The 1990s are often thought of as paving the way for the “golden age of TV,” and for good reason. This was the decade when entire TV blocks were known by their catchy slogans: NBC with Must-See-TV, ABC with TGIF, and even Nickelodeon got in on the act with their SNICK Saturday night block.
This was the decade when some of television’s most iconic shows were born. You may not know why America decided to get into the Gulf War, but you certainly know every single word to the iconic *Friends* theme song. Television in the ‘90s wasn’t just about sitting on the couch and watching your favorite show. No, you sat on the couch, watched your favorite show, talked about it at work the following day with your co-workers, and couldn’t wait until said show premiered with a new episode the following week.
Back then, there was no binge-watching, and if we wanted to watch an episode again, we either had to record it on a newfangled device called the VCR or wait until it went into reruns. While we were getting all nostalgic for the fondness of watching Will Smith drive Uncle Phil crazy every week, we had a thought that came to our heads. With so many iconic shows that the ‘90s gave birth to, there are some that, while great, have become completely forgotten today. Shows that we used to tune in to every week and catchphrase to death have been completely wiped from our memory.
Well, it’s time to bring these classics back from TV purgatory and list the seven greatest ‘90s shows that nobody talks about anymore.
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### 7. *The Real World* (1992-2019)
While reality TV is a fixture in today’s television landscape, back in the early ‘90s, it was seen as somewhat of a novelty. Scripted shows ruled the airwaves, but in 1992, TV producers Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray came up with an interesting concept. What if they cast seven strangers, put them in a house, and recorded them 24/7 to see how they interacted with each other when they stopped being polite and started getting honest?
The end result was *The Real World*, which, over the decade, became one of MTV’s flagship shows. Unlike today’s reality shows that often seemed scripted just for the sake of drama, *The Real World* was, well, real. The drama was authentic, the relationships were genuine, and it was interesting to see just how these kids from different backgrounds lived with one another.
*The Real World* ran for a whopping 33 seasons, but very few people seem to remember the reality TV classic that launched the genre into the stratosphere.
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### 6. *Æon Flux* (1991-1995)
Much like reality TV back in the day, adult animation was also a subgenre that was pretty much in its infancy. While there were some animated shows that did cater to adults, it wasn’t until *Æon Flux* showed networks that there was a market out there for this subgenre.
First premiering on MTV’s *Liquid Television*, which was a show that used experimental animation, *Æon Flux* quickly won over its audience with its avant-garde animation style and its compelling storyline. The series follows the title character (voiced by Denise Poirier) as she serves as a secret agent in a pretty disturbing dystopian future.
The show’s setting was particularly bizarre, but it all worked, and it was a mainstay on MTV for three seasons. As great and influential as *Æon Flux* is, it is an absolute shame that nobody really talks about it anymore. Well, we haven’t forgotten you, *Æon Flux*, and the contributions you made to adult animation.
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### 5. *Oz* (1997-2003)
So, you’re probably catching a theme that’s developing here. Most of the shows that we’re listing have had an impact on the genre they’re a part of or the network that they broadcast on. This is especially true for the forgotten prison drama *Oz*, created by Tom Fontana and making history by being the first one-hour drama ever made for HBO.
The series is set at the Oswald State Correctional Facility, or “Oz” as the inmates call it, and we’re going to be honest here, this isn’t a show for everyone. It’s pretty tough to watch, but it’s also a powerful drama that deals with issues such as drugs, power, violence, and what happens when a prison actually tries to live up to its mission and correct people.
*Oz* is a gripping and gritty drama that has become overshadowed by the likes of *Orange Is the New Black* and *Wentworth*, and isn’t recognized as much as it should be.
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### 4. *Dinosaurs* (1991-1994)
“I’m the baby! Gotta love me!” Back in the ‘90s, everyone was in love with Baby Sinclair (voiced by Kevin Clash), the lovable but volatile baby who’d always hit his dad on the head with a frying pan in the ABC sitcom *Dinosaurs*.
Created by Michael Jacobs and Bob Young, *Dinosaurs* used puppetry to bring its characters to life, and the Sinclair family brought us laughter and heart for four seasons. The Sinclair family, mind you, are dinosaurs (which is a reference to the Sinclair Oil Corporation mascot), and the sitcom takes place in Pangaea in 60,000,000 BC, but the town has a high school, electricity, and overall functions like modern-day society.
The characters quickly won over the hearts of their audience, but be honest, how many of you reading this piece actually remember *Dinosaurs*? And that’s why this show is included in this piece. It was a unique, original family sitcom that deserves to be talked about.
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### 3. *7th Heaven* (1996-2007)
Younger viewers may not know this, but back in the mid-’90s, the then-WB Network family drama *7th Heaven* was one of the most highly rated shows on TV.
Alongside *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and *Dawson’s Creek*, viewers tuned in week after week to watch the drama unfold with the Camden family, led by the family’s patriarch, Eric Camden (Stephen Collins), a Protestant minister who, along with his wife Annie (Catherine Hicks), dealt with all the angst of raising seven kids.
The one thing that separated *7th Heaven* from its contemporaries at the time was how it used religion to move the storyline of each episode. Of course, it dealt with the same topical issues that all family dramas at the time dealt with: family drama, drugs, and the usual tropes. But by putting that religious bend to it, it made *7th Heaven* more wholesome and family-friendly, which is what a lot of people loved about the show.
When the show ended in 2007, it seemed as if viewers wiped *7th Heaven* from their memories. The TV landscape had changed, and it left this show behind (not to mention that Stephen Collins’ sexual abuse scandal certainly didn’t help matters and shouldn’t be taken lightly).
Still, this was one of the best shows of the ‘90s, even featuring future Emmy nominees like Jessica Biel.
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### 2. *The Critic* (1994-2001)
By the mid-’90s, adult animated series were starting to gain steam within mainstream television. While we still talk about *Beavis and Butt-Head* and *The Simpsons* to no end today, there was another ‘90s show that deserved to be up there with the titans of the subgenre: *The Critic*.
Created by Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and starring Jon Lovitz and *Simpsons* alum Nancy Cartwright, *The Critic* followed the life of Jay Sherman, a movie critic who has a dual life. On TV, he plays a cold, mean, elitist movie critic. However, once the camera stops rolling, his real identity comes out as a gentle guy who is filled with a lot of self-doubt.
Ironically, critics loved *The Critic*, and so did viewers, but not enough to keep it on the air, as it bounced between ABC and Fox, and was canceled by the latter after just two seasons.
Today, it’s recognized as an underrated gem that never got a chance to truly shine.
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### 1. *My So-Called Life* (1994-1995)
Teen and young adult dramas are everywhere today in various forms. You have teens dealing with vampires (*The Vampire Diaries*), teens going on epic treasure hunts (*Outer Banks*), and teens dealing with, well, life in general (*Degrassi*). Teen and YA dramas are basically a dime a dozen, but back in the mid-’90s, they weren’t all that ubiquitous.
So, it was a gamble by ABC to take a chance on a Winnie Holzman-created series that revolved around the life of an American teenage girl. *My So-Called Life* offered a fresh, authentic look at adolescent life that resonated deeply, even if its run was brief.
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The 1990s truly gave us an incredible variety of shows that left a lasting mark on television history. While some have remained in the spotlight, these seven gems deserve to be remembered and celebrated for the unique contributions they made to the medium. Whether it was pioneering reality TV, pushing the boundaries of animation, or exploring complex themes, these shows helped shape the TV landscape we know today.
https://collider.com/best-forgotten-1990s-shows/