A lot of us who grew up in the ’90s have a habit of looking back fondly on those guileless days spent relaxing with friends and family. A major reason for these gatherings were Friday nights, when homework could be kept aside, sports could be wrapped up for the week, and news about politics and technology could be caught up on later. Fridays meant having a sacred routine – tuning into theTGIFlineup on ABC.
TGIF stands for “Thank Goodness It’s Friday,” and ABC (American Broadcasting Company) launched this Friday night programming block specifically to family-friendly sitcoms starting in 1989 and ending in 2000. The idea was truly a stroke of genius by the network to claim Friday evenings as their own, and in return, they blessed the audience with vibrant, laughter-filled families and their stories. Week after week, viewers returned to consume another joke, fracture, or feeling from those classic shows.
The TGIF lineups were clever, and they wove their arcs across multiple programs. ABC even made a second and third attempt at reviving the block in 2003 and 3018 respectively. The result? There’s two, actually. One, the block produced as much as 30 fully-realized shows in the entire time (starting from 1989), and two, none were as magical and iconic as the initials. Generations bonded for this ritual and watched their favorite characters juggle youth, family, friendship, and romance, every week.
That said,for millions of ’90s kids, TGIF sparked formative discussions about dating and identity, peer pressure and bullying, and household challenges. So in a way, these shows taught us all the good things we apply in our life as adults today. Two decades later, that special blend of belly laughter and salty tears begs to be revisited.
20The Hughleys (ABC: 1998 – 2000)
The Hughleyswas a pioneer in showing how a modern Black family navigates 21st century issues. Led by comedian D.L. Hughley, the show centered around a vending machine business owner and loving father taking his kin and moving from South Central to West Hills, which is usually occupied by white people. As we understand and support their new life, we laugh with – not at – their relatable hijinks and little triumphs. While Darryl himself tries not to let “the American Dream” get to his head, the pampered mother adjusts to suburban lifestyle and the kids encounter new cultures and friendships. The reasonThe Hughleysbecame so iconic wasbecause of its message of progress and positivity.
19You Wish (1997 – 1998)
Just because the TGIF lineup was family-oriented didn’t mean it was saturated with feel-good, slice-of-life dramas. The creators sure tried to infuse the same aesthetic by blending it with different genres; one being fantasy.You Wishtransports you into that imaginative childhood where you’d want your whimsical dreams to come true. Whether it is the quirky cast or the absurd setting, the show is nothing short of magical.
Created byBoy Meets Worldcreator Michael Jacobs, it centered around a single-parent household made of a stressed mother and her two children being served by a male genie. Each episode saw thefamily’s troubles escalate exponentiallybefore one fantastical element would solve it all – no matter how ridiculous it seemed. Production quality wasn’t as fancy as the big budget movies releasing at the time, butYou Wishstill served some memorable lessons.
18Brother’s Keeper (1998 – 1999)
By homing in on the very relatable topic of entering adulthood and learning about responsibilities,Brother’s Keeperproves that you don’t really have to get too creative to make a show. Headed by Willaim Ragsdale and Sean O’Bryan, the show followed Porter Waide, an English professor and buttoned-up single dad who is happily raising his 8-year-old son, Oscar.
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On the other hand is Porter’s younger brother, a hard-partying, immature, playboy-ish pro-footballer brother who has recently signed with the San Francisco 49ers and has been specifically ordered to live with a responsible adult in order to stay sharp and in line. Having Bobby move in was never the plan, but the show brings a big heart to small problems in just twenty three episodes.
17Going Places (1990 – 1991)
So many of the shows from ABC’s TGIF lineup only ran for one season. Whether they were always meant to be short or werecanceled for some reasonis a topic for another time, but the fact is that despite their small presence on screen, the stories and poignant messages stayed with us for longer than that.Going Placeswas on air for only six months, but the impact it left was lasting. The show revolved around Alan Ruck, Jerry Levine, Heather Locklear, and Hallie Todd, four Hollywood writers who shared an apartment together and navigated life as it happened. Whether facing social drama or personal crisis, their imperfect yet persevering characters taught the viewers the meaning of laughing through tough times.
