The 20 best '90s sitcoms

It’s the show about nothing yet remains one of the biggest staples in pop culture. Seinfeld was THE sitcom of the 1990s, following the misadventures of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer in New York City. Seinfeld doesn’t have an overall dramatic plot but instead comically exaggerates everyday situations and trivialities. The characters are extremely selfish, but their shenanigans make them oddly lovable. From "The Soup Nazi" to "The Marine Biologist," there is no shortage of iconic episodes. 

If there was one sitcom to rival Seinfeld’s popularity in the ‘90s, it was Friends. Arguably the most popular comedy series of all time, the world fell in love with Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey as they tried navigating their personal and professional lives in New York City. Thanks to its brilliant writing and performances, Friends remains the ultimate comfort watch. Viewers felt like they, too, were friends with the characters and would always be there for each other. 

The funny and fabulous Fran Drescher played TV’s most stylish nanny in her beloved sitcom. After losing her job and being dumped by her boyfriend, Fran Fine is employed by wealthy widower Maxwell Sheffield to take care of his three children. Fans loved every minute of The Nanny, from Fran and Mr. Sheffield’s will they/won’t they romance and butler Niles and C.C’s petty rivalry to Fran’s larger-than-life persona and her boisterous Jewish family. Plus, she could always pull off a killer look. 

Ray Romano plays Ray Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, the show that made the comedian a household name. Ray is a sports columnist married to Debra. He’s also a Mama’s boy with an overbearing matriarch, a harsh father, and a jealous brother. They often get in the way of his idyllic family life, with laugh-out-loud results. Everybody Loves Raymond remains so rewatchable thanks to its entertaining family dynamics, which are somewhat relatable.

A spin-off of the hit ‘80s sitcom Cheers, Frasier follows the titular psychiatrist as he moves back to his hometown of Seattle for a fresh start. There, he gets a job on a radio talk show and must deal with family, friends, and co-workers. While he offers listeners his signature wit and wisdom, he struggles to apply his advice to his own life and problems. The show features complex and endearing characters, making it arguably even more successful and watched than Cheers.

Before Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, there was the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Based on the Archie comic, the series follows sixteen-year-old Sabrina, who discovers she is a witch. Guided by her aunts, who come from a long line of witches, and her cat Salem, who is actually a warlock doing penance, Sabrina must learn to harness her powers and be a normal teenager at the same time. It’s an easy watch that is cute, funny, and magical, and Salem often steals the show.

Starring Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser, Mad About You follows the trials and tribulations of a newly married couple living in New York City. The humor comes from the everyday situations they find themselves in, particularly when it comes to navigating their relationship. The show was hugely popular in the ‘90s and even returned for a short-lived revival in 2019. It also featured the first appearance of minor Friends character Ursula Buffay, which indicates that the two shows are set in the same universe.

Home Improvement is another ‘90s sitcom that centers on a dysfunctional yet lovable family who find themselves in amusing situations. Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor is a television show host with three mischievous boys at home. Helping take care of them are his domineering wife, his co-host, and his eccentric neighbor. Tim Allen is hilarious in the leading role, and the show is a wholesome favorite thanks to its relatable characters and the life lessons they learn.

Before Ed O'Neill appeared in Modern Family, one of the biggest sitcoms of the 2010s, he starred as Al Bundy in the ‘90s classic Married… with Children. Al is a misanthropic working-class dad, married to Peggy, who is lazy and always wants more from him. Their daughter Kelly is a typical "dumb blonde" stereotype, while their son Bud is smart but unpopular. The show is very much a product of its time, with some outdated and sexist humor, but it still manages to bring genuine laughs. 

A ‘90s sitcom set in the ‘70s, That ‘70s Show is a groovy retro comedy that has become a cult classic. The coming-of-age series follows teenager Eric and his friends as they navigate the highs and lows of adolescence. The teen characters are well-fleshed out and have great chemistry, and Eric’s parents, Kitty and Red, are just as lovable. Real-life couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis famously met through the show, and it received a sequel series, That ‘90s Show, on Netflix. 

