Much like in cinema, television in the ‘90s proved to be a deeply influential and groundbreaking decade in Hollywood. Beloved shows likeTwin Peaks, Home Improvement,andThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwere all dominatingthe ratings and endlessly entertaining devoted viewers, with fans tuning in week-after-week to see what their favorite characters were up to.
During this time, such buzzed-about shows also had their final curtain calls and audiences said goodbye to beloved figures like Kevin Arnold, Michelle Tanner, and of course, Steve Urkel himself. The massively entertaining decade bid farewell to these adored programs and personalities, with manyleaving a lasting impacton the small screen that is still seen and felt today. Here are 12 of the best TV series finales of the ‘90s.
12Twin Peaks
Season 2, Episode 22: “Beyond Life and Death”
Twin Peaks
Lauded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time by critics and fans alike, David Lynch and Mark Frost’s spellbinding surreal dramaTwin Peaksran for two sensational seasons and memorably followedFBI Special Agent Dale Cooper(Kyle MacLachlan) as he headed to the mysterious Washington town to investigate the disturbing murder of beloved high school student and homecoming queen Laura Palmer.
As he looks deeper into the young woman’s death, Cooper begins to discover there is far more evil at play in the peculiar town than he could have ever even imagined.
Related:15 Best Reboots and Remakes of Canceled TV Shows, Ranked
A Jaw-Dropping Final Scene
In the unforgettable series finale that ended on a truly epic cliffhanger, Cooper faces off against the terrifying interdimensional demon Killer Bob after venturing into the Black Lodge in pursuit of his rogue partner Windom Earle. The last episode famously features Cooper’s doppelgänger smashing his head against a bathroom mirror and laughing maniacally, all the while mockingly asking “How’s Annie?”
“Beyond Life and Death"was watched by 10.4 million households in the United States and left fans completely stunned by the shocking turn of events, which were eventually explored in the 2017limited series revival.
11The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Season 6, Episode 24: “I, Done”
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith began his incredible journey to becoming one of Hollywood’smost celebrated leading menwhen he starred as a fictional version of himself in the beloved ’90s juggernaut sitcomThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which centered on the trouble-prone teen as he moves from West Philadelphia to the ritzy neighborhood of Bel-Air, California to live with his aunt and uncle after making some bad enemies in his hometown.
Will experiences a major culture shock as he attempts to acclimate to the opulent life the Banks family is used to, often leading to side-splitting misadventures that affect the whole clan.
Will’s Poignant & Difficult Goodbye
Featuring the additional talents of stars like James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Karyn Parsons, the fan-favorite sitcom ran for six seasons and served as a major career stepping stone for Smith, who swiftly transitioned to film during the tail-end of the show.
Devoted audiences were left reaching for a box of tissues as the Banks' said goodbye to their California mansion and prepared to move to New York City, while Will emotionally struggles with the life-altering monumental moments. The final shot of Will standing in the empty living room packed a serious punch for viewers, as they realized the zany family would no longer be on their screens.
Touting a stacked ensemble cast of brilliant performers including Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and Shelley Long, the long-running, widely adored sitcomCheerstook the world by storm as audiences were introduced to Boston bartender and proprietor Sam Malone, a notorious lothario and former Major League Baseball player who owns the titular bar where “everybody knows your name.”
Sam becomes close friends with a slew of eccentric characters while manning the legendary watering hole, with his prominenton-again/off-again romancewith cocktail waitress and graduate student Diane Chambers captivating fans.
Record-Setting Audiences Tune-In
In the highly-anticipated series finale"One for the Road”, Sam and Diane are reunited after the ambitious blonde had previously departed at the end of the fifth season, giving fans hope they would finally rekindle their romance. The concluding episode examines their compatibility (or lack thereof) and ultimately ends with the duo amicably going their separate ways, with Diane heading to California and Sam returning to Boston and his beloved bar.
