Only People Over 25 Can Name These Old School Shows
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Movies and TV
If you're over 25 years old, you should have no problem recalling these shows. That's because, back when they were popular, watching TV was the thing to do every night. Nobody was glued to their phones scouring Twitter and Instagram repeatedly for hours; rather, you actually looked forward to Friday night to watch ABC's Thank God It's Friday (TGIF) programming, which included shows like Boy Meets World, Step by Step, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. To watch other shows, you would scour the TV guide and see which episodes were on throughout the week and plan accordingly.
If a similar quiz like this was produced 20 years in the future, it might be tough to remember a lot of the shows today, not because they're not as memorable, but because of the sheer amount of content that is being produced. There are more TV channels than ever, while Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming platforms are even producing their own content. If you don't catch up on the latest show once its released, you're going to fall behind on all the other can't-miss programming. That wasn't the case back in the 90s, when there was 20-30 shows at any one time on TV and you considered that plenty.
Which TV show is this?
Starring Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, and Hilarie Burton, among others, this WB series ran from 2003 to 2011 and was incredibly popular among teenagers. It earned multiple Teen Choice Awards and nominations during those years and averaged more than 4.3 million viewers in its first season alone. The series tackled love, family, and relationships, while using basketball as a core aspect, in part to attract male viewers. However, the showrunners removed the basketball aspect of the show following the first season and it subsequently experienced a decline in male viewership.
Which TV show is this?
This popular '90s NBC series was the first major role for the lead actor, who grew up in West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground where he spent most of his days. The pilot episode sees the character, in a continuation from the opening credits, visit his rich relatives in a California suburb, where he is sent to live after he "got in one little fight and [his] mom got scared." The show lasted six seasons and also starred James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana M. Ali, Janet Hubert-Whitten, and Daphne Maxwell Reid, the latter two of which played the role of Aunt Viv for three seasons each.
Which TV show is this?
Created by Joss Wheadon and starring popular '90s figures Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and David Boreanaz, this WB supernatural drama ran from 1997 to 2003 and details the efforts of its main character and her close friends, the Scooby Gang, in battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces. Despite not being on one of the big four networks, it was an early hit for the recently-launched WB as it scored as much as six million viewers per episode throughout its seven-season run.
Which TV show is this?
Many shows have captured what it's like to be a high school student or even a middle school student, but few have portrayed the baby experience as well as this animated series that ran on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 2002 and later spawned a movie and a brief spin off series titled All Growed Up. It was Nickelodeon's top-rated show from 1995 to 2001 and garnered more than 20 awards, including 4 Daytime Emmy Awards and six Kids' Choice Awards. If you need a further hint, the names Tommy Pickles, Chuckie Finster, and twins Phil and Lil DeVille might ring a bell.
Which TV show is this?
In keeping with teen dramas, few were more popular than this one, which chronicled the lives of students - Dawson, Pacey, Joey, and Jen - at Capeside High School in Massachusetts and continued into college. Created by Kevin Williamson, it starred James Van Der Beek as the titular character as well as Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, and Katie Holmes. It debuted on the WB in 1998 and ran until 2003. If the names of the characters didn't help you recall the name of the series, you'll definitely remember the opening credits theme of "I Don't Want to Wait."
Which TV show is this?
This animated series debuted in 1993 on Fox Kids and was later picked up by the WB, where it stayed until 1998. During that time, the series produced 99 episodes, which were composed of multiple mini-episodes each. While it was a variety show with a large cast of characters, it prominently featured the characters of Yakko, Wakko, Dot, and Pinky and the Brain, who were later the subject of a spinoff series. While it has been 20 years since it was last on the air, Hulu recently announced a reboot of the show to debut in 2020.
Which TV show is this?
Created by Paul Feig and executive-produced by Judd Apatow, this series regrettably lasted only one season, but helped launch the careers of several comedic actors, including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segal, and, to a lesser extent, Martin Starr and Linda Cardellini. The NBC series was ahead of its time in terms of accurately portraying the life of a high school student, yet it was cancelled after only 12 episodes. Still, it has since appeared on multiple best-of-all-time TV show lists, including those put together by TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly.
Which TV show is this?
"When I wake up in the morning and the alarm gives out a warning and I don't think I'll ever make it on time. By the time I grab my books and I give myself a look, I'm at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by." If you didn't sing those lyrics hundreds of times growing up, you probably had a terrible childhood. Few shows were as popular in the early 90s as this NBC sitcom, which starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Zack Morris. It was actually a spinoff of the Disney animated series Good Morning, Miss Bliss and has since spawned subsequent spinoffs like The College Years and The New Class.
Which TV show is this?
