The 1990s was a decade filled with so many great shows, many of which inspired series that are popular today. Some have even returned decades later with new seasons, sequels, or spin-offs. In some cases, these shows were ahead of their time. Some only lasted a single season for this reason. Others are ones viewers can look back on and imagine how they might have been received or delivered differently today.
The shows include dramas, sitcoms, and procedurals, all of which made their mark in the TV landscape.They could have done just as well, potentially even better, had they launched in the 21st centuryinstead, and remain relevant to this day.
10’Profit' (1996)
Created by David Greenwalt and John McNamara
Profitpreceded shows likeThe Sopranos,Mad Men, andBreaking Bad,whichtook traditional network television to a new level in the 2000s. But in the ‘90s,Profitwas a shocking show that some viewers couldn’t wrap their heads around at the time. The story follows Jim Profit (Adrian Pasdar), a junior executive at a conglomerate that engages in shady activities and unethical business practices. He also had a troubled childhood that led him to sleep curled up in a shipping box at night, harkening back to trauma from his childhood.
Profitwas so dark that some viewers were put off by the narrative and the egregious actions of the lead character. Yet it has overwhelmingly positive reviews and seems tame in comparison to darker and more disturbing network shows today.Profitis agreat TV show that was ahead of its time. HadProfitpremiered even five years later, it would likely have gone on much longer.
9’Will & Grace' (1998–2006, 2017–2020)
Created by David Kohan and Max Mutchnick
Openly talking about sexuality and the portrayal of gay men on television wasn’t as prominent back in the ‘90s as it is today. So, the premise ofWill & Graceconfused some fans, even though the show was wildly popular. At the center are Will (Eric McCormack) and Grace (Debra Messing) best friends and roommates who once dated in college until Will came out as gay. They interact with one another along with their wealthy neighbor Karen (Megan Mullally) and flamboyantly gay friend Jack (Sean Hayes).
The show, one ofthe best LGBTQ shows of all time,made no apologies but tackled the complexities of love and sexualityin a way that injected humor, both stereotypical and otherwise.Will & Gracestruck such a chord that it was brought back in 2017 for three more seasons. It remains one of the most successful TV series ever with gay characters as the leads.
Will and Grace
8’Homicide: Life on the Street' (1993–1999)
Created by Paul Attanasio
The TV landscape has seen aninflux of police proceduralsover the last several decades, but one that came perhaps ahead of its time wasHomicide: Life on the Street. The drama, set in Baltimore, was praised for showcasing the detective character in a more realistic light, touching on the topic of violence as part of the job, which many other procedurals at the time shied away from.
The seriesmight have been shocking to some at a time when viewers were used to seeing fluffier proceduralsfocused more on entertainment value than realism. SinceHomicide: Life on the Street, there have been many other grittier procedurals. Lasting seven seasons, there’s so much more material the show could work with today.
Homicide: Life on the Street
7’Freaks and Geeks' (1999–2000)
Created by Paul Feig
With a star-studded cast of young actors who went on to become comedy icons, includingLinda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, andBusy Philipps,Freaks and Geeksis one of those shows that fans insist was canceled too soon. It followed Lindsay (Cardellini) and her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) who attend a new high school and join their respective cliques, known as the “freaks” (the rebellious outcasts) and the “geeks” (the nerdy bookworms).
A wonderfully humorous portrayal of coming-of-age,Freaks and Geekswas ahead of its timebecause there wasn’t a good spot for it in the TV line-up. It was often airing oppositeWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?, a popular show for family primetime viewing at the time, as well as juggernaut shows likeFrasierandFriends. Many believe the shifting scheduling of episodes is what led to low viewership and a premature cancelation.Freaks and Geekswould have done way better in the age of streaming.
Freaks and Geeks
6’Ellen' (1994–1998)
Created by Neal Marlens, Carol Black, and David S. Rosenthal
There was a lot of controversy and shock aroundEllen DeGenereswhen the character of the same name came out as gay on the show and the actor did the same in real life. While this isn’t something any would pay much attention to nowadays, back in the ‘90s, it was a big deal. Aside from the major change for the lead character in the sitcom about a neurotic bookstore owner and her quirky friends, fans didn’t like thatEllenshifted focus to become much more serious after the reveal.
