Are These Classic TV Shows From The 90s Or The 2000s?
- by Leila
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Despite the fact that teens - and those of us who are in their early twenties - are all a part of the same generation, there is a raging battle between the 1990s and 2000s kids. Just think, the oldest 1990s kids are everything but kids anymore. They're straight up 27 or close to 28 now. 2000s kids, on the other hand, seem like total babies. But they're not. Yeah, it's tempting to tell them they're "like, twelve", but the first 2000s kids are graduating high school this year. The rest of them are basically in their early to mid-teens. But there's a more important difference between a 90s and 00s kid.
Does a 2000s kid remember the epic 90s shows? Do they even remember the earlier 2000s shows? After all, that was an epic era for television. Shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, and That 70's Show all came to us in the 1990s/2000s. So, here's the test: let's see whether 2000s kids or 1990s kids can rep the shows of their time better. Do you remember when these shows premiered? Was it in the 90s or the 00s? Take this quiz and find out how good your memory is!
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
This show is hands down one of the best comedy shows to ever grace our screens. It gave Will Smith his start, and damn are we glad it did. This show tells the story of a teenager who gets sent from West Philadelphia to Bel Air by his mother, who's worried he's been getting into too much trouble. You know, the theme song says it all. Long story short, his world gets turned upside down as he's introduced to the lush, rich life of Bel Air.
Friends
The absolute classic, the king of all comedy shows - and probably all shows... it's Friends! I know, you're all praying for a revival, and we all live for any sort of cast reunion. Even if you were born after the show started, you know about it, you've watched it, and you probably love it. Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and Joey were a bunch of goons that we all lived for. Their lives in New York, their jokes - it's what makes all friend groups want their own TV show.
That's So Raven
Here's a real classic Disney show! That's So Raven tells the story of Raven Baxter and her family, who live in San Francisco. As she and her best friends Eddie and Chelsea go to high school, Raven has to navigate one huge twist in her life: her visions. Raven has the ability to see into the future, but only small glimpses. She usually freaks out at what she sees, does everything she can to prevent it from happening, and in doing so, provokes exactly what happens in the vision.
Rugrats
Now we've got a good old Nickelodeon show. Most kids of this generation grew up on this show, but probably didn't enjoy the jokes to their full extent. Like a lot of children's and animated shows, Rugrats was made with the parents of children in mind. If you're watching a show about babies and their baby drama with your kid, the least the writers could do is throw in a few hidden adult jokes! Rugrats did exactly that, so try going back and catching those now!
Hey Arnold!
Oh. My. God. Does anyone remember this? Hope you didn't forget about Football Head! Let's be honest, Helga had every reason to call him that because his head actually was shaped like a football. It was like a hilarious joke the show was making about itself, and never really got old. What did get old was Helga pretending like she wasn't in love with him even though all she ever thought about was Arnold. And don't get me started on Gerald's awesome hair.
Drake and Josh
Two amazing things about Drake and Josh: the part where Josh says he ain't calling Drake a "truther", and the fact that the two guys are still friends today. Drake and Josh was that perfect show about a dysfunctional family, step parents, and an evil sister. These two teenagers, who were basically complete opposites, did the dumbest and funniest stuff, whether it was at school, at home, or it was something to do with Oprah. We all know how much Josh loves Oprah.
Gilmore Girls
Here's one for all our girls out there who miss Gilmore Girls - so do we. The relationship between Lorelai and Rory was really one to watch, and was so relatable. You know, you love your mom - but sometimes, she gets in the way. And sometimes, you get in her way. While Lorelai runs her bed and breakfast, The Dragonfly Inn, Rory goes to school, has multiple love interests, and ends up going to Yale for college. In case you missed it, there was recently a revival!
The O.C.
The O.C. is really just one of those typical teen drama shows that gathered a massive following because people are just somehow drawn to dramatic human life. The O.C. did exactly that, and gave people a troubled teen coming from a difficult life another chance with the wealthy Cohen family. Ryan and Seth then tackle life in Newport Beach - a high end life they're not used to. Of course, romance is not foreign to this show, and surprisingly, neither is comedy!
Boy Meets World
Okay, hands down the cutest show in the world. Boy Meets World ran for seven years and as many seasons, making it one of the biggest shows of its time and a huge part of ABC's network. I mean, who didn't love watching the very young Cory Matthews navigate his awkward middle school and high school life while he fell in love with the lovely Topanga? What's even better is that Cory and Topanga came back for Girl Meets World, a story about their daughter, on Disney years later!
Malcom In The Middle
It's only when you look at all the shows together that you realize so many of them have basically the same premise, just slightly different characters. Malcom In The Middle centers on a slightly odd and dysfunctional family, the Cleavers. Their mom is strict and organized, their dad is a goof, and then, there's five boys. Yeah, imagine having five sons. From oldest to youngest, there's Francis, Reese, Dewey and Jamie...and guess what? Malcom is in the middle. Didn't see it coming did ya?
Full House
Remember the last show, Malcolm In The Middle? Well, this one's kinda similar. The premise is also focused on a large, dysfunctional but funny family. This one, however, is considerably larger. This is where the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, got their start as babies! It's also many people's favorite part about John Stamos' acting career, because let's face it, Uncle Jesse was a real cutie. Anyhow, this show was a favorite because it represented the good old American family - what more could you want?
