With so many TV reboots and remakes coming out these days, we can't help but recall the shows we once loved as kids. And with how popular '90s-era fashion is these days — even a trip to the mall brings to mind some of our favorite childhood shows and movies. There are branded T-shirts featuring images from classic Nickelodeon shows being sold at some of the biggest fast-fashion chains. We can't escape reminders of our childhood at every turn, and the nostalgia factor is so real.
While it makes us feel a bit old, we do love seeing the things we thought were relics of the past resurface today, especially when it means that some of the shows we enjoyed as kids are back on TV and popping up on streaming services. TV was so much fun in the '90s! Sitcoms led the charge, and a lot of what was on the air was geared toward kids or was at least family-friendly.
Not all of these shows are available to watch today, but they all make us feel super nostalgic whenever we come across a reminder of them. From primetime hits to after-school cartoons, the '90s and early oughts are responsible for so many awesome shows. Here's a list of 23 shows from our childhood that we have the best memories of and hope to one day introduce to our own kids.
'Clarissa Explains It All'
Was anybody else absolutely obsessed with Clarissa Explains It All, starring the one and only Melissa Joan Hart? The series ran from from 1991 to 1994, and it was actually Nickelodeon's first-ever female-led original show. To see a smart, savvy, and confident girl on TV was so empowering for us '90s girls.
'Family Matters'
Family Matters is absolutely iconic. Pretty much everyone in the world knows and loves Steve Urkel. This show ran for nearly 10 years between 1989 and 1998 and was must-see TV for most American families. It pretty much defines family sitcoms of the time, and even more than 20 years later, it's still referenced in pop culture all the time.
'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
As long as Will Smith is relevant, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will be relevant. It might even be relevant longer than he is, especially considering the show just got a dramatic reboot with the Peacock series Bel-Air. Will's charisma made this show a huge hit almost right from the start, and he was able to use it to make impactful statements about social issues while still making us all laugh.
'Degrassi'
Degrassi didn't come out until many of us were teenagers, but it was popular enough to inspire a number of spin-offs and launch the careers of stars such as Drake and Nina Dobrev. It's actually getting a reboot that will be available exclusively on HBO Max some time in 2023.
'All That'
All That was to '90s kids what Saturday Night Live is to full-fledged adults. In fact, it aired during an earlier slot on Saturday nights and if you didn't watch every episode, you definitely lost some cred come Monday at school. It's where we first saw millennial comedy icons Kenan Thompson, Nick Cannon, and Amanda Bynes.
'Sister, Sister'
"Sister, Sister. Talk about a two-way twister!" Talk about fashion inspo! Tia and Tamera Mowry had the best clothes on Sister, Sister. The '90s series ran for six seasons and cemented a place in our hearts for the twins, who still work in TV today. We have such fond feelings towards them because they helped us grasp the challenges of our teen years — and they looked darn good doing it.
'Boy Meets World'
Classic. We lived for Cory and Topanga's love story back in the day and we still get the feels when we hear references to Boy Meets World. The series is so beloved that it got a reboot in 2014, long before reboots became the biggest TV trend. This is another show that really helped us feel understood as kids in the '90s.
'Full House'
Full House goes so far back that when we picture it in our heads, the images are a little fuzzy, but we still have the best memories of gathering around the TV together as a family to watch every new episode. It's even more nostalgic since the death of Bob Saget, who of course played dad Danny Tanner.
'Dawson's Creek'
Dawson's Creek taught us how to be teenagers — or you know, how to be super privileged teenagers in very complicated relationships. We loved it and tuned in for the drama every single week. The show was pretty much a precursor to some of today's racier teen dramas.
'Married With Children'
Whether it was appropriate or not, it doesn't matter. Every little kid sang "love and marriage, love and marriage," right along with their parents for Married With Children's entire 11-season run. Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, and Ed O'Neill portrayed their characters to perfection, and this show will forever be a part of pop culture history.