Created by Charles Bartlett, this animated series aired on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2001 and followed the life of a fourth grader who lived with his grandparents in an inner-city boarding house in the fictional city of Hillwood. Characters on the show aside from the titular lead character included Gerald, Helga, Phil, and Gertrude. A lot of the episodes revolve around urban legends told to the main character by Gerald or ongoing problems in the lives of his friends or secondary characters. A feature film based on the show was released in 2002.
Which TV show is this?
Before shows like Teen Angel and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, this show carried ABC's TGIF lineup. Airing from 1991 to 1997, it starred Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers as a pair of single parents (Frank Lambert and Carol Foster), both of whom had three children, who decided to spontaneously marry while on vacation. What results is the two parents navigating the troubles of raising six children - J.T., Brendan, Alicia, Dana, Karen, and Mark - in a blended family. Frank's nephew, Cody Lambert, also joins the cast in a regular role following the first season.
Which TV show is this?
One of the most popular shows on ABC's TGIF lineup, this series created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly aired from 1993 to 2000 and was followed by a spinoff focusing on the two main character's child, which ran from 2014 to 2017. The main character of the series is Cory Matthews and episodes revolved around his burgeoning affection for Topanga Lawrence as well as his friendship with Shawn Hunter and teacher/next door neighbor George Feeny. Other characters included Stuart Minkus, Eric Matthews, Jonathan Turner, Angela Moore, and Rachel McGuire.
Which TV show is this?
Arguably one of the most popular sitcoms of all-time, you probably didn't pay this show much attention if you were under 25 during its run, but you were definitely aware of it. It premiered on NBC in 1993 and ran until 2004, during which time it won 37 Emmy Awards, including five consecutive Outstanding Comedy Emmys. It followed the titular character who worked as a psychiatrist; the character first appeared as part of the ensemble cast on Cheers before getting his own series. Other characters included Niles Crane, Daphne Moon, and Roz Doyle.
Which TV show is this?
Long before Ryan Reynolds was a Hollywood megastar, the Canadian actor was the lead in this ABC series which ran from 1998 to 2001. He starred alongside Richard Rucco and Traylor Howard, and was joined in season two by recurring characters Ashley Walker and Johnny Donnelly, who was played by Nathan Fillion. The show was originally based on the life of its creator, Kenny Schwartz, who worked at a pizza restaurant while attending Tufts University - the two main male characters in the show, Berg and Pete, also attend Tufts University.
Which TV show is this?
For a show about nothing, this NBC series is regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all-time and, despite going off the air nearly 20 years ago, remains on a multitude of channels in syndication. Though it primarily followed the career of a stand-up comedian, it also included a great ensemble cast of characters played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander. Its creator, Larry David, has also gone on to earn additional acclaim for his role as creator and star of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm!
Which TV show is this?
This show named after the titular character whose last name was Funnie debuted on Nickelodeon in 1991 and ran until 1994, but was picked up two years later by ABC and added to its Saturday morning lineup, where it existed until its conclusion in 1999. It was, however, followed by a theatrical feature, which did quite well at the box office. In addition to the quiet and insecure main character, the series included characters with unique names such as Skeeter Valentine, Roger Klotz, Patti Mayonnaise, and Beebe Bluff.
Which TV show is this?
This is another show that might be getting a reboot, despite the fact few people have asked for one. While it had a relatively decent seven-season run on NBC, it isn't exactly remembered as one of the great sitcoms of its time as it had to compete with the likes of Friends, Seinfeld, and Fraiser, among others. It was the 11th most-viewed show in its third season, but had fallen to No. 85 by its final season in 1998-99. It starred Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser and was best known for its impressive cast of guest stars, of which included Andre Agassi, Kevin Bacon, Garth Brooks, Regis Philbin, Mark McGwire, and Ellen DeGeneres.
Which TV show is this?
"Did I do that?" was a phrase uttered by the main character of this popular series in nearly every episode after it was him that definitely did do that act in question. Despite the popularity of said character, Steve Urkel, he was actually not meant to be the star of the show; instead, it was supposed to center around the Winslow family, while Urkel serving as the annoying neighbor. The Winslow's were still prominently featured, but Urkel became a much bigger star than anticipated and was written into the show as a regular character.
Which TV show is this?
Created by Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, this series explored cases of supernatural and paranormal activity and was inspired by earlier shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and Kolchak: The Night Stalker. The series tapped into public mistrust of government organizations and went from becoming a cult classic to a mainstream hit throughout the course of its original nine-season run from 1993 to 2002. It returned in 2016 with a six-episode series and is slated for another 10 episodes in 2018.
Which TV show is this?
"So no one told you life was gonna be this way," *clap-clap-clap-clap* is about all you need to hear to know what show this is without even seeing an accompanying photo. The NBC series was one of the most popular sitcoms in the 1990s and remained so even up until its conclusion in 2004. Created by David Crane and Marta Kaufman, it starred Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer as six friends living in a New York-based apartment complex. It earned 62 Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its 10-year run.
Which TV show is this?
