Copyright Screen Rant
The 1990s had a lot of popular TV series, but these excellent shows have mostly been forgotten as time has gone on. The decade saw the premiere of huge releases from every possible genre, whether we look back fondly on the supernatural story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the sci-fi hit The X-Files, or legal dramas like Law & Order. Of course, we can't ignore the continual cultural relevance of 1990s sitcoms. But even though we talk about certain '90s shows all the time, there are plenty that are sadly ignored. From a sitcom starring a beloved comedy actor to a children's show about reading, these shows may not be part of pop culture discussions, but they deserve attention for their high quality. Becker (1998-2004) Ted Danson's '90s sitcom Cheers may be one of his most talked-about roles, even to this day, but he also starred in Becker, a sitcom that ran for six seasons. The CBS comedy featured Danson in the role of Dr. John Becker, who was pretty much never happy while at work. Considering the Sam Malone and Diane Chambers romance on Cheers, along with the comforting nature of that sitcom, it makes sense that we tend to remember that show over Becker. However, Danson has been great in every part he takes on, and it's compelling watching him play a confident character who wasn't very likable. Ghostwriter (1992-1995) Despite a 2019 revival on Apple TV, we still don't talk that much about Ghostwriter, but we really should. The PBS/BBC Two series blended a love of reading with the thriller genre and featured child characters who get to the bottom of a mystery in each episode. As the title suggests, a spirit, who was actually compassionate and kind, was there for them the whole time, which is still the most appealing element of the show. While many of us grew up watching Ghostwriter, some might not have gotten the chance. But no matter what age we are, it's hard not to love a show that tells scary stories and also appreciates how much fun it is to get lost in a good book. Sisters (1991-1996) The NBC drama Sisters followed four siblings and their love lives, careers, and constantly changing dynamic with one another. The main cast featured talent like Swoosie Kurtz, and several famous faces popped up too, including George Clooney, Paul Rudd, and Ashley Judd. Since there are so many 1990s dramas to choose from, Sisters inevitably gets lost. Granted, there were a lot of other shows from that decade that are about family members in chaotic situations, like Party of Five and Charmed. Still, the show feels charming and realistic even today, and anyone close to their siblings will love watching it. Weird Science (1994-1998) We may be familiar with the 1985 John Hughes movie Weird Science, but it's easy to forget that there was a '90s sitcom inspired by it. Like the movie, the show followed teenagers Wyatt Donnelly (Michael Manasseri) and Gary Wallace (John Mallory Asher), whose invention of a girl named Lisa (Vanessa Angel) ended up coming to life. The sitcom didn't have any storylines that were absolutely unique and followed a pretty typical format of two high schoolers who were just trying to have a good time and become popular. However, it had a good message about how people are more than just their physical appearances. Head Of The Class (1986-1991) With the amount of sitcoms released in the '90s, Head of the Class often gets forgotten about, even though it aired for five seasons. The series had a fun premise and focused on smart students at Millard Fillmore High School, who were mentored by teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman). Like the best sitcoms set in schools, Head of the Class balanced the students' stressful academic lives with social experiences, and episodes focused on dates, family issues, and the relatable journey that most high schoolers go on. A lackluster 2021 reboot only had one season on HBO Max, but the original is definitely better. Early Edition (1996-2000) Early Edition may not be the most popular drama starring Kyle Chandler, who is beloved for playing enthusiastic yet tough Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights. That said, it's worth another look and still feels compelling today, which can't be said of all 1990s or 2000s series. In the pilot episode, it was revealed that Gary Hobson (Chandler), who is having a tough time in his life, was able to read the Chicago Sun-Times the day before it was released. Of course, this resulted in major issues like "the butterfly effect," which made the premise compelling beyond the pilot. The '90s were a big time for legal and medical dramas like The Practice and ER, so it's no wonder Early Edition got lost. But it's a fun one to revisit, especially since you'll spot many famous stars, like Robert Picardo, Jane Krakowski, and Mae Whitman. Popular (1999-2001) Ryan Murphy's '90s teen series Popular has been overshadowed by his more well-known shows, such as Glee, 9-1-1, and American Horror Story. Even his 2025 legal drama All's Fair has already gotten more buzz since it had a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score and a generally poor reception. The fantastic, funny, and clever show balanced relatable characters like "uncool" Sam McPherson (Carly Pope) and beloved Brooke McQueen (Leslie Bibb) with zanier ones like Mary Cherry (Leslie Grossman). Since there were so many teen dramas in the '90s and '00s, Popular is rarely talked about, but meaningful plotlines about anorexia, coping with cancer, love, friendship, and blended families still resonate. Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper (1992-1997) Hangin' with Mr. Cooper depicted Mark Cooper's (Mark Curry) experiences as a high school coach and teacher, along with his romance with Vanessa Russell (Holly Robinson). Despite its five-season run, which is no small feat for a sitcom, it doesn't get talked about much now. Although Seinfeld and Friends are the most discussed 1990s sitcoms, Hanging with Mr. Cooper should get more praise today. It's relatable watching both Mark and his students dream big and deal with numerous problems. Since it was created by Full House showrunner Jeff Franklin, it's also fun to see Michelle Tanner (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) appear in the second episode. Once And Again (1999-2002) Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz's dramas My So-Called Life and thirtysomething are mentioned more often than Once and Again, their equally emotional and realistic show that had three great seasons. The series followed the relationship between divorced parents and their blended, complex, and dramatic families. With talented cast members like Evan Rachel Wood and Shane West as siblings Jessie and Eli, the series still holds up. Once and Again isn't streaming anywhere, and season 3 never came out on DVD, so it's no wonder that many people haven't gotten the chance to watch the whole series, or even see it at all. That's a shame, considering the powerful storyline about Jessie's eating disorder and her relationship with Katie Singer (Mischa Barton) in the third season. The Pretender (1996-2000) An underrated series with a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Pretender had an intriguing premise resulting in a wildly entertaining story. The main character, Jarod (Michael T. Weiss), was more intelligent than others, so he lived at a think tank called "the Centre" as a child prodigy. As he got older, the series dove into the harsh lessons. Between the scary setting of the Centre, which, of course, housed more villains than Jarod expected, and the fast pace of each episode, The Pretender was made for binge-watching. The corny title might be one reason why it's overlooked so often now, but it's a lot of fun.