Zoey 101
At this point, it could be interesting to ask whether Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network or Disney had better shows. It's probably impossible, but in any case, Zoey 101 was a fantastic Nickelodeon show. Besides the awesome fact that real life Zoey is Britney Spears' little sister, this show was total school and squad goals. You know you wanted those pear-shaped tablets and phones, their cool laptops and dorms, their awesome view of the beach, and their total independence from their parents.
ER
Shows that will never get old: anything about lawyers, cops, or doctors. Shows about any of these things always manage to be dramatic and fast-paced and always have a huge following. The hit show ER was no exception to this rule. If you're a 90s or 2000s kid, you probably faintly remember your mom watching this show, hanging on to every word and hoping to god that the patient doesn't die. This show actually had a really long, 15 year run. Talk about success!
Arrested Development
This show had Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, and Portia de Rossi in it, so it had to be pretty good. The story followed a very rich, spoiled family - the Bluths - and how they deal with their father who is jailed. While Michael Bluth does his best to run the show, the rest of his family are borderline unmanageable. The show had a bit of a struggle a few years after being released, but was eventually graced with a revival.
The Wire
What did I say about the kinds of shows that are always successful? Crime shows are included in that, and The Wire is no exception. This show, set in Baltimore, Maryland, had a 6 year, 5 season run, but never centered on the same institution. Every new season brought something new; it did recycle characters, ensuring a fresh but familiar feel to the show after every new start. The show is often commended for its social and political themes and commentary.
Sex and the City
Face it, you wanted to be Carrie Bradshaw. Who wouldn't? Her life was ridiculously glamorous, in her lovely New York City apartment, her classy job as a writer, and her habitual brunch with friends or dates with Mr. Big. Don't even get me started on all those social events filled with art, champagne, and soft jazz music. Her life was a concept. Her friends, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte brought an element of relatability and great humor to an otherwise high-end show.
Saved By The Bell
We're cheating a little bit on this one, because it actually premiered in the decade before the one it ran through. But if you know Saved By The Bell, you'll know which decade it was really in - there's no way to mess this up. If you don't know at all, it's time for you to catch up with the classic teen sitcom comedy. The show is basically about a group of students, and made references to the usual teenage issues.
That 70s Show
Here's another straight classic. That 70s Show gave us Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher - and who would have thought that Kelso and Jackie would actually be married and building a family so long after the show? It was truly meant to be. That 70s Show was the perfect teen-young adult vibe, touching on awkward things like losing virginity, dating, or smoking weed. It was the 70's, after all. Also, Fez. He makes the whole show worth it, point blank.
30 Rock
Who doesn't love a good dose of Tina Fey? No one, that's who. For those who don't know, 30 Rock is an allusion to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the building where NBC Studios are situated. Interestingly, the show takes place on a live comedy sketch show, not unlike Saturday Night Live, a show Tina Fey is no stranger to. The show is an Emmy-winning piece of comedy gold, and never failed in their dedication to making every scene just right. Miss it yet?
The Office
Are we talking about the British version or the later American version? Either way, they both took place in the same decade, but for the purposes of this quiz, we'll focus on the world-famous American version starring Steve Carell. This show gave us the dumbest boss ever, the cutest couple (Jim and Pam), the longest running jell-o joke in the world, and the funniest boring job setting ever. Like, seriously, how could a paper company in Scranton end up that funny?
South Park
If we're talking about stupid, this show is a perfect transition. You know those shows that have that perfectly idiotic humor, very simple-minded, but are actually comedy gold? South Park is kind of one of those. Although, sometimes, South Park got worryingly dark, and it was definitely not light on the profanity and inappropriate sexual jokes. South Park is like that crazy friend who always speaks his mind, but really shouldn't, and makes you simultaneously laugh and cringe. If that makes any sense.
The X Files
Finally, after all that comedy, we've made it to the science fiction genre of American television. This season was another long-running one, going a whole 9 seasons and as many years. It even had a film with a sequel before an actual tenth season was produced. This show is all about the FBI and two of their agents who focus on paranormal activity - the kind of show that would get you believing in aliens, evil spirits, ghosts and whatnot.
24
It would've been such a shame to put a show named "24" in any other place in this quiz than number 24. To get even more literal, the show consisted of episodes that were meant to depict 24 hours of agent Jack Bauer's life as he fought crime and terrorism. He will do whatever it takes to do his job, no matter the ethics involved. If it's for the greater good, it's worth it. This show also had a very long, 9 year and 8 season run.
Animaniacs
The last one here is for anyone who hasn't lost their inner child yet, or never plans on letting go of that part of their life. Animaniacs was crazy - hence the part of the name that says maniacs. The show centered on siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot who spent a long time locked in the Warner Brothers water tower before escaping. The show chronicles their adventures and those of several other animated characters. It ran for... well, not long enough.
Dexter's Laboratory
Admit it, by now, you're feeling really nostalgic. If you're a 90s kid especially, Dexter's Lab was an integral part of making the Cartoon Network what it was at the time. Dexter's Lab unfortunately ran only three years, and we could've used a lot more sneaky invention from the redhead scientist. I'm sure you even miss watching his annoying sister Dee Dee, who was always ruining Dexter's life. Unfortunately, shows like these just don't grace our television screens anymore.