If You Can Name These Classic Shows, You're Definitely A 90s Kid
- by Johnny Gonzales
- – on
- in Movies and TV
It can be hard to believe that 1990 was almost thirty years ago now, but for every kid who grew up during that magical era of television, we can still remember our favorite TV shows like it was yesterday. While there are many shows that have somehow managed to continue running in one way or another in the modern age, for the youth of today to enjoy, there are many great shows that started in the 90's, and stayed in the 90's (or at least the early 00's.)
Sure, ask any kid today and they can probably tell you what Spongebob SquarePants or Power Rangers is, thanks to the longevity of the shows, but only a true 90's kid would recognize a classic TV show that is no longer being aired. That's where this quiz comes in.
Just about anyone can claim to be a 90's kid, whether they were born in the decade or not, but if they truly want to prove that they're a child of the era, then they'll have to know their stuff. Do you think you're a real 90's kid? Can you name some of the best 90's shows that are no longer on TV? Then take the quiz, and prove it!
One historical pet
Did you ever think you could learn a lesson from a dog? With this particular series, you just might. It stars a well-read dog whose thoughts can only be heard by the viewer, often ruminating on issues going on with his owners, and relating it to classic literature. The lovable pooch would often imagine himself as the starring character in whichever book he was describing to the audience, and it was in these fantasies where the other characters would treat him like a fellow human.
The Truth is Out There
This next one is a doozy. There's no easy way of saying it, but if you don't recognize this series, and you're trying to claim that you're a 90's kid, then there's something seriously wrong going on. FBI agent Mulder is a believer in the paranormal, while his partner Scully is a skeptic. Together they take on strange unsolved cases left behind by other agents, running into countless bizarre circumstances all the while, and pressing the odd couple to work as a team in order to solve impossible cases.
Average teen girl, with average teen problems
It's tough being a teenager, so what show would be better than one that stars a fellow teen going through her own adolescent problems? The protagonist would address the audience directly with whatever issues she happened to be facing that episode, including trouble at school and other awkward growing pains. Credited as being the very first Nickelodeon series to star a female, this show paved the way for more female-led series, while also managing to be popular for both boys and girls.
How we learned that science rules
If you were a kid in the 90s, and you saw the teacher wheeling in that big analog TV, then you knew you were about to see one of two things: The Magic School Bus, or this show. No disrespect on Miss Frizzle, but we all know which one we wanted to see more. Hosted by a quirky scientist who somehow managed to make science more entertaining and easy for kids to understand, this was the show that taught us exactly why science rules.
Scary stories told in the dark
Whoever thought that Canadians couldn't be scary must have never seen this horror-themed anthology show when it aired on Nickelodeon in the early 90s. The series revolves around a group of teenagers called "The Midnight Society" who would meet up at a secret location in the woods, taking turns telling spooky stories intended to scare one another. The stories ranged anywhere from classic fairy tales "modernized" for the 90s, to original tales that would often teach a lesson to one of the teens.
Indiana Jones meets Jeopardy
From the dawn of television, to today, game shows have been a staple of most viewers regularly viewed programs, but none have been quite like Legends of the Hidden Temple. Described by some as a mix between Jeopardy and Indiana Jones, the show featured an Aztec temple-type set, and challenges that had contestants making their way through a vertical labyrinth, and an epic temple run which could earn players a grand prize if they could escape the temple with the artifact before the time limit ran out.
Two is better than one!
Move over Full House, you're not the only 90's sitcom that starred two twin actresses. But while the twins in Full House were playing a single character, this show actually focused on the fact that its lead actresses were twins, something that would be an integral part of most episodes. After being separated at birth, and adopted by two different parents, Tia and Tamera and their single-parents would finally run into each other by chance, resulting in the premise of this show.
This show starred a talking lemur
Believe it or not, Animal Planet wasn't the only place to learn about cool and interesting creatures of nature back in the 90's. This nature series made learning about animals extra fun for kids, with the show not only being hosted by the animal-lover brothers Chris and Martin, but also their talking lemur friend, played both by a real-life Coquerel's sifaka lemur during some segments, and an intricate puppet in others. What was the name of this playful lemur, who also shared the title of the show?
Change into your favorite animal
While we're on the subject of TV shows about kids transforming into animals, we can't forget this one. While the last show had a bully turn into a dog because of a curse, this one actually treats the animal transformations as sort of a super power. Actually based on a popular series of books, the show involved a group of teenagers that gain the ability to change into different animals, in order to combat an alien invasion of the Earth.
If he can't fix it... Al probably can
What's better than a show within a show? Just ask Tim Taylor, the red-blooded American handyman who hosts his own home improvement program called Tool Time. When Tim isn't wreaking havoc on his own show, much to the dismay of his co-host Al, he's trying his best to keep up with his rambunctious family, consisting of his sophisticated wife Jill, and his three sons: Brad, Randy, and Mark. Oh, and who could forget their wise sage neighbor Wilson, whose face was constantly obscured by his fence.
