Great TV shows of the 90s

Was gonna do it as a top ten, but couldn't think of ten I'd consider great - whether this is down to my memory or the 00s being better than the 90s for TV I couldn't say, though I wouldn't be surprised if the latter is the case. Anyway:

Day Today/Brass Eye
The Simpsons
I'm Alan Partridge
Father Ted
The House of Cards Trilogy

Adam & Joe?

Northern Exposure! To me that was the best one of the Twin Peaks inspired "small town with odd inhabitants" subgenre, at least until Joel left.

friends

Also:

Downtown
* A short-lived MTV animated series where the main character was comic book/RPG geek. Does anyone else remember this? It was pretty funny, at least if you were among the geeks it mocked.

The Maxx
* The best American animated series ever! At least after The Simpsons.

I forgot about Beavis and Butthead! How could I?

I was about to say Beavis & Butthead. Oh yes I was.

teenage mutant hero turtles ftw

TMWRNJ

the word

"TMWRNJ"?

The Fast Show!

The Mary Whitehouse Experience

"TMWRNJ"?

This Morning With Richard Not Judy - sketch/stand-up show with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring.

Fist of Fun, especially Simon Quinlank

The Fast Show's a good one.

The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

Can anyone think of any really good dramas? So far we've only got House of Cards and Northern Exposure.

Cracker (UK drama never topped imo)

The Cops
Eastenders (i didn't start hating it properly until '99)
This Life lol
KYTV
Shooting Stars
Later With Jools Holland
Mirrorball
Spaced s1

Morse if that's your thing.

also A Touch Of Frost

still rep for The X-Files up until season 5

buffy
rugrats
simpsons

I was totally hooked on Neighbours throughout the 90s, don't think it qualifies as great though.

Seinfeld

oh, you Brits.

The Kids in the Hall
The Larry Sanders Show

we never got KITH

Do you mean never 'got' it, or that it was never aired here? The latter is certainly not true.

About half of the "Cracker" scripts were absolute shite.

The latter is certainly not true

oh OK, no idea when it was on (Sky? early C5?)

C4 back in the mid 90's?

or maybe late night BBC2. definitely caught a few shows when i was 14-6 (at a guess)

how did i miss it

About half of the "Cracker" scripts were absolute shite

example?

KITH was C4, tucked away in a graveyard slot.

BBC Adaptation of Our Mutual Friend was epic.

Quantum Leap and Star Trek TNG. Even though they started in the 80's.

Homicide: Life On The Street

Oh right! Homicide. Awesome. But I only saw season one so far. Must pursue the rest.

FORD SUPER SUNDAY (nod to a hoy hoy)

pox

simpsons
kids in the hall
law and order (first seven or so seasons, at leasy)
homicide
beavis and butthead
twin peaks
batman: the animated series
oz
ren and stimpy (until john k. got fired)
mst3k

the amount of BAD tv i watched in the 90s makes me want to weep

big cosign on KITH, MSTK and Batman

No one said Get A Life yet, fuck this place

big cosign on Get A Life, no cosign on the bizarre hostility

this is the theme to garry's show the opening theme to garry's show garry called me up and asked if i would write his theme song this song is halfway finished how do you like it so far how do you like the theme to garry's show?

Shandling's Show was great, never got around to seeing Larry Sanders

Original run September 10, 1986 – May 25, 1990

^^ guess IGSS isn't really a good fit for this thread though, eh

TRL

^^totally.

Plus The X-Files and most things on this thread: One of the best things about Youtube is listening to the intro tunes of old cartoons.

uh at least the things on that thread that was from the 90s.

Blossom

and

http://leewochner.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/mr-bean.jpg

Roseanne started 80s, but was a 90s show for me, so that.

ok if you're throwing down Blossom and Mr. Bean, fuck it, i'm letting loose and repping for Boy Meets World son

oh god yes

Queer As Folk ftw

Kells i have to say i really appreciate you being with me on this Boy Meets World thing

The Nanny

is it generally seen as a mediocre show? i honestly have no idea - i loved it though. xp

well, i think it's pretty well-regarded by people that watched it, but you could say that about just about any show. it sure didn't win any Emmys or critics awards, though.

Tenacious D

frazier, right?

(again lifting from someone on the other thread)

I read this great article on Boy Meets World the other day - I wish I could remember where.

FORD SUPER SUNDAY (nod to a hoy hoy)

― What are the benefits of dating a younger guy, better erections? (darraghmac), Friday, 18 September 2009 15:57 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

We never had Sky when I was young so I had to go around my only-Newcastle-supporter-whos-never-been-to-Newcastle cousin's to start my hatred for Andy Gray etc. I miss rubbish cheerleaders etc. at football games.

Also Kenan & Kel deserves props.

