We all love reminiscing about the '90s, but what about actually transporting ourselves there? Sadly, I don't have a time machine handy, but I do have an idea of what you'd be watching on TV if it was 1995. It will have to do in a pinch. First of all, it's important to remember that back in 1995, television was a huge deal — more so than today. Since we didn't have platforms like Amazon or Hulu or Netflix, and cable channels hadn't started their big push toward insanely good content yet, everything was pretty isolated onto network TV. Basically, a lot of people were watching the same handful of shows, which is why '90s nostalgia is so real.
And, furthermore, since DVR and TiVo and all that weren't a thing yet, and — let's face it — none of us ever really figured out how to tape things on VHS, you pretty much had to sit your butt down in front of the set as shows were airing. It was a way different experience than the one we have now, where you can stream any show you want onto any of the electronics that we constantly have on our person.
Let's take a walk down memory lane to see what shows you and all your friends would've been obsessing over the next day at the water cooler. (Or at the Squeeze It cooler? I don't remember the '90s that well, but I'm assuming that was a thing.)
1. Life And Death Dramas
You would've been all about those hour-long dramas like NYPD Blue, Law and Order, Chicago Hope, and ER, which were guaranteed to get your heart rate up — whether because of their life-and-death plot lines, or because their casts were just so foxy. (Hi there, George Clooney, we see you.)
2. Classic Comedies
You also would've almost certainly tuned in to one or all of the comedies from this era that have stood the test of time — we're talking Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier, as the big three. Find me someone who wasn't watching at least one of them in real time, and you've got yourself a unicorn.
3. Teen Intrigue
Whether you were in your teenager years yourself or just loved the high drama of that world, I'm betting you carved out time for Boy Meets World and Beverly Hills, 90210 every week. There's just something about setting your show in a high school that really ups the ante; it's no coincidence that both those shows got reboots down the line. You also would probably be checking out Party of Five and Melrose Place. If you're really in the know, you'd be watching My So-Called Life, and maybe even helping it avoid cancellation to no avail.
4. Nerd Alerts
It was a beautiful year to be a science nerd, as both The X-Files and Star Trek: Voyager were enjoying their moment in the sun.
5. Family Sitcoms
If you're in the mood to laugh at a nice big ensemble cast, may I recommend family sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Matters, Step By Step, or Home Improvement? You won't regret it.
6. Real-Life Drama
And finally, for some more sobering news, you'd probably be glued to your television to watch the real-world insanity of the O.J. Simpson trial, which went on for most of this year.
And there you have it. I've accounted for pretty much every moment of your week, if this was 1995. You're welcome.
Images: NBC (2); ABC (2); FOX (2)
