Join us on a nostalgic journey through television history as we explore the most iconic TV shows that have stood the test of time. From animated classics to groundbreaking dramas, these series continue to captivate audiences 25 years later, proving that great storytelling is truly timeless.
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00:00Today isn't just any other day. It's my first day. I'm the man."
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at TV shows that are now 25 years old,
00:10and that have held up incredibly well. In order to honor more iconic shows,
00:14the show doesn't have to be exactly 25 years old. We'll be giving a one-year
00:18leeway on both sides, which means the shows had to be released between 1999 and 2001.
00:24We in it shall be remembered. We lucky few. We band of brothers.
00:33Spongebob Squarepants
00:35I'll just keep you back here until Patrick finishes that stable I asked him to build.
00:41Only eight more hours.
00:43In case you couldn't tell from the endless memes, Spongebob Squarepants still has incredible staying
00:48power. The 15th season of the show aired in 2024, with the show having continued after the
00:54tragic death of creator Steven Hillenburg in 2018. Thanks to its timeless appeal, effortless ability
01:00to bridge age gaps, and razor-sharp writing, Spongebob Squarepants is just as fresh today
01:05as it was on May 1st, 1999. People who were raised on the show in the early 2000s are now
01:11raising their own children and introducing them to the yellow sponge, ensuring his legacy for
01:15generations to come. I don't need it. I don't need it. I don't need it. I don't need it.
01:27I need it! Smallville
01:31Sweetheart, we can't keep him. We're gonna tell people we found him out in the field.
01:37Spanning nearly the entire 2000s, Smallville expertly blends coming-of-age teen drama with
01:42superhero origin story. The superhero, of course, is Superman, with Tom Welling playing a young Clark
01:48Kent. The 21st century has been inundated with superhero shows, whether it's the dramas found
01:53over on Disney+, or the Arrowverse that enjoyed huge ratings on the CW. And despite now being
01:59over 20 years old, Smallville can proudly stand with the best of them, with a great overarching
02:04story and a strong cast. It works for both die-hard Superman fans and for anyone who just
02:10wants an enjoyable coming-of-age story. Farscape
02:27Once the anchor series on the SyFy channel, Farscape has been mostly forgotten as we progress
02:32further into the new millennium. But for a minute there, it was the best piece of science fiction
02:37on TV, and for our money, it is still well worth watching. The show has a lot in common with
02:42Firefly, being focused on space travel and starring a gang of ragtag outlaws, including a protagonist
02:48who is constantly referencing pop culture. The show has a dense mythology that can be endlessly
02:53studied, not to mention some amazing practical effects and puppetry that still looks great to
02:58this day. Black Books We're heading across the pond for Black Books, which is easily one of the
03:12most successful British sitcoms of the early 2000s. Created by Dylan Moran and a pre-IT crowd
03:17Graham Linehan, it follows the life of a misanthropic bookshop owner named Bernard Black. Bernard has
03:23classic odd-couple chemistry with shop assistant Manny Bianco, and the series thrives on
03:28unpredictability, especially when it comes to its wide variety of comedic styles. Wordplay, pratfalls,
03:34absurd scenarios, it's all here. Add a cozy setting and relatable theme surrounding work and social
03:40awkwardness, and you have yourself a classic British sitcom. Alias
03:58It's the show that made Jennifer Garner a star. She plays Sydney Bristow, a CIA agent working as
04:06a mole inside the criminal organization SD6. The show was created by J.J. Abrams, so you know
04:12exactly what you're gonna get. Lots of tantalizing mystery, fun sci-fi twists, great cliffhangers,
04:18and thrilling action sequences that were unlike anything on network TV at the time.
04:22Garner is also excellent as Sydney, with her physicality and vulnerability creating a relatable
04:28yet formidable character. Despite being a long network show, its character-driven narratives
04:33and serialized structure make it perfect for the binging age.
04:36You ever try this one? I think it's too light for me, what do you think?
04:41It's pretty on you. Thanks.
04:49Take any male millennial off the street, and chances are that he was a fan of Jackass.
04:54These guys defined a generation, and with nothing more than sheer charisma,
04:58some cheap cameras, and a boundless imagination. It's quite quaint going back to the show after
05:02watching the movies, as there is virtually zero production value to speak of, but that's part of
05:08that 2000 MTV magic. It's just a bunch of silly dudes having fun with their friends, and that
05:13is timeless. We'll probably never get a TV show like this again, so let's appreciate its place
05:19in history, and run a shopping cart into a curb for old time's sake.
