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TV shows in the 1990s were not only legendary but are still referenced to date. And when we talk about ’90s TV shows, I’m sure Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Sex and the City are the obvious names that pop into your head. However, amidst these mainstream hits, several other offbeat yet promising TV shows slipped through the cracks and did not get the recognition they deserved due to many reasons. Now, re-watching your favourite old show can be comforting, but discovering underrated gems from the same era can feel more exciting than you know. From sci-fi to comedy dramas, here are 10 '90s TV shows that didn’t get the love but deserve your nostalgic binge.
The Critic
Mike Reiss and Al Jean are renowned for their contribution as writers of the famous animated sitcom, The Simpsons. However, The Critic, initially airing on ABC in 1994 and then picked up by Fox, was a rather underrated gem created by the duo. The TV show was about a 36-year-old film critic named Jay Sherman based in New York City who often mocked Hollywood with his infamous line, “It stinks.”
The show was ahead of its time with the clever jokes, Jon Lovitz’s iconic voice as Sherman, and the relevant pop culture parodies. Although The Critic never gained the hype it deserved across its two seasons and 23 episodes, the show would've definitely been a hit in today's era of influencers and viral YouTube rants.
Northern Exposure
If we're revisiting forgotten ‘90s TV classics, Northern Exposure, which premiered on CBS in 1990, ought to be on the list. Created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, it might seem like your typical culture-clash comedy drama at first with Rob Morrow playing the role of Joel Fleischman, a a newly graduated doctor from New York City, who has been reluctantly sent to the small town of Cicely, Alaska, and has to adjust with his other eccentric neighbours. But once you start watching it, you realize the show is more than just humorous dialogues and Alaskan landscape, subtly exploring underlying messages of race, community, sexuality, and spirituality without a preachy tone.
It bagged several prestigious awards, including seven Emmys and two Golden Globes, yet failed to build a loyal and wide fan base. But if you're looking for a wise and witty nostalgic binge, Northern Exposure is the perfect choice.
La Femme Nikita
La Femme Nikita is a Canadian spy fiction series developed by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran that became a slow-burn sensation on USA Network after its release in 1997. The television show drew inspiration from the 1990 French action film of the same name, directed and written by Luc Besson. The mesmerizing Peta Wilson owns the screen as Nikita, a woman framed for a crime she didn't commit and eventually forced to become a secret assassin. It is a gripping noir thriller that taps into deception, atonement, and identity.
What makes the show apropos then and now is its portrayal of autonomy and the moral journey of the titular female protagonist amidst the suffocating expectations of institutional power structures. It might’ve remained under the radar compared to other successful shows of its time, but it fits right into the binge-watching culture of the streaming age.
Two Guys and a Girl
Before becoming the Marvel superhero Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds played Berg, a slick, smooth-talking aspiring doctor in the underrated sitcom Two Guys and a Girl. The creators, Danny Jacobson, Kenny Schwartz, and Rick Wiener, originally titled the show: Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place when it premiered on ABC in 1998. It began as a feel-good series about three roommates, namely Pete, Berg, and Sharon, in their 20s, juggling jobs, romance, and adulthood, and discussing it all at their go-to pizzeria.
The whole concept was similar to Friends or How I Met Your Mother. But after two seasons, the pizza place was pretty much out of the scene, and the narrative took a more funny, thoughtful turn. It delivered four strong seasons but still did not get the fame it deserved. Nonetheless, it is an ideal weekend watch with full-on retro vibes.
Eerie, Indiana
A sci-fi with a supernatural twist created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer, Eerie, Indiana was the Stranger Things of ‘90s television’s golden era. Released in 1991 on NBC, the series follows the story of Marshall Teller, portrayed by Omri Katz, who moves to the town of Eerie, Indiana, with his family and experiences bizarre, unworldly events that change his life forever. The show is tactfully balanced between child-friendly thrills and grown-up satire, making it one of those gems that only gets smarter with time and age.
