The Best Sitcoms From the 1990s — And Where To Stream Them

In many ways, viewers can describe the 1990s as a renaissance period in terms of its relevance in pop culture. With dozens of new shows cropping up over mainstream television, audiences began to pay a newfound level of respect and appreciation for the complex series airing on TV, from early HBO dramas like The Sopranos and The Wire to unconventional comedies like Seinfeld and Friends.

When looking at sitcoms from the 1990s, it soon becomes clear that the decade came brimming with exceptional TV comedies. Whether focusing on a group of close friends in New York City or a morose psychologist in Seattle, these sitcoms captured the attention of millions of viewers across the globe, leading them to obtain iconic status in the three decades since their initial release.

Friends

As widely watched today as it was when in the mid ‘90s, Friends eloquently portrayed all the fears and anxieties expressed by listless young people in their 20s. With plenty of options over which career or romantic relationship to pursue, Friends made it seem okay to second guess yourself, encouraging everyone to make mistakes–so long as they ended up learning from them. Propelled by a wonderful cast and some pointedly sharp writing, Friends’ sentimental tone and likable characters made for a series viewers instantly fell in love with the moment it debuted in 1994. Watch Friends on Max.

Seinfeld

For millions of fans the world over, Seinfeld remains the first TV show people think of when they hear the word “sitcom.” The brainchild of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld broke all the rules when it came to conventional primetime comedies, satirizing everyday subject matters many thought too mundane for mainstream audiences. In each of their 180 episodes, David and Seinfeld held up a mirror to everyday society and showed us how ridiculous we all were, allowing us to collectively chuckle at such relatable situations as awkward break-ups, annoying pet peeves, or unfulfilling professional occupations. Watch Seinfeld on Netflix.

Frasier

Creating a worthwhile spinoff is never easy, whether discussing something as dramatic as Better Call Saul or something as comedic as Frasier. In the case of the latter, however, NBC constructed an otherwise superb off-shoot of their critically acclaimed show Cheers, triggering a sitcom just as wildly loved as its earlier sister series. Unlike other short-lived spin-offs like Joey or The Tortellis, Frasier boasted all the foremost qualities viewers hoped to see in a sitcom centered around its titular character, doubling down on Frasier’s eloquence, charisma, and humorously snooty intellect. Watch Frasier on Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount+.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The show that made Will Smith a mega-star, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air extensively drew on the cultural trends surrounding hip hop, liberally weaving such topics into its regular episodic storylines. Like all great sitcoms before it, the ingenious nature of Fresh Prince pitted two succinct blocks of life together, juxtaposing the upper-class Bankses with the street-smart Will. Loaded with memorable supporting cast members–including the hopelessly naive Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) and the cantankerous Uncle Phil (James Avery)–The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air never had a dull moment in its six-season long run. Watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Hulu and Max.

That ‘70s Show

Taking plenty of inspiration from the cult classic comedy Dazed and Confused (1993), That ‘70s Show provided a nostalgic look back at the 1970s, complete with references to dated pop culture fads like Ted Nugent, bell-bottom jeans, disco, and Star Wars. For all its humorous references, the area where That ‘70s Show excelled most involved its sympathetic portrayal of adolescence, from aimlessly cruising around town on Friday nights to puzzling over what to do once you’ve graduated from high school. Watch That ’70s Show on Peacock.

Will & Grace

A groundbreaking series in more ways than one, Will & Grace made history as one of the first TV shows to explore topics related to the LGBTQ+ community, as seen through the platonic friendship between the gay Will (Eric McCormack) and the straight Grace (Debra Messing). As President Joe Biden himself once said, “Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public [about LGBTQ+ topics] than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.” Through its frank and open depiction of homosexuality, Will & Grace tread new ground when it came to matters of representation, paving the way for countless TV series that followed. Watch Will & Grace on Prime Video and Hulu.

Married… with Children

A throwback of sorts to the glory days of All in the Family, Married… with Children never fell into the tried-and-true formula of a down-to-earth family sitcom. Rather than boasting the same meaningful life lessons as Full House, Married… with Children zeroed in on the dysfunctional rapport that characterizes most average families–albeit in a completely over-the-top and exaggerated manner. Laying the groundwork for the similarly-veined Simpsons, Married… with Children boasted just as rowdy a portrayal of the traditional sitcom, including an easily-angered father (Ed O’Neill) and a mischievous troublemaker of a son (David Faustino). Watch Married… With Children on Hulu.

Need more recommendations? Check out the best sitcoms of the 1970s and 1980s.