By Andrés Muñoz
Watching television in the nineties was an entirely different experience compared to now. With the Internet being a brand new thing, streaming services were nonexistent. Instead, you had several TV channels that had regularly scheduled programming. Due to this, sitcoms (or situational comedies) were pretty big in the 90s. Some were light-hearted, others showed real elements, and others would just go over the top with offbeat and quirky humour.
Watching a specific TV show was a ritual indulged in at a precise time and on certain days. Sitcoms were a popular way to laugh and unwind after a long day’s work. Here are five classic shows from the 90s that still resonate today.
That ’70s Show
Set in the fictional Wisconsin town of Point Place, That ’70s Show was about teenagers living in the seventies. Starring Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, the show was a launchpad for these 3 actors’ careers. Several other cast members went on to have successful TV roles, namely Laura Prepon in Netflix’s prison drama Orange is the New Black.
It depicted the coming-of-age struggles and adventures of teens of that time while reeling in older audiences with all their cultural references and buckets of nostalgia. One of the signature elements of the show was the classic Circle scenes. At some point in each episode, the camera would turn around a table and show a character as they’re chilling with three other characters.
While never showing the use of drugs, the rotating format of the camera was an innovative storytelling tool. And the opening song… “Hello, Wisconsin!” is still epic! This show is so loved that Netflix has produced a sequel, That ‘90s Show, with cameos by some of the original cast.
Friends
Arguably, one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, Friends, needs no introduction. It followed the lives of six friends, Monica, Ross, Chandler, Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe, as they navigated life in New York City.
While some elements of the show haven’t exactly aged well (some lines and running gags are somewhat tone-deaf, and there is a general lack of diversity in the show), the heartwarming moments, clever humour, and unforgettable catchphrases like “We were on a break!!” make Friends a cultural juggernaut that continues to charm audiences even today.
Also, the intro theme by The Rembrandts is always a hit. Sing it with me…”I’ll be there for you…”!
Seinfeld
It is often referred to as the “show about nothing,” due to the everyday-ness of the characters’ situations. Unlike some of the longer story arcs in Friends, Seinfeld took real situations and threw them at the neurotic characters played by Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards to great acclaim.
Written by Seinfeld and Larry David, the show originated from Seinfeld wanting to write about how a comedian gets their material. At first, I wasn’t much of a fan, but the humour reels you in little by little.
While my favourite episode is the iconic “The Soup Nazi”, I loved Jerry Seinfeld’s comedic monologues and the bass riff, which are absolute classics.
Third Rock from the Sun
Not exactly as famous as the other series in his post, Third Rock from the Sun orbited around a group of extraterrestrial beings passing off as a human family while on a mission to study Earth. Led by the talented John Lithgow, the cast included Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, and a very young Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The actors gave outstanding performances as they grappled with the ups and downs of human life. This usually led to hilarious misunderstandings and culture clashes. Lithgow’s acting sets the series’ tone pretty often and takes it up a notch.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Before Men in Black, The Pursuit of Happyness, and that fateful slap at an Academy Awards Ceremony, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air introduced the world to the charisma and talent of Will Smith. The show followed the life of a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia, Will, who was sent to live with his wealthy Los Angeles relatives, the Banks family, in their upscale Bel-Air mansion.
With its iconic theme song, memorable dance sequences, and witty banter, the show hit a perfect balance between laughter and heartfelt moments. Furthermore, it tackled family, identity, and friendship issues by juxtaposing Smith’s rough background with the Banks’ wealthy one, as seen in the classic “Give me the gun” scene.
The sitcoms of the 1990s definitely captured the essence of the era. They gave viewers around the world hours of laughter and entertainment. Whether you prefer the retro vibes in That ’70s Show, the enduring popularity of Friends, the wit Seinfeld brought, Third Rock from the Sun’s out-of-this-world humour, or The Fresh Prince’s charm, each one of these shows marked a generation.
What other shows of the 90s should definitely make the list? Let us know by sharing your thoughts in the comments section below!