The Making Of A Millennial
Millennials were raised on a very specific brand of TV chaos, comfort, and charm. If you want to understand them, you’ve got to start with the shows that shaped them. Lucky for you, this list is basically a cultural decoder ring.
Full House
This wholesome family sitcom about a widowed dad raising three girls with the help of his brother-in-law and best friend defined the late 80s and early 90s. “You got it, dude!” became a generation’s favorite catchphrase thanks to Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen’s Michelle Tanner.
You Got It Dude | Full House, Warner Bros. TV
Saved By The Bell
This high school sitcom was a Saturday morning staple. With its colorful style and larger-than-life teen characters like Zack Morris and Screech, it turned Bayside High into an unforgettable place for a generation of kids.
Saved by the Bell | Zack + Kelly vs. Slater + Jessie: Which Couple Do You Prefer?, Peacock
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Will Smith’s fish-out-of-water comedy tackled race, class, and adolescence while delivering serious laughs and heartfelt moments. Few scenes are as emotionally impactful as Will asking, “How come he don’t want me, man?”
The heartbreaking moment Will's dad left | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - BBC, BBC
Clarissa Explains It All
Melissa Joan Hart’s Clarissa broke the fourth wall and talked directly to viewers about teen problems, sibling annoyances, and middle school woes—while rocking the most 90s outfits imaginable.
Clarissa Explains It All - Nick Knacks Episode #100, Pop Arena
Boy Meets World
This coming-of-age classic followed Cory Matthews from middle school to marriage, offering millennials a roadmap of growing pains, love, friendship, and philosophical life lessons from Mr Feeny.
Boy Meets World Memorable Moments Part 1, Boy Meets World Weekly
All That
Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy show was often described as a kid-friendly SNL. It launched the careers of Kenan Thompson and Amanda Bynes and became essential viewing for budding comedy fans.
Kenan Thompson's BEST All That Sketches! | All That, All That Official
Friends
Even if you weren’t old enough to relate to rent-controlled apartments in Manhattan, Friends became an omnipresent cultural force. Millennials grew into the show’s themes of love, friendship, and finding yourself in your 20s.
The Ones with the Girly Guys | Friends, Friends
South Park
Raunchy, irreverent, and always pushing boundaries, South Park taught millennials satire—even if they didn’t realize it at the time. From politics to pop culture, nothing was off limits.
Cartman Cancels His Own Birthday Party - SOUTH PARK, South Park Studios
Dawson’s Creek
Teen angst hit a high note with this WB drama. From love triangles to existential dialogue, Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen explored growing up in a way that resonated with older millennials.
Joey and Pacey Want To Take It To The Next Level | Dawson's Creek | Throwback TV, Throwback TV Clips
Family Guy
An animated comedy that felt like The Simpsons on steroids, Family Guy became a college dorm favorite thanks to its offbeat humor and endless cultural references.
Who’s Ready for Season 23? | Family Guy, AniDom
Gilmore Girls
Millennials fell in love with the fast-talking, coffee-guzzling mother-daughter duo of Lorelai and Rory. The show celebrated female ambition, emotional depth, and small-town quirks.
Lorelai Gets a Dog | Gilmore Girls, Gilmore Girls
Saturday Night Live
From Wayne’s World to Debbie Downer to the rise of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, SNL served as a comedic pulse check of American culture. Millennials grew up quoting their favorite sketches.
50th Monologue – SNL50, Saturday Night Live
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Canadian import Degrassi was unflinchingly honest about teen issues—mental health, identity, addiction, and more. It gave millennials a mirror for their struggles and starred a young Drake before he became a global icon.
Degrassi: The Next Generation 408 - Time Stands Still, Pt.2, Degrassi - The Official Channel
Scrubs
This quirky hospital comedy blended absurd humor with gut-punch emotion. JD, Turk, and the rest of the Sacred Heart Hospital crew made millennials laugh and cry—sometimes in the same scene.
Unscripted Scrubs Moments That Were Kept in the Show, MsMojo
American Idol
The show that launched a thousand reality TV careers, American Idol made everyone feel like a music critic. It introduced millennial audiences to talent like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
The Wire
More than just a cop show, The Wire presented an unflinching look at Baltimore’s institutions—schools, government, police, and media. Millennials watched it and came away with a deeper understanding of systemic failure.
The Wire Dictionary | The Wire | HBO, HBO
Arrested Development
This cult comedy's layered jokes, quirky characters, and meta-humor made it perfect for a generation that loves rewatching and quoting shows. Millennials learned there was always money in the banana stand.
NEVER Touch NEVER Touch "The Cornballer" - Arrested Development, Arrested Development
Chappelle’s Show
Dave Chappelle’s fearless sketch comedy changed the landscape of humor. It tackled race, class, and politics while becoming endlessly quotable—“I’m Rick James, b****!” rang out in dorms everywhere.
'I'm Rick James B****!' | Chappelle's Show, Comedy Central UK
Veronica Mars
Kristen Bell’s teen detective drama mixed noir, high school, and social commentary. It made smart storytelling cool and earned a passionate cult following among millennial fans.
Veronica Mars: Seasons 1-3 (Teaser) | Hulu, Hulu
How I Met Your Mother
A spiritual successor to Friends, HIMYM gave millennials a romantic comedy for their own era. It introduced new lingo (“legen—wait for it—dary!”) and redefined the long-running sitcom format.
