Everybody loves lists, right? That's why I was attracted to this AOL Television list of the best TV shows of the 1990s. Lots of good entries, some head-scratchers, and two incredibly glaring omissions.You can immediately guess which shows are on the list: Seinfeld, The X-Files, Sports Night, Oz, The Sopranos, The Larry Sanders Show. There are some shows that I certainly would never put on such a list, but I can understand why they were chosen, such as Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, and Ally McBeal. I think this is probably yet another example of "best" being confused with "popular" or "buzzworthy." Actually, I would never include Ally McBeal on any sort of best of list.
But what really confuses me? There are two major shows, two shows that are often mentioned in a "best of" list (not just the 90s, but all-time) that aren't on the list! Can you guess what they are? Both appeared on NBC, and one of them was created by someone who created one of the above shows.
The two shows? NewsRadio and The West Wing.
How can either of these shows be left off of a best of the 1990s list? I'm actually asking. At first, I thought they left The West Wing off of the list because most of its run came after 2000, but many shows on the list started in one decade and ended in another, so that's not it. I think they just decided that Beavis & Butthead was better.
As for NewsRadio, well, I think they just forgot about that show for some reason. Pity. In protest, here is one of my favorite episodes, "The Bitch Session."
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-10-2009 @ 3:20PM
Drex said...
How about SNL? The 90s were IMO the best years to date..
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2-10-2009 @ 3:40PM
C C said...
Interesting that they left off The West Wing. The Sopranos debuted in January 1999. The West Wing debuted in September 1999. I'm thinking maybe they included The Sopranos because of the fact it broke ground for cable television?
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2-10-2009 @ 3:45PM
Kristen said...
What, no Wings? That's one of my favorite shows! I don't care what people say. It's one of the most underrated shows of the 1990's along with NewsRadio and Sports Night.
I don't agree with too many shows on that list.
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2-10-2009 @ 3:50PM
Scott said...
Leaving off "The West Wing" makes the list a joke. Plus, the show had a fantastic first season, and those September-December 1999 shows are some of the best in the series.
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2-10-2009 @ 4:17PM
Joe said...
This is a joke, no Babylon 5? No Star Trek Deep Space 9? No West Wing? These 3 shows could easily get a place in the top 10.
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2-10-2009 @ 4:25PM
Papytendo said...
That list is irrelevant, no Married with Children?
Married With Children was THE funniest show of the 90s.
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2-10-2009 @ 4:49PM
dukrous said...
What? No ?? That list is a joke. was the best show of the 90s!
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2-10-2009 @ 4:50PM
dukrous said...
Damn lack of an edit button...
What? No (INSERT SHOW HERE)?? That list is a joke. (INSERT SHOW HERE) was the best show of the 90s!
2-10-2009 @ 4:52PM
Stacie23 said...
How about the #1 show for years and years, FRIENDS. That show was the show for this generation. It was not only funny but the quality of the writing was superb, and since then there have been dozens of show trying to emulate even a fraction of what FRIENDS was able to possess. The only thing that has come close recently is How I Met Your Mother.
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2-10-2009 @ 5:19PM
Andrew said...
Friends and TWW are the biggest omissions IMO.
2-10-2009 @ 5:11PM
CMart said...
You know, I thought the same thing -- that NewsRadio was likely not on the list -- before I read the full article; imagine how glad I was to see that I was not alone in that sentiment.
And then I realized it was Bob Sassone who wrote the article and thought -- well of course he would say that! :)
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2-10-2009 @ 5:20PM
Bob Sassone said...
Friends is on the list, #5.
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2-10-2009 @ 5:52PM
jmw said...
Everybody Loves Raymond anyone???
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2-10-2009 @ 6:05PM
Adam said...
Leaving off the West Wing because it really only had half a season in the 90's would have been fine except for the Sopranos. I honestly think of both those shows being this decade, and not in the 90's. Both great and deserving to be on a list like this, except they really didnt spend much time in the 90's.
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2-10-2009 @ 7:10PM
jm said...
Arlis$$ ?
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2-10-2009 @ 7:36PM
Clayton said...
You are spot on. News Radio and The West Wing belong on that list...
But that is what these lists are for... So people can generate buzz and talk around the water cooler about how stupid the list maker is because they left off this or that.
I don't give them much thought anymore.
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2-10-2009 @ 9:50PM
screaminghello said...
Some other 90's shows for your consideration. Some I think are really
great and others I at least fondly remember:
Angel
Just Shoot Me
Blossom
Baywatch
Home Improvement
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
Wings
Dinosaurs
Saved by the Bell
Late Show w/ David Letterman
Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien
Daria
American Gothic
The Commish
The Drew Carey Show
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Futurama
King of the Hill
Highlander
Herman's Head
Lois and Clark
Road Rules
Pop-Up Video
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2-10-2009 @ 11:31PM
Tracey said...
NewsRadio is not only the first show that comes to mind when I think of the best sitcom of the '90's, it's the first show I think of when talking about the best of TV ever.
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2-11-2009 @ 1:46AM
kevin said...
yeah newsradio needs to be on the list.
mystery science theater 3000 too.
TNG may have finished in '94 but if they had to put on star trek series on this list i'd say DS9 since it went from 93-99. i would've saved TNG for the 80s list...just to save room. Cheers should've been on the list too even if it only had the few remaining seasons but aol chose the spin-off as the 90s rep...which is fine but it should've been in the top ten.
but the west wing did start in the 90s even if it was 99 so it should be on the list...same with family guy.
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2-12-2009 @ 1:49AM
Dan German said...
Hulu sucks. Stop using it. The internet goes beyond the USA border.
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