For every "Rugrats," "Doug," "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers," and "Even Stevens," there were plenty of shows airing in the 90s that have been mostly forgotten. While having conversations with my teen coworkers, I realized that a lot of my favorite childhood shows are completely obsolete. So here are my top 10 less well known shows from a 90s childhood (some are technically 80s shows that I watched in reruns, but were still available on tv in the 90s).
10. "The Busy World of Richard Scarry"
"The Busy World of Richard Scarry" ran from 1994 to 1997. It starred Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat and his family, Hilda Hippo, and the rest of the townsfolk in Busytown. Find the theme song here!
9. "Kidsongs"
This was a show about a group of kids who wanted to start their own television station created by kids for kids. It aired on PBS from 1994 to 1998. There were two aliens, Billy and Ruby Biggle, who helped them with the show. The kids made a bunch of music videos for nursery rhymes and kids' songs (ba dum tsh!). My only real memories of this show were that it was the first time I heard "Purple People Eater," "Down By the Bay," and "Wild Blue Yonder." It was cheesy and wholesome and perfect for my age group. Click here for the theme song.
8. "Eureeka's Castle"
"Eureeka's Castle" was about a sorceress named Eureeka and her friends. It aired on Nick from 1989 to 1995. Magellan the dragon was awesome and Bogge and Quagmire were bickering siblings who swam all the time and ate peanut butter sandwiches. They were basically as close a representation of my brother and me on television as we'll ever get. I was obsessed with any and all shows that used puppets in this style, so I loved Eureeka. Here's the theme song.
7. "Fraggle Rock"
This one is probably the most recognizable, but it's on here because it was one of my favorite shows period and it also was in reruns in the 90s', so it's possible it slipped under the radar of younger 90s' kids. "Fraggle Rock" aired from 1983 to 1987 on HBO and is a part of the Jim Henson universe. Jim Henson is probably the single most influential creator of my childhood, so of course I adored "Fraggle Rock." Fraggles were creatures who lived in caves and the show follows a group of 5 friends. There are giants outside who try to catch them and there are also small workers named Doozers who are always building. The theme song encourages you to "dance your cares away" and it's a motto I have kept with me into adulthood. Funnily enough, the base line in the theme song sounds eerily similar to the base line at the end of Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling."
6. "Lamb Chop's Play Along"
Lamb Chop was a puppet created by Shari Lewis in the 1960s, but "Lamb Chop's Play Along" aired from 1991 to 1997. Even though Lamb Chop was basically a sock puppet, I loved her. I had puppet dolls of her and her friends Hush Puppy and Charley Horse. Shari Lewis puppeteered all of the characters. The show is probably most notable for its ending theme song which was "The Song that Doesn't End" aka the song that every child used to annoy anyone around them. Shari Lewis, like Jim Henson, was a wonderful addition to kids' entertainment.
5. "Punky Brewster"
"Tiny Toon Adventures" ran from 1990 to 1993. It followed the students of famous Looney Toons- Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and company. Babs and Buster Bunny acted as hosts of the show as they got into mischief with their friends and the theme song was awesome.
3. "A Pup Named Scooby Doo"
"A Pup Named Scooby Doo" originally aired from 1988 to 1991 but was on television through the early 2000s. Mysteries are my favorite, so I loved Scooby Doo, and there's just something that made this iteration special. Whenever the monster chased the gang, they stopped to have a dance break and Fred always blamed an innocent kid named Red Herring (ha!). This show had all of the charm of the original Scooby Doo but with all of the characters in middle school. The theme song is here.
2. "Muppet Babies"
"Muppet Babies" ran from 1984 to 1991. Like "A Pup Named Scooby Doo," "Muppet Babies" takes the familiar characters of the Muppets and imagines what they were like when they were younger. The Muppet Babies use their imaginations to go on wild adventures when their Nanny, whose face is never shown, isn't in the room. This is also the only series in which Scooter's twin sister, Skeeter, exists. Fun fact: Dave Coulier, aka Joey from Full House, voiced many of the characters. Here is the theme song.
1. "Ghostwriter"
"Ghostwriter" aired on PBS from 1992 to 1995. I will talk up the awesomeness of this show forever because no one seems to remember it. There's a ghost that some kids find in an old book and it can't talk, but it communicates by writing. This ghost helps the kids solve mysteries. Usually a mystery played out in a 3 to 4 episode arc. There's an episode about a cyber bully in a chat room, and while it's cheesy now, watching Ghostwriter go into the internet was amazing back then. My favorite line is actually used in the theme and it's when they're trying to name the ghost. One kid goes "He's a ghost... and he writes to us. GHOSTWRITER," with a face that is so self-satisfied. It makes me laugh every time. Fun fact: A young Julia Stiles and Dule Hill both guest starred.
And since I can't resist.... 11. "The Puzzle Place"
Honestly, I forgot about this show until it was recommended on Youtube while searching for themes for this article. As soon as I heard the theme though, I instantaneously remembered most of the words. "The Puzzle Place" featured a very diverse group of children (puppets) who came together at the Puzzle Place. It ran from 1994 to 1998 on PBS.
So am I the only one who remembers most of these shows? Do I have to feel super old every time I talk about them? Let me know!