Nonetheless, sitcoms that tackle serious topics is nothing new, andhaving a gay lead character would not make anyone bat an eye now. Thus, whilethe now mostly forgottenEllenwas progressive for its time, it would have fit better with today’s TV landscape.
5Twin Peaks' (1990–1991, 2017)
Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch
A game-changer of an iconic TV series, the mystery-horror dramaTwin Peaksdelivered its story in a tone that was unique to any other series, combining a traditional detective story with a campy, melodramatic feel along with elements of the supernatural and offbeat humor. It was unlike anything anyone had seen at the time, progressive in many ways. While the cinematic feel of the show is more common nowadays,Twin Peakswalked so shows likeSeveranceandThe X-Filescould run.
The series begins with the investigation into the murder of a local teenager and continues as FBI special agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) tries to connect the dots and figure out who killed her. The show sparked a 2017 revival, andits positive reception proves thatTwin Peakshas transcended generations.
Twin Peaks
4’The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' (1990–1996)
Created by Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz
Will (Will Smith) is a young man from the streets of Philadelphia sent to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air in hopes of giving him a better life. That’s howThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airbegins, and the sitcom touches on the topics of race and class disparity in a humorous yet meaningful way. The show cleverly found a way to weave in important topics without sounding preachy and while making audiences laugh and feel touched at the same time.
A groundbreaking sitcom that dove into racial tensions in a unique way,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airshowed that sitcoms could be both incredibly funny as well as poignant and meaningful. The concept still rings true, reinvented for the more dramatic reimagining calledBel-Air, which has achievedgreat success on Peacock.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3’The X-Files' (1993–2002, 2016–2018)
Created by Chris Carter
The X-Filesis one of the first shows to explore concepts of the supernatural and paranormal versus science in episodic format, drawing heavily on shows likeThe Twilight Zonewith its own twist. The fantastic chemistry between special agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and doctor Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) makes the show. They were a fun, dynamic duo that served as both friends and foes, with romantic tension between them. It’s one of the first shows that jumped in tone and feel from one episode to the next, from scary and serious in one episode to funny and light-hearted.
Paving the way for other shows that have come since,The X-Filesremains a benchmark in the genrethat sparked debate between what can be explained and what can’t. The show was brought back for two more seasons in 2016, proving it’s just as relevant today as it was more than 20 years ago.
The X-Files
2’Seinfeld' (1989–1998)
Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld
Still referenced today as one of themost groundbreaking TV shows of all time,Seinfeldwas famously a show about nothing.Jerry Seinfeldplays a fictional version of himself, a stand-up comedian navigating the single life in New York with his three best friends. Highlighting the daily minutiae of their lives,Seinfeldis cleverly written and beautifully acted, reinventing the sitcom as viewers knew it. It combined both single camera and multi-camera techniques, something that didn’t really happen often in its time. The show also wasn’t afraid to touch on sensitive, potentially even controversial, topics. Episodes turned everything from a woman with oversized hands to self-pleasure into something comedic and not at all offensive.
The concept ofSeinfeld, even the storylines, could fit for any generation. It would be easy to see a modern-day version of the series with a new cast, even with the same dialogue and events. So much of it would still hold true today, which is why it’s also one of the most quotable shows.
1’Living Single' (1993–1998)
Created by Yvette Denise Lee
A good indication thatLiving Singlewas ahead of its time is that, despite the fact that the series premiered beforeFriendsand aired for five seasons, it’s seldomly credited for breaking through that ensemble cast friend dynamic. That distinction goes toFriends, and some believe it’s because mainstream viewers were not ready for a show like it with an all-Black cast at its center.
Living Singlewas still hugely popular, but it never reached aFriends-level of recognition. Had the show, one ofthe best to watch for those who loveFriends,launched today, it might have a very different reception, and rightfully so.
