Derry Girls recently released its third and final season on Netflix, and throughout its run, it has inspired waves of ’90s nostalgia. The ’90s kids-at-heart are constantly on the lookout for gems from that decade they may not have seen, as some of the best shows from the era have been mostly lost to time.
From workplace comedies like Spin City to freaky kid shows like Eerie, Indiana, a ton of great shows from the ’90s have sadly slipped through the cracks. With ’90s nostalgia at an all-time high, only a select few forgotten classics are worth rewatching.
Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
Despite a wealth of must-watch TV competition in the ’90s, Ally McBeal never failed to have audiences chatting about each new episode. Ally McBeal is a young and spunky lawyer who tries to balance her demanding job with her tumultuous personal life.
Even in the late-’90s, there were social stigmas that needed to be broken, and Ally McBeal gladly stepped up to fill that void. Ally was the perfect character for the decade and her independent spirit was not only hilarious but relatable to many professionals. A true cultural phenomenon, there was no escaping McBeal or her imaginary dancing baby.
Spin City (1996-2002)
Though it was one of his last major roles, Spin City was also one of Michael J. Fox’s most underrated roles. Fox plays Mike Flaherty, the deputy mayor of New York City who must keep himself from spinning out of control in order to keep his bosses’ administration together.
With shows like West Wing dramatizing the world of politics in the ’90s, Spin City came along as a humorous alternative. The workplace comedy format is tried and true, but Spin City set its goofy antics within a workplace that is usually off-limits to the average viewer. Fox is his usual affable self, and the zany cast of characters that comprise the administration help to make it one of the funniest sitcoms of the decade.
Forever Knight (1992-1996)
Shows about vampires have always been popular, and one of the best forgotten shows of the ’90s is also one of the best vampire shows of all time. Forever Knight is the story of an 800-year-old vampire who works as a homicide detective to make up for his years of crimes.
Turning the established police procedural format on its ear, Forever Knight has a lot more going for it than the age-old murder mysteries. Knight’s quest for redemption makes for gripping drama, and the series does an excellent job of blending its genres without dulling the impact of its horror and suspense.
Muppets Tonight (1996-1998)
In the wake of Jim Henson’s untimely passing, the Muppets franchise floundered its way through the ’90s. However, Muppets Tonight was a brilliant reinvention of the characters and saw the familiar puppets attempt to stage a late-night style variety show.
With fresh characters and even fresher jokes, Muppets Tonight was a surprisingly poignant and current show. Whether they were parodying music videos or featuring celebrity guests that fit the decade, the short-lived series was like a precursor to the media that Disney would eventually produce. Muppets Tonight is a perfect rewatch in the modern day because it is like a time capsule of everything ’90s.
Bug Juice (1998-2002)
Disney is known for producing a bevy of original TV content, but Bug Juice was one of their first forays into the world of reality. The series follows a group of real-life youngsters as they navigate their time at summer camp, and experience the difficulties of making friends.
Aside from being a forgotten gem, Bug Juice is undoubtedly one of the best reality shows of the ’90s because of its emphasis on struggles that the target audience faced on a daily basis. Other reality shows have stuck around for longer, but few were as relatable and poignant as Disney’s summer camp classic.
The Critic (1994-2001)
The ’90s was the decade of irreverent comedy, and The Critic was an adult animated series that thumbed its nose at the Hollywood establishment. Jay Sherman is a snarky movie critic who is forced to review the worst garbage that Hollywood has to offer.
The rise of the summer blockbuster in the ’90s also meant that there was a fair amount of pushback to the terrible movies that were being released. Voiced by John Lovitz, Sherman is dry and cynical, and he was the perfect audience surrogate for the decade. Considering the sad state of movies today, The Critic‘s witticisms are more poignant today than they were in 1994.
NewsRadio (1995-1999)
Posing as a workplace comedy, NewsRadio was actually one of the most clever satires of the decade. The series follows the employees of WNYX, the second-best news station that serves the New York City area.
With level-headed Dave Nelson as the straight man, the rest of the characters’ zany antics border on parody. Though it never explicitly goes into full-on meta territory, the viewer always gets the sense that the show is as much a workplace comedy as it is a subtle spoof of all the workplace comedy tropes that viewers were tired of seeing.
American Gothic (1995-1996)
The ’90s were a boom period for supernatural shows, but American Gothic wasn’t afraid to take things to truly dark places. The series follows a young kid who must evade the machinations of his town’s sheriff, a man who wields demonic powers to secure influence and eliminate enemies.
Generally recognized as one of the best character actors of all time, Gary Cole leads the series as Sheriff Buck, and his performance is genuinely chilling. Never pulling any punches, American Gothic had none of the tongue-in-cheek antics of contemporaries like The X-Files and was all terror all the time. Though it only stuck around for one season, it is one of the last true hidden gems of the highly regarded decade.
Eerie, Indiana (1991-1992)
Kids’ shows aren’t usually supposed to be very spooky, but Eerie, Indiana seemed specifically designed to chill the audience’s blood. A young boy from New Jersey finds his life uprooted when his family moves to the small town of Eerie, Indiana. Once there, he and his friend are the only two that seem to notice strange events occurring.
With horror legend Joe Dante attached to the project, Eerie, Indiana lived up to the “eerie” part in spades. Though it is only one season long, the series had wall-to-wall scares and established a unique and unsettling tone that even more adult-oriented shows couldn’t muster.
My So-Called Life (1994-1995)
Now regarded as one of TV’s ultimate one-season wonders, My So-Called Life reinvigorated the tired teen drama genre and introduced it to the ’90s. The series follows Angela, an average teen who has to navigate the complicated world of high school.
Infused with heartfelt discussions about issues that were important to teens both then and now, the series was as political as it was entertaining. It helped to launch the careers of actors like Claire Danes and Jared Leto, and few shows are as lamented for its sudden and premature cancelation. My So-Called Life perfectly captured the decade, and it is a nostalgic experience without being unrealistic.