05:22I want you to punch me in the face one second prior to takeoff so it softens the blow.
05:33Samurai Jack
05:45The winner of eight Primetime Emmy awards, Samurai Jack is undeniably one of the best
05:50animated shows of all time. This thing has it all, heart, humor, and some great action.
05:56The show is visually stunning, using a minimalist yet highly stylized art style that is now
06:01instantly recognizable and totally iconic. It also excels in episodic storytelling,
06:06which is slowly becoming a rarity in today's age of binging and serialization.
06:11And man, the music and sound design remain top tier. We don't know how they did it.
06:16Samurai Jack is a stone-cold classic, and many of its elements remain unmatched.
06:30Batman Beyond
06:31Let's put a smile on his face.
06:33Leave him alone.
06:38And get off my property. You're trespassing.
06:42And if you want another fantastic piece of animation, may we veer you towards Batman Beyond.
06:47The show's ability to balance tones and bridge age gaps is frankly astounding,
06:51with fun superhero elements for kids and dark mature storytelling for the adults.
06:56The city of Neo-Gotham is also wonderfully unique and visually striking with both cyberpunk
07:01and noir aesthetics, allowing the show to stand apart from its many, many contemporaries.
07:06Yes, it shows some minor signs of aging, but hey, that's in keeping with the story's larger themes,
07:10and it only makes them that much more impactful.
07:22Trailer Park Boys
07:32At this point, we don't know why Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles aren't on the Canadian currency.
07:38A national institution, Trailer Park Boys is arguably the most popular sitcom to come out of
07:43the Great White North, following the animated inhabitants of the Sunnyvale Trailer Park.
07:48The show is every bit as funny as it was in 2001. In fact, its inventive mockumentary style
07:53has aged remarkably well considering the proliferation and popularity of the genre.
07:57This is a little less family-friendly than shows like The Office and Parks and Rec,
08:01but just as gut-busting. F&A, bud, this is a good one.
08:09One Piece
08:17If you haven't already, we don't recommend starting One Piece from the beginning.
08:22Well, we do recommend it because it's an awesome show, but it is a heck of a time commitment,
08:26so, you know, clear your calendar. The show has aired over 1,100 episodes and is still going
08:32strong, like a jacked grandfather. The world-building is second to none, with deep lore
08:38that can be studied and discussed for days on end. Of course, the overarching story is also
08:43excellent, with great characters, fun mysteries, and limitless imagination, and the fact that its
08:48quality has remained consistent is nothing short of remarkable. Queer as Folk
08:57Based on the UK series of the same name, Queer as Folk follows five gay men from Pittsburgh.
09:10It aired at a time when LGBTQ plus rights were still a hotly debated issue, helping pave the
09:15way for cultural acceptance and pushing boundaries with its bold portrayal of sexuality. It not only
09:21forced mainstream audiences to confront their biases and assumptions, it also offered a raw
09:26and unapologetic depiction of gay life. Of course, it wasn't just representation for the sake
09:31of it. The characters are relatable and their journeys compelling, making Queer as Folk a
09:35genuinely great show, even divorced from its groundbreaking cultural implications.
09:45Spaced
09:56Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright are big names today, but that wasn't the case in 1999.
10:06It was then that they released a little show called Spaced, and it helped launch their careers
10:10into the stratosphere. The plot concerns two 20-something strangers pretending to be a couple
10:15in order to rent a flat, but that's just an excuse to get into various Peggian shenanigans.
10:19Pop culture references abound, and Wright films the sitcom with a cinematic flair,
10:24offering turn-of-the-century viewers a glimpse of his creative genius.
10:27It was only a taste of things to come.
10:43The West Wing
10:44While it aired on NBC, The West Wing is a prestige cable drama through and through.
10:55This political drama is set primarily in the White House during the presidential run of Josiah
10:59Bartlett, following the lives of the president and his executive branch. Actors like Martin Sheen,
11:04Allison Janney, and Rob Lowe brought a Hollywood flair to the network drama,
11:08which at the time was virtually unheard of. The writing of Aaron Sorkin is also timeless,
11:13with the show being known for its razor-sharp dialogue and intricate plots.
11:17It is undeniably one of the greatest political dramas of all time,
11:21and probably the most revolutionary.
11:37Gilmore Girls
11:44While it was never a huge hit during its original run,
11:52Gilmore Girls has become a bona fide cult classic. Its idyllic small-town atmosphere
11:57and quirky characters prove very comforting, which is a balm in our time of uncertainty and anxiety.