Sadly, Eerie, Indiana was short-lived, running for only one season, but its skillful writing should not go unacknowledged. If you're watching this show for the first time, it's no secret that you are going to love it.
Freaks and Geeks
A high-school drama, an intense exploration of the fragility and complexities of adolescence, Freaks and Geeks, released in 1999 on NBC, is a criminally underrated show. It might not have received the fitting limelight back in the day, but the unfiltered emotional resonance and deeply vulnerable characters feel relatable now more than ever.
Developed by Paul Feig, Freaks and Geeks spotlighted the bittersweet, awkward teenage moments with intelligent humor and a hilarious approach. It centred on a former academic prodigy grappling with an identity crisis, Lindsay Weir, played by Linda Cardellini, and her clumsy, introverted younger brother, Sam Weir, portrayed by John Francis Daley, as they attend William McKinley High School and become friends with other outcasts like themselves. Talents like James Franco, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, and Busy Philipps also starred in this show before they became Hollywood household names. Freaks and Geeks is a timeless comedy about trying and failing to fit in, which holds more relevance in the current times and is surely worthy of your time.
Sliders
Primarily airing on FOX in 1995, the series switched to the Sci-Fi Channel after three seasons. Sliders is a fantasy show, created by Tracy Tormé and Robert K. Weiss, taking us through the journey of Quinn Mallory, played by Jerry O’Connell in his prime youth, who accidentally builds a wormhole device that allows him and his companions to travel between alternate dimensions.
It became more interesting because of Professor Arturo’s commanding presence, Wade’s sensitivity, and Rembrandt’s lighthearted comedy. It was anything but mainstream, and maybe that is why it did not garner much popularity even after running for five long seasons. Sliders is a cool show that will draw you in with each episode.
Millennium
Chris Brown’s Millennium aired on Fox in 1996 with its eerie pacing and haunting themes that feel like a perfect pick for today's true crime and psychological thriller enthusiasts. It revolves around Lance Henriksen’s phenomenal character Frank Black, an ex-FBI agent with an uncanny ability to dive right into the minds of killers. With this gift, Frank becomes a member of the secret organization called the Millennium Group and solves various serial crimes, doomsday scenarios, and eventually gets pulled into the terrifying realm of the supernatural.
It might not have earned a global name as Chris’ other creation, The X-Files, but it had an equal potential. It is bold, introspective, and chilling, and deserves to be remembered as a forgotten '90s classic.
Living Single
Living Single was a 1993 sitcom on Fox about six young Black individuals navigating through life, love, and friendship in Brooklyn. With its incredibly cool storyline, biting humor, and a squad you can’t help but love, the show was destined for more. Queen Latifah as Khadijah was a boss woman who owned her own magazine to begin with; Maxine Shaw (attorney at law) was the iconic feminist legend; Regine, Overton, Kyle, and Synclaire served laughs, love, and a whole lot of unforgettable moments.
Created by Yvette Denise Lee, Living Single showcased the complexities of emotions and the hustle and bustle of everyday life with such authenticity that it feels relatable even if you stream it for the first time today.
The Ben Stiller Show
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If you think Key & Peele or Inside Amy Schumer made sketch comedy so popular, you probably overlooked this sublime ‘90s hidden gem: The Ben Stiller Show. The first half of the show, comprising six episodes, was released on MTV in 1990, the second half on FOX in 1992, and the thirteenth episode on Comedy Central in 1995. It ran for an awfully short time despite being fun, chaotic, and quirky.
Led and created by Ben Stiller, along with Judd Apatow, it was a show with an impressive star-studded ensemble, including Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and Bob Odenkirk, all of whom delivered sharp pop culture riffs, surreal sketches, caustic satires and a form of comedy that felt subversively exhilarating for early television. It was surely ahead of the curve, and a rewatch in 2025 will remind you what a golden time the 90s were.
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