5 Sitcoms From The 90s That Get Better Every Time You Rewatch Them – TVLine

The 1990s probably feel just like yesterday for millennials, but it’s actually been over 30 years since that quintessential decade. While it was a decade marked by rapid technological advances, it was also a decade that birthed many popular sitcoms with long-lasting impressions. From “Friends” to “Living Single” to “Saved by the Bell,” there was a sitcom for everyone in the ’90s. The question is, which sitcoms from the ’90s hold the most rewatch value? That depends on your personal preference, but we compiled a list of five sitcoms that we think get better with every rewatch, and they still feel fresh even 30 years later.

Sitcoms from the 1990s have the benefit of updated television technology, so they aren’t as jarring to watch when compared to our current experience of HD or 4K Ultra viewing experiences. But what makes the following five sitcoms so rewatchable is less the updated tech and more the timeless humor and impeccable writing and character development.

If there’s one ’90s sitcom that was nearly perfect in its execution of blending humor and heart, it’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” The show stars a young Will Smith as he progressed into his prime era of stardom, playing a character also named Will who moves from the mean streets of Philly to the glamorous Bel-Air with his wealthy aunt, uncle, and cousins, the Banks. It’s a fish-out-of-water story that manages to strike an incredible balance between comedy and real-life social issues of race and class.

In addition to the incredible balancing act, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is also one of those shows that allows you to notice new and important subtle details upon every rewatch. From the evolution of different running gags, such as Jazz getting kicked out of the house, to the character arcs of each of the different cast members, there is endless material to consider when rewatching “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

“Married… with Children” is probably the antithesis to the typical family sitcoms, which is why it’s so worthy of a rewatch. It has the cynicism and sarcasm of suburban life (and, for that matter, the American Dream) that feels very 2010s, while offering the comfort of familiarity for those of us who had families more like the Bundys than the Bradys. After all, who realistically gets along with their family all the time and resolves conflict within 30 minutes?

The main thing that makes “Married… with Children” rewatchable is the style of humor. In the ’90s, some considered this sitcom to be a bit too crass and abrasive. Now, however, it’s great to rewatch, if only to catch all the jokes you may have been too young to understand. For example, Al Bundy’s insults were obviously a focal point when the show aired, but only with multiple rewatches will you be able to track all the times he got as good as he gave from his kids and wife.

Speaking of jokes you only discover on rewatch, “Martin” is perhaps the perfect example. “Martin” is a staple in Black sitcom history, not only because of the brilliance of Martin Lawrence, but also the incredible ensemble cast (Tisha Campbell, Thomas Mikal Ford, Tichina Arnold) that played off of him. From Lawrence’s own cast of characters that he played with different costumes to the infamous stuffed dog, there are always some hilarious gags that pops up on rewatch that remind you why this was once considered one of the best sitcoms to come out in the ’90s.

The best example of “Martin” getting better over multiple rewatches is the realization of all the times Lawrence and other cast members almost broke character due to the improv comedy of Reginald Ballard, who played Brother Man. Ballard is the reason the character says his name with an accent, as well as many other funny mannerisms that he came up with on the fly.

If there’s any sitcom that best represents the ’90s besides “Friends,” it’s “Boy Meets World.” Whether you were the same age as Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), or watched from the perspective of someone as old and wise as Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), this sitcom has something for everyone. Much like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Boy Meets World” expertly walks the tightrope between funny jokes and heartfelt moments. The first watch is a marvel of excellent writing, and every rewatch after feels like the comfort of a warm blanket on a cold night.

The main rewatch value of “Boy Meets World” comes from its sincerity. The show never talks down to its audience, even when tackling heavier topics such as unstable family dynamics, class differences, and peer pressure. Moreover, the love story between Cory and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) is considered one of the best ever depicted in modern TV, and it only gets better when you experience watching it unfold multiple times.

“The Nanny” is the definition of a sitcom that gets better with age, if only because we also probably did not appreciate it as much as we should have in the ’90s. Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) is this incredible fashion icon (whose looks are still going viral on TikTok, proving its timeless nature) who suddenly enters the seemingly less-than-glamorous work of being a nanny for a rich English widower named Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy).

The fashion of “The Nanny” alone is worth revisiting, but the show’s real strength lies in its screwball humor and impeccable timing. Fran and Maxwell’s slow-burn romance is still delightful, and the supporting cast adds layers of chaos that never feel stale. Ultimately, what makes the series so rewatchable is the tight writing and charming humor. There’s also some great physical gags that get funnier every time you see them, such as the infamous wardrobe malfunction that leaves Fran and Maxwell looking very suspicious in Season 2, Episode 19.