Nerd Nostalgia: 90s Female Led TV Shows
My television viewing habits in the 90s featured quite a few shows that had interesting, quirky, and strong female leads. It didn’t really faze me at the time, but I was feeling nostalgic lately, and going back to watch some of my old favorites. That’s when it hit me… There were A LOT of female led shows in the 90s.
Clarissa Explains it All
This one was on at a time I didn’t really watch TV, and it ended right around the time I did start to get into TV shows. I’m not sure what drew me to this show, I suspect it’s quirkiness connected with me somehow, I just remember thinking Clarissa was cool.
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Everyone in the 90s loved Sabrina, and don’t believe them if they tell you they didn’t. I remember this playing as part of ABC’s TGIF show block, but this was the only show I truly cared about.
The Secret World of Alex Mack
Sometimes I think I am the only one who remembers this show, which lasted four seasons on Nickelodeon. So if you don’t know, this show was about a girl who gets contaminated by some secret chemical product, and develops powers as a result. She has to keep it a secret because the company responsible wants to experiment on her.
Sister Sister
This one was actually a little out of character for me to watch, because it was a “normal” sitcom, the things I watched usually had some sort of supernaturalish theme. But somehow this show drew me in, possibly because I had always wished I was a twin, and I thought it would be neat to discover I did have one.
Charmed
I was fascinated by things of the supernatural nature, and loved that a show about three witch sisters was coming to TV. I loved watching their adventures, whishing I had powers as well.
Xena Warrior Princess
How could I not want to watch a show about a strong warrior princess? Plus, there a Greek mythology theme, and I LOVED Geek mythology. I remember thinking Xena was just so amazing, and I wanted to be as strong as she was. I will think that way.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Before the show I had seen the movie, which I thought was silly fun, so of course I had to check out the show. I honestly didn’t except much form it though, but here I am all these years later, still in love with it, and rewatching it (either in it’s entirety, or just select episodes) every year.
So Weird
This one comes in at the very end of the 90s, so it still counts. I remember loving the idea of traveling around on a tour bus, with a rock star mom, and encountering paranormal phenomena along the way.
Sailor Moon
Like many girls in the 90s, I was obsessed with klutzy hero Sailor Moon, and loved meeting new sailor soldiers throughout the series. I still go back and rewatch it every now and then. (note: There are other female led 90s anime I watched, but I didn’t see them until the 90s were over, like The Slayers)
These were not the only female led shows of the 90s, the shows I focused on were just the ones I watched obsessively. Others from that decade included Moesha, Step by Step, The Nanny, Ally McBeal, and I am sure there are some I don’t know or forgot about.
