Do you ever miss the laughter of an audience filling the room from your television? Television now focuses on realism and trusting their audience to infer what moments deserve which reactions. Rarely, if ever, do audiences get over-the-top staged performances that were recorded for the purpose of a live audience. The family sitcom used to be a staple of network television. While there are still elements of it today, they are few and far between, as sitcom has now shifted to single-camera observational comedy.
Updated August 09, 2025: If You Love Sitcoms From the 90s, you’ll be excited to know this list has been updated with additional content byAmira Abdel-Fadil.
The 1990s offered plenty of fun, silly escapist entertainment. The series showed suburban life and had an upbeat optimism to them that now seems largely absent from modern television. For audiences who are nostalgic for a simpler time, to Friday nights at home watching laugh-out-loud comedies or tuning in early, here is a list of the best family sitcoms from the 1990s.
13Sabrina the Teenage Witch
InSabrina the Teenage Witch, Melissa Joan Hart won the hearts of millions when she played the role of Sabrina Spellman, a teenage girl who finds out she is a witch on her sixteenth birthday. She and her cat, Salem, voiced by Nick Bakay, who was formerly a witch but transformed into a cat after trying to take over the world, work together in their new roles. The series was written more light-hearted than the original comic book series it is based on, having similarities to theBewitchedseries from the ’60s. The show lasted seven seasons from 1996 to 2003 and spawned the recent adaptation titledChilling Adventures of Sabrina, a more faithful adaptation of the comic book series.
12Married… with Children
Married…with Childrenran from 1987 until 1997. It tells the story of Al Bundy, a working-class dad who is both financially struggling andmarried to a greedy wife. On top of that, he has two unpleasant children he has to take care of. The series looks at the brokenness of certain nuclear families from a humorous and bold approach which made it stand out from other sitcoms at the time. It reflects reality and is impressive in the way it does.Married with Childrenis timeless, with infinitely memorable characters. The show has gathered 7 Primetime Emmys.
11Sister, Sister
Marking the debut of twins Tia and Tamara Mowry,Sister, Sisteraired in 1994, a show about the sisterly love found between twins and the unbreakable bond they share. The series shows the life of the once-separated twins who reunite as teenagers. Lasting six seasons, the sitcom catapulted the careers of the Mowry twins, who went on to work on similar shows and films about being twins, such as the popular tween filmsTwitcheson the Disney Channel.
10Kenan & Kel
Following Nickelodeon’s popular sketch comedy showAll That, Kenan Thompson and costar Kel Mitchell went on their own path as a comedic duo in their self-titled showKenan & Kel. Thompson became a household name and later went on to be part of theSaturday Night Livecast.Kenan & Kelwon “Favorite Show” at the 1998 Kids’ Choice Awards and lasted four seasons from 1996 to 2000. After the final season, it received a film sequel,Two Heads Are Better Than None.
9The Nanny
Starring the fashion icon Fran Drescher,The Nannyaired in 1993 and concluded in 1999. Desperate for a job, Fran tries selling cosmetics to Maxwell Sheffield, played by Charles Shaughnessy, a wealthy Broadway producer. He hires her as a nanny for his three children, and she quickly wins them over. Loved for its gags and nods to pop culture, memorable performances from Drescher and costar Daniel Davis, who plays the butler Niles, and all of Drescher’s unforgettable outfits,The Nannycontinues to win the hearts of audiences today.There have been talks about a rebootand discussions over who will reclaim the role of the Nanny.
Frasierran from 1993 until 2004 and tells the story of Dr. Frasier Crane, a well-rounded therapist who moves to Seattle from Boston to live with his dad in a new chapter of his life. In Seattle, he works as a radio psychiatrist, but his personal life is far from perfect as he deals with problems with his father, brother, friends, and coworkers.
Related:Old TV Shows From the ’90s That Could Never Air Today
It is intelligently written with actors who deliver their lines perfectly, which will make you pay attention to every little detail. For many, it was a therapeutic sitcom that was very entertaining to watch. The show is one of the most Emmy-winning shows of all time. It has gathered 37 Primetime Emmys, with most of them being for the comedic value of the show.Fraiseris set to return with arevival on Paramount+.
7The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Loosely based on the life of Will Smith, the show’s lead,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,started Smith’s acting career. After getting bullied at a playground in Philadelphia, Smith moves in with his aunt and uncle into their mansion in Bel-Air. His street smarts colliding with their upper-class lives become the focus of the series. The show first aired in 1990 and eventually concluded in 1996. It also had acast reunion in 2020 on HBO Max, and recently, a dramatic remake titledBel-Airpremiered on Peacock in 2022.
6Boy Meets World
Boy Meets Worldtells the story of middle schoolers Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, and best friend Shawn Hunter, played by Rider Strong, and their life lessons as they grow up together. The show dealt with many deep topics and was progressive for its time on television. It first aired in 1993 and finished in 2000. Loved for its characters and valuable life lessons, the show is still popular today. It recently received a sequel titledGirl Meets Worldon Disney Channel that aired from 2014 to 2017.
Friendsmight not have been a series about a family specifically, but it was a series about how a group of friends can become family. Running from 1994 to 2004,Friendsis regarded as one of the best television shows of all time, constantly fighting for its rank besideSeinfeld. Well known for its eclectic set designs, characters, and romances,Friendsstill remains popular even with younger generations today. It has become a pop culture phenomenon andrecently had a reunion special on July 13, 2025.
4Family Matters
One of the top sitcoms that premiered in the late 80s and lasted until 1997,Family Mattersremains one of the most influential sitcoms ever. It tells the story of the Winslows and their lives in Chicago. Most well known for its character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, an over-the-top nerd, he is also one of the most quotable and beloved characters in television history.
