The best 90s sitcoms show why this was an era that changed television. Many of them involved friendships and how people interact with one another in daily life. This was a popular idea in sitcoms starting in the ’70s, and it just got better and better as time went on. The 90s not only has some of the best sitcoms of the time period, but some of these sitcoms go down in history as the best TV shows of all time, launching the careers of some of their stars in the process.
The 1990s is a nostalgic age for sitcoms even if they didn’t grow up in the decade. These are sitcoms that most people would recognize if they grew up watching television and there are maybe some new ones to check out as well. The characters and storylines were relatable while tugging on viewers’ heartstrings and making them laugh. Sitcoms today are epic but it’s hard to compare them to the sitcoms of the ‘90s. The power of ‘90s sitcoms is still strong today as old and new fans alike can stream them to be reminded of ’90s nostalgia.
20 Saved By The Bell (1989-1993)
Saved by the Bell was only on for four seasons but it’s one of the most beloved sitcoms from the ’90s. The series followed high school students, Zack Morris, A C Slater, Kelly Kapowski, and their friends at Bayside High. For ’90s babies, the high school sitcom was relatable and helped popularize teen sitcom of the era which was followed by the likes of Boy Meets World. It had growing pains, family problems, and the ups and downs of teenage hormones. The characters on Saved by the Bell are some of the most beloved from that ’90s period.
19 The Nanny (1993-1999)
The Nanny follows the stylish and outgoing Fran Fine from a cosmetics saleswoman to becoming the nanny for three children of the wealthy Broadway producer Max Sheffield. The sitcom focuses on the family coming together, including their butler Niles and business partner C.C. Babcock. The Nanny had more of a sarcastic edge to it that made it enjoyable for all audiences with a lovable family at the center like the other great ’90s family sitcoms. Fran Drescher made for a terrific fish-out-of-water protagonist with a laugh that audiences still can’t get out of their heads all these years later.
18 King Of Queens (1998-2007)
King of Queens went on for nine seasons and followed the middle-class life of Doug Heffernan, his wife Carrie, and his loving—yet invasive—father-in-law, Arthur. In the sitcom, Doug and his wife live in Queens, New York, and are a typical working-class couple. Doug acts as a delivery man while he and his wife spend the majority of their day meeting the demands of Arthur. With Doug being the stereotypical lazy, sports junkie, many felt that Carrie deserved better. Many forget that the series was a spinoff of Everybody Loves Raymond, and it excels at that relatable humor while separating itself from other sitcoms by focusing on a childless couple and their hijinks.
17 Sports Night (1998-2000)
Sports Night was a short-lived ’90s sitcom from Aaron Sorkin premiering right before the success of The West Wing. The sitcom followed two sports reporters, Casey McCall and Dan Rydell, who co-hosted a sports show together and the producer of their show Dana Whitaker. The sitcom was full of quick-witted and hilariously smart dialogue and was about more than only sports as it reckoned with current events, politics, and interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
16 Spin City (1996-2002)
Spin City was on for seven years and six seasons before coming to an end. The humorous sitcom followed Michael J. Fox as the Deputy Mayor of New York, Mike Flaherty. What made the sitcom hilarious was the number of issues that arose during Flaherty’s workday and how he and his team could squander the issues before they become larger problems. The sitcom also starred famous faces like Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear, Richard Kind, and Michael Boatman.
15 NewsRadio (1995-1999)
Similar to the classic 1970s sitcom WKRP In Cincinnati, NewsRadio involves a group of people running a radio station and the relationships between them. NewsRadio is another great example of a workplace comedy with a terrific ensemble cast. Kids in the Hall cast member Dave Foley shines as the star of this series as the news director. This particular show has flown under many people’s radar, but those that have seen it or are introduced to it will see how funny and well-written this underrated TV comedy is. It also features an incredible cast with the late Phil Hartman as a standout.
14 Ellen (1994-1998)
Ellen DeGeneres was another one of the many comedians who got their own sitcom in the 90s. Ellen was a typical show in the genre at first as it followed Ellen Morgan, a 30-something neurotic single woman who dealt with her strange friends, annoying parents, and less-than-stellar dating life. The show was a hit with the ratings as it coasted by on DeGeneres’ specific brand of humor that was relatable and self-deprecating. However, the show made a substantial impact in television history when Ellen Morgan followed DeGeneres’ journey in real-life and came out as gay in the show’s fourth season. While the ground-breaking move eventually led to a ratings decline, it opened the door for many future series.
13 Martin (1992-1997)
This series revolves around Martin Payne and his relationship with his girlfriend and friends. Martin Lawrence is a hilarious actor, and Martin is one of his best projects. It has a great ensemble cast, and they all give wonderful performances. Viewers loved the show from beginning to end. It is a classic ’90s sitcom, and it deserves all the love and respect that it obtained over the years. It is still a favorite in reruns, being discovered by new audiences and this year’s anniversary reunion special proves there is still lots of love for Martin.
12 Full House (1987-1995)
Full House is one of the most classic ’80s-’90s sitcoms that is recognizable in pop culture even if fans didn’t grow up watching the series. It followed a close-knit family including Danny Tanner raising his three daughters; DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle, after the passing of their mother with the help of their two uncles Jesse and Joey. Full House dealt with some tough issues for a family-friendly show. Similar to most other sitcoms, the series at times covered serious topics facing teenagers most notably dealing with peer pressure. While Fuller House did not work as well in capturing that family dynamic, the legacy of the original lives on.
