Streaming changed the way we watch television. There's no more waiting a whole week to continue the cliffhanger episode of our favorite show, rushing to the bathroom during the five-minute commercial break, or adjusting our routine depending on the TV schedule.
At the risk of sounding old (we are!), that was way back in the day, especially since a lot of our shows from our childhood are actually turning 30 years old this year. We round up television shows that kept our seven-year-old selves occupied or, at least, those that we heard in the background during family dinners.
Here are some of the 1993 television shows turning 30 in 2023:
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993 to 1995)
While Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premiered on Fox Kids in 1993, it wasn't until 1995 that it was shown on the local television channel, ABS-CBN. It's set in the fictional Angelo Grove, California, where five teens were chosen to become superheroes and defend Earth from evil alien sorceress Rita Repulsa. Each of the five characters, Jason Lee Scott (Austin St. John), Kimberly Hart (Amy Jo Johnson), Zack Taylor (Walter Emanuel Jones), Trini Kwan (Thuy Trang), and Billy Cranston (David Yost), represent a color (e.g. the Red Ranger, Pink Ranger, and so on) and a dinosaur (e.g. tyrannosaurus, pterodactyl, and so on). Together, they form the giant humanoid machine called Megazord.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is having a 30th-anniversary special dropping on Netflix on April 19. Original cast members Yost, Jones, and Barbara Goodson (voice of Rita Repulsa) are reprising their roles.
The Pink Panther (1993 to 1995)
Animated television series The Pink Panther follows, well, the legendary feline that goes on with his day-to-day life in a rather farcical situation. The character was first used in the 1963 comedy film that follows Inspector Jacques Clouseau and his mission to catch a jewel thief who stole a priceless diamond called "The Pink Panther." It aired from 1993 to 1995 on TV5, originally known as ABC.
Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993 to 2000)
The original sitcom Saved by the Bell aired on GMA Network in 1989 until the series ended in 1993. Right after, its spin-off Saved by the Bell: The New Class ran from 1993 to 2000. The teen sitcom featured a new group of students, but still within the hall of the fictional Bayside High School.
Beavis and Butt-Head (1993 to 2011)
NSFW animated television series Beavis and Butt-Head follows a pair of teenage slackers named, well, Beavis and Butt-Head. It's created by Mike Judge, who also provides the voiceover in the show. Beavis and Butt-Head had eight seasons on MTV.
The X Files (1993 to 2002)
This sci-fi series started in the '90s and ran all the way until the 2000s. Its first nine seasons followed FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they try to investigate paranormal phenomena. The show was revived with a six-episode 10th season in 2016, then again with a 10-episode 11th season in 2018. The X-Files is the longest-running science fiction series in U.S. TV history.
The Nanny (1993 to 1999)
Think of The Nanny and you'll immediately remember Fran Drescher's one-of-a-kind voice. She plays the role of Fran Fine, a former cosmetics distributor who later becomes the nanny of three kids in a New York-British family. The Nanny started out with low ratings in its first year but later became one of the most successful TV shows in the mid-to-late '90s.
Frasier (1993 to 2004)
American TV sitcom Frasier ran for a total of 11 seasons and eventually came out with the spin-off Cheers. At the center of the story is psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), who comes home to Seattle after a failed marriage. He starts his new life alongside his father and retired detective Martin (John Mahoney).
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 to 1999)
The Star Trek media franchise started in 1966 with the debut television show Star Trek: The Original Series. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in particular, is set in the 24th century when Eart becomes part of a United Federation of Planets. The narrative focuses on space station Deep Space Nine with Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) at its helm.
Animaniacs (1993 to 1998)
If you watch an episode of Animaniacs now, you'll immediately notice how far cartoon-making has come. Animaniacs is formatted as a variety show with at least three short skits with different sets of characters and in-between segments. It is known for its slapstick comedy, satirical commentary, pop culture references, and catchphrases.
Slam Dunk (1993 to 1996)
Slam Dunk was originally a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue. It was later adapted into an anime television series that aired from 1993 to 1996. It premiered locally in 1995 with Tagalog dubs on ABC, now TV5. Slam Dunk follows the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent student who later joins the basketball team of Shohoku High School in Japan.
The long-awaited movie adaptation The First Slam Dunk was released in December 2022. The original Slam Dunk series can be streamed on Netflix.
* This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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