Buffy the Vampire Slayer
When it aired: 1997–2003
Who it starred: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green, David Boreanaz
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
No doubt, Joss Whedon’s adaptation of his 1992 movie redefined fantasy TV. Gellar played teen and superheroine Buffy Summers, who juggled typical high school drama with, oh, the fate of the world. Indeed, the show’s monster-of-the-week format wove in relatable storytelling about identity, grief, angst, heartbreak and forbidden love. (Award-worthy examples: “Hush” from Season Four and “Once More, with Feeling” from Season Six.) Decades later, its influence on the genre can be seen in Gen Z faves like The Witcher, The Magicians and Teen Wolf.
Family Guy
When it aired: 1999–today
Who it stars: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mike Henry, Mila Kunis
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
Let’s hear it for the Griffins, who are still going strong after 25 years and counting. No Nickelodeon kiddie fare, this animated classic (created by MacFarlane, who voices several characters) basks in irreverent, absurdist humor and quick cutaways—often at the expense of pop culture figures. So why can’t loyal fans get enough? Largely because the family puts the “fun” in dysfunctional, from Stewie’s plans for world domination to Peter’s repeated job losses to Lois’s drunken mishaps. Long may they reign.
Friends
When it aired: 1994–2004
Who it starred: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer
We may never know Chandler Bing’s job, but it’s easy to understand the timeless appeal of the iconic sitcom (which was must-see TV for elder Millennials during its original run). Starting with that comforting theme song that assured us our friends would be there for us, the show never went on a break from hilariously guiding viewers through the pleasures and perils of independent adulthood. To this day, watching the gang vent to one another at Central Perk = the ultimate happy place.
Gilmore Girls
When it aired: 2000–2007
Who it starred: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Scott Patterson, Melissa McCarthy
Where to watch: Netflix
There’s no such place as Stars Hollow, Connecticut, yet the endearing small town depicted in this series was so flush with details in its autumn leaves, quirky local festivals and overall nostalgic vibe that it’s easy to imagine Lorelai (Graham) and Rory (Bledel) Gilmore gabbing over coffee at the retro-style Luke’s Diner at this very moment. That coziness—not to mention the rapid-fire, pop culture-laden dialogue—is a big reason why the series continues to be the TV equivalent of a plush blanket.
Girlfriends
When it aired: 2000–2006
Who it starred: Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golda Brooks
Where to watch: Netflix
Think of this still-relevant sitcom as a spiritual sister to Living Single (another ’90s show worth a watch), only with an L.A. location and an early aughts edge. Here, four besties—plus honorary “girlfriend” William, played by Reggie Hayes—lean on one another as they pursue their dreams (Ross’s Joan leaves her law career to start her own restaurant!), leave their comfort zones (Jones’s Toni heads to NYC!) and, per that theme song, be there through thick and thin.
Girls
When it aired: 2012–2017
Who it starred: Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Adam Driver
In the first episode of this sharp dramedy, 23-year-old aspiring writer Hannah Horvath declares to her parents that she believes that she’s “the voice of my generation.” The line is played for snickering laughs, and yet the truth is that Dunham—the show’s star, head writer, director and creator—hit a nerve with her portrayal of financially and emotionally struggling Millennials in Brooklyn. Its episodes still resonate, highlighted by the Season Five classic “The Panic in Central Park.”
Glee
When it aired: 2009–2015
Who it starred: Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison
Here’s what you missed on Glee: A transformative musical series that reached out specifically to anyone who ever felt like an outsider in high school. Yes, the talented McKinley High Glee Club—always seemingly ready for Nationals—was the hot spot where the jocks and the cheerleaders and the geeks and the freaks all united in the name of song. And while Glee specialized in a bubble-gum, snappy tone (with a healthy mix of melodrama), the show turned especially poignant in the aftermath of Monteith’s death in 2013.
Gossip Girl
When it aired: 2007–2012
Who it starred: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Penn Badgley
If Beverly Hills, 90210 flaunted a fab life among the sun and palm trees, this glossier descendant (based on the bestselling YA book series) made every teen want to move to New York City’s Upper East Side and have lunch on the steps of the Met. High school students in name only, posh Serena Van Der Woodsen (Lively), posher Blair Waldorf (Meester) and their friends focused all their attention on R-rated hookups, wild nights, scandals and their general fabulousness. The show also pioneered the influence of social media—emphasis on social. Xoxo!
