'90s TV Shows: A Look Back At The Best Series

By Elana Goodwin on September 22, 2014

The ’90s were a great time for television and some of the most iconic shows premiered during the era. Even generations not around for the TV shows of the ’90s have discovered and become obsessed with the greatest series of the time.

Here are some of the best ’90s TV shows that are still well known and considered classics today.

Photo Credit: Warner Bros./Neal Peters Collection

“Friends,” 1994. “Friends” premiered on NBC in September 1994. The series revolved around six friends living in Manhattan and starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer.

“Friends” has been named as one of the best shows of all time by numerous magazines, including TV Guide, Empire Magazine and Time magazine. During its 10-year run, it was nominated for 62 Emmys and won in 2002 for Outstanding Comedy Series.

“Friends” has been established as an iconic TV show and the show’s recognition and fans have only expanded since it went off the air. It’s become something of a classic with people who haven’t even watched the show knowing about it and its catchy theme song and overall has become one of the best ’90s TV shows.

Photo Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

“Boy Meets World,” 1993. ”Boy Meets World” aired on ABC for seven seasons starting in 1993.

The show followed protagonist Cory Matthews and his family and friends and chronicled his development from sixth grader to married man and everything in between.

Boy Meets World” starred Ben Savage, Rider Strong, William Daniels, Betsy Randle, Will Friedle, William Russ and Danielle Fishel.

The show has become a classic and in 2014, the Disney Channel announced the premiere of a spin-off show: “Girl Meets World.”

The new show follows the daughter of “Boy Meets World” married characters Cory and Topanga, and Savage and Fishel reprise their roles for the series.

Photo Credit: thecynicalslayer.com

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” 1997. The supernatural drama aired on the WB Television Network for seven seasons. The show followed teenage girl Buffy, who is destined to be a “Slayer” and hunt vampires and other dark creatures.

The series starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, James Marsters, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg and David Boreanaz.

“Buffy” also spawned spin-off show “Angel” which was on air for five seasons and starred Boreanaz as the vampire title character who was introduced to viewers on “Buffy.”

The series was named one of the best TV shows by TV Guide, Empire and Time magazine. It was nominated for 14 Emmys and won two and Gellar was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2001.

“Buffy” remains a much-loved and widely known iconic TV show and has been established as one of the best series, not just of the ’90s, but of all time.

Photo Credit: popcrush.com

“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” 1990. The NBC sitcom premiered in September 1990 and starred Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell and Tatyana Ali.

The show follows Smith (playing a fictionalized version of himself) as a West Philadelphia street-savvy teen who is sent to live with his respectable and well-to-do aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion after getting into a fight.

During its six seasons, it was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy Award. “Fresh Prince” established itself as an iconic ’90s TV show and its theme song, performed by Will Smith, remained well known beyond its time.

Photo Credit: seriable.com

“The X-Files,” 1993. The sci-fi drama premiered on Fox in September 1993 and went on for nine seasons. It followed two FBI agents, believer Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully, who investigate “X-Files:” unsolved cases which contain strange, unexplained, and/or paranormal phenomena.

“The X-Files” starred Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny and Mitch Pileggi. The series was nominated for 12 Golden Globes and won five during its nine-year span and was also nominated for 62 Emmys, winning 16.

The show appealed to more than just sci-fi fans and became something of a cult classic and is one of the longest-running science fiction series in U.S. television history.

Photo Credit: fanpop.com

“That ’70s Show,” 1998. The comedy premiered on Fox in August 1998 and starred Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson and Wilmer Valderrama.

The series followed the six friends who lived in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, and was set in the 1970s.

The show was nominated for 16 Emmys during its eight seasons and won in 1999 for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series.

The show became a much-loved and well known ’90s TV show among not only its audience during its time on the air but among younger generations as well.

Photo Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

“Freaks and Geeks,” 1999. The teen comedy-drama aired on NBC in 1999 and was canceled after only 12 episodes. The show starred Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Martin Starr.

During its short time on the air, the series developed a cult following and was named one of the best TV shows of all time by TV Guide and Time Magazine, among other accolades.

Despite its one-season run, it was nominated for three Emmys and won in 2000 for Outstanding Casting in a Comedy Series.

Photo Credit: gallerhip.com

“Will & Grace,” 1998. The sitcom was broadcast on NBC starting in 1998 and went on for eight seasons.

The show revolved around the relationship between gay lawyer William Truman and straight Jewish interior designer Grace Adler and was set in New York City. The series starred Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally.

During its time on the air, it was nominated for 27 Golden Globes and 83 Primetime Emmys, winning 16 Emmys with McCormack, Messing, Hayes and Mullally each nabbing at least one acting Emmy.

The show had a huge impact and during its original run was one of the most successful TV shows featuring gay main characters. The series is still well known and beloved and is one of the best ’90s TV shows.

If you’re not familiar with all of these awesome ’90s TV shows, you’re missing out. So check out these iconic ’90s series that came out during a great era of television.

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