The finale is the second-highest-rated series finale of all time and was watched by a whopping 80.4 million viewers, cementing its status as one of TV’s most iconic shows.
9The Golden Girls
Season 7, Episode 26: “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest”
The Golden Girls
Undeniably one of the small screen’s most wholesome and comforting shows of all time,The Golden Girlsfeatures the dazzling talents of Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty and focuses on a group of single, older ladies as they share a Miami home and navigate life and love while strengtheningtheir friendship and bond.
Audiences were completely enamored by the four dynamic women Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia and their fun and distinct personalities, with the universally popular sitcom running for seven seasons and winning three Golden Globes during its tenure.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Fans ofthe vivacious ladiestook great pleasure in watching them live their day-to-day lives as they faced a colorful array of problems involving men, family, personal ethics, and of course, their own friendships.
When it was time to say goodbye to the extraordinary girls, viewers tuned in for one final episode and watched as Dorothy prepared to move out of the Miami home after accepting a marriage proposal. The four cherished characters shared a powerful and deeply touching hug with one another (that was hilariously prolonged) in the final scene, proving once again just how unparalleled their connection truly was.
8Dinosaurs
Season 4, Episode 14: “Scent of a Reptile”
The criminally underrated and delightfully wacky ’90s gemDinosaurswas developed by the one and only Jim Henson and took place in 60,000,000 BC in Pangaea, where the anthropomorphic Sinclair family resided and attempted to find happiness and success in a seemingly modern world.
The unique series tackled a slew of topical issues including women’s rights, environmentalism, and body image throughout its four seasons, and the characters often broke the fourth wall and addressed audiences during the hilarious episodes.
A Startlingly Dreary Grand Finale
Despite being a typically light-hearted and goofy sitcom, the series finale of the comedy shocked audiences with its deeply dark and depressing tone, as the actions of the dinosaurs ultimately causes an Ice Age to ensue because of their actionsagainst the environment,thus leading to their extinction.
Co-creatorMichael Jacobs wanted to"make the episode to be educational to the audience. The show would end by completing the metaphor and showing that extinction.“Dinosaursremains an entertaining and wonderfully weird viewing experience, winning both an Emmy and three Environmental Media Awards during its run.Stream on Disney+
7Family Matters
Season 9, Episode 22: “Lost in Space Part 2”
Family Matters
Jaleel White became a household name when he starred as the ultimate pesky neighbor Steve Urkel, famously donning suspenders and oversized glasses while portraying the nerdy character in the sitcomFamily Matters.
The series revolves around the Winslows, a hard-working, African-American family who lives in Chicago and find themselves constantly dealing with the persistent Urkel and the many hijinks and headaches the geeky young man inadvertently causes for them. Urkel is constantly at odds with patriarch Carl (Reginald VelJohnson) while pining for the object of his affection Laura Lee Winslow.
Related:These Are Some of the Best Black Sitcoms of All Time
Urkel’s Persistence Pays Off
With 9 seasons and 215 episodes,Family Matterswas the second-longest-running live-action sitcom in the United States at the time, with White’s Urkel surprisingly becoming the show’s breakout character after joining midway through the first season. Urkel finally gets the girl after years of pursuing Laura Lee, with the legendary TV nerd returning home after being lost in space during a NASA mission.
Audiences cheered as the two characters shared a long-awaited kiss, and both Urkel and the Winslows' story finally came to a close after the sitcom helped become a trailblazing comedy in the world of television.
Season 8, Episode 24: “The Last Newhart”
Revered comedian and actor Bob Newhart starred alongside Mary Frann in the aptly named sitcomNewhart, following married couple Dick and Joanna Loudon as they say goodbye to New York City and head to a rural Vermont town to run a 200-year-old Stratford Inn. A travel book and do-it-yourself author, Dick eventually finds further success as a host for a local TV show and subsequently becomes surrounded by the town’s eccentric oddballs, many of who work and stay at the popular inn.
