It feels like yesterday that we were all crashing on the couch after a long day at school and flipping on the TV to watch our favorite 90s sitcoms. As painful as it is to admit, however, the 90s were a whopping 30 years ago.
To soften the blow, the days of waiting for the scheduled time slot of our favorite shows are long behind us as well. Thanks to streaming, you can return to 90s TV anytime you’re feeling nostalgic (or just need a good laugh). Here are 7 of the best 90s sitcoms for your next nostalgia fix.
1. ‘Friends’ (1994 – 2004)
Of all the 90s sitcoms, it’s difficult to argue that Friends isn’t the most iconic. At the very least, it’s neck and neck with Seinfeld.
Thanks to a rent-controlled lease passed down from Monica’s grandmother, the tight-knit gang of six spent their time in an enormous New York apartment, leaving us all day dreaming about an idyllic life with friends in the Big Apple.
2. ‘Married… With Children’ (1987 – 1997)
Among the longest-running sitcoms of all time, Married… With Children marks Ed O’Neill’s first lead TV role as Al Bundy, a patriarch and relatable protagonist with a love/hate relationship with his painfully average life.
Together with his wife, Peggy (Katey Sagal), and two slacker children, Al Bundy peeled back the rose-colored cellophane coating family sitcoms to give a more realistic reflection of suburban family life.
3. ‘Frasier’ (1993 – 2004)
What began as a Cheers spin-off turned into a beloved addition to the sitcom Hall of Fame in its own right. Frasier follows titular character Frasier Crane as he begins a new in Seattle after leaving his long-time home of Boston. There, he reconnects with his equally bougie brother, Niles, and his far, far more down-to-earth father, Martin, with whom he shares an apartment.
The contrast between the highbrow brothers and their relatable father not only puts a unique spin on the sitcom family but provides countless entertaining moments across the show’s 11 seasons.
4. ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990 – 1996)
The 90s sitcom with perhaps the most sing-a-long-able theme (though Friends is a close contender), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air took us along with a teenage Will Smith as he leaves West Philadelphia behind for a life with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel-Air mansion.
Another break from the nuclear sitcom family of the past, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air taught us that parental love and support don’t have to come from mom and dad… and that Carlton is a very bad dancer.
5. ‘Sabrina, the Teenage Witch’ (1996 – 2003)
Like Samantha Stephens before her, Sabrina Spellman brought a lightness to witchcraft with Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Unlike Samantha, however, Sabrina’s light-hearted hijinks contrasted the darker offerings of the era like The Craft and Charmed.
While living with her lovable albeit off-kilter aunts, Hilda and Zelda, Sabrina navigated high school (and eventually college) life as a young witch with the help of her beloved talking black cat, Salem. Among the most gif-worthy characters here, Salem was always there to dispense (questionable) advice with a side of sass.
6. ‘The Nanny’ (1993 – 1999)
Like Fresh Prince, The Nanny tells you exactly what you’re in for with its descriptive opening theme. She (Fran Fine, played by Fran Drescher) was working in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens. Until her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes, that is.
Another fish out of water story, Fran is a down-on-her-luck makeup saleswoman who finds her way into the home and hearts of the wealthy Sheffield family through pure coincidence and eventually becomes part of the family herself.
7. ‘Seinfeld’ (1989 – 1998)
Last but certainly not least, no 90s show list is complete without the iconic “show about nothing,” Seinfeld. Similar to Friends, Seinfeld follows a group of friends as they tackle the minutiae of everyday life together in New York City… In far more realistic apartments.
What made Seinfeld unique for its time is that it did absolutely nothing to make the characters feel like characters. Though entertaining, Jerry Seinfeld and his friends were uncomfortably relatable – and we loved them all the more for it.
You Can’t Go Wrong With These Nostalgic 90s Sitcoms
So many 90s sitcoms, so little time. Thankfully, you can’t go wrong! Any one of these classic shows is guaranteed to make for a great binge-watch session. Just turn on your favorite streaming service – or crack open that box set of DVDs – grab your push pops and your fun dip and settle in for a cozy nostalgia-filled evening.