'Home Improvement'
Tim "The Toolman" Taylor is a TV icon. Home Improvement is a classic sitcom that made us laugh and cry, and helped us bond as families as we watched Tim Allen act out Lucille Ball-style antics while navigating his marriage and fatherhood. Whether your dad was just like him or you wished he was, we all loved this show.
'Are You Afraid of the Dark?'
Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a big part of why many of us love the horror genre today. It was the perfect show for fans of the Goosebumps books who loved spooky stories and it made us all wish we had a crew of friends we could sit around a bonfire with and tell ghost stories long into the night.
'Saved by the Bell'
We were so young when Saved by the Bell debuted that we were nowhere near the age of the high schoolers the show was about, but that didn't mean we didn't enjoy every funny minute of it. We learned so many important life lessons from this '90s classic. It, too, got the reboot treatment in 2020.
'Rugrats'
Rugrats is arguably the best cartoon that Nickelodeon ever produced. It ran for nine seasons, inspired three animated movies, and was given new life via a modern reboot in 2021. Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Phil, Lil, and Susie are TV legends who were a mainstay in many of our childhoods, and even if we hope our own kids never behave the way they did, we'll always adore them.
'Hey Arnold!'
The animated series Hey Arnold! was just pure fun. We probably shouldn't even admit that we still watched it well into our teen years. The characters were hilarious, well-rounded, and really interesting, especially for a goofy cartoon. Plus, the show did its part to promote acceptance of kids who look different, like Arnold with his football-shaped head.
'The Ren & Stimpy Show'
The Ren & Stimpy Show was a mainstay cartoon throughout the early '90s, airing on both Nickelodeon and MTV, and it was hilarious! The characters' antics were silly, ridiculous, and oh-so-much fun to watch. "Happy Happy Joy Joy" is still a TV song that makes us want to do a little goofy dance. Even all these years later, we bet today's kids would totally love it!
'3rd Rock From the Sun'
So many of our crushes on Joseph Gordon Levitt started back when he played an alien that looked like a human on 3rd Rock From the Sun. The series was basically sci-fi light that benefited from John Lithgow's stellar acting skills and comedic timing. We continued to watch it long after there were any new episodes.
'Dinosaurs'
Whenever you hear anyone say, "not the mama," you know exactly what show they're referencing. The early '90s series Dinosaurs was quite unique when it originally aired and it was so endearing. It followed the same format as many family sitcoms of the time, but it featured dinosaur puppets as the main characters, using them to tackle some decidedly heavy topics.
'Rocko's Modern Life'
Who doesn't love Rocko?! We didn't even realize this show was so old because we still find ourselves singing the theme song on occasion. Interestingly, it touched on the immigrant experience in America in a manner that was well ahead of its time. Plus, Rocko was adorable in a weird and wacky sort of way that appeals to kids of all ages.
'That 70s Show'
That '70s Show launched the careers of so many stars, including the now-married Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. It gave us a peek into the perspectives of many of our own parents, and now that we're parents ourselves we can totally see how it helped us relate to them better. The characters were so well developed, and we still love that they each had such distinct personalities.
'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'
Yup, Melissa Joan Hart is on the list again. She was a bona fide queen of the '90s, and with Sabrina the Teenage Witch she ushered many of us from our childhoods and into young adulthood, embracing our quirks along the way. The show was a huge success that ran for seven seasons and spawned a dramatic reboot in 2018 that was pretty incredible.
'Gilmore Girls'
This roundup wouldn't be complete without Gilmore Girls. Rory felt like one of our real-life best friends when the show was on the air, and while most of us didn't live in a town nearly as idyllic as Stars Hollow — or have grandparents as rich — we understood Rory's adolescent struggles and rooted for her every step of the way.
'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
Just about everything Sarah Michelle Gellar appeared in during the late '90s and early 2000s is nostalgic for us. Her face brings back so many memories, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer is her most iconic role by a mile. The show was so empowering for girls and also let those of us who are into horror and the paranormal fan girl about something that had mass appeal.