16Odd Man Out (1999 – 2000)
Created and written by John J. Strauss and Ed Decter,Odd Man Outmade its appearance to the network right when the TGIF lineup was taking its final few breaths. But that didn’t make it any less remarkable. Erik von Detten established a teenage heartthrob status with his role of 15-year-old Andrew Whitney living in South Beach with a bunch of fiery women. As relatives who want the best for him, these women teach him everything there is to know about themselves. Andrew considers himself an expert in the area and thus earns jealousy from peers. Injust 13 episodes, this generic sitcom made clever commentary on diversity, feminism, and individuality.
15Camp Wilder (1992 – 1993)
Starring Jerry O’Connell, Jay Mohr, Jared Leto, Hilary Swank and Mary Page Keller, this interesting and bittersweet sitcom follows Ricky Wilder, a 28-year-old single mother and nurse who lives with her three children in her childhood home after her parents’ deaths. But of those three, only 6-year-old daughter Sophie, is hers.
The other two kids, 16-year-old Brody and 13-year-old Melissa, are actually her teenage siblings. Being a young guardian and cool mom herself, Kelly had created this safe space inside her home for the kids to confide in her. Her approachable and casual demeanor smashed the traditional parenting techniques, thus calling neighborhood kids into the home, seeking advice from Kelly. From summertime soothings to relatable family fumbles,Camp Wilderhad it all.
14Baby Talk (1991 – 1992)
Before Mary Page Keller became a feel-good favorite star of sitcoms withCamp Wilder, she appeared onBaby Talk. This delightful situation-comedy centered around Keller’s Maggie Campbell (who was initially played by Julia Duffy in one season), living with Baby Mickey and dealing with his many misadventures alone, hoping she’d some day find a charming man who wouldcomplete their family.
From the very beginning, it was clear that Mickey’s biological father had never separated from his ex-wife and wasn’t going to be involved in the drama. Many single men came and went – including George Clooney’s Joe, a construction worker repairing Maggie’s loft and Mickey’s pediatrician, Dr. Elliot Fleisher – but none stayed around for too long. Overall,Baby Talkis a humorous little show on ABC’s TGIF lineup.
13Two of a Kind (1998 – 1999)
The Olsen twins have always brought an infectious energy along with their twin-sister bond on television. While many fans remember them forFull House, another TGIF show that they starred in wasTwo of a Kind. Following their breakthrough roles, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen had morphed into true actresses, and it was evident in the series. Despite being polar opposites, they shared one thing in common – their knack for mischief. So they put their differences aside and worked endlessly to bring their father and nanny into a relationship.
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Christopher Sieber and Sally Wheeler were also charming as they brought the girls’ well-crafted adventures to life and encouraged their curiosities. Overall,Two of a Kindis a rich and precious sitcom filled with care and laughter.
12Teen Angel (1997 – 1998)
There werea few “supernatural” TV showsin ABC’s TGIF lineup that created wonders with its unoriginal plot simply because of its authentic emotion and innocent charm.Teen Angelis a show that does not make sense. First, a high school boy Marty DePolo (Mike Damus) dies after eating a six-month-old hamburger. Then, he comes back from the dead as a guardian angel to protect and assist his best friend, Steve Beauchamp (Corbin Allred), on his many failures, first crushes, and family drama. Despite only having well-meaning blunders, the show manages to stay complex and interesting and funny. Moreover, the show only had 17 episodes, which made it breezy enough to stay memorable.
11Just the Ten of Us (1988 – 1990)
There is a reason ABC flexes on creating 30 fully-realized shows under its TGIF lineup. And thatreason is spin-offs. The network released spin-offs of popular shows likePerfect StrangersandHead of the Class.Just the Ten of Usalso received a similar treatment as it is based off of a side character from the showGrowing Pains– Mike’s high school gym teacher, Coach Graham.
Before large families were trendy (sayModern FamilyorParenthood),Just the Ten of Uswarmly normalized what true chaos and love look like within a bustling home. Centering around Coach Graham and his big family, the show followed him moving West with his pregnant wife and seven children. Their witty hijinks and exciting conversations proved that parenting coils still be nuanced. Bill Kirchenbauer leads the show as the loving patriarch holding it all together, and he does so flawlessly.
