Do you ever miss the laughter of an audience filling the room from your television? Today’s media and shows focus on realism and trusting its audience to infer what moments deserve which reactions. Rarely, if ever, do we get over the top staged performances that were recorded for the purpose of a live audience. It gets harder and harder to find shows today that we can laugh along with and also learn from. Here is a list of the top ten family sitcoms from the 90’s that stand out even with today’s standards.
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10 Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Vanity Fair
In Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Melissa Joan Hart won the hearts of millions when she played the role of Sabrina Spellman, a teenage girl who finds out she is a witch on her sixteenth birthday. She and her cat, Salem, voiced by Nick Bakay, who was formerly a witch but transformed into a cat after trying to take over the world, work together in their new roles. The series was written more light-hearted than the original comic book series it is based on, having similarities to the Bewitched series from the 60’s. The show lasted seven seasons from 1996 to 2003, and spawned the recent adaptation titled the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, a more faithful adaptation of the comic book series.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Sister, Sister
IMDb
Marking the debut of twins Tia and Tamara Mowry, Sister, Sister aired in 1994, a show about sisterly love and the unbreakable bond of a twin .The series shows the life of separated twins who reunite as teenagers. Lasting six seasons, the show catapulted the careers of the Mowry twins who went on to work on similar shows and films about being twins, such as the popular tween films Twitches on the Disney Channel.
8 Kenan & Kel
Digital Spy
Following Nickelodeon’s popular sketch comedy show All That, Kenan Thompson and costar Kel Mitchell went on their own path as a comedic duo in their self-titled show Kenan & Kel. Thompson became a household name and later went on to be part of the Saturday Night Live cast. Kenan & Kel won “Favorite Show” at the 1998 Kids’ Choice Awards and lasted four seasons through 1996 to 2000. After the final season, it received a film sequel Two Heads Are Better Than None. Mitchell recently celebrated the show’s 25th anniversary on Instagram over the summer.
7 The Nanny
The New York Times
Starring the fashion icon, Fran Drescher, The Nanny aired in 1993 and concluded in 1999. Desperate for a job, Fran tries selling cosmetics to Maxwell Sheffield, played by Charles Shaughnessy, a wealthy Broadway producer. He hires her as a nanny to his three children, and she quickly wins them over. Loved for its gags and nods to pop culture, memorable performances from Drescher and costar Daniel Davis, who plays the butler Niles, and all of Drescher’s unforgettable outfits, The Nanny continues to win the hearts of audiences today. There have been talks about a reboot and discussions over who will reclaim the role of the Nanny.
6 Seinfeld
Deadline
Seinfeld is credited as a show about real people and real life. First airing in 1989 and finishing in 1998, Seinfeld is considered one of the most influential sitcoms of all time. Often a competitor of Friends, released several years later, Seinfeld claims “nothing” as its identity. Just a show about how a comedian gets their material. The series stars Jerry Seinfeld, playing himself, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards. Based on their lives, the show is still popular today for its original bits and memorable writing.
5 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Loosely based on the life of Will Smith, the show’s lead, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air started Smith’s acting career. After getting bullied at a playground in Philadelphia, Smith moves in with his aunt and uncle into their mansion in Bel-Air. His street smarts colliding with their upper class lives become the focus of the series. First airing in 1990 the show eventually concluded in 1996. The show recently had a cast reunion in 2020 on HBO Max.
4 Boy Meets World
The Today Show
Boy Meets World tells the story of middle schoolers Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, and best friend Shawn Hunter, played by Rider Strong, and their life lessons as they grow up together. The show dealt with many deep topics and was progressive for its time on television. It first aired in 1993 and finished in 2000. Loved for its characters and valuable life lessons, the show is still popular today. It recently received a sequel titled Girl Meets World on Disney Channel that aired from 2014 to 2017.
3 Friends
USA Today
Friends is a show about friends. A group of friends in their adulthood living in New York to be exact. Running from 1994 to 2004, Friends is regarded as one of the best television shows of all time, constantly fighting for its rank beside Seinfeld. Well known for its eclectic set designs, characters, and romances, Friends still remains popular even with younger generations today. It has become a pop culture phenomenon and recently had a reunion special on May 27, 2021 that featured Lady Gaga.
2 Family Matters
HBO Max
One of the top sitcoms that premiered in the late 80’s and lasted until 1997, Family Matters remains one of the most influential sitcoms ever. It tells the story of the Winslows and their lives in Chicago. Most well known for its character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, an over the top nerd, he is also one of the most quotable and beloved characters in television history. The series is expecting an animated Christmas film to be released in 2022 titled Did I Do That to the Holidays? A Steve Urkel Story that will premiere on Cartoon Network.
1 Full House
CBS
One show that never halts its reruns is Full House. Well known and loved by most Americans, the show is one of the warmest family sitcoms to have been produced. Telling the story of the Tanner family after a widowed Danny Tanner, Bob Saget, asks his brother-in-law and best friend to help him raise his three daughters. Remembered for its lessons for children, teens, and adults, the show has a good range of serious matters and comedy. The show received a sequel series titled Fuller House that ran from 2016 to 2020 on Netflix.
