It certainly seems like there’s a new streaming service out every month or so. One of the latest is NBC Universal’s known as Peacock. So far, the library isn’t nearly as large as some of the more prominent platforms but they’re growing steadily. A highlight of the service so far is what they offer up from the past.
While there are some quality movies in their back catalog, the true high point for the streaming service is probably their TV show collection. A handful of classic series to have aired on one of Universal’s networks are available, with some being among the best ever seen during the ’90s.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (6.7)
Long before Netflix went in a whole new direction with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the titular witch was the focal point of a popular series during the late ’90s. Premiering in 1996 and starring Melissa Joan Hart, Sabrina the Teenage Witch was a more comical take on the character from Archie Comics fame.
It followed Sabrina as she balanced her mortal teenage life with her witch side along with her centuries-old aunts and talking cat. During its earliest seasons, the show was part of the famous T.G.I.F. lineup and brought in millions of viewers before moving to the WB Network.
Everybody Loves Raymond (7.1)
When thinking about the prototypical sitcoms of the past, Everybody Loves Raymond certainly seems to fit that bill. Debuting in 1996, the series focused on the everyday life of sportswriter Raymond (Ray Romano) as he interacts with his dysfunctional family members.
The series got off to something of a slow start in terms of viewership. However, as it progressed, it eventually became one of the ten most-watched shows of its era. It was nominated for 69 Emmy Awards, with most of the main cast winning, as well as winning Outstanding Comedy Series.
Charmed (7.1)
Similar to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed centered around witches and also like Sabrina, a rebooted version of the show recently debuted. The original hit TV screens in 1998 and instead of focusing on one witch, it told the story of three sisters known as “The Charmed Ones.”
The sisters were played by Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, and Shannen Doherty, though Rose McGowen joined as a long-lost sister in later seasons. Charmed was a hit for the WB Network which helped launch the careers of some supporting cast members like Kaley Cuoco and set the tone for future fantasy/supernatural series on the CW Network.
Highlander: The Series (7.2)
In 1986, audiences were introduced to the Highlander franchise, which told the story of an immortal Scottish swordsman. Although it wasn’t a huge box office hit, it still spawned multiple sequels. There was also a television series that premiered in 1992.
Again, while viewership wasn’t high, it managed to last for over 100 episodes. Christopher Lambert, who starred in the original film, showed up in the pilot to introduce Duncan MacLeod, the lead in this series that followed an alternate timeline from the movies.
The King Of Queens (7.3)
Along the same lines as Everybody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens is basically sitcom royalty. It debuted in 1998 and produced over 200 episodes during its run. The story centered on Doug Heffernan, played by Kevin James in the role that made him famous.
His life was going smoothly, especially with his loving wife Carrie (Leah Remini), only for things to be turned upside down when her father (Jerry Stiller) moved in with them. There was a multiple-episode crossover with Everybody Loves Raymond as well.
Sliders (7.4)
It’s one of the lesser-known shows on this list but that didn’t stop Sliders from becoming a favorite of those who watched it. Premiering in 1995, this ended up being one of the better sci-fi shows from the era to tackle things like the concept of a multiverse.
The characters in this series would use various wormholes to “slide” between parallel universes. Jerry O’Connell led the way, though he did depart before the final season. The show was spun-off into things like comics and there were even trading cards.
Law & Order (7.7)
These days, it seems like any mention of Law & Order is related to the Special Victims Unit spin-off that has been running for over twenty seasons. However, it all actually started way back in 1990 with the original Law & Order, which lasted over 400 episodes.
This was where Dick Wolf really got going, starting a huge franchise that has now helped him be behind dozens of shows. Law & Order also started the layout of half an episode focusing on the investigation of a crime and the second half centering on the prosecution of the criminal.
3rd Rock From The Sun (7.7)
By the mid-’90s, it felt like every version of a sitcom had been seen. That’s what helped 3rd Rock from the Sun be so successful, as it put a fun spin on it. Instead of being about a typical family, the main characters were four aliens posing as humans on Earth.
That setup allowed for some hilarious hijinx and wacky moments that weren’t matched on other sitcoms. It also added another strong credit to John Lithgow’s career, while giving audiences an early look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and featuring some tremendous guest stars.
Frasier (8.1)
Spin-offs can be incredibly difficult to pull off. Some totally miss the mark like Joey after Friends ended. Some even become bigger than the original series like Family Matters did to Perfect Strangers. One that falls into the latter category is Frasier, which was spun-off from Cheers.
The titular Frasier Crane went from a regular bar patron to a protagonist of his own series. Frasier followed the psychiatrist as he returned to his hometown of Seattle and began hosting a radio show where he gave out advice. Debuting in 1993, it dominated at the Emmys, including taking home Outstanding Comedy Series five times in a row.
Exosquad (8.4)
There’s a very good chance that nobody expected this to be at the top of the list. Exosquad is probably the least famous entry on this list. Premiering in 1993, this American South Korean animated series was created in response to the rising popularity of Japanese anime.
The concept of Exosquad focused on the artificially engineered Neosapiens, who are used as slaves, and their war with the humans behind it all. Though it wasn’t a major hit, it still produced a video game, board game, and action figures for the loyal fanbase.