An eclectic cartoon medley
There were plenty of awesome cartoons that came out during the 90's, many would even argue some of the best, but nothing was quite like this one. The simple reason being, is that this wasn't just a show, but many shows within a show. Complete with comic-book style hosts Henry and June, the series consisted of several different cartoon shorts, each with their own unique style and brand of humor. Many popular recurring shorts included: Life with Loopy, and Action League Now!
When destiny calls...
Finishing off this list we thought we'd end on a bang, with one of the most badass protagonists of any show. At first glance, Buffy just seems like your typical (something she wish she were at the beginning), but in reality, she's a Slayer, the newest in a long line of female warriors, chosen by fate to battle a number of evil foes and dark forces. Villains that Buffy has gone up against include: demons, witches, and of course, vampires.
From the book to the screen
Yet another TV show that originally started off as a popular book series, this time focused on scary stories. Quickly becoming best sellers after first being published, the books were quickly developed into a TV series that included episodes involving haunted masks, evil dummies, and cursed cameras. One of the most memorable opening things about the series was the opening, and you're a real 90's kid, chances are the theme song is already playing in your head after seeing that dog again.
Prepare to get pranked at this camp
Here's one that only the more vetted 90's kids may remember. This show focused on a group of teens spending their time at a summer camp, dealing with their strict camp counselor, and getting into daily shenanigans at the camp. One of the odd but common pranks that campers would pull on each other involved stealing each other's boxer shorts and raising them up on a flagpole, which would prompt other campers to give a salute. Well, when in Rome.
Bears can fly planes?
There have been plenty of times when an older classic cartoon was rebooted and updated for a modern audience, but this one is a bit of a peculiar example. Based on characters from the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book, this series dropped the human main character, turned the lazy and carefree Baloo into a delivery pilot, and making King Louie the owner of a nightclub. Yeah, it really sounds strange on paper, but the series itself was actually pretty good.
At least he's not a dummy
If you thought your family was weird, just wait until you meet Skeeter. Bobby was just an average kid leading a normal life, when his cousin Skeeter came to live with his family. Short, loud-mouthed, and always flirting with women, Skeeter spends most episodes getting the much more sensible Bobby into trouble. That isn't the strangest things about this odd cousin however. Skeeter is a walking, talking hand puppet, something that none of the other characters ever seem to acknowledge on the show.
Sketch comedy show for kids
There's been plenty of great sketch comedy shows throughout the years: Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and many more. But Nickelodeon decided that their younger audience deserved to have their own sketch comedy-style show as well. Thanks to its diverse cast of young actors and actresses, and a sense of humor that appealed to the youth of America at the time, the show was a big hit. A few of the main cast members would even go on to star in their own spin-off shows.
Blue blood meets blue collar
Most shows that involve a family well-off enough to afford a butler or nanny aren't exactly that relatable to the most viewers in terms of class, but this one managed to change the formula up a bit. The outgoing Fran Fine ends up becoming the nanny for Maxwell Sheffield's wealthy family, often getting herself into trouble and then finding a way out using her street smarts. You also don't see very many shows where the butler or nanny marries their own employer, but love is love.
Not even magic can solve teen angst
Who wouldn't want to be born into a family with magical powers? Well for the 16 year old Sabrina, her special powers often got herself into more trouble than anything else. Living with her two quirky aunts who introduce her to the world of witches, and their pet cat Salem who is actually an ex-evil witch who is stuck in a cat's body after attempting to take over the world, Sabrina mainly focuses on her school-life, and often tries to find ways to hook up with her crush Harvey.
The show that became it's own spin off
It's not too uncommon that one of the main or even secondary characters of a show gets popular enough to get their own spin-off, but very rarely does that character take over the very show that they started on. This is exactly what happened to the family sitcom starring police officer Carl Winslow and his family. Midway through season one, the Winslow's nerdy neighbor Urkrel was introduced, and before long, the entire focus of the show had shifted to the insanely popular geek.
Ghostly Detectives
When you've got a show involving an invisible ghost, it sounds like it might be horror-themed at first, but this one was actually more of a mystery show. The show revolved around a group of young detectives who go around solving neighborhood mysteries, with the help of their ghostly friend. It was actually very complex for a children's show, with a realistic and diverse cast, and a single case usually spanning four or five 30 minute episodes before reaching a conclusion.
Some people have strange luck
This is one of those shows where the premise seems a bit all over the place, but the execution actually works out quite well. It stars teen girl Fiona Phillips, who tours around with her mom who happens to be a rock star. The real plot of the show however are the constant experiences with paranormal activity she encounters along the way. Described by many as The X-Files for a younger audience, this spooky show was actually one of Disney's darkest.