Newhart’s Exceptional Plot Twist
A critically acclaimed hit that dominated in the ratings during its 8 seasons,Newhartwas nominated for 25 Emmy Awards yet somehow never took home the coveted accolade. Regardless, its distinct series finale has been lauded as one of the most memorable in all of TV history, with the Loudons becoming the only people in the town who refuse to sell their land to developers.
In amassive plot twist, it is revealed that the series was actually just a dream Dr. Robert Hartley (Newhart’s character inThe Bob Newhart Show) had, with his former co-star and on-screen wife Suzanne Pleshette also appearing in the sequence.
5Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 7, Episode 26: “All Good Things…”
The third TV series in the groundbreaking sci-fi franchise,Star Trek: The Next Generationtakes place nearly a century after Captain Kirk embarked upon his wondrous five-year mission and introduced passionate fans to fascinating new characters includingCaptain Jean-Luc Picard(Patrick Stewart), Data (Brent Spiner), and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) as they explore the Beta and Alpha quadrant in the galaxy.
The new and dynamic Starfleet crew experience exciting adventures as they venture deeper into space and once again boldly go where no one has gone before.
Star Trek Continues Its TV Reign
During its 7 seasons,The Next Generationcontinued to capitalize on the success ofthe spellbinding franchiseand was the recipient of countless accolades like 19 Emmys, six Saturn Awards, and a Peabody, while averaging around 20 million viewers per episode.
Its series finale"All Good Things…“attracted an audience of over 30 million viewers, with the last installment focusing on Picard as he seemingly protected humanity from destruction, though it is later revealed to have been a test by Q. Picard memorably sits down for the first time to join the card game, in what has since been described as a truly poignant moment forTNG.
4Home Improvement
Home Improvement
Inspired by Tim Allen’s stand-up comedy routine, the popular sitcomHome Improvementcenters on the everyday lives of Detroit family the Taylors, as the tool-loving, car aficionado Tim and his spirited wife Jill attempt to raise their three very rambunctious sons Brad, Randy, and Mark while the patriarch also hosts his own handyman TV show calledTool Time. Tim is constantly causing sidesplitting accidents and hijinks both on-set and off, testing not only the patience of Jill but also his calm and level-headed co-host Al.
A ’90s Favorite Bids Farewell
Home Improvementeffectively launchedAllen’s Hollywood careerand swiftly became one of the most-watched sitcoms of the decade in the United States, with fans tuning in week-after-week to see what kind of trouble Tim would get into in the sitcom.
In"The Long and Winding Road,“Tim and Al host what they believe to be the final episode ofTool Timewhile entertaining other career opportunities, as Tim is surprisingly willing to give up his TV show so that Jill can finally pursue her own ambitions and dreams. The endearing last entry attracted 35.53 million viewers and helped the show go out on a high note after 8 seasons.
3Sister, Sister
Season 6, Episode 22: “Fly Away Home”
Sister, Sister
Ultimate dynamic duo Tia and Tamera Mowry captured the hearts of audiences everywhere when they played twin sisters who were separated at birth and later reunited as teenagers in the family-friendly sitcomSister, Sister.
When the studious Tia Landry meets wild child Tamera Campbell unexpectedly at a shopping mall, the long-lost siblings make it their mission to stay together after years of being apart and their respective parents Lisa and Ray end up allowing the girls to live in one household, with the two becoming a blended family.
A Delightful Full-Circle Moment
Jackée” Harry and Tim Reid were excellent as the twins' doting parents, while Marques Houston appeared as the siblings' love-lorn neighbor Roger, who has a passionate crush on the two girls. After being canceled by ABC after two seasons,Sister, Sisterwas saved by The WB where it ran for four additional seasons, much to the delight of devoted fans of the sitcom and twins.
The last episode of the series featured a full-circle moment where the girls returned to the same store they first met in years before, as they emotionally prepared to be separated for the summer with both Tia and Tamera following exciting opportunities for themselves.
