Originally by Ranker TVList RulesVote up the best TV series based on the episodes that aired between 1990 and 1999.
In the 1990s, television was one of the fastest growing mediums. More TV shows were popping up than ever before, and ratings were at all-time highs. Viewers tended to be interested in laugh-out-loud moments, which is why sitcoms like Friends, Roseanne, and Seinfeld were the biggest hit TV shows of the decade. While comedies were extremely popular in the '90s, procedural dramas also reigned, with shows like The Practice, JAG, and NYPD Blue becoming popular with large audiences. The decade also spawned quite a few ambitious shows that were too ahead of their time to catch on with mainstream audiences, but have since gained major cult followings. Other shows tried hard but never gained the audience they were hoping for.
Many of the most popular shows of the '90s were long-running shows. ER, for instance, ran 15 seasons, starting in 1994, while shows like Will & Grace, which began in 1998, lasted 8 years. The reality show genre was just popping up in the '90s, especially after the massive ratings and critical success of MTV's The Real World. Children’s programming was also popular, with hit shows like Boy Meets World and Dinosaurs.
What are your favorite programs from the 1990s? Which '90s shows do you have the fondest memories of? This list includes many of the biggest shows from that magical decade.
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3,7071,873The Simpsons
1989-presentActors: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner
Genres (Tv): Animation, Television comedy, Comedy, Family Film
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting... more
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4,5361,689The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990-1996Actors: Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from... more3
4,8322,882Friends
1994-2004Actors: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
Friends (NBC, 1994) is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta... more4
3,2071,828Home Improvement
1991-1999Actors: Tim Allen, Patricia Richardson, Earl Hindman
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen, that aired from... more5
1,9031,130The Wonder Years
1988-1993Actors: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Daniel Stern
Genres (Tv): Drama, Comedy-drama, Comedy
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Neal Marlens and Carol... more6
1,853878The Golden Girls
1985-1992Actors: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom, created by Susan Harris, that originally aired on NBC... more7
3,1991,932Full House
1987-1995Actors: Bob Saget, John Stamos, Dave Coulier
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Full House is an American sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show chronicles a... more8
2,8681,655Saved by the Bell
1989-1993Actors: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Comedy
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993. A... more9
2,0031,259Cheers
1982-1993Actors: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Cheers is an American sitcom that ran for eleven seasons between 1982 and 1993. The show was... more10
3,0671,716Boy Meets World
1993-2000Actors: Ben Savage, Rider Strong, William Daniels
Genres (Tv): Teen sitcom
Boy Meets World (ABC, 1993) is an American television sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and... more11
3,5422,696Seinfeld
1989-1998Actors: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC from... more12
2,5151,590The X-Files
1993-2002Actors: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi
Genres (Tv): Cryptozoology, Supernatural, Crime Fiction, Drama, Live action
The X-Files is an American science fiction horror drama television series created by Chris... more13
2,9301,459That '70s Show
1998-2006Actors: Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis
Genres (Tv): Romance Film, Sitcom, Comedy
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from... more14
1,842967Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996-2003Actors: Melissa Joan Hart, Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Sitcom, Children's television series, Comedy, Fantasy television
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the... more15
1,390733Animaniacs
1993Actors: Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Tress MacNeille
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Comedy
Animaniacs is an American animated television series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television... more16
1,9591,589Roseanne
1988-1997Actors: Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Roseanne (ABC, 1988) is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams, Marcy Carsey,... more17
1,9851,574Everybody Loves Raymond
1996-2005Actors: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom starring Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton,... more18
990733Actors: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by... more19
1,038682Actors: Robert Stack, Dennis Farina, Keely Shaye Smith
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Mystery, Reality television
Unsolved Mysteries (NBC, 1987) is an American mystery documentary television show created by... more20
1,195666Actors: Charles Adler, John Kassir, Tress MacNeille
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Comedy, Animated series
Tiny Toon Adventures is an American animated comedy television series that was broadcasting... more21
2,7381,316Married... with Children
1987-1997Actors: Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Married... with Children is an American sitcom that aired for 11 seasons. It featured a... more22
1,4971,009The King of Queens
1998-2007Actors: Kevin James, Leah Remini, Jerry Stiller
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The King of Queens is an American sitcom that originally ran on CBS from September 21, 1998,... more23
1,313936The Nanny
1993Actors: Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Nanny is an American television sitcom originally aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999, starring... more24
1,3211,072Saturday Night Live
1975-presentActors: Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Satire, Variety show, Sketch, Comedy
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 1975), also known as SNL, is an American late-night live television... more25
2,3651,543Buffy the Vampire Slayer
1997-2003Actors: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters
Genres (Tv): Supernatural, Horror, Comedy-drama, Teen drama, Action
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB, 1997) is an American supernatural drama television series... more
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