Top 10 TV Shows Of The 90s

Always looking for a way to squeeze another top 10 list into the old blog, we here at the Tool Box recently voted for the best shows of the 90s. We decided that the show did not have to originate in the decade, or even have their best years during this time. This was simply any show that had a run in the 90s that the five voters watched during that time. The wait is over and here is the list...

9-10. (Tie) Cheers and Doug

The only thing these two shows have in common is that they were both immensely popular with their target audience. Cheers, despite being a show that was at the top of it's game in the late-80s, continued its dominance in the 90s, often being named amongst the best sitcoms ever. Doug, on the other hand, was one of Nickelodeon's first smash hits, brought in at the same time as Rugrats and Ren & Stimpy as part of the "Nicktoons" collection that still runs strong today.

8. The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

The Fresh Prince was the launching pad for Will Smith. While Smith was unquestionably the star of the show, it was the supporting cast that allowed this show to be considered a modern classic. This is also the last African-American casted show that people of all races truly embraced and for good reason.

7. Frasier

Frasier is one of the rare cases where the spin-off not only succeeded, but where it almost reached the popularity of it's original. Kelsey Grammer was able to turn his success on Cheers into an award-winning show that also won over the hearts of millions of people for 11 seasons on NBC, the network now famous for the amazingly popular spin-off, Joey. Just kidding.

6. Spin City

Spin City is one of the most underrated shows of this era, but not with our voters. Michael J. Fox is one of the great sitcom performers, and his role as Deputy Mayor ranks right up there with any of the work he has ever done. The show went through numerous cast changes, including losing Fox in the next decade, but the quality never really took a hit.

4-5. (Tie) The Drew Carey Show and The Wonder Years

We just can't keep avoiding these ties. The Drew Carey Show was an interesting concept. They took a familiar story, loveable loser and his three friends, and turned it into one of the most over-the-top shows on network television. It baffles me as to how this is no longer mentioned as one of the greatest sitcoms of the last 20 years, but we here at the Tool Box still salute it. The Wonder Years was the show that the whole family watched together. Parents were able to connect with the storylines from their earlier years, while us youngsters were able to look up to Kevin Arnold. The Wonder Years is a show that can make you laugh and cry at the same time, something missing from television today.

3. The Simpsons

The Simpsons perhaps has the biggest cult audience of all time. Most fans will agree that the show really hit it's stride in the 90s, causing it to become the cultural phenomenon we know it to be today. Just when you think Matt Groening and the gang have made fun of everything there is to possibly make fun of, the next episode provides even more laugh out loud moments.

2. Saved By The Bell

If this doesn't prove this list was created by a bunch of 20-somethings, I don't know what would. Often dismissed by those too old for this show when it was out, it was wildly embraced by the youth of America in the early 90s. The cast may not be Emmy Award winners, but they were perfectly placed in this show that is perhaps the best representation of teenagers in the 1990s.

1. Seinfeld

Without question, Seinfeld is the most beloved show of this decade. The show's ratings in syndication are higher than a lot of new shows that are out today. Jerry, George, Kramer, Elaine and crew were able to provide us with sayings such as "Yada, yada, yada", "No soup for you!" and countless other moments still used to this day. The DVD sales have been through the roof and the show is revealing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This show is a no brainer for any "Top 10 Shows Of All Time" list, and was an overwhelming winner with our staff as the best show of the 90s.

A special sorry goes out to Chris Hoelscher. SeaQuest did not make the cut, mostly because the rest of us thought it sucked. For those of you wondering how in the world Friends didn't make this list, well it probably had something to do with the fact that it was, and still is a very overrated show. If you think it's so great, why didn't you watch Joey?

Written by: Brandon Tessoff
Voters: Dave Distelrath, Chris Hoelscher, Joe Serra, Brandon Tessoff, Joe Thomas