When thinking back to 1990s television, a few specific shows probably come to mind. Friends, Beverly Hills, 90210, Seinfeld, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air are some of the ones that define the era. But because there was so much good TV in the ‘90s, there were a lot of great shows that flew under the radar.
Some of these shows continued for many seasons, others didn’t last long but are fondly remembered. Looking for a cool throwback show to watch that didn’t make its way to the list 35 years ago? These are all solid options.
12
‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ (1992–1996)
Created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel
A horror show for kids? That’s precisely what Are You Afraid of the Dark? was. The Canadian series, a joint venture with Nickelodeon, centered around a group of teenagers gathering for their Midnight Society to tell creepy ghost stories in the woods at night. One person would tell the story, and the others listened while viewers saw the actual story play out on screen.
“Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,” each story would begin, “I call this story…” and the name would kick off the frightening tale. There are plenty of scary episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, but scary, of course, is relative. This was scariness for tweens and teens who weren’t interested in watching classic terrifying horror movies with their parents. Some familiar faces fans will recognize among the young cast, which changed up each season, include JoAnna Garcia (Sweet Magnolias), Elisha Cuthbert (Happy Endings), Rachel Blanchard (The Summer I Turned Pretty), and Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny).
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990)
- Release Date
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1992 – 1999
- Network
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YTV, Nickelodeon, Family Channel
- Directors
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Ron Oliver, David Winning, Lorette Leblanc, Adam Weissman, Michael Keusch
- Writers
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Scott Peters, Alison Lea Bingeman, Cassandra Schafhausen, Naomi Janzen, Stephen Zoller
11
‘The Ben Stiller Show’ (1992–1994)
Created by Ben Stiller and Judd Apatow
From playing the title character in the hilarious comedy Zoolander to directing the gripping psychological thriller Severance, Ben Stiller has proven over the decades that he’s an incredibly versatile talent. But what some forget is that before he was starring in movies, he had his own sketch comedy series on MTV. While the first season was short-lived, the show did return a few years later to air on Fox for a second.
The Ben Stiller Show is a great way to get a glimpse into pop culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s, as the sketches focused on parodying the times to a tee. Interestingly, while The Ben Stiller Show did not pull in great ratings, it did earn an Emmy Award after its cancellation for outstanding writing. The show sort of served as a precursor to The Andy Dick Show. Andy Dick indeed was counted among the cast, alongside other big names like Bob Odenkirk and Janeane Garofalo.
10
‘Clarissa Explains It All’ (1991–1994)
Created by Mitchell Kriegman
Everyone knows Melissa Joan Hart from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but before she starred in that series, she was in the teen sitcom Clarissa Explains It All. Breaking the fourth wall, Clarissa Darling (Hart) often addressed the audience as she navigated typical coming-of-age challenges, from boys to school, puberty, sibling rivalry, and more.
Clarissa Explains It All has episodes that focus on serious topics but always handled them in a less dramatic way than other sitcoms from the decade. The show was the first Nickelodeon series to figure a female lead as well, opening the door to so many others that came after.
9
‘Eerie, Indiana’ (1991–1993)
Created by José Rivera
A horror sci-fi series, Eerie, Indiana only aired for a single season but has since developed a cult following. Marshall Teller (Omri Katz) is a teenager who moves to the titular town with his family, and he befriends Simon (Justin Shenkarow), the only other person with whom he connects. Throughout the town, the pair encounter weird happenings, from a sinister dog planning a takeover to urban legends like Bigfoot and even a still-alive Elvis Presley.
From the opening scene that always includes a shot of a spider web to references to Edgar Allan Poe, the Grim Reaper, werewolves, and other classics, Eerie, Indiana was one of the best horror shows of the 1990s and is ripe for a reboot.
8
‘Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper’ (1992–1997)
Created by Jeff Franklin
Everyone in the ‘90s wished they had a gym teacher like Mr. Cooper (Mark Curry), a former NBA player who cares about the kids as if they were family. The story in Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper centers around Cooper’s job at the school where he eventually becomes basketball coach along with his life a home with his roommate Vanessa (Holly Robinson Peete), who later becomes his girlfriend, then fiancée.
With a wonderful mix of humor and heart, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper hails from Jeff Franklin, the same creator behind Full House. It was a fun Friday night show for families to enjoy together, and quietly lasted for five seasons.
7
‘NewsRadio’ (1995–1999)
Created by Paul Simms
Dave Foley, Stephen Root, Andy Dick, Maura Tierney, Vicki Lewis, Joe Rogan, Khandi Alexander, and the late Phil Hartman are counted among the cast of this sitcom, which marked Hartman’s last role prior to his death. Following Hartman’s tragic passing, Jon Lovitz joined the series in his place. NewsRadio centers around a group of workers at a fictional AM all-news radio station in New York. Young news director Dave Nelson (Foley) joins the team, but he has trouble earning respect while managing the eclectic mix of co-workers.
Sure, NewsRadio, one of the forgotten sitcoms of the ‘90s worth your time, hasn’t necessarily aged well given the nature of the business. Today, it would be more believable as a podcast studio. But the talented cast, funny storylines, witty dialogue, and even the visual gags make NewsRadio a delight to watch, even today.
- Release Date
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1995 – 1998
- Network
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NBC
- Directors
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Tom Cherones, James Burrows, Alan Myerson, Michael Lembeck, Lee Shallat Chemel, Paul Simms, Peter Bonerz, Dave Foley, Leonard R. Garner, Jr.