All Of Barney's "Wait For It"'s in How I Met Your Mother, Still Watching Netflix
Grey’s Anatomy
The medical drama that never ends, Grey’s taught millennials about love, loss, and the fragility of life. Meredith Grey and her colleagues became familiar emotional companions through heartbreak and triumph.
Exclusive look at Meredith Grey's exit on 'Grey's Anatomy' l GMA, Good Morning America
The Office
Millennials made The Office a streaming staple. Michael Scott’s cringe comedy, Jim and Pam’s slow-burn romance, and Dwight’s beet-fueled ambition turned Dunder Mifflin into TV's most beloved workplace.
Office COLD OPENS to Watch While You Eat, The Office
Friday Night Lights
"Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose". This emotionally rich series about high school football in Texas tackled big themes—family, class, race, and resilience—and gave millennials one of the best teen dramas ever.
Jason Street Gets Injured | Friday Night Lights, Friday Night Lights
The Hills
Reality TV became scripted drama in The Hills, which followed Lauren Conrad and her friends navigating love, careers, and betrayals in Los Angeles. Millennials watched, even if they knew “some scenes were re-enacted”.
Lauren and Jason, Take Two | The Hills | Full Episode | Series 1 Episode 4, MTV UK
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
No show exemplified the rise of influencer culture more than this one. Millennials witnessed Kim and her family turn reality TV into a multi-billion-dollar brand and a new kind of fame.
The Top 11 Most ICONIC "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" Moments | KUWTK | E!, Alpha Grillers
The Big Bang Theory
Nerd culture went mainstream with this sitcom about a group of socially awkward scientists and their neighbor Penny. Millennials helped make science and comic book fandom part of pop culture.
Penny's Brightest Moments | The Big Bang Theory, Big Bang Theory
Gossip Girl
"XOXO, Gossip Girl". This CW drama gave millennials an insider look into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. With iconic fashion and juicy drama, it was irresistible.
Gossip Girl (2007) S1 - 6 | Limited Release, Showmax
Parks and Recreation
Optimism was cool again thanks to Leslie Knope and her lovable crew in Pawnee. Parks and Rec gave millennials a feel-good comedy with plenty of political satire and heart.
Parks and Recreation | Leslie Knope's Best Moments Defending Pawnee, Peacock
Jersey Shore
Whether you loved it or hate-watched it, Jersey Shore was necessary millennial viewing. The GTL lifestyle (gym, tan, laundry) and catchphrases like “Cabs are here!” became part of the cultural fabric.
Sammi’s Most Iconic Jersey Shore Moments, Jersey Shore
The Walking Dead
With this show, zombies became metaphors for survival, society, and human nature. This post-apocalyptic drama became a millennial obsession and turned graphic novels into prestige television.
Negan's Sermon Ep. 201 Clip | The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead
Pretty Little Liars
A mystery-thriller for the text message generation, PLL was filled with secrets, betrayals, and a mysterious figure known as “A”. Even more than that, it captured the paranoia surrounding social media in its early stages.
Most Chaotic Moments | Pretty Little Liars | Freeform, Freeform
Catfish: The TV Show
Nev Schulman turned his documentary into a series that highlighted online identity and deception. Millennials learned the hard way to Google profile pics and be wary of online romance.
Cassie & Steve | Catfish US | Full Episode | Series 2 Episode 1, MTV UK
House Of Cards
Netflix’s first major original drama basically turned binge-watching into the new norm. It also showcased the dark side of power and launched streaming TV into the mainstream.
The Best of Frank Underwood | House of Cards - Supercut | Netflix, Netflix
My So-Called Life
Claire Danes’ portrayal of angsty teen Angela Chase resonated with sensitive, introspective millennials (so, in other words, all of us). The show’s emotional depth, use of grunge music, and short run made it a cult classic.
My So-Called Life : Jordan Catalano's love letter to Angela Chase., Rofique Begum
Party Of Five
This drama about five siblings navigating life after their parents' passing was one of the more emotionally mature teen series of its time. It taught millennials about responsibility, grief, and perseverance.
Party of Five | 'Pilot' | Season 1 Ep 1 Pilot Episode | Throw Back TV, Throwback TV Clips
The Daily Show
Under Jon Stewart, The Daily Show became the go-to news source for politically engaged millennials. It mixed sharp satire with real insight, laying the groundwork for news that also entertained.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
A teen girl fighting monsters—literal and metaphorical—spoke volumes to coming-of-age millennials. The genre-bending series made room for female strength, wit, and complex morality.
Top 20 Most Badass Buffy Summers Moments, MsMojo
Freaks And Geeks
Though short-lived, this series captured the awkward, real moments of high school better than most. It also launched the careers of some of the industry’s most recognizable faces—Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jason Segel.
FREAKS AND GEEKS | Now On Digital | Paramount Movies, Paramount Movies
The Sopranos
Millennials didn’t just watch Tony Soprano; they grew up with him. The show ushered in the golden age of television and challenged traditional storytelling with the anti-hero you couldn’t help but love and hate.
Tony Soprano's Family Captains | The Sopranos | HBO, HBO
Lost
Before social media theories and Reddit forums, there was Lost. This mystery-box drama turned viewers into detectives, carrying the audience right along with its intrigue. Its mix of suspense, sci-fi, and philosophical questions was addictive.
Top 10 Most Insane Lost Moments, WatchMojo.com
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