List RulesThe top situation comedies & comedy shows that originally aired in the 1990s
It’s hard to choose the best sitcoms of the ‘90s: so many quality theme songs, so many outlandish misunderstandings, and so many will-they-or-wont-they plotlines. Though Seinfeld dominated much of the era, the show actually began its run in the ‘80s, so for the purposes of this best-of list, we begin at the beginning: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Home Improvement, and Beavis and Butt-head are just a few of the greatest sitcoms to start the ‘90s.
By the time Clinton was sworn into office, Blossom, Martin, and Mad About You were already must-see mainstays in 90s television. Building on the successes of ensemble comedies like Cheers and Night Court, other sitcoms of the 90s like Wings, Frasier and The Drew Carey Show boasted a core group of characters getting equal airtime and intersecting storylines.
Then, there were the cultural phenomena. Friends took off like a pop-culture rocket, influencing music, fashion, hairstyles and vernacular. The long-running South Park launched on Comedy Central and neither animation nor celebrity spoofing would ever be the same. Cable broke new programming ground with Sex and the City, among other shows, setting a course for the ‘00s and teens, where subscription cable dominates the zeitgeist and awards shows.
Some critics’ darlings, like NewsRadio, saw abbreviated runs, while worn-out premises, like The Nanny, exceeded expectations. Shows like Will & Grace, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Living Single, and Step by Step reflected how the culture was redefining the traditional family. The funniest shows of the ‘90s entertained, but were also informed by the way we live today.
Every popular 1990s sitcom should be included on this list, so if your favorite is missing for some reason, add it to this list.
1
4,2322,645Friends
Jennifer Aniston, Courteney CoxPremiered: 1994
Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta... more2
3,5382,220The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith, James AveryPremiered: 1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from... more3
2,8241,096The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta, Nancy CartwrightPremiered: 1989
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting... more4
2,8951,848Home Improvement
Tim Allen, Patricia RichardsonPremiered: 1991
Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, that aired from... more5
3,0011,935That '70s Show
Topher Grace, Laura PreponPremiered: 1998
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from... more6
2,3451,375Full House
Bob Saget, John StamosPremiered: 1987
Full House is an American sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show chronicles a... more7
1,698643Cheers
Ted Danson, Rhea PerlmanPremiered: 1982
Cheers is an American sitcom that ran for eleven seasons between 1982 and 1993. The show was... more8
2,7762,034Frasier
Kelsey Grammer, Jane LeevesPremiered: 1993
Frasier (NBC, 1993) is an American sitcom television series created by David Angell, Peter... more9
2,4261,656Boy Meets World
Ben Savage, Rider StrongPremiered: 1993
Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993) is an American television sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and... more10
2,1341,358Saved by the Bell
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario LopezPremiered: 1989
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993. A... more11
1,8741,171Family Matters
Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel WhitePremiered: 1989
Family Matters is an American sitcom which originated on ABC network from September 22, 1989... more12
2,2211,596The King of Queens
Kevin James, Leah ReminiPremiered: 1998
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998,... more13
2,3291,766Everybody Loves Raymond
Ray Romano, Patricia HeatonPremiered: 1996
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom starring Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton,... more14
1,8331,4353rd Rock from the Sun
John Lithgow, Jane CurtinPremiered: 1996
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is... more15
2,0531,629Roseanne
Roseanne Barr, John GoodmanPremiered: 1988
Roseanne (ABC, 1988) is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams, Marcy Carsey,... more16
1,9871,545The Nanny
Fran Drescher, Charles ShaughnessyPremiered: 1993
The Nanny is an American television sitcom originally aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999, starring... more17
1,7241,294South Park
Trey Parker, Matt StonePremiered: 1997
South Park (Comedy Central, 1997) is an American adult animated sitcom created by Trey Parker... more18
1,4361,393The Drew Carey Show
Drew Carey, Diedrich BaderPremiered: 1995
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was... more19
1,3141,322Step by Step
Patrick Duffy, Suzanne SomersPremiered: 1991
Step by Step is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons, originally running... more20
1,6971,346Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline RheaPremiered: 1996
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the... more21
1,5761,447Will & Grace
Eric McCormack, Debra MessingPremiered: 1998
Will & Grace is an American sitcom, based on the relationship between Will Truman and Grace... more22
1,4971,250King of the Hill
Mike Judge, Kathy NajimyPremiered: 1997
King of the Hill is an American adult animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels... more23
1,2551,305Mad About You
Paul Reiser, Helen HuntPremiered: 1992
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992, to May 24,... more24
1,1631,254Wings
Tim Daly, Steven WeberPremiered: 1990
Wings is an American sitcom that ran on NBC from April 19, 1990, to May 21, 1997. Starring Tim... more25
1,0721,258Just Shoot Me!
Laura San Giacomo, Enrico ColantoniPremiered: 1997
Just Shoot Me! is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from March... more