Must-See TV? More Like Must-Remember TV
The 90s gave us some of the biggest sitcoms ever. Everybody remembers Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier right? But for every mega-hit, there were dozens of shows that pulled decent ratings, made people laugh, and then somehow vanished into the television Bermuda Triangle.
Some of these lasted years. Some launched careers. And some are so forgotten that you'll swear we're making them up (we aren’t though). Let's see how many you actually remember.
George & Leo (1997–1998)
Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch starring together should have been a much bigger deal than it was. The sitcom only lasted one season before disappearing almost completely. Today, the most common reaction to George & Leo is probably, "Wait...those two had a show together?"
Screenshot from George & Leo, Paramount Television (1997–1998)
Wings (1990–1997)
For seven seasons, Wings quietly became one of television's most dependable sitcoms. The setting was a tiny airport. The cast was full of lovable weirdos. And somehow it all worked. The funny part is that millions of people watched it every week, yet today it rarely comes up unless somebody is listing forgotten 90s sitcoms.
Screenshot from Wings, Paramount Network Television (1990–1997)
Grapevine (1992)
This one is so forgotten that some readers are probably convinced we made it up. Grapevine used a mock-documentary style with characters talking directly to the camera about their relationships. Sound familiar? It should. The show was doing it years before The Office. Unfortunately, hardly anyone watched.
Screenshot from Grapevine, MGM (1992)
Ink (1996–1997)
Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen starred together in this sitcom about magazine publishing. Yes, real-life husband and wife Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen. That's a pretty good hook. Somehow it still lasted only one season and became a forgotten footnote in both of their careers.
Screenshot from Ink, DreamWorks Television (1996–1997)
The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996)
A sitcom about a recovering alcoholic managing a bus station during the night shift isn't exactly standard network comedy material. That's part of what made it interesting. Critics loved it, awards followed, and John Larroquette was excellent. Today, though, it barely gets mentioned.
Screenshot from The John Larroquette Show, Warner Bros. Television (1993–1996)
Boston Common (1996–1997)
For a brief moment, this fish-out-of-water sitcom looked like it might become a big hit. Ratings started strong. Then they didn't. That's television. Today, Boston Common mostly survives as one of those titles that triggers a distant memory for people who lived through the decade.
Screenshot from Boston Common, Columbia TriStar Television (1996–1997)
NewsRadio (1995–1999)
This cast was ridiculous. Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney, Stephen Root, Joe Rogan, Andy Dick. Looking back, it's amazing this show isn't talked about more often. Smart, weird, and consistently funny, NewsRadio feels like the sitcom equivalent of a cult band that should have been much bigger.
Screenshot from NewsRadio, NBC (1995–1999)
Caroline in the City (1995–1999)
For a while, Lea Thompson's cartoonist was a pretty familiar face on NBC. The show lasted four seasons, pulled solid ratings, and seemed like a keeper. Then it basically disappeared. Mention Caroline in the City today and half the room will suddenly remember it while the other half wonders if it was ever real.
Screenshot from Caroline in the City, NBC (1995–1999)
Working (1997–1999)
Remember when Fred Savage finished The Wonder Years and NBC tried to turn him into a workplace sitcom star? A surprising number of people don't. Working wasn't a disaster at all. It simply got buried under a mountain of bigger sitcom hits during one of television's most competitive eras.
Screenshot from Working, NBC (1997–1999)
The Single Guy (1995–1997)
Jonathan Silverman starred as a bachelor navigating life and dating in New York. If that sounds familiar, that's because roughly half of the sitcom pitches in the 90s involved dating in New York. The difference is that most people still remember the other ones.
Screenshot from The Single Guy, NBC (1995–1997)
Suddenly Susan (1996–2000)
For a few years, Brooke Shields was absolutely everywhere. Suddenly Susan was a major hit that regularly pulled strong ratings and lasted four seasons. Yet somehow it left almost no footprint behind. It's one of those shows people don't remember until they hear the title and immediately say, "Oh wow."
Screenshot from Suddenly Susan, Warner Bros. Television Distribution (1996–2000)
The Jamie Foxx Show (1996–2001)
Long before winning Oscars and becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Jamie Foxx spent five seasons making audiences laugh every week. The show had a loyal following and plenty of charm. Somehow it still gets overlooked whenever people start talking about classic 90s sitcoms.
Screenshot from The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB (1996–2001)
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1997)
If you watched ABC's TGIF lineup, you almost certainly crossed paths with Mark Curry's former basketball player turned substitute teacher. The show lasted five seasons, which is a lot longer than many people remember. It may not have been Full House, but it was a pretty reliable part of Friday nights.
Screenshot from Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Warner Bros. Television (1992–1997)
Ned and Stacey (1995–1997)
Before Debra Messing became Grace Adler, she starred alongside Thomas Haden Church in this sitcom about a fake marriage. The chemistry was great, the premise worked, and the show had plenty of funny moments. Yet somehow it ended up becoming one of television's forgotten middle children.