Found it

http://thisrecording.com/storage/Boy-Meets-World-TV-12.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1247150601593

Saved by the Bell has to count, right?

absolutely, it only got in one post-Good Morning, Miss Bliss season before 1990

thank you for posting the BMW article!

Saw a live taping of Saved By the Bell in '90. Probably in my top 15.

al why did you have to open this can of topanga-related worms.

No Newsradio yet?

Also, although Batman: TAS seemed like hot shit at the time, it's a cold turd on a paper plate compared to Superman and the Justice League joints.

salute youare shorts
hey dude
oz
clarissa explains it all
exosquad
gargoyles
batman tas
mst3k
liquid television
the state
mr. show

xp

batman tas IS hot shit u fuckin savage animal from the flaming belly of tartarus

I just can't understand the love for Mr Bean. It's for KIDS. (I R HATE PHUN, I know.)

fuck, how did i forget Newsradio

clarissa explains it all

^^^^ damn bro wb

http://i40.tinypic.com/okwx2r.gif

If Mr. Bean is for kids, then this is for kids, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4SFC0B4eEQ

Oh, hey, I've got a third and fourth for my list:

-Blossom
-Mr. Bean
-Sports Night
-NYPD Blue

my so-called life
late night w/conan
90210
(in) living color

The State - I don't think anyone said it yet.

how would you guys transcribe the theme song to the state?

Hey yaw oxagow! Hey yaw oxagow! gowannanonny gowannanonneeee?

hard 2 improve on cankles list

simpsons
afv
neon gensis evangelion
secret world of alex mack
batman tas
larry sanders
arthur
oz
mr. show
the odyssey or prime suspect

Sports Night was definitely one I thought about listing

damn canks basically made me realize i'm just gonna name all nickelodeon shows if i'm gonna do this

Two of my favorites of all-time:
The Larry Sanders Show
The Kids In The Hall

and then...
Newsradio
Roseanne
Twin Peaks
The Simpsons (I prefer to imagine that it ended in the 90s)
Homicide
Beavis & Butthead
My So-Called Life
Seinfeld

I listed my 90s/00s-straddlin' shows on the 00s thread (Strangers With Candy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The Sopranos, Friends, Big Train, Smack The Pony). I don't know where to put them, so I guess they'll stay in their sad llttle limbo list.

Get A Life, The State, Supes: TAS, Justice League: TAS, and X-Files all get a consolation ribbon.

I have a very good feeling that I'd be rating some Chris Morris or Steve Coogan show very highly, but I've only just started getting into that stuff and haven't quite picked any faves yet.

(This is two best-of TV threads in a row where I've agreed very strongly with Dr. Morbius. I've gone through the looking glass...)

You didn't agree that strongly with Morbz, you admitted to liking more than 2 shows.

Ha. Yes, but if I only had to pick two...

When was Daria?

'97-'02

Guys, i think we're forgetting You Wrote It, You Watch It

rat in the vat, fred schnieder nightmare, classic imo

I'd str8 up watch those eps 10 times in a row

this was my jam i ain't bullshittin

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Idiotbox1.jpg

Yeah, I was never that big on The State but I love You Wrote It, You Watch It (xpost)

i feel like every single time "Stairway To Heaven" comes on the radio i quote something from the episode they did about it

MTV needs to cut the shit and put that out on DVD

It's not like anyone who was on that show became incredibly famous

well, considering how long it took The State to get out on DVD and how much more popular/well known that was, i'm not holding my breath

Woah. I completely forgot that existed until just now.

The Adventures of Pete & Pete! can't believe I hadn't mentioned that yet!

ENBB knows what's up

powerpuff girls!

if only for this guy

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/edwardiii/him.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfTD1NDNFIg

fuck, i forgot news radio too. i kinda just wanna say "phil hartman's career inclusive."

also whoever was dissing batman: tas up there needs to give me one superman or j.l. episode as good as that clayface two-parter.

Or the Two-Face two-parter! Or "Almost Got 'Im", that was genius.

Millennium - despite some very screwy continuity between each season it had some truly great moments. Better than the X-Files at its best.

man i just wanna spend the rest of the afternoon watching batman episodes on youtube

also whoever was dissing batman: tas up there

Not dissing! Just stating that, since it seems to be held as a high-water mark of its particular niche, it hasn't aged quite as well for me as some of the latter DCU animated series. Which I'm admittedly basing more on some of the earlier episodes. It's still good stuff that I'm quite fond of.

X-Files seasons 1-4, especially any episode written by Darin Morgan, and particularly "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" which is one of the best episodes of anything ever.

"Jose Chung" could very well be the single best thing on TV in the 90s.

Xena: Warrior Princess. Lock thread.

