Summary

• The 90s sitcoms revolutionized comedy TV with relatable characters and heartwarming humor in groundbreaking shows.
• Many popular '90s sitcoms have stood the test of time, with revivals and reboots showcasing their lasting popularity.
• From Friends to Seinfeld, the '90s sitcoms continue to hold a special place in viewers' hearts and are still finding new audiences on streaming platforms.

The best 90s sitcoms show why the decade that changed television forever, especially when it came to comedy. Many of these shows involve a slice-of-life approach to humor, focusing on groups of friends or families in relatable settings. The idea of friendships leading sitcoms was a popular idea starting in the '70s, but in the '90s this set-up began to dominate the genre. The 90s not only has some of the best sitcoms of the time, 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 for viewers who didn't grow up in the decade. These are sitcoms that most people would recognize if they grew up watching television, and many have seen revivals and reboots thanks to their lasting popularity over two decades later. The characters and storylines were relatable while tugging at viewers' heartstrings and making them laugh. It's hard to compare any sitcom to the ones that existed in the ‘90s. The power of ‘90s sitcoms is still strong today, especially as many are now finding new life on streaming platforms.

30 Step By Step (1991-1998)

7 Seasons, 160 Episodes

Two well-known television stars of the 1980s teamed up in 1991 for a new sitcom called Step by Step. Suzanne Somers (Threes Company) and Patrick Duffy (Dallas) star as a widowed salon owner and a divorced contractor who meet and marry while vacationing in Jamaica.

The sitcom bears a strong similarity to one of the most popular sitcoms in history, The Brady Bunch.

With both of them having three kids each, it sets the stage for them to create one big blended family. The sitcom bears a strong similarity to one of the most popular sitcoms in history, The Brady Bunch, with the focus being on bringing two families together and learning how to survive as one atypical yet loving family.

Despite not being the most original premise in the world, it was a good mix of family-friendly comedy and heartwarming moments. This 90's sitcom lasted for seven seasons and coasted by on the star power of Duffy and Somers.

29 Family Matters (1989-1998)

9 Seasons, 215 Episodes

Family Matters might be best known, for better or worse, for one of its ing characters — Steve Urkel (Jaleel White). The sitcom itself is a spinoff from Perfect Strangers and was part of the successful TGIF block of programming on ABC in the 90s. The show focuses on the Winslow family, with Reginald VelJohnson as Carl, Jo Marie Payton as Harriette, and their three kids.

However, it was nerdy neighbor Urkel who stole the show with his "Did I do that" catchphrase becoming a popular one in the 90s. There is some controversy with the series with it starting out as a grounded sitcom about a blue-collar African-American family only for the series to gradually lean into the popularity of Urkel which led to more sci-fi shenanigans.

Even with that, there is no denying the pop culture icon the character became with viewers embracing his wacky adventures. The show lasted for nine seasons, with the final one airing on CBS instead of ABC. White won two NAA Awards for playing Urkel.

28 Mad About You (1992-1999)

8 Seasons, 176 Episodes

Mad About You premiered in 1992 with Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in the lead roles as a married couple living in New York City. Newlyweds, Paul and Jamie go through their daily lives, dealing with everyday problems, a unique sitcom at the time that dealt with a family without kids. However, that all changes when they have a baby daughter near the end of the show's run.

The series lasted for eight seasons and was very successful, not only picking up big ratings but also winning four Golden Globe Awards and 12 Primetime Emmy Awards. It was a lot of fun seeing this couple deal with life in a relatable yet humorous way, from typical domestic struggles to life-changing events. The show also received a revival in 2019, although it struggled to match its previous success.

27 Coach (1989-1997)

9 Seasons, 200 Episodes

Years before he took on a role in Parenthood, Craig T. Nelson played college football coach Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom Coach. The series focuses on Fox's life as a football coach while reconnecting with his daughter (Clare Carey), whom his ex-wife raised, who moves closer to him as she begins college herself.

While the family dynamic plays a small role in the sitcom, the biggest laughs and best moments came with Fox dealing with his football players and assistant coaches, specifically with Jerry Van Dyke playing his top assistant, Luther.

There were a ton of cameos from real-life football stars and Coach won two Primetime Emmys. Coach Fox makes for a fun protagonist who celebrates the idea "macho" guy persona of a sport-loving everyman while also poking fun at it in some effective ways.

26 Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

7 Seasons, 158 Episodes

Boy Meets World arrived in 1993 and lasted for seven seasons on ABC, delivering a funny a sweet coming-of-age sitcom. Ben Savage took on the lead role of Cory Matthews, who starts out the show as a young pre-teen and progresses to adulthood throughout the seven years the show was on TV.