Grey’s Anatomy
When it aired: 2005–today
Who it stars: Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James P. Pickens
Where to watch: Hulu
True, this is a bit of a cheat because Grey’s continues to churn out sudsy episodes on Thursday nights. Whatever! It’s still a treat to remember its mid-aughts peak, back when Meredith Grey (Pompeo) was still an intern at Seattle Grace Hospital, learning the ropes under Dr. Bailey (Wilson) and falling for dashing surgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey). Unlike most shows in the genre, these doctors were always in because of their sizzling romances, genuine friendships and off-the-medical-charts melodrama in which nobody was spared from a shocker death.
Lost
When it aired: 2004–2010
Who it starred: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
The DHARMA Initiative. The polar bear. The smoke monster. Charlie’s guitar. The lottery numbers. While those references might seem randomly bizarre on their own, they’re ultra-rich with meaning to anyone who’s devoured this mind-bending drama about the survivors of a commercial airplane living on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. Watch the series the first time to process all the plot twists; watch it a second (and third and fourth) time to appreciate how the bonkers pieces all fit together … well, for the most part.
The Office
When it aired: 2005–2013
Who it starred: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
Where to watch: Peacock
The single-camera, mockumentary-style show about life and times inside the nondescript Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania, remains an ultra-notable and ultra-quotable phenomenon. But beyond the show’s stream of laughs, its enduring popularity can be attributed to its masterful understanding of its characters, from the earnest yet blundering boss Michael Scott (Carell) to the tentative inter-office couple Jim (Krasinski) and Pam (Fischer). No wonder so many comedies have tried to Xerox the magic.
Parks and Recreation
When it aired: 2009–2015
Who it starred: Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman
Where to watch: Peacock
A mockumentary? About turning a pit into a park? Yes, please. This charmer, which followed the Hillary Clinton–loving Leslie Knope (Poehler) and her fellow enthusiastic (well, mostly) staffers in the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee, originally won over critics and viewers with its blend of quirky yet sweetly optimistic humor and heartfelt moments. (See: The celebration of Galentine’s Day every Feb. 14.) Enhanced by a stacked cast that also included Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Retta and Rashida Jones, the show was also a sly master at tackling issues ranging from gender roles to workplace dynamics.
Suits
When it aired: 2011–2019
Who it starred: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Megan Markle
Where to watch: Netflix, Peacock
This show was so popular once it hit Netflix in 2023 that it amassed 57.7 billion Nielsen-tracked viewership minutes on the platform to make it the most-streamed show of the year. Sure, there’s a never-ending curiosity in seeing Markle, playing a paralegal, in her pre-duchess days. More enticing: The slightly silly legal drama—about Mike Ross (Adams), a college dropout who charms his way into a job at a fancy New York City law firm run by Harvey Spector (Macht)—is rollicking fun and doesn’t require a law degree to understand and appreciate.
Supernatural
When it aired: 2005–2020
Who it starred: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Misha Collins
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Peacock
After losing their mother to a supernatural force, brothers Sam (Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Ackles) hunt creatures like ghosts, demons and vampires—oh, my!—and end up saving scores of people from the paranormal. That’s the bare-bones plot. But with its blend of horror, witty comedy, action and drama (not to mention the chemistry between the two young, easy-on-the-eyes leads), the show built up a dedicated fan base that helped keep it on the CW network for a whopping 15 years. This brand of sinister is just that appealing.
Veronica Mars
When it aired: 2004–2007
Who it starred: Kristen Bell, Teddy Dunn, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni
Where to watch: Amazon Prime (Seasons 1–3), Hulu (2014 movie), Hulu (2019 Season 4)
Bell’s pint-sized teen blonde may have looked like she belonged at the top of a cheerleading pyramid, but her Nancy Drew–like deduction skills enabled her to piece together both innocuous mysteries and the mysterious murder of her friend, Lilly Kane. (Veronica also had time to entangle herself in a love triangle between two cute guys, of course.) This neo-noir was so quippy and clever that its cult status led to a fan-funded 2014 movie and a surprise—and totally satisfying—fourth season in 2019.
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Sources:
- The New York Times: “Why Gen Z Is Resurrecting the 1990s”
- Deadline: “Frankie Muniz Teases ‘Pretty Shocking’ Malcolm In The Middle Reboot: ‘People Will Be Surprised'”
- Deadline: “Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘Never Thought’ She’d Play Buffy Again, Says You Can Understand ‘Vampire Slayer’ Reboot Without Watching Original Show”
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