From All That to Orange Soda
Remember when we mentioned that the kid sketch show All That would end up spawning some spin-offs? Well this is just the first of them. It centered around high school students Kenan Rockmore, a scheming grocery store employee who is always trying to find a way to make a quick buck, and his best friend Kel Kimble, a clumsy airhead who is known for his affinity for orange soda. It went on to become just as popular as All That, even having its own TV movie.
Funny sitcom, with a depressing finale
The name of this show actually makes it sound like some kind of history or nature program at first glance, but despite its simple title, it's really a sitcom about our extinct reptilian friends. More specifically, it focuses on a family of anthropomorphic dinosaurs played by complicated puppets created by the Jim Henson Team. And by the way, you're not hearing things, the baby dinosaur sounds just like Elmo from Sesame Street because he's voiced by the very same actor.
Swords, magic, and Greek gods
Whether through the classic animated Disney movie, or the ancient Greek tales, most people know who the legendary Hercules is. Wait many may have forgotten however, is that the character had his own live-action series that ran successfully for six seasons. Produced by the great film director Sam Raimi, the series was a comedy-drama that often had Hercules and his trusty sidekick Iolaus saving villagers from various monsters, warlords, and even the occasional Greek god causing havoc on the poor people.
A show by kids, for kids
What could be a better show for kids, than a show made by kids, for kids. This show in question was sort of like a variety show for a younger audience, where the child stars of the show would make up most of the segments of the show on their own. They would even sometimes take suggestions from fans who sent in viewer mail, making those who watched feel even more connected with the show in an interactive experience sense.
We all wished we had this in our homes
Before phones and computers, just about every kid can remember begging their parents to let them keep one of those big cardboard boxes they're about to throw away, in order to make themselves a little fort. This show was like a dream come true for those kids. Hosted by Tony James and Vivian Bayubay McLaughlin, this series took place in a playhouse made entirely out of cardboard boxes, where the hosts would do arts and crafts, sing songs, and act out plays.
Like Looney Tunes, but smaller
The idea of turning already established cartoon characters into baby versions of themselves has been done many times before, but this series put a new spin on the idea, and ended up being a really unique show in its own right. Taking place at ACME Looniversity, the premise of the show had young toons-in-training learning from classic Looney Tunes characters on how to be funny and entertaining. Thankfully, the show was just that, with a wonderful cast of characters, and writing that both adults and kids could find amusing.
Bully turned dog
Thanks to movies like Dr. Dolittle and Babe, the 90's was no strangers to talking animals showing up on their TV screens. This show put a bit of a twist on that premise however, by having a bully get turned into a dog that can only be understood by the last person he bullied. The drifter who puts the curse on him explains that he can only be turned back after performing 100 good deeds for other people. That's one way to teach a lesson!
Another All That Spin-off?
We already discussed Kenan & Kel, the first spin-off of All That, so it's only fair that we talk about the other big series that branched off from it. While K & K had more of a central plot going on, this show was a bit more similar to All That, focusing more on comedy sketches. After a successful run on TV, the host and star of the show Amanda Bynes would go on to take roles in many big movies.
When you run out of ideas to name your kid
Growing up, we all had a hard enough time getting along with our fellow siblings, but just imagine if you had to share the same name with them? It may be strange, but this show really did focus on the strange and humorous mishaps shared between two brothers both named Pete Wrigley. Interestingly enough, the show originally started as a one minute shorts between other programs, before eventually becoming popular enough to earn five half hour specials, and then its own series entirely.
Who didn't want to attend Bayside High?
Here we have a simple premise for a show, high school kids just trying their best to survive grades nine through twelve, and focusing majorly on Zack Morris, a student who could often be a troublemaker, but ultimately good at heart. Zack would often be at odds with Mr. Belding, the principal of the Bayside High, and considered by Zack to be a stifling but worthy nemesis. While the show was mostly humorous, it often touched on serious issues such as drug use and remarriage.
A show about a guy, starring that guy
Before comedians like Louis CK started doing it, Drew Carey has a show that loosely depicted his own life, and of course stared him playing a fictionalized version of himself. The show focused on Drew's everyman life with his friends, and constant workplace battles with his co-worker rival Mimi. If that doesn't ring any bells, then what might is the opening which played for most of the show's run, with all the cast members running down the streets and singing "Cleveland Rocks!"
Don't get on the bad side of this princess!
As if we haven't already mentioned enough spin-offs, this one actually comes from a pretty interesting place. Xena was a female warrior originally introduced in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and was initially intended to be killed off after her third appearance on the show. The producers realized however that viewers responded to her character extremely positively, and decided to give Xena her own spin-off series that would eventually outlast the original. It just goes to show what can happen if you give a minor character a chance.
It's hard fitting in when you're an alien
Most sitcoms usually center around an average middle-class family, or maybe some teenage kids going through school troubles, but this show decided that those premises were a bit too down to Earth. The show stars what seems to be four normal people at first glance, but they're actually aliens who are staying on Earth in order to study humans. The episode plots often focused on the makeshift alien family attempting to integrate themselves into Earth culture, usually to hilariously disastrous results.