Each episode deals with Cory's life at home and school as he navigates his teenage years and learns valuable lessons along the way. This was part of the TGIF block of comedies on ABC, and it picked up several nominations at the Young Artist Awards throughout its entire run.

It was a show that was elevated due to its ensemble of characters, from Corey's love interest Topanga to his dim-witted brother Eric to his neighbor and teacher Mr. Feeny. In 2012, Disney brought it back with the spinoff Girl Meets World, which lasted for three seasons. Some of the original cast also run a successful podcast, Pod Meets World, centered around the show.

25 Wings (1990-1997)

8 Seasons, 172 Epiosdes

Wings was one of the first big sitcoms to premiere at the start of the 1990s. The show follows two pilot brothers, Joe and Brian Hackett (Tim Daly and Steven Weber) who fly out of a small two-airline airport in Massachusetts. Almost every episode takes place inside the airport itself as it follows the various colorful characters and their mishaps while running the airport, Joe's relationship with Helen, who works at the lunch counter, and a rivalry with a larger airline.

The unique setting for the show helped it to stand out among the rest of the 90s sitcom crowd. The series also has some huge names early in their careers, including Thomas Haden Church and Tony Shalhoub. Wings picked up a pair of Emmy nominations and is set in the same fictional universe as Cheers and Frasier.

24 Blossom (1990-1995)

5 Seasons, 114 Episodes

Before she took on the role of Amy in The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik starred as the title character in the 90's sitcom Blossom. She plays a teenage girl who lives with her single dad and two older brothers. Living in this male-dominated household, Blossom has to find her own way in the world while dealing with her brother's problems and idiosyncrasies.

However, while this was Bialik's show, her brother Joey stole the show. Played by Joey Lawrence, his catchphrase of "Whoa" became a standard across many schoolyards and workplaces in the 90s. Blossom stands out for its use of fantasy sequences, with Blossom often living in this daydream world that are both relatable to the average teen viewers and add a special element to the series. These sequences often featured fun celebrity cameos as well.

23 Living Single (1993-1998)

5 Seasons, 118 Episodes

Friends might not exist without Living Single, as many have pointed out that this series set the template for what Friends ended up becoming a year later. The storyline was almost the same, with six New York City friends living in a Brooklyn brownstone and navigating their personal and professional lives in the Big Apple. The one big difference is that Living Single tells the same story but with a predominantly Black cast, led by Queen Latifa and Kim Fields.

While Friends was a massive success, Living Single earned its own lasting legacy. The show was one of the biggest among African-American viewers during this era, showing a side of their life that was not explored in sitcoms often. Living Single lasted for five seasons and picked up three Image Awards wins in six nominations.

22 Married... With Children (1987-1997)

11 Seasons, 259 Episodes

Married... with Children was one of the most successful sitcoms of the 90s that didn't rely on heartwarming families or life lessons. Instead, the Bundy family gained a huge audience thanks to its raunchy and slapstick storylines concerning their lack of any sense of morality.

Al Bundy is a former high school football star who is now a shoe salesman who hates his life. Peggy is his wife, who is lazy and has little drive. Kelly is their beautiful yet clueless daughter and Bud is their wise-cracking, but equally clueless son.

This 90's sitcom lasted for 259 episodes and, while controversial for its content, went on to become beloved as a cult classic. It pushed boundaries in of humor while also showing a sitcom family that was not loving and wholesome like fans of the genre were used to seeing. Looking back on the show, it is fun to see how the cast went on to other great successes on television, such as Modern Family's Ed O'Neill and Sons of Anarchy's Katey Sagal.

21 Roseanne (1988-1997)

10 Seasons, 231 Episodes

Roseanne was one of the most-watched sitcoms in the 90s through its 10-season run. Co-created by Roseanne Barr, she plays Roseanne Conner, a wife and mother in a blue-class hard-working family. The show reached the top of the Nielsen charts during its run and was always in the top 10 most-watched shows for all 10 seasons.

The show was mostly a success because it focused on a family who struggled to make ends meet, yet never quit - something that was uplifting for many TV viewers in America.

On top of its ratings success, Roseanne also picked up 14 Golden Globe nominations, winning three, and 27 Emmy nominations, winning four. The lasting legacy of the show can also be seen in the success of the sequel series The Conners, which will return for its seventh and final season even though Roseanne's character was killed off due to the actor's controversy.