Squirt TV

Australia, represent:

Fast Forward
The Late Show
DAAS Kapital
Funky Squad
GP (pretty fogey but mostly great)
Seachange

I'm sure there are more but I can't remember!

I will admit to watching Heartbreak High, Flying Doctors, Country Practice, Neighbors, Home & Away & Blue Heelers, but reluctant to file under 'great'.

(Except for when wossisname the cute pilot from Flying Doctors died and they played that Dynamic Hepnotics song at his funeral. that was grebt.)

is DAAS Kapital the Doug Anthony Allstars thing?

Yep!

I used to love them. If that ever made it over here (UK), I never saw it. I remember seeing some TV special they had over here and it was shite, and regretting ever telling anyone that they were the greatest thing ever (based on a couple of Edinburgh Festival shows). I sort of missed watching TV in the early/mid-90s due to being a lol arts student and spending my entire life asleep or in the pub.

No love for Sesame Street? It ran almost every day in the 90s.

Has Rugrats been mentioned? That was a staple in college...

yeah all those classic kids shows - rugrats, all that, doug, hey arnold, kenan and kel etc

MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS

omg...Parker Lewis Can't Lose!

picket fences
nowhere man
eerie, indiana
cosign parker lewis can't lose
gargoyles

austin stories
dr. katz
aeon flux
sk8 tv why not

xpost: otm Picket Fences

DARIA!

lotsa good picks. few things i don't see listed yet but would add:

night stand with dick dietrich
eek! the cat
space ghost coast to coast
pop up video

Dawson's Creek

Due South

American Gothic

Twin Peaks.

Our Friends in the North
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Vic Reeve's Big Night Out
People Like Us
Harry Enfield's Television Programme
How Do You Want Me?
The Day Today
Knowing Me Knowing You
Jonathan Creek
The Nazis: A Warning from History
The Royle Family
Time Team
Brookside

So, am I the only one who really dug Northern Exposure? It's still probably my favourite TV series ever, though maybe that's because I was at the exact age where a quirky and intelligent and gently optimistic and occasionally surreal series like NE felt like the best thing ever. NE was quite popular in Finland for almost all of its run, but maybe it wasn't that big in other countries?

Eerie, Indiana YESS
Currently re-watching My So-Called Life. To me it's the total embodiment of the 90s.

This Life
I'm Alan Partridge
People Like Us
I guess I watched & liked the Fast Show at the time, but couldn't watch it now.
Jonathan Creek was genius.

eek! the cat
space ghost coast to coast

good call there andrew m.

the cartoon Tick was classic too.

Not enough love for South Park. Really annoys me how no TV station over here shows it anymore.

I liked Northern Exposure a lot, Tuomas, you just mentioned it so early in the thread that I never felt the need to bring it up.

Man, Dr. Katz! Another good one.

Think these have all been mentioned already but anyway . . .

US

Northern Exposure
Quantum Leap
Twin Peaks
The State
Clarissa
Space Ghost
MST3K
KITH
Ren and Stimpy

UK

The Day Today/Brass Eye
Father Ted
The Fast Show

Also, Spaced.

wonder years

freaks and geeks, or was that the OOs

seaquest dsv

(j/k)

RIP J. Brandis

shit i forgot he died :-( RIP

cartoon sushi

wonder years

― DAN P3RRY MAD AT GRANDMA (just1n3), Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:35 PM (2 hours ago)

shit i've always thought of this as an 80s show for some reason but yes, duh

Like the Simpsons, Wonders was great only at certain stages.

xp i just checked and it did start in the 80s, so that's probably why

Dan, wasn't it you years ago that pointed out how Simpsons started in 89 and stole Milhouse's look from Paul?

The Simpsons -- if only because of the family connection
Aeon Flux
Batman: The Animated Series
The Tick
Twin Peaks
Sports Night
Millennium
Freaks and Geeks
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Star Trek: The Next Generation

I hope that the Saturday morning/after school cartoons Golden Age isn't driven purely by nostalgia. Also, Gargoyles was rad (KEITH DAVID!!!!).

nowhere man

I'd say this too but I've heard it doesn't hold up, and I also its connection to 24 kind of takes the shine off it.

oh damn, The Tick!

The Days And Nights Of Molly Dodd -- totally remember loving this, though I'm not sure how many episodes I saw, or whether I'd still like it if I saw it now. Apparently ran 1987 to 1991, though I haven't thought of it much since. Does not appear to be available on DVD, at least via Netflix, though if anybody knows otherwise please say so.

Apparently they couldn't license all the songs for a DVD release.

So instead I've been watching Caroline In The City lately. (1995 - 1999). Like it a lot, though I bet Molly was better.

