The 1990s. The 42-year long Cold War was finally over, and the world was slowly but surely recovering and regaining the very much needed optimism it once had. It was also the feel-good decade, according to those who got the pleasure of experiencing it. The gaming industry saw a boom in popularity, and the movie industry grew even bigger and faster than it did in the 80s.
However, talking about the 90s without the sitcoms is comparable to telling only half a tale. It was during this decade that we saw the rise of many iconic sitcoms premiering. There were both good and bad shows, but they nonetheless left an indelible impression on us. One sitcom in particular, The Ren and Stimpy Show, was called out throughout the years for its controversial comedy genres.
We consider these 13 shows to be the most memorable out of all the sitcoms of the 1990s. 13 is not much and we are aware of that, so if you know of a sitcom that deserves to be on this list, feel free to let us know.
#1 Beavis And Butt-Head
Source: Internet
This MTV sitcom was very popular, even if its comedy is not meant for the general audience. Since its premier in 1993, the twisted duo has become an iconic figure of the 1990s. The latest addition to the B&B collection is a 2022 movie called Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.
#2 Dexter’s Laboratory
Source: Internet
This was one of many memorable TV shows of the 1990s, and also one of many works of Genndy Tartakovsky, the man behind Samurai Jack and Hotel Transylvania. It premiered in 1996 on Cartoon Network.
#3 Family Guy
Source: Internet
It can be hard to find someone who has not watched at least one episode of Family Guy. This series rubs shoulders with The Simpsons. It is literally everywhere. Debuting in 1999, the series so far shows no sign of losing heat, with the 21st season launching on September 2022.
#4 Friends
Source: Internet
Not only was Friends an incredibly impactful sitcom, it was also a great way for many to improve their English vocabulary. Even as of today, the show is being re-watched over and over again throughout the world. It’s a must watch for anyone who is looking for a good sitcom.
#5 Futurama
Source: Internet
Admit it. You have seen the image of Philip J. Fry handing out money, shouting “Shut up and take my money” at least once. Where it came from? Futurama. More specifically, S06E03: Attack of the Killer App. But don’t watch just that one episode for the meme. Watch the whole thing too, it’s good.
#6 King Of The Hill
Source: Internet
King of the Hill was produced by the same person responsible for Beavis and Butt-head, Mike Judge. For a series focusing on everyday humor, it was a massive success. Proof? It surpassed The Simpsons at one point somewhere between 1997 and 1998.
#7 Mr. Bean
Source: Internet
It would be a sin to not know of this “child in a grown man’s body”. Mr. Bean is everywhere. One of the many reasons the whole package, both live-action and animated, is so popular lies in the very limited usage of (intelligible) English. Mr. Bean himself is not very talkative, so the comedy stems from all kinds of situations, in most of which he doesn’t speak. Even if he does, the words usually come out as some sort of gibberish. Because of this, you can always laugh out loud at this goofy character, even if you are not good at English.
#8 Sabrina The Teenage Witch
Source: Internet
Another icon of the 1990s is Sabrina Spellman. While the original character first appeared back in the 1960s, the live-action series did a good job at making her unforgettable. Compared to other sitcoms of the same time period, Sabrina The Teenage Witch was a mix of magical and contemporary settings which gave it originality, becoming a massive hit among the young audiences, particularly the teenagers.
#9 Seinfeld
Source: Internet
This sitcom is unique in the sense that it is named after one of its creators, Jerry Seinfeld. If you don’t know who the other creator is, it’s Larry David. With two comedians behind production of Seinfeld, typical events and situations people can experience become laughing matter, and the sitcom became an influence. And let’s not forget the opening theme.
#10 South Park
Source: Internet
Don’t let South Park‘s cute and simplistic look deceive you. The whole show is loaded with dark humor and profanity. If you can tolerate these hard to tackle genres, South Park is a must-watch. 25 years since the debut, the sitcom still stands strong, and still remains relevant with its social satire. One can compare this to fine wine, for it aged unsurprisingly well over the years.
#11 The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Source: Internet
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air focuses on humorous situations emerging from conflicts between the titular character (portrayed by Will Smith) and his uncle and auntie. The conflicts mainly revolve around their cultural backgrounds and social standings. This was the gold standard of the 90s.
#12 The Ren & Stimpy Show
Source: Internet
The Ren & Stimpy Show might just be the most controversial sitcom to appear on this list. While it did receive positive reviews and even gained a cult following, this sitcom is simply not for children. Adult humor, dark humor, sexual innuendos, shock value and violence were the main focus. If you are serious about watching the duo and their antics still, make sure you are alone, or that your fellow viewers are OK with it.
For simplicity, imagine a big, ugly middle finger in public. People will not react to it in a positive manner, especially those on social media.
#13 The Simpsons
Source: Internet
While this list only talks about sitcoms that premiered during the 1990s, we simply have to make an exception here and talk about one of the most influential animated series made in America, which is The Simpsons. The show premiered in 1989 and still remains one of the best of all time. The Simpsons was also famous for another reason: it correctly predicted various global events. While not 100% accurate, some major events were pointed out by fans, such as the FaceTime feature, Donald Trump becoming president, and most recently COVID-19.