- Writers
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Josh Lieb, Joe Furey, Alan J. Higgins, Brian Kelley, Chris Marcil, Lew Morton, Sam Johnson, Drake Sather, Leslie Caveny
6
‘The Secret World of Alex Mack’ (1994–1998)
Created by Thomas W. Lynch and Ken Lipman
What made The Secret World of Alex Mack especially fun for young viewers is that the sci-fi show was complemented by a series of books kids could read as well. The central character is Alexandra “Alex” Mack (Larisa Oleynik), a teenager living in a town that relies heavily on the local chemical factory. When Alex is accidentally drenched with an experimental chemical from the plant, she realizes she has special powers. She can generate electricity from her fingertips, has telekinesis, and can even transform herself into a puddle of liquid.
Along with the coolness of these powers, however, comes the inability to sometimes control them. Alex will glow yellow, for example, when she’s nervous. This lack of control makes it challenging for Alex to keep her powers a secret from her parents and especially the factory, which might want to get their hands on her once they know the truth. The story is compelling and fun for all ages.
- Release Date
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1994 – 1997
- Network
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Nickelodeon
- Directors
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Allison Liddi-Brown, Paul Hoen, Christopher T. Welch, Shawn Levy, Sean McNamara, Matt Dearborn, Peter Lauer, David Straiton
- Writers
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Ken Lipman, Brian Hargrove, Jack Kenny, Neil Landau, Peter Egan, Joe Purdy
5
‘Sliders’ (1995–1999)
Created by Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss
In Sliders, people can literally slide from different Earths through parallel universes using a wormhole. The idea was for this invention to help them get back to their own home universes. But when they use it prematurely, the timer loses track of the coordinates, and they are stuck in a loop of traveling from one universe to the next. There are tons of memorable parallel universes throughout Sliders.
Arguably before its time, Sliders lasted for five seasons and counts some notable names among its cast, including Jerry O’Connell, John Rhys-Davies, and Will Sasso.
4
‘Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place’ (1998–2001)
Created by Danny Jacobson, Kenny Schwartz, and Rick Weiner
Those who love Ryan Reynolds might have heard of this little-known sitcom he starred in before he became a big A-list actor. Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place aired for four seasons and was about exactly what it sounds like: two young men and a woman in their 20s working at a local pizza shop.
Along with so many people not having seen this series, it’s easy to forget how many other big names are on it. Nathan Fillion and Suzanne Cryer joined the cast in season two while Jennifer Westfeldt was in season one and Tiffani Thiessen joined in season three. By the end, the trio had moved on from university and the show’s title was changed to simply Two Guys and a Girl.
3
‘The Wayans Bros.’ (1995–1999)
Created by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Leslie Ray, and David Steven Simon
After Shawn and Marlon Wayans became household names thanks to In Living Color, they went on to develop their own little-known sitcom. The Wayans Bros. features the real-life brothers depicting fictional characters (of the same names) living together in a Harlem apartment. Shawn owns a newsstand where they work together, while their father John “Pops” (John Witherspoon) owns a local diner.
Anyone who appreciates the humor of the Wayans siblings from In Living Color will love The Wayans Bros. But the show didn’t get as much attention as it deserved, even though it lasted five seasons.
2
‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose’ (1990–1993)
Created by Clyde Phillips and Lon Diamond
There were so many teen sitcoms in the ‘90s that it’s understandable that this one got lost in the mix. But Parker Lewis Can’t Lose is one worth watching. Strongly influenced by the popular ‘80s movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the title character, played by Corin Nemec, is a popular high schooler who, as the title suggests, simply can’t seem to lose. He gets what he wants, though he and his friends often find their antics thwarted by either his younger sister Shelly (Maia Brewton) or the school principal Grace (Melanie Chartoff).
Even though Parker Lewis Can’t Lose is a live-action series, it’s presented sort of like a cartoon, making it unique. The show is also deeply reflective of the times when it comes to everything from pop culture to politics. One of the defining aspects of the show is how Parker often breaks the fourth wall to bring viewers right into the story. Clyde Phillips, the show’s co-creator, went on to work as the showrunner of Dexter.
- Release Date
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1990 – 1992
- Network
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FOX
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Billy Jayne
Mikey Randall
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Jennifer Guthrie
Annie Sloan
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Linda Shayne
Mrs. Steiner
1
‘Herman’s Head’ (1991–1994)
Created by Andy Guerdat and Steve Kreinberg
Everyone feels as though there are various aspects of themselves fighting for attention in any given scenario. From the angel or devil on the shoulder to the introvert battling the extrovert, these struggles are usually felt on the inside. In Herman’s Head, fans get to see Herman’s (William Ragsdale) four distinct personalities try and help him navigate through challenging situations. Think of Herman’s Head as a sitcom version of the movie Inside Out.
Delivered in a Greek chorus style, Molly Hagan, Ken Hudson Campbell, Rick Lawless, and Peter Mackenzie voice Herman’s four personalities, who are often arguing with one another in his head as he’s just trying to get his job done. Despite being funny, there was a lot of depth to Herman’s Head, a reflection of how everyone is often processing situations in so many ways before deciding how to act or perceive them.
Herman’s Head
- Release Date
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1991 – 1993
- Network
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FOX
Cast
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Barbara Alyn Woods
Woman at Bar
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Barbara Alyn Woods
Danielle
