With each generation sitcoms seem to take on a life of their own. Decade to decade, sitcoms follow common trends. Sitcoms of the '90s portrayed a lot of day-to-day scenarios, offering us a glimpse at ourselves in the characters we came to love.
The following sitcoms represent, in my opinion, the best sitcoms of the '90s.
Seinfeld, 1990 - 1998
Seinfeld is easily the most popular sitcom of the '90s. It may be one of the few sitcoms to make it big with no real plot or direction. The entire series was based on Jerry Seinfeld's comic observations of his own life and the lives of his close friends.
Seinfeld played himself, a stand-up comic, but it wasn't his humor alone which made the show. The idiosyncratic chemistry among the cast members gave Seinfeld its quirky edge.
Seinfeld; Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a gregarious book editor who always had some dramas going on; Kramer (Michael Richards), a gangly, awkward character who knew no boundaries; and George (Jason Alexander), Jerry's best friend and the whiniest character on T.V., negotiated daily life in New York City.
Amidst the lives of his friends Seinfeld's quick wit and humor shined. Audiences found much humor in Seinfeld's audacity to say the things we long to say as we face every day absurdity.
Seinfeld was so popular that on December 26, 1997, when Jerry Seinfeld announced the final production in spring of 1998 it was front page news. The most popular '90s sitcom remains one of the most watched comedies in syndication.
If Seinfeld were to ever return to television Jerry should move into an upscale complex in New York City. To keep viewers in the era of reality T.V. interested, Seinfeld's neighbors would have to be heavy hitters. I'd recommend Rosie O'Donnell, Donald Trump, and Simon Cowell. I'd like to see Seinfeld handle that group!
Friends 1994-2004
Running a close second to Seinfeld, Friends was also one of the most popular sitcoms of the '90s. For a decade Rachel (Jennifer Anniston), Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette), Phoebe (Lisa Fudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry), and Ross (David Schwimmer) gave us a glimpse of young adult life in New York. Relationships drove the sitcom, with themes of love, life, sex, dating, and careers all playing a part.
Characters on Friends were family, to each other and to their viewers. Evolving relationships, loveable characters, and good comedy kept viewers tuned in.
Young adults related to the characters and stories on Friends, as it provided a humorous catharsis for the stressful life of young adults pursuing careers, relationships, and figuring out their future.
Friends still airs in syndication and, like Seinfeld, is among the most watched sitcoms of '90s shows now in syndication. It should have never left the air, although after ten successful years they ended on a high note.
Speaking of "note," if Friends ever returns to the air they should cast the stars of High School Musical, but no singing!
The Simpsons, 1989 -
Still on the air, The Simpsons is the longest running animated sitcom in television history; as such it has to be among the top sitcoms of the '90s.
Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie, and Bart pull off exploits and antics each week which dramatized sitcoms can't accomplish. The Simpsons take mundane life to the extreme, and can do so without harming anyone, as cartoon characters are quite resilient.
The show is enhanced by a cast of regulars including the villainous George Montgomery Burns, the most despised man in Springfield. Marge's sisters, Selma and Patty Bouvier bring twisted humor and bizarre insight. Ned Flanders is the Simpson's ultra-religious next door neighbors, too dense, or innocent to realize he is a thorn in the Homer Simpson's side. Todd and Ned are often the victims of Bart's deviant deeds.
The Simpsons can still be seen on FOX, Sundays at 8/7 central.
I never watched this show until a few months ago when I watched a season's DVD. What I believed about The Simpsons proved to be wrong. The show is a radical departure from anything I had seen before, but it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. In fact, it was quite funny. As new generations discover The Simpsons, and grown men still enjoy imitating Homer, The Simpsons will remain a hit.
Roseanne, 1988-1997
Another reality based sitcom of the '90s was Roseanne. Roseanne revolved around the daily commotion of Roseanne's television family. Known for brash stand-up comedy, Roseanne brought the same manner to the sitcom.
Roseanne played the mother of the Conner family, a typical, working class family. Dan (John Goodman) was a loving father and husband, often befuddled by the bedlam of life. The kids, DJ (Michael Fishman), Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Becky (Alicia Goranson), kept life lively and challenging.
Roseanne didn't paint a picture of the perfect family life; instead the Conner family faced hard issues head on. Roseanne was often brassy, but common sense and love always won out over moral platitudes.
Roseanne also continues to run in syndication.
Personally, I'd like to see a politician try to play the role of a father or mother in a middle class family, trying to make ends meet. Perhaps the plot would be an eye opening experience for a silver-spooned showman or woman.