Have your attention yet? If the picture above doesn’t grab it then nothing will. I’ve compiled a list of the Top 50 TV characters of the 90s. Grant you this list may be a little bias but hey, it’s my list! Being born in 85′ has given me the privilege to watch a wide variety of shows, the 90s being the bread and butter of them all. Now I didn’t get to watch everything in the 90′s but every character on this list is one that I think you’ll appreciate, and hopefully it’ll remind you of some good memories along the way. Whether it be because they were cool, goofy, nerdy, beautiful, or a dumb ass, this list has it all.
Pictured above is one of my child hood crushes (and yours) Topanga Lawrence. Of course she made the list but there’s a lot of characters that didn’t. I found it surprisingly hard to narrow it down to 50 but I did my best. Before we get into, let me give credit where credit is due. Below is a list of some honorable mentions that include (but of course aren’t limited to)…
ALL wrestlers from the 90′s!! You could go on and on by mentioning the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Brett Hart, Vince McMahon, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash or Scott Hall. This is a whole other list in itself which is why they weren’t included in the top 50.
Also not making the cut were any members of the South Park or King of the Hill cast. I know both shows gained popularity when they originally started airing in the late 90′s but I’m afraid I didn’t watch either so I can’t speak honestly about any of the characters. At least they made the honorable mentions right?
Another character that didn’t make it was Gaarry Shandling of The Larry Sanders Show. A comedy that centered around the behind the scenes action of a talk show host. Unfortunately it was just too far ahead of it’s time for me but it’s popularity can’t be denied. I just wish they’d air reruns of it now, I’ve heard nothing but good things.
I’m afraid the cast of Cheers falls into the honorable mentions category as well. I’m sure it had many memorable character but it’s not something that I personally watched. However Kelsey Grammer does make an appearance on this list, just not for Cheers. Oh and have you seen Ted Danson lately? He’s making some amazing cameos on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Shout out to Larry David!
Two more shows didn’t make the cut because it just didn’t seem fair. Now I remember Alf quite well but the series didn’t last long and ended in 1990 so I just couldn’t justify putting him on the list. With that being said, I remember having an Alf binder as a kid so thanks for the memories Alf!
The other characters that didn’t make the cut were from Family Guy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome show with a lot of great characters to choose from but the series didn’t start airing until 1999 and didn’t gain any real momentum until the 2000′s so I just couldn’t validate letting them dominate this list.
Oh and shout out to the characters on most of the TV shows on Nickelodeon in the 90′s. Salute Your Shorts, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Double Dare, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Guts (do do do do you have it? GUTS!) Rocko’s Modern Life, What Would You Do? and many, many more.
This list is compiled of characters that really left their mark in the 90′s, names that’ll make you smile to this day. With that being said, enough bullshit, time to get down to it. It was impossible to put these in order so don’t have a heart attack if you’re favorite isn’t at the top. Now, lets take a trip down memory lane and relive some awesome memories of some kick ass characters…
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17 Comments
…no Buffy?
Other than that, a good, diverse list.
Being an 80′S kid this list was brilliant! So many memories!
You forgot to mention the fact that Zach Morris has the world’s greatest super power. I’d have put Chandler Bing second but you got it bang on with number 1. He was everyones idol.
Brilliant list.
Thank you guys for the positive comments, it’s much appreciated. Oh I’m sorry Mr. Brereton, I’m afraid I didn’t watch Buffy, I completely forgot about her. Good call out though.
You didn’t watch Buffy? Well that just shows that you didn’t do your research, and therefore making this entire list invalid.
You can’t just base this on 90s shows you’ve seen. You are suppose to go and watch each show from the 90s first. You don’t care about research.
Soooomebody didn’t read the part where I said I was sensitive…
Haha what research? It’s MY list. I can write what I want, that’s the beauty of it. I appreciate you taking the time to read it. It’s nice to have admirers :-)
In what universe is Bart more iconic than Homer :D
Good list though
My begeezus, learn the difference between ‘then’ and ‘than’. There were at least 3 instances of you mistaking it. Also, no Eric Cartman?
No Buffy… No Melrose Place… are you serious??
Great list – HOWEVER, Al Bundy deserves to be no.1 (in my opinion)…
No Jack O’Neill? C’mon, he was a badass colonel, witty, funny, sarcastic and he goddam travelled to OTHER PLANETS. He even saved us more than a couple of times.
Really Ash Ketchum has to be way up the list especially considering how you described him and the show. Especially younger kids in the late nineties like myself he and his pikachu were the most important characters to us, even now for me at the age of 16.
Pokemon got me through everyday of my life since it came out, minus recent two or so years with black and white which really sucks to be honest. Waking up every morning at 6 listening to that incredible theme song which sounded like it was sung by Michael Jackson really made my day. Long live pokemon!!!
wtf?.. no Buffy?
It should be Brandon Walsh in this list
“make ends meat”? Go back to community college and take some more English courses. This list was painful to read.
Fox Mulder & Dana Scully should have made this list, as well as Agent Cooper from ‘Twin Peaks’.