practice), Rob Lowe (The West Wing), and Robert Downey, Jr. (Ally McBeal). And, really, we have to thank Dick Wolf for filling the airwaves end to end with witty banter and weeping victims.1
373191Buffy the Vampire Slayer
March 10, 1997Actors: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Anthony Head
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB, 1997) is an American supernatural drama television series created by Joss Whedon, based on the 1992 film. Destined to slay vampires, a young woman (Sarah Michelle... more2
307188The X-Files
September 10, 1993Actors: Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish
The X-Files (Fox, 1993) is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris Carter. The series revolves around FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigating... more- 3344180
Charmed
October 7, 1998Actors: Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, Brian Krause
Charmed (The WB, 1998) is an American fantasy drama television series created by Constance M. Burge. Sisters Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) discover they... more - 4217159
ER
September 19, 1994Actors: Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Sherry Stringfield, Noah Wyle
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994, to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and... more - 5234163
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
September 20, 1999Actors: Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Jamie Gray Hyder
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 1999) is an American police procedural, legal, crime drama series created by Dick Wolf. Set in New York City, the series follows the dedicated detectives who... more - 69936
Boy Meets World
September 24, 1993Actors: Ben Savage, William Daniels, Betsy Randle, Will Friedle, Rider Strong
Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993) is an American television sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly. An adolescent (Ben Savage) with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he... more - 7235154
Beverly Hills, 90210
October 4, 1990Actors: Ian Ziering, Jennie Garth, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, Jason Priestley
Beverly Hills, 90210 (Fox, 1990) is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star. A group of friends living in Beverly Hills, California make their way through life from their... more - 8181166
Law & Order
1990Actors: Chris Noth, Sam Waterson
Law & Order (NBC, 1990) is an American police procedural legal drama series created by Dick Wolf. Set in New York City, the series follows an investigation of a crime, apprehension, and prosecution... more - 9199152
Angel
October 5, 1999Actors: David Boreanaz, J. August Richards, Amy Acker, Andy Hallett, James Marsters
Angel (The WB, 1999) is an American supernatural television series created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt, and a spin-off from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Angel (David... more - 10173169
The Sopranos
January 10, 1999Actors: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico
The Sopranos (HBO, 1999) is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) deals with personal and professional issues in his... more - 116832
Quantum Leap
March 26, 1989Actors: Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Wolfberg, W. K. Stratton, Carolyn Seymour
Quantum Leap is an American television series that originally aired on NBC for five seasons, from March 1989 through May 1993. Created by Donald P. Bellisario, it starred Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam... more - 12168157
Xena: Warrior Princess
September 4, 1995Actors: Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American/New Zealand television series filmed in New Zealand. The series aired in syndication from September 4, 1995, until June 18, 2001. The series was created in 1995... more - 13191142
Dawson's Creek
January 20, 1998Actors: James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith
Dawson's Creek (The WB, 1998) is an American teen drama television series created by Kevin Williamson. Four friends (James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams) in a... more - 14155164
7th Heaven
August 26, 1996Actors: Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, David Gallagher, Beverley Mitchell, Mackenzie Rosman
7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on The WB, the first time that the network aired Monday... more - 15156124
My So-Called Life
August 25, 1994Actors: Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, Claire Danes, Devon Gummersall, A.J. Langer
My So-Called Life (ABC, 1994) is an American teen drama television series created by Winnie Holzman. A 15-year-old girl (Claire Danes) and her trials and tribulations of being a teenager and dealing... more - 16112144
Touched by an Angel
September 21, 1994Actors: Roma Downey, Della Reese, John Dye, Valerie Bertinelli
Touched by an Angel is an American supernatural drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by... more - 17121154
Twin Peaks
April 8, 1990Actors: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Richard Beymer
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990) is an American mystery horror drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch and, despite being canceled after two seasons, sparked a cult following that... more - 186134
Baywatch
September 22, 1989Actors: David Hasselhoff, Mitzi Kapture, David Chokachi, Kelly Packard, Michael Bergin
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show was canceled after... more - 19104151
Northern Exposure
July 12, 1990Actors: Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, John Corbett, Cynthia Geary, John Cullum
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes. It dealt with a New York City physician, Dr. Joel Fleischman, who is sent to... more - 20129139
Walker, Texas Ranger
April 21, 1993Actors: Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard, Sheree J. Wilson, Noble Willingham, Nia Peeples
Walker, Texas Ranger (CBS, 1993) is an American action crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, inspired by the film Lone Wolf McQuade. Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck... more - 21120149
Melrose Place
July 8, 1992Actors: Grant Show, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Andrew Shue, Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett
Melrose Place is an American primetime soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992 to May 24, 1999, for seven seasons. The show follows the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment... more - 22105162
The West Wing
September 22, 1999Actors: Martin Sheen, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff
The West Wing (NBC, 1999) is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White House, where the Oval Office and... more - 23118123
Party of Five
1994Actors: Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell
Party of Five (Fox, 1994) is an American television teen and family drama created by Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman. After their parents' untimely death, five siblings (Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf,... more - 24100156
NYPD Blue
September 21, 1993Actors: Dennis Franz, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Bill Brochtrup, Henry Simmons, Jacqueline Obradors
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwined... more - 25111132
Ally McBeal
September 8, 1997Actors: Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Jane Krakowski, Peter MacNicol, Portia de Rossi
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama television series, originally aired on Fox from September 8, 1997 to May 20, 2002. Created by David E. Kelley, the series stars Calista Flockhart in the... more
