Once-popular TV shows everyone has totally forgotten about

Craig T. Nelson and company starred in the sitcom ‘90s Coach for just under 200 episodes - an impressive feat for a TV show of any genre. But it seems to be one of the least-remembered sitcoms of its decade. 

HBO puts out so many good shows that they can’t possibly all be remembered. Tragically, that has left some shows, like Oz, to fade into relative obscurity. 

Picket Fences was a drama series that aired in the ‘90s. Actors like Holly Marie Combs and Kathy Baker were part of the cast, and it won an impressive 14 Emmy Awards during its four-season run. But it’s not talked about decades later, and it doesn’t have a permanent streaming home. 

Moonlighting was a comedy series that ran in the ‘80s. It starred Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, which should be enough to keep its memory alive. But not even its six Emmys have helped it stand the test of time. 

Are You Being Served? was one of the U.K.’s finest comedic outputs of the ‘70s. It followed the foibles of a department store's staff in London and was absolutely hysterical. But it didn’t retain cultural relevance the way some of its contemporaries did. 

Bob Newhart is remembered plenty, but for some reason, his eponymous sitcom isn’t talked about the way other ‘80s sitcoms are. The show was on for eight seasons and garnered an astonishing 25 Emmy nominations. 

When it comes to Growing Pains, it seems that the only time it’s mentioned is when someone’s discussing Leonardo DiCaprio’s early career. In reality, DiCaprio was only on the show for two seasons, but he might be the most prominent part of the show’s legacy. 

The Red Green Show ran for literally 305 episodes. It was on television for 15 years, but its legacy has seemingly disappeared. 

If you rewatch 30 Rock, you’ll eventually come across an episode dedicated to Murphy Brown. Liz Lemon has remembered the Candice Bergen-led sitcom, but it seems that not many others have. 

There have been many great medical dramas on television, but a few of them have faded into the background of the genre. One such series is St. Elsewhere. Despite having an epic cast, a long run, and an eye-popping 13 Emmys, the show doesn’t have as much notoriety as E.R., House, or other similar shows from the past. 

The name of this show alone should stick in our collective memories, but Just Shoot Me! didn’t have much staying power. There were just too many good sitcoms on at the time - not all of them could be remembered. 

3rd Rock from the Sun had a great run. It won eight Emmys and lasted just shy of 140 episodes. It had a great cast, too, but it’s overshadowed by shows like Friends, Frasier, and other sitcoms of its era. 

Party of Five had an iconic ‘90s cast. Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell, Lacy Chabert, and Jennifer Love Hewitt were all cast in the drama, and they need to have some sort of reunion so the show can have a renaissance. 

Ed was a highly-rated dramedy in the early ‘00s. It ran for a few seasons and racked up some Emmy nominations. But it’s all but disappeared from TV history. It can’t even be rented on streaming services. 

Tales from the Crypt was like Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?, but for adults. But both the latter series are more culturally relevant today than the former. Like Ed, Tales from the Crypt can’t be rented on streaming services. 

Six Feet Under might’ve been too good for its own good. It was on HBO at the same time as The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, and other lauded series, but it doesn’t have quite as much relevance today as its network mates. 

Thirtysomething had a huge following in the late ‘80s and won a whopping 13 Emmy Awards during its run. But it’s another series that has been lost in TV history. 

Any time you think you’ve run out of shows to watch, remember that there are dozens and dozens from the past that you haven’t seen, and maybe haven’t heard of. Like Wings, for example, a sitcom from the ‘90s that was popular in its day but hasn’t been remembered as much as others from that decade. 

Dallas filmed 356 episodes. These days, we’re lucky to get 30 from one of our favorite shows, and it usually takes about six years to get those 30 episodes. Despite its popularity, Dallas doesn’t get talked about as much as other soap operas from that era. 

L.A. Law aired in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and people loved it when it was on. But despite its several Emmys and all-star cast, the show hasn’t managed to remain as relevant as other legal dramas.