And I'd also probably put Home Improvement toward the bottom of a Top 25 if somebody did a poll (hey, it was based in Keego Harbor, Michigan! and Tim's Tool Time partner Al Borland was funny), so I might as well mention it (since it looks like there's gonna be one.)

I'm totally doing a poll fellas. Noms thread on Monday.

are Buffy, Sopranos and F&G going to be included? i'm not saying they should be excluded but, you know

Home Improvement is the worst artifact of human civilization.

Some shows I didn't see mentioned yet: The Critic, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, King of the Hill, Sifl & Olly, Home Movies, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Oh, and Jeopardy.

xpost
I think all three should be included, Nhex.

Home Movies aired 5 episodes in the '90s, and it seems kinda pointless to put them in them in another poll after it fared to place in one for the decade that it aired 50 episodes.

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

i remember a pretty fine cbs show called 'ez streets' which was saddled with a shitty name but had a pretty dope cast and was vv serious and grim.

The John Larroquette Show

homicide, my so called life, simpsons. those are probably my top three. but i'll need this thread to jar my memory. last half of 30something's run would make it too in my top five. cuz that's how i roll. but i'm probably forgetting a zillion shows. kids in the hall definitely.

are Buffy, Sopranos and F&G going to be included? i'm not saying they should be excluded but, you know

― Nhex, Friday, 6 November 2009 18:23 (3 hours ago) Bookmark

was just about to ask this.

i always think about buying my so called life but decide against at the last minute. maybe i should find a torrent.

Home Movies aired 5 episodes in the '90s, and it seems kinda pointless to put them in them in another poll after it fared to place in one for the decade that it aired 50 episodes.

I don't think low number of episodes aired should disqualify it. Point taken on the other thing, though.

I think any show with any episodes airing during the '90s should qualify for a nomination.

Now I need to work up my list!!!!

Not enough Dawson's love on the 00's thread, so I'm upping it for the 90s as well. Also, Taking Over The Asylum, which I already know is vying with Cracker and Queer As Folk for my number one (until other people post things I haven't remembered about yet).

I think the Sopranos and F&G should be excluded because of their showing in the other poll as well as Sopranos being mostly in the 2000s. Buffy should qualify, however, because the lower average of voting came, in many cases, because people felt the best of the series was broadcast in the 90s.

honestly it would be pretty fucking ridiculous if F&G finished top 5 in one poll for its last 12 episodes, and then finished high in another poll for its first 6 episodes -- how many victory laps does it need, leave room for other 90s shows already

i mean Buffy and Sopranos, sure, that at at least makes sense

yeah, f&g was my #1 in the other poll, and would STILL be my #1 in the 90s poll probably, so i'd feel kind of dickish about that

Just include them, so that Sopranos fans can whine again that they're show is too low.

Prompt your memories:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1990s_television_series

Harry & Cosh!

I wonder if "The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand De Bargos" stands up still? I remember it seeming like a work of genius at the time, but it's been imitated too many times since then, and probably bettered in the process.

Was Jim Henson's The Storyteller nineties? That was pretty cool.

Some nominations:

120 Minutes
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
The Ben Stiller Show
Cheers
The Chris Rock Show
Dream On
Drew Carey Show
Emmanuelle in Space
Felicity
Fishing with John
Get a Life
The Jerry Springer Show
The Langoliers (TV miniseries)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Law and Order
Liquid Television
Married... with Children
Mr. Show
NewsRadio
Northern Exposure
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
The Real World
Short Attention Span Theater
Spin City
Sports Night
The State
Twin Peaks
Upright Citizens Brigade
Whose Line Is It Anyway

Apologies for repeat noms.

arsenioooooooooooo hall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCVBfk9fC8

RE the Sopranos/Buffy/F&G controversy - I don't really see that there's any fair way to do it other than to include every show nominated that had any episodes aired in 90s. But do try and base your votes on the particular show's 90s output - and remember they'll all be up against a new array of great TV, including prime Simpsons! That is all. New thread tomorrow.

Animated series (w/some repeats from above):

Aeon Flux (duh)
Liquid Television
The Maxx
MTV Oddities: The Head
Batman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
X-Men
Spider-Man
Ren & Stimpy
Animaniacs
Tiny Toon Adventures
Dexter's Laboratory
The Powerpuff Girls
Space Ghost: Coast 2 Coast
The Tick
The Critic

Anime (other better heads can help me out, I'm sure there were other great ones):
Neon Genesis Evangelion
The Vision of Escaflowne
Cowboy Bebop

Ignoring the "great" for a sec, did anyone see anything from the two seasons Cleopatra 2525 got before being cancelled?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2ZRSwul7cE

"An exotic dancer, cryogenically frozen in the year 2001, is accidentally thawed out in 2525 by two female warriors who are fighting against evil robots which have taken over the world."