Based on an Archie comic that was first published way back in 1962, this series was developed for ABC and began airing as part of its TGIF lineup in 1996. Starring Melissa Joan Hart as the titular character, it ran four four seasons on ABC before being picked up by The WB in 2000 for an additional three seasons. Characters on the show also included Hilda and Zelda Spellman, who portrayed aunts of the main character, as well as Harvey Kinkle, Libby Chessler, Jenny Kelly, and Valerie Birkhead.
Which TV show is this?
Created by Jeff Franklin, this family sitcom aired for five seasons from 1992 to 1997 on ABC and starred Mark Curry as the titular character alongside Holly Robinson as his roommate, Vanessa Russell. Other characters included Robin Dumars, P.J. Moore, Geneva Lee, and Nicole Lee, who was played by Raven-Symone. The show was equally as popular in terms of ratings with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in its first season, but its ratings dipped in each of the following four seasons.
Which TV show is this?
This show aired on ABC from 1988 to 1993 and made young actor Fred Savage (the older brother of Boy Meets World star Ben Savage) a mainstream celebrity. Savage played Kevin Arnold, who navigated the troubles of childhood into adolescence during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At just 13 years old, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, becoming the youngest actor to ever be nominated. The show also starred Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Jason Hervey.
Which TV show is this?
Everybody loved this CBS series that ran from 1996 to 2005, during which time it aired 210 episodes. It starred Ray Romano as an Italian-American everyman who worked as a sportswriter for Newsday, but centered around his relationship with members of his family, including his wife Debra, his police officer brother Robert, his two children, and his parents, Frank and Marie, who live across the street from Ray's Long Island home. It was created by Philip Rosenthal and executive produced by David Letterman, among others.
Which TV show is this?
The lead character of this '90s TV series, portrayed by Mayim Bialik, is best known for her zany and offbeat fashion choices. The series, which lasted five seasons and produced 114 episodes, follows the character through her teenage years as she - and her family - comes to grip with her mother leaving to pursue a career of her own. As much as the show was about her, it was her older brother Joey, played by Joey Lawrence, who became a sensation with his drawn-out "Whoa" catchphrase. Chances are if you're over 25, you've said the catchphrase multiple times and perhaps even still do to this day.
Which TV show is this?
Tim Allen starred as Tim "The Toolman" Taylor in this long-running ABC series that debuted in 1991 and lasted until 1999. It followed the Taylor family as well as Tim's misadventures on his TV show (recurring segments ended up with him getting injured while attempting to use tools or test out projects created by guests), named after the actual name of the series. The Taylor's had three kids, but the breakout star was Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who played Randy on the show, and became one of the most popular teen movie stars in the '90s.
Which TV show is this?
Hopefully you can recall the name of the show we mentioned was a spinoff from the Animaniacs, because that's how this series got its start before eventually becoming just as, if not more, popular than its predecessor. Created by Tom Ruegger and presented by Steven Spielberg's animation company, it featured a pair of genetically-enhanced laboratory mice who devise plans to take over the world out of their cage based in the Acme Labs research facility. Most of the episodes were a parody of popular stories.
Which TV show is this?
"Hangin' out, down the street, the same old thing we did last week," is probably what you did as a kid if you're actually over 25 years old, and it's also the start of the theme song for this popular show, which aired on Fox from 1998 to 2006 and followed the lives of a group of teenagers named Eric Forman, Michael Kelso, Jackie Burkhart, Steven Hyde, Donna Pinciotti, and Fez. The show is best remembered for its circle scenes in which the characters sat around a table and spoke nonsense, while camera angles were used to indicate the passing of a joint.
Which TV show is this?
Like many other shows in this quiz, this one started out as part of ABC's TGIF lineup, but was cancelled after just one season due to low ratings. However, the WB picked up the show the following year and it ran for an additional five seasons. It starred real-life identical twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry, whose brother, Taj Mowry, later starred in the WB series Smart Guy. Also like several other shows from the '90s, this one will be getting a reboot, which is currently in the works and expected to debut later this year.
Which TV show is this?
You might not know much about this show, but you can probably recall the unique voice - and laugh - of its main character, played by Fran Drescher. The show aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999 and, in addition to Drescher, starred Charles Shaugnessey, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane, Nicholle Tom, and Benjamin Salisbury. It earned 12 Emmy nominations, while Drescher was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The show had a host of prominent guest stars, including Chevy Chase, David Letterman, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, and even current United States President Donald Trump.
Which TV show is this?
This show was part of ABC's TGIF lineup for only one season, but it should have lasted longer given its unique but ambitious plot in which a high school student maintained a relationship with the ghost of his former best friend, who died in the series pilot after eating a six-month old burger. We're also introduced to God's cousin, Rod, in this series, which might be viewed as a bit sacrilegious among devout Christians and could have been a reason for the show's cancellation.