10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
For many people my age, we were first introduced to Will Smith from a little show called The Fresh Prince Bel-Air. He more or less played himself, which means we got plenty of charm, wit, and humor. And, oh, the Carlton Dance. But we not only got comedy from this show, we received a dosage of important stories and commentary injected as well. Who can forget that episode where Will realizes that his father has left him once again, and he says the words “How come he don’t want me?” and Uncle Phil rushes to hug the distraught Will. *Insert ugly crying face* Or when Carlton takes speed from Will’s locker that puts him in the hospital, and then Will is forced to admit to the family what really happened. And let’s not forget the one where Carlton and Will are stopped by a police officer simply because they are two young, black men driving a nice care through the neighborhood, and Carlton is forced to look at the world a different way. Through six seasons, we laughed, we cried, we danced the Carlton. However, what I truly appreciate about the beloved series is that we got to see a show boasting different types of black people so that we didn’t experience a stereotype. The show still airs reruns to this day, and it’s exciting to see a new generation take on the freshness. – Melissa Berne
9. That 70’s Show
Because who didn’t love a show that’s premise was based largely on characters who smoked pot in their parent’s basement and then desperately tried to hide it from said parents? While I couldn’t ever buy that any of these characters were ever really awkward, it was a decidedly fun show to watch and one that created a group of characters that you too would like to pass along a… story to. – Allyson Johnson
8. As Told By Ginger
Who would have guessed that shaving your legs would be such a big deal? I’d go so far as to say that Nickelodeon’s As Told By Ginger did for hair removal what Judy Blume did for getting your period: they made it something girls bizarrely wanted to achieve. The series tackled other seemingly ordinary coming of age motifs with grace and humor and normalized them for those watching, from make-up to stuffing your bra, to dealing with bullies, disagreements with best friends and first crushes. It was an underrated gem of the Nickelodeon renaissance and despite some oftentimes crude animation has been given a longevity due to its storytelling abilities, and how when watching, tweens could identify with stories that hit close to home because they were real. – Allyson Johnson
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
One of the most iconic cult shows embraced the idea that “high school is hell” to bring us Buffy, a cheerleader-turned-vampire slayer who attempted to balance a normal teenage existence with her prophesied calling as a killer of the undead. Of course, living on a hellmouth kills any chance of a normal existence–vampire masters, demon mayors, and evil boyfriends run rampant, with only Buffy and the gang to keep them at bay. With fantastic characters, quippy, pop culture-laden dialogue, and perfect metaphors, Buffy holds up to this day–despite the dated fashion. – Bri Lockhart
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6. That’s So Raven
Not every show that the Disney Channel came up with was a home run, but there was something special about That’s So Raven. Raven wasn’t afraid to speak her mind as the lead of the show, proving to be a strong female comedian. Raven brought a different vibe that wasn’t topped by other Disney Channel shows at the time. From her supportive friends to her quirky family, it was a show that gets overlooked despite its quality Disney Channel humor. – Camille Espiritu
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