11 3rd Rock From The Sun (1996-2001)
This hilarious, over-the-top sitcom involves a group of aliens who come to Earth to learn about humans and their customs. They take the form of humans themselves, leading to a fantastic, fish-out-of-water TV series. John Lithgow stars in this series, and he gives a fantastic performance. 3rd Rock From The Sun also launched the career of movie star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The premise is wacky, almost so much that it seems like it couldn’t work. Yet it was a huge success and possibly ended too soon. It was a great ensemble comedy that was hilarious, lighthearted, and entertaining, from beginning to end.
10 The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
It can be difficult to pull off a truly great show about making a show yet The Larry Sanders Show excelled at this behind-the-scenes look. Garry Shandling stars as the titular character, a talk show host who has to deal with network demands, an insecure sidekick, and annoying celebrity guests. Though the show didn’t seem as popular as other sitcoms of the 90s when it was on the air, it was critically acclaimed and received numerous Emmy nominations. More importantly, it helped change the way people saw sitcoms with no laugh tracks and getting away from the regular multi-camera approach.
9 Home Improvement (1991-1999)
Tim Allen stars in this family sitcom, Home Improvement, about the everyday life of Tim Taylor, host of a home improvement show, along with his wife and three boys. Tim Allen may not be the first comedian to get his own sitcom, but the success of this show launched a pretty successful movie career for the star. The show relied on a lot of slapstick humor and goofiness which didn’t earn it rave reviews from critics, but it was one of the most-watched shows of the 90s, proving itself a true crowd-pleaser.
8 The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air launched the acting career of a young Will Smith as a teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air. It is one of the most popular TV shows from the 1990s, and it is still loved by many people today. The theme song itself is just as popular, if not more so than the TV show. Will Smith gives a fantastic performance, launching his amazing movie career. However, he is also surrounded by a talented cast with James Avery as the show’s key element, The Fresh Prince‘s Uncle Phil.
7 That ’70s Show (1998-2006)
Even though That 70’s Show was set in the 1970s it had classic 1990s and early 2000s comedy throughout its eight-season-long run. The sitcom followed a group of teenage friends growing up in Wisconsin in the 1970s all connected by the main character Eric Forman. That 70’s Show mainly focused on the teens, but also looked into the lives of the adults mostly focusing on Eric’s parents Kitty and Red. The sitcom had witty dialogue, interesting characters, and slapstick comedy that almost any audience could enjoy. Fittingly, as one of the best 90s sitcoms, it also inspired a sequel series — That 90s Show.
6 Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)
Everybody Loves Raymond ran for nine seasons and focused on Raymond Barone and his crazy family. With his wife, Debra, the two have three kids and overbearing parents. Living on Long Island, the show centers around sarcasm and Raymond’s dry sense of humor. Some of the funniest episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond revolved around realistic drama that viewers could relate to. From his jealous brother to his helpless attitude in a chaotic household, Everybody Loves Raymond has an often-spoofed legacy which continues to this day.
5 Will & Grace (1998-2006 and 2017-2020)
Will & Grace was one of the most popular and revolutionary sitcoms of the ’90s as it was one of the first widespread sitcoms to feature main LGBTQ+ characters. The sitcom began in the late ’90s and ran into the mid-2000s with a reboot in 2017 that followed the main cast of characters including; Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen. Will & Grace had some of the best depictions of friendship in the ’90s. The sitcom followed the four characters in their personal lives as Will and Grace were roommates after Grace left her fiancé with their friends Karen (the outgoing socialite) and Jack (the hyperactive actor).
4 Mr. Bean (1990-1995)
Comedic actor Rowan Atkinson stars in this series as Mr. Bean, a childlike man who struggles to complete the simplest day-to-day tasks in life. Everything is over-the-top, and Atkinson’s exaggerated gestures and facial expressions make this show memorable. Every Mr Bean skit was hilarious. Whether he is freaking out over a scary movie in the theater or preparing for a New Year’s Eve party, Atkinson’s performance always makes viewers laugh. The series was so successful that a couple of feature films with the beloved character were released after the show’s run.
3 Frasier (1993-2004)
Fraiser was a successful sitcom that starred Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane, a radio psychiatrist in Seattle. It is a spin-off of the massive 1980s hit, Cheers, and Frasier ran for 11 seasons, just like its predecessor. Frasier was always a fan favorite in Cheers, so a sitcom surrounding his character was a good idea. It is a great ensemble comedy that is just as memorable as the show that came before it, and it will go down in history as one of the best TV spin-offs of all time. The show set a record for the most Emmy wins for a scripted series with 37 so it’s no surprise there is a lot of anticipation for the Frasier revival.
2 Friends (1994-2004)
Friends is an ensemble comedy that involves a group of adults in their 20’s navigating life in New York City. It was a huge hit, and it launched the careers of its stars, including Jennifer Aniston’s movie career and Courteney Cox’s turn to horror in the famous Scream franchise. It was a popular sitcom from beginning to end, and it is perhaps more famous now than it was when the series originally aired, with a huge fanbase around the world. There was chemistry between all of its stars, playing an important role in the success of the series.
1 Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Seinfeld may have technically started at the end of the 1980s, but it is definitely a ’90s show (thanks in no small part to its perceived rivalry with Friends). Jerry Seinfeld stars in this hilarious sitcom as a TV version of himself and the antics between him and his friends in New York City. It is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time with nine seasons, and reruns are still shown today. It is a great ensemble comedy that also changed sitcoms forever. Seinfeld took a risk in making a show about self-centered and neurotic characters whose failures were more fun than their successes. The finale is one of the most-watched series finales of all time, and when people think of the best ’90s sitcoms, this is definitely one of the first ones that come to mind.
