The ’90s ushered in some of thegreatest sitcoms of all time, that’s in large part due to iconic characters who still serve as examples of perfect protagonists. It’s rare to have the right script put into the hands of the ideal performer at the exact right moment, but the ’90s made these strokes of luck look commonplace, turning into a seminal decade for the sitcom subgenre.
With most of these sitcoms still trending high on streamers and cable, the stars of the ’90s are still celebrated today as younger viewers discover them for the first time. Funny, original, and timeless,these are the greatest ’90s sitcom protagonists. This list will rank them based on their importance to their respective series, comedic sensibilities, and how impactful they have been in popular culture.
10Daria Morgendorffer - ‘Daria’ (1997-2002)
Voiced by Tracy Grandstaff
Originallyappearing onBeavis and Butt-Head, Daria(Tracy Grandstaff) was a surprising choice to star in a spinoff that proved to be one of MTV’s best shows. Living in the town of Lawndale with her family, Daria attended school, hung out with her friend Jane (Wendy Hoopes), and patiently waited to be old enough to move out. Although she frequently embarrassed her sister Quinn, Daria’s social life was fairly busy for the five seasons the show was on the air.
Daria was anti-conformist by nature, but she also saw the value in groups enjoying common interests—her only request was not to participate. Daria represented the many young individuals growing up who didn’t feel like they fit into a particular group or were outcasts for liking unconventional things.Daria normalized being different, and that’s why she still resonates with new viewers today.
9Fran Fine - ‘The Nanny’ (1993-1999)
Played by Fran Drescher
Fran Fine (Fran Drescher)was the centerpiece of the CBS sitcomThe Nanny, which saw a down-on-her-luck woman fall into a job opportunity as a live-in nanny for a wealthy family.Fran was confident, sassy, and immensely watchableto viewers who fell in love with Drescher’s presence. Fans of the series found Fran to be a fashion icon of sorts, with elaborate and brightly colored outfits showcased in each episode of the sitcom.
As a vehicle for Drescher, the success ofThe Nannyrested almost solely on her shoulders, especially at the beginning. With a character as broad as Fran, there was the possibility of her personality being too abrasive for audiences to enjoy, butDrescher balanced the over-the-top sensibilities with enough heartto make the character endearing instead of off-putting. Her charm and likability wouldtakeThe Nannyto six seasonsand be one of CBS’ biggest comedy hits of the decade.
8Dan Conner - ‘Roseanne’ (1988-2018)
Played by John Goodman
While Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) was undoubtedly the star of the ABC sitcomRoseanne, her on-screen husband, Dan Conner (John Goodman), added a particular finishing touch of gravitas to make the show special. Roseanne was a popular stand-up comedian coming into the show, so she could nail the comic timing needed for the format, butit was Goodman who grounded the comedywith an equally authentic and hilarious performance.
Roseannestruggled for fresh ideas before Goodman took a reduced role on the show, buthis absence left a gaping hole in the sitcomthat showed how important he was to its success. When controversy ended Barr’s time with the revival seriesThe Conners, Goodman stepped into the lead of the spinoff,which would go on for six seasons.The ever-reliable John Goodmanhas enjoyed a fantastic and varied film career, but none of it would have been possible without his endearing turn as the Conner patriarch.
7Monica Geller - ‘Friends’ (1994-2004)
Played by Courteney Cox
All the characters onFriendsserve a different purpose. Chandler (Matthew Perry) was the humor, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) was the glamour, Ross (David Schwimmer) was… well,Ross was there, but the point is, Monica (Courteney Cox) was the heart.Monica played the role of mother hento her group of friends, offering them a brightly colored place to hang out and usually something freshly made to eat.
Monica was a nurturer in the show’s fiction, but as a performer, Cox played opposite the different colorful personalities of the cast and gave them perfect opportunities to shine. Monica made everyone around her look better, appear funnier, and all while still getting laughs for herself.Remove Monica, andFriendsloses the glue that bonds themall together. When Monica and Chandler become a couple, it becomes a highlight of the show because the audience can identify Monica deserves a happy ending.
6Murphy Brown ‘Murphy Brown’ (1998-2018)
Played by Candice Bergen
A funny but powerful voice for feminism on television,Murphy Brownwas a landmark show for its time.Candice Bergenplayed the titular character, Murphy Brown, a news anchor returning to work after a stint in rehab to treat her alcoholism. Throughout the series, Bergen’s performance as the tough but hard-working Murphy Brown would earn her five Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Murphy wasa groundbreaking character who dealt with real problemsuncommon for a sitcom. In the tenth season,Murphy battled breast cancer, a move that received praise from the American Cancer Society for raising public awareness of the topic. After the series ended in its tenth season, Murphy returned for a revival series in 2018 that lasted for one year. WhileMurphy Brownis not a fixture on streamers,the character’s legacy continuesin the following wave of career-minded women on TV it inspired.
Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown is currently unavailable for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
5Will Smith - ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ (1990-1996)
Played by Will Smith
Will Smith (Will Smith) may have had trouble adjusting to the world of Bel-Air, but the rapper-turned-actor seemingly had no problem adjusting to being a TV star.The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airturned Smith into a household name with his career-making performance as the charming and playfully mischievous Will.His exuberant friendliness and general excitementcame through in his performance and were infectious to viewers at home, who wanted to see more of the young actor.
It was clear very early on in the show’s run that a movie star was doing a TV show, and the world hadn’t caught up with his talent yet. Smith benefited from having experienced actors likeJames Averyas Uncle Phil andAlfonso Ribeiroas Carlton to learn from in his early acting role. Still,Smith’s charisma and presence made him shineeven whenThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwas very new and rough.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
4Dr. Frasier Crane - ‘Frasier’ (1993-2004)
Played by Kelsey Grammer
First appearing onCheersas an obstacle to Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelly Long) becoming a couple, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) quickly became a regular in the bar where everyone knew your name. Although Dr. Crane had developed a following on the long-running sitcom, there was no way to predict how excellenta spinoff starring Frasier would be. But after 11 seasons and 37 Emmys, there’s no doubt thatFrasierwill go down as one of the best sitcoms of all time.
Frasier is remembered as being primarily a blowhard, and he is; that is one of his primary flaws, buthe’s an ethical man who takes the work he does seriously. He’s tempted to find a way out of his estranged father, Martin (John Mahoney), living with him but still works at building a relationship with him. Frasier is a complicated character whose bad habits bleed over into his good, but that’s whatmakes this psychiatrist so relatable and funny.
3Elaine Benes - ‘Seinfeld’ (1989-1998)
Played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus
There’s an argument to give all four of theSeinfeldcharacters an entry here, but Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) stands out as thelone woman in a boy’s club who comes out looking tougher than the rest. She often proves to be the smartest in the group, using basic reasoning to fluster Kramer (Michael Richards) and enrage George (Jason Alexander). Elaine can be prone to outbursts and obsessions like the rest, but she seems more in control of her destiny.
Elaine Benes defies basic sitcom stereotypesas a uniquely grounded character in a heightened world.She doesn’t exist to be a love interest to another cast member, and thankfully, there’s no inclination to position her as such in later seasons when the temptation to do so for new plots increases. Louis-Dreyfus has gone on to have a legendary career in comedy, but Elaine will always be one of her crowning achievements as a performer.
2Chandler Bing - ‘Friends’ (1994-2004)
Played by Matthew Perry
Friendswas arguably the biggest sitcom of the ’90s, and it’s impossible to think ofthe show without Chandler Bing(Perry) firing his trademark one-liners to roaring applause. If it’s possible to be the comedic relief on a sitcom, Chandler was that character –a multipurpose joke machine that lifted the quality of any scenehe was in. Although Perry had a long career on many shows, the affable Chandler Bing will be his legacy toFriendsfans all over the world.
Chandler was written to be the funniest guy in the room, but it tookthe talent of Perry to make him charming and vulnerableat the same time. Chandler’s dry delivery was, in many ways, the voice of the show, making him an early fan favorite whenFriendstook over the U.S. in its first season. People might not have been getting their hair cut into “The Chandler,” but he was one of the primary reasons viewers were tuning in.
1Homer Simpson - ‘The Simpsons’ (1989-Present)
Voiced by Dan Castellaneta
Sweet, simple, and quick to anger, Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) has been on television for more than 30 years, and in that time, he’s gone on more adventures than possibly any other TV character in history. He makes mistakes, often of great magnitude, but he’sa loving father and husband who navigates the world with a simple moral compassthat eventually points him in the right direction.
Homer Simpson is not just the best protagonistof the 1990s;he’s one of the top five TV characters of all time. Even people who have quit watching new episodes ofThe Simpsonsand say the spark isn’t there anymore will still buy Homer figurines or pajama pants with his face on them. When a character is so popular and beloved that he transcends the show he’s on, there is no debate on the impact he has and will have on the future of all media and pop culture.