One of the most loved sitcoms among families in the ‘90s was the sweet and wholesome Full House. Danny Tanner, a sports TV host, is finding it difficult to raise his three children after his wife’s death. He enlists the help of Jesse, his rebellious brother-in-law, and Joey, his eccentric best friend. While undoubtedly cheesy, Full House is a family-friendly affair that touches the heart. It featured the adorable Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as children and ‘90s heartthrob John Stamos. 

Family Matters follows the Winslow family, who lead a regular life disrupted by their neighbor, Steve Urkel. A genius but socially inept, Urkel treats their home as his own and causes chaos for the family. The show works so well thanks to the hilarity of Urkel’s character, who was actually only supposed to appear once. When his character was so positively received, he was kept on as a regular, becoming the face of the show and a pop culture icon in his own right.

Boy Meets World was one of the biggest teen shows to come out of the ‘90s, mixing coming of age with warm comedy. The series follows Cory Matthews from his school to early college years, with best friend Shawn, crush Topanga, and teacher Mr. Feeny. The show deals with all the experiences of being a teenager, from academic struggles to romance, and is refreshing thanks to the supportive teacher figure of Mr. Feeny. A sequel series, Girl Meets World, was released in 2014. 

During its prime, Roseanne was one of the most popular television shows. It centers on the everyday life of an American working-class family, the Conners, and the challenges they face. The series featured prominent actors like John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Johnny Galecki, and Laurie Metcalf. While the show can be difficult to watch now thanks to the real-life controversy surrounding its titular star, its impact is undeniable. A follow-up, The Conners, was released in 2018.

In Martin, Martin Lawrence stars as the titular Martin Payne, a radio and television personality. The series follows his relationships with his girlfriend Gina and friends Pam, Tommy, and Cole. It’s a total hoot to watch, thanks to the hilarious cast and the energy they bring to their characters. It’s also a great vehicle for Lawrence as a comedian, who showcases his physical comedy skills and plays several characters. While Martin is not as popular as some other ‘90s sitcoms, it’s still worth checking out. 

Ted Danson was the star of the ‘80s sitcom Cheers and continued to stay in that arena as the lead of ‘90s series Becker. He plays the titular Dr. John Becker, who finds everything annoying and essentially hates his life. Despite this, he excels in his job and will do anything to help those in need. Becker makes for a grounded character, as he’s not afraid to say out loud what everybody else is thinking. Despite his misanthropic nature, he still has many redeeming qualities and is hard not to like. 

Funnyman Kevin James led The King of Queens in the ‘90s, another sitcom about everyday people. Doug is a deliveryman, and his wife, Carrie, is a secretary at a law firm. They lead a simple existence until Carrie’s goofy father, Arthur, moves in with them. Arthur is played by Jerry Stiller, who, of course, also appeared as another iconic ‘90s sitcom dad, George Costanza’s father, in Seinfeld. The King of Queens remains a light and seriously funny watch.

Before Mayim Bialik starred as Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory, she played ‘90s TV it-girl Blossom in the show of the same name. Blossom is an intelligent teenage girl who lives with her single father and two older brothers. Far from a conventional family, Blossom tries to navigate her home and school life. The series showcased Bialik’s talent, which clearly developed from a young age, and features ‘90s heartthrob Joey Lawrence as one of her brothers.

3rd Rock from the Sun stood out among other ‘90s sitcoms due to its unique premise and presenting something that hadn’t been done before. It follows a group of aliens sent to Earth to disguise themselves as human beings and observe the behavior of other humans. Hilarity comes from the group trying to operate as a normal family, which they are anything but. 3rd Rock from the Sun stars John Lithgow, Jane Curtin, and a very young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

Will Smith, one of Hollywood’s biggest actors, first rose to fame playing a version of himself on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. As the catchy opening theme song tells us, Will, a streetwise teenager from Philadelphia, is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion. Will’s working-class background often clashes with their upper-class way of life. Like Will, however, viewers grow to love the family, including favorites Aunt Vivian and cousin Carlton.