Screenshot from Ned and Stacey, Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (1995–1997)
The Powers That Be (1992–1993)
Talk about a show that disappeared. The Powers That Be had John Forsythe, Holland Taylor, David Hyde Pierce, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. On paper, that sounds like a sitcom people would still be talking about today. Instead, it feels like a television fever dream that vanished almost overnight.
Screenshot from The Powers That Be, NBC (1992–1993)
Love & War (1992–1995)
For a few years, CBS had a pretty solid hit on its hands. Love & War mixed workplace comedy, romance, and sharp banter while building a loyal audience. It ran for three seasons and then quietly slipped out of pop culture. Today, even a lot of 90s TV fans forget it existed.
Screenshot from Love & War, Warner Bros. Television (1992–1995)
The Building (1993)
Bonnie Hunt starred in this sitcom set entirely inside a Chicago apartment building. It only lasted one season, but television historians still point to it as being ahead of its time. Most viewers today have never heard of it, which is kind of amazing considering how unique it was.
Screenshot from The Building, Columbia Pictures Television (1993)
Dave's World (1993–1997)
Based on the writings of humor columnist Dave Barry, this sitcom followed the life of a newspaper writer trying to survive work and family life. Harry Anderson was as likable as ever. The show lasted four seasons, yet it rarely shows up in nostalgia conversations anymore.
Screenshot from Dave's World, Columbia Pictures Television (1993–1997)
Brotherly Love (1995–1997)
The Lawrence brothers all starring together sounds about as 90s as it gets. Joey, Matthew, and Andrew played siblings running a garage, and for a couple of years the show had a loyal audience. If you were a teenager back then, this title probably unlocked a memory you forgot you had.
Screenshot from Brotherly Love, NBC (1995–1997)
Pearl (1996–1997)
Rhea Perlman played a waitress who decides to attend college later in life. That's a strong premise, and Perlman was still as funny as ever. The show earned decent ratings but has almost completely vanished from television history. It's the definition of a forgotten sitcom.
Screenshot from Pearl, Warner Bros. Television (1996–1997)
Grace Under Fire (1993–1998)
This one wasn't some tiny cult show. It was huge. For several seasons, Grace Under Fire ranked among the most-watched shows on television. That's exactly why its disappearance feels so strange. A sitcom that big should have left a much larger footprint than it did.
Screenshot from Grace Under Fire, ABC (1993–1998)
The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998)
Television critics never forgot this one, but a lot of viewers did. The behind-the-scenes talk show satire influenced countless comedies that followed. Without The Larry Sanders Show, shows like 30 Rock and even parts of The Office probably look very different.
Screenshot from The Larry Sanders Show, HBO (1992–1998)
Something So Right (1996–1998)
This family sitcom managed two seasons and more than 50 episodes, which isn't bad at all. Yet it has almost completely disappeared from reruns, streaming services, and nostalgia discussions. It's the sitcom equivalent of finding an old yearbook and suddenly remembering somebody you hadn't thought about in decades.
Screenshot from Something So Right, NBC (1996–1998)
Townies (1996)
The cast alone makes this one worth mentioning. Molly Ringwald, Lauren Graham, Jenna Elfman, and even a young Bill Burr all showed up. Somehow Townies lasted only one season and vanished almost immediately. Looking back, it's a fascinating collection of future stars.
Screenshot from Townies, ABC (1996)
Hi Honey, I'm Home! (1991–1992)
The premise was absolutely bonkers. A black-and-white 1950s sitcom family escapes television and moves into the real world. Read that sentence again. Somebody pitched that idea and somebody else approved it. Even by 90s standards, this one was delightfully weird.
Screenshot from Hi Honey, I'm Home!, Viacom Enterprises (1991–1992)
Living Single (1993–1998)
Before Friends became television's biggest phenomenon, Living Single was already doing the young-friends-sharing-life-in-the-city formula brilliantly. The cast was fantastic and the writing was sharp. More people are rediscovering it today, but it still doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Screenshot from Living Single, Fox (1993–1998)
Herman's Head (1991–1994)
Imagine Inside Out decades before Inside Out. That's basically what Herman's Head was. Different parts of Herman's personality argued inside his brain while he navigated everyday life. It was clever, original, and surprisingly funny. Today, it feels like one of television's forgotten experiments.
Screenshot from Herman's Head, Fox Network (1991–1994)
Mad About You (1992–1999)
This one was huge. Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser were one of television's most beloved sitcom couples, and the show spent years as part of NBC's powerhouse lineup. Yet compared to Friends or Seinfeld, it rarely gets discussed today. That's pretty surprising for a multiple Emmy-winning hit.
Screenshot from Mad About You, Sony Pictures Television (1992-1999)
Did You Actually Remember Five?
If you made it through this list without saying, "Oh wow, I forgot about that show," at least a few times, congratulations. Your 90s sitcom memory has aged much better than the Rachel haircut. For everyone else, don't worry. The decade produced so many sitcoms that forgetting half of them is practically part of the experience.
Screenshot from Mad About You, Sony Pictures Television (1992–1999)
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