The'90scould be said to be the decade ofsitcoms, as it produced several ofthe most rewatchable favorites, such asFriends,Full House, andFrasier.
It also indicates the end of an era where television was a dominating cultural experience, making rewatching the media of the time a nostalgic experience for many. The sitcom in particular proved to reign over TV screens during the decade, balancing humor and more serious topics. They remain a favorite for many due to their lighthearted tone, easy-to-follow plot lines, and iconic cultural references to their time.
For those who have binge-watched the same reruns over and over, and are looking for something new that still inspires the feeling of familiar favorites, here is a list of 11 forgotten sitcoms from the ’90s you may not have heard of before.
11Veronica’s Closet (1997 - 2000)
Veronica’s Closetstars Kirstie Alley as the head of a fictional lingerie company, playing off of the name of the real-life company, Victoria’s Secret. The protagonist, Veronica, is a self-described romance expert and dedicates her company to keeping romance alive. The series focuses on her struggle to keep her company alive while she navigates her life as a single woman after finally leaving her serial-cheater husband.
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Inevitable Decline
Veronica’s Closetwas aired by NBC and was initially a hit, uniquely depicting the trajectory of a professional woman’s independence. The series went on for three seasons until ratings dropped after it was moved to a different time slot, resulting in its cancelation.
10The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (1994 - 1995)
The 5 Mrs. Buchananswas a CBC sitcom about five sisters-in-law who share a disdain for their mean mother-in-law. Despite marrying into the same family, each woman has a distinct personality, making for a diverse ensemble. The series begins with the fifth woman, Bree, marrying the youngest Buchanan son after only knowing him for 6 weeks, as she is inducted into the family dynamic dominated by the son’s mother, Emma.
Canceled Too Soon
The 5 Mrs. Buchanansis another example of a show that was dearly loved by many, but received an unfavorable time slot and didn’t stay afloat, being canceled after just one season. However, it is a great watch, bringing with it heartfelt moments and great laughs.
9Get a Life (1990 - 1992)
Get a Lifewas a Fox sitcom about the life of Chris Peterson, a 30-year-old paperboy who still lives with his parents. Chris is an immature and reckless character who embarks on wild adventures. The series uniquely pays homage to earlier sitcoms while also challenging the genre through its ridiculous protagonist who stands out among his typical sitcom backdrop and characters.
Surreal Humor
Get a Lifetook a wild take on sitcoms, with its protagonist often entering absurd situations, blending sitcom with slapstick humor and surrealism. Its unconventional plotlines and immature protagonist made it difficult for the series to gain a wide audience, but it still has a legacy with fans who remember it.
Herman’s Headwas a Fox sitcom centered on a fact-checker in Manhattan. What makes it unique is that each of his emotions is represented by a different character, meant to depict his inner world as he navigates romance and his career. The characters are designated as different aspects of Herman’s psyche, such as “Sensitivity,” “Animal,” and “God,” reacting to the events in his life and interacting with each other.
Creative Characterization
Herman’s Headtakes characterization to the next level,resembling Disney’sInside Outfranchise, before it was a thing. The way his emotions are made to be different characters cleverly depicts the way our emotions can dominate or be in conflict with each other. Its inventive storytelling makes it a hidden gem of ’90s sitcoms.
7The Critic (1994 - 2001)
2 Seasons + 10 Shorts
The Criticwas an adult-animated sitcom centering on the life of Jay Sherman, a cold and cynical film critic in New York City. Jay hosts a TV show calledComing Attractions, where the series makes clever use of various movie references and parodies. Despite being a cold-hearted critic, Jay lives a relatable personal life, as he navigates romance, family affairs, and hair loss.
Movie Parodies
The Critic is a great watch for any fans of the Simpsons, as it was created by its writers/producers Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and Jay is featured in a few of its episodes. WhileThe Criticreceived favorable reviews and a fanbase, it was ultimately canceled after just two seasons due to low ratings. Despite being left behind with dozens of other canceled ’90s series, today it still has maintained a legacy for its uniqueness at its time.
6Dream On (1990 - 1992)
Dream Onwas an HBO sitcom about the life of Martin Tupper, a divorced New York City book editor navigating his career and romantic life. The series was unique for its interjection of older black-and-white television footage that would relate to Martin’s experiences. Notably, the series tackled mature themes and openly discussed and depicted sexual topics.
Excitingly Innovative
Dream Ondiffered from other sitcoms of its time for its unique use of the television form and commentary on the influence of television itself. Despite its creativity, it had a niche audience during its time and wasn’t available on streaming until recently, but fans of the show remember and love its quirky and innovative approach to the sitcom format.
5Evening Shade (1990 - 1994)
Evening Shadewas a CBS sitcomstarring Burt Reynoldsas Woodrow Newton, a former Steelers player who returns to his hometown of Evening Shade, Arkansas to coach a losing high school football team. The series depicts Wood’s transition to a rural environment and the various challenges he faces, such as raising a family.
Small town-living
Evening Shade captures the atmosphere of small-town living as Wood adjusts to his rural surroundings, contributing to its appeal. Despite being popular while it was on air, it was eventually canceled due to high production costs and is often overlooked among great ’90s sitcoms.
4H (1998 - 2002)
Hwas a French workplace sitcom centering on a group of dysfunctional medical staff.Hfeatures a lively ensemble of characters, from a womanizing hypochondriac nurse to a risk-taking switchboard operator. Altogether, they make for an incompetent staff with incredible moments of banter. The full series is available to stream via Netflix.
What makesHsuch a great sitcom is its illogical strings of events that make for some of the most absurd, but laughable situations, especially in the way the characters handle them. Its most humorous moments range from getting stuck in the morgue to a patient believing his Mickey Mouse watch is cursed.
3The Single Guy (1995 - 1997)
TheSingle Guywas an NBC sitcom starring Jonathan Silverman as Jonathan Elliot, an NYC-based writer struggling to find romance and make ends meet. The series follows him and his friends as he navigates the modern dating world and as his friends and building doorman attempt to give him advice.
Critical Flop
WhileThe Single Guywas a relatable show about the struggles of finding love in a big city, it received poor reviews from critics and was seen by viewers as too similar toFriendsandSeinfeld,especially as it aired between the two series. It later moved time slots, losing most of its audience and ultimately being canceled after two seasons.
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2For Your Love (1998 - 2002)
For Your Lovewas an NBC (later WB) sitcom about a group of couples in different phases of their relationships who give each other dating advice. The ensembles included a couple that had been together for 15 years, a pair of newlyweds, and a pair of people who were together, but too afraid to commit to each other.
Screwball Charm
For Your Loveencapsulates all the charm that’s so well remembered about ’90s television: charming ensembles, a balance of humorous moments and serious topics, and all-around entertainment. It was excellently written, and its romantic focus and battle of the sexes add a screwball comedy feel to the sitcom, alongside tons of great moments for ’90s nostalgia.
