If you're looking for an opportunity to laugh at hilarious hijinks and awkward moments, read on for a list of my favorite comedy TV shows from the 1990s and 2000s! This will be in no particular order as picking my favorite TV show would feel like picking a favorite pet (as I have no children).
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, opens a new window
Raise your hand if you sang along to the opening song with DJ Jazzy Jeff, opens a new window. I sure did. With Will Smith in his first acting gig, this TV show was comedy gold. I looked forward to seeing what sort of trouble or zaniness Will and his cousin Carlton Banks (played by Alfonso Ribeiro, opens a new window) would get into and then, how Carlton's rich, respectable parents Vivian and Philip Banks would resolve the problem.
Find The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air DVDs through Prospector., opens a new window
Fraiser, opens a new window
As a teenager, I thought this show was really funny, and as an adult, I realize I took comfort in seeing a therapist have difficulty with friends, family and co-workers. I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between Frasier Crane (played by Kelsey Grammer) and his father Martin (played by the fabulous John Mahoney, opens a new window).
View all Frasier DVDs in our collection.
Will & Grace, opens a new window
Will & Grace was a revolutionary sitcom that featured main LGBTQ+ characters. I loved how this show balanced realistic life challenges and the hilarity of those same moments. Will Truman (played by Eric McCormack, opens a new window) and Grace Adler (Debra Messing, opens a new window) were successful professionals who end up living together after Grace's relationship falls apart. It is supposed to be temporary, but it works out so well that they made it permanent.
View all Will & Grace DVDs in our collection.
Wings, opens a new window
Please don't pelt me with virtual tomatoes for this disclosure, I liked Wings better than Cheers, which was created and produced by the same team. I enjoyed watching the zany comraderies between brothers Joe and Brian Hackett (played by Tim Daly, opens a new window and Steven Weber, opens a new window) as they ran Sandpiper Airline in Nantucket.
Find Wings DVDs through Prospector., opens a new window
Seinfeld, opens a new window
While writing this blog, I asked several friends to name their favorite comedy sitcom, and they each said Seinfeld. In the show, Jerry Seinfeld, opens a new window plays himself living in New York City with a cast of friends who are often eccentric. I suspect that many people have a favorite friend, whether it be Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards, opens a new window), George Costanza (Jason Alexander, opens a new window) or Newman (Wayne Knight, opens a new window). Quite a few of the concepts from this show have embedded themselves in American culture. For example, the secular holiday of Festivus, opens a new window on December 23 has become extraordinarily popular.
View all Seinfeld DVDs in our collection.
The Simpsons, opens a new window
Many of the families I knew sat down every week to watch The Simpsons together. This animated show about a dysfunctional and often well-meaning family is hilarious and relatable. If you enjoy watching the Simpsons, I'd suggest watching Futurama, opens a new window and Dinosaurs, opens a new window.
View all The Simpsons DVDs in our collection.
View all Futurama DVDs in our collection.
Please comment if I missed any of your favorite comedy sitcoms from the 1990s and 2000s. This was mostly based on what I watched and I am by no means an expert on good TV.
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