Top 10 TV Characters '90s Kids Grew Up With
#10: Clarissa Darling
“Clarissa Explains It All” (1991-94)
Adolescence is one of the most confusing time periods you’ll ever experience in life! It’s awkward, heartbreaking, and life-changing. Luckily, 90s kids had Clarissa to give them awesome advice. The sitcom follows an everyday teen as she breaks the fourth wall to discuss her growing pains and lessons she’s learned. It was the first program on Nickelodeon to have a female protagonist, which was super inspiring for kids wanting more representation in the media. Her relatability appealed to all kinds of children, regardless of gender. This helped break the stigma that MCs that are women will only have a female demographic!
#9: Sabrina Spellman
“Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (1996-2003)
Top 10 Differences Between Chilling Adventures of Sabrina & Sabrina the Teenage Witch
If your witchy aunts told you that you had magical powers on your 16th birthday, it would probably be the best gift ever. Although most people can’t relate to the supernatural elements of her life, at the end of the day Sabrina was still a relatable girl. Whether she mentioned the latest hit song or referenced a rock band, kids were able to keep up with 90s trends because of this cultural queen. They also grew alongside her as the show followed her from high school to adulthood. She felt like a friend more than a fictional character.
#8: George Feeny
“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)
Top 10 Times George Had the Worst Luck on Seinfeld
You can’t talk about 90s sitcoms without mentioning this popular coming-of-age show that follows a boy as he navigates his youth and approaches adulthood. With such vibrant characters, it can be easy to get lost in the sauce. I mean who wasn’t inspired by Topanga’s intelligence and confidence? But we can’t ignore the impact of Mr. Feeny’s life lessons. They were not just for kids but for adults as well. Whenever he spoke, you just knew he was going to drop nuggets of wisdom. The 90s was an era that saw many changes and it was easy to feel lost. Thank goodness this teacher was here to guide us through the chaos!
#7: Fran Fine
“The Nanny” (1993-99)
Top 10 Best Fran Fine Outfits on The Nanny
The “F” in “Fran” stands for fashionista because her outfits inspired style fanatics all over the country. While she had crazy adventures taking care of a well-off family in NYC, her fits never stopped slaying. With such a distinct wardrobe, who wouldn’t want to start experimenting with their clothes? Polka dots and stripes? Yes please! Besides her brilliant designs, her infatuation with celebrities and disastrous dating life made her relatable to young fans in the 90s. Her outgoing nature definitely encouraged children to break out of their shells, no matter how scary the situation may seem!
#6: Zack Morris
“Saved by the Bell” (1989-93)
Top 10 Times Zack Morris Was the Worst
Any group of friends in high school has gotta have a class clown somewhere in the mix. On this show, look no further than Mr. Morris! Besides being a major heartthrob for teens in the 90s, this hooligan could not stay out of trouble for the life of him! While kids laughed at his shenanigans, they also saw how his plans frequently caused him major problems. They began to learn vicariously through him that they should be mindful of their actions. Love him or hate him, viewers simply couldn’t resist his 90s charm!
#5: Buffy Summers
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Top 20 Most Badass Buffy Summers Moments
Being one of the chosen ones isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. This teenager wanted nothing more than to live a regular life instead of battling supernatural forces. But when she eventually honed in on her identity, she became a fierce warrior. Her wit, agility, and sensibility made her an icon for 90s feminism. Buffy’s morals struck a chord with young girls around the world and had them channeling their inner fighter in their everyday lives. She managed to handle both human and paranormal issues skillfully and well. What a girlboss!
#4: Dylan McKay
“Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)
Top 10 Memorable Dylan McKay Moments
We’d all be a bit culture shocked if we went from humble beginnings to attending high school with rich classmates. That wealth disparity isn’t the only surprise the twins of this drama faced. There was also the magnetic Dylan McKay, who was not okay. 90s babies felt drawn to his mystique and fell hard for his tortured soul. Luke Perry’s portrayal of this bad boy caused his career to explode. At one point, ten thousand fans attended a signing in hopes of meeting him. He was so overwhelmed by the quantity of attendees he had to leave within two minutes. Regardless of the questionable choices McKay made throughout the decade-long series, teens were head over heels in love with him.
#3: Chandler Bing
“Friends” (1994-2004)
Top 10 Most Hilarious Chandler Bing Quotes
It’s hard to choose which NYC roommate is your favorite out of this hit’s core six. But 90s kids found everything they could possibly need in Chandler. Children envied how easily he came up with such hilarious wisecracks. Comedy isn’t his only impressive quality. He was extremely loyal to his best friends no matter what got thrown the gang’s way. Out of everyone, he’s the most well-rounded, which is also why he’s incredibly relatable to youngsters in that time period. He’s not perfect, but it’s nice to see a role model with flaws. We love the realistic reputation!
#2: Will Smith
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Top 10 Most Powerful Kids Cartoon Characters
After being shipped off to live with his wealthy relatives in California, this ragtag teen has to adjust to life among the rich. His working class wits combined with his adaptability to fit in with his new environment created the perfect recipe for awesome main character energy (and hilarious situations)! Whether it was his bright 90s clothes, cool lingo, or cheerful nature, he’s just so stinking lovable! Every kid either wanted to be him or have him as a cool friend! Although he’s always down to clown, he knows when to take matters seriously. He taught viewers how to work hard and play hard.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Randy Taylor, “Home Improvement” (1991-99)
Randy Taylor? More like Randy Troublemaker
Blossom Russo, “Blossom” (1991-95)
Learning Life Lessons through This Smart Teen
Tia Landry & Tamera Campbell, “Sister, Sister” (1994-99)
Double the Sisters, Double the Trouble
Moesha Mitchell, “Moesha” (1996-2001)
Always Ready to Stand Up for What She Believes In
Kenan Rockmore & Kel Kimble, “Kenan & Kel” (1996-2000)
You Never Know What These Tricksters Will Get Up to Next
#1: Steve Urkel
“Family Matters” (1989-98)
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Originally following a household in Chi-Town, the creators of the show decided to introduce a super eccentric neighbor to the mix. What a great decision! He was only supposed to have a small role, but he gained so much popularity that he became a lead. As a kid it can be easy to try to change yourself to fit in, but lo and behold! The quirky teen’s confidence never wavered which is lovely to see. He taught kids that if they stay true to themselves, they can still have a great life. Plus let’s be real. Who didn’t try to copy his dance moves?
Do you have a TV character that altered your brain chemistry when you were younger? Let us know in the comments down below!