12:03Alexis Bledel and Melissa McCarthy went on to become huge stars,
12:06so curious viewers wish to see where it all began. And finally, the show is very
12:11multi-generational, with the theme being built into the plot. It's a tradition for mothers to
12:16watch Gilmore Girls with their teenage daughters, ensuring a generational bridge that has endured
12:20throughout the last quarter-century. Malcolm in the Middle
12:41Nowadays, it's common to see a single-camera sitcom without a laugh track,
12:51but that was not the case back in 2000 when Malcolm in the Middle aired to great acclaim.
12:56Its filming style proved revolutionary and helped pave the way for successive sitcoms,
13:01eventually leading to the likes of The Office and Modern Family.
13:04But style aside, the show is also gut-bustingly hilarious,
13:08with fantastic characters and an authentic working-class family atmosphere.
13:12It made Frankie Muniz a star, and Bryan Cranston's Hal has to be one of the best
13:17characters in sitcom history. Curb Your Enthusiasm
13:38Shortly after leaving Seinfeld, Larry David created Curb Your Enthusiasm,
13:42which, if nothing else, gave us a brilliant meme. David stars as a fictionalized version of himself,
13:48often getting into heated arguments and horribly awkward social scenarios based on gross
13:53misunderstandings. It's like a darker and meaner Seinfeld, which makes sense considering it aired
13:58on HBO. The show's humor and writing continues to draw acclaim, and its celebrity guest cameos,
14:03most of which were entirely improvised, simply never get old. And with a fearless approach to
14:09taboo topics, Curb Your Enthusiasm has long endured in the cultural conversation.
14:14In 2025, 24 turns 24 years old.
14:44And there is still no other TV show like it. The story follows federal agent Jack Bauer as
14:49he battles various terrorist organizations and threats like bombs, cyber warfare,
14:54and presidential assassinations. He's one of the most iconic characters in TV history,
14:58with his unrelenting determination and moral ambiguity making him both heroic and deeply
15:03flawed. He is one of the OG antiheroes of television. And the show's format remains
15:09innovative a quarter century later, with each season unfolding in real time and utilizing split
15:14screens to weave together multiple concurrent storylines. It's brilliant stuff.
15:28Family Guy
15:29It was January 31st, 1999, and 83 million people had just watched the Broncos defeat the Falcons
15:42in Super Bowl XXXIII. 22 million then stuck around to watch a little new show called Family Guy.
15:48Of course, you now know this show as the cultural behemoth that it became.
15:52Like its obvious influence The Simpsons, opinion remains divided on newer seasons of Family Guy,
15:58but most people find that it is still well worth watching, even now 26 full years into its run.
16:04As for the first four or five seasons, they remain some of the best animated comedy in
16:09television history. Futurama
16:28Just two months after Family Guy premiered, another iconic animated sitcom was born.
16:37This, of course, is Futurama, created by none other than Matt Groening of Simpsons fame.
16:42The show takes place 1,000 years in the future, after pizza delivery man Philip J. Fry gets
16:47reawakened from cryogenic sleep. Futurama was never the cultural phenomenon that The Simpsons was,
16:52but it still held its own with a unique setting, fun characters, and that signature Groening-esque
16:57satire. The memes that sprouted from the show are unparalleled, and they speak to the cultural
17:03influence that Futurama has had on multiple generations of fans. Freaks and Geeks
17:18It's amazing how just one season of TV can alter the course of pop culture.
17:30John Francis Daly, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, you know these names,
17:37and it's all thanks to a little show that came and went on NBC called Freaks and Geeks.
17:41The cast is absolutely stacked, and one could certainly argue that it's the most iconic cast
17:46in television history, at least in terms of creating future stars. And even if they didn't
17:51become Hollywood royalty, the show would still hold up incredibly well thanks to its rich writing,
17:55mature storylines, and realistic glimpse into high school life.
18:13Scrubs
18:16A lot of sitcoms from the 2000s have not aged particularly well,
18:26but that is not the case with Scrubs. The lack of a laugh track certainly helps,
18:31as does the show's style, which still hasn't been replicated. It is a genius mix of goofy comedy
18:36and hard-hitting drama, of both the personal and medical variety, and the show has a rather
18:41unique atmosphere with its use of voiceover and surreal cutaways. The cast is also brilliant,
18:47with Zach Braff in particular becoming a major star and earning three Golden Globe nominations.
18:52Medical shows are a dime a dozen, but there has never been anything quite like Scrubs.
19:05The Office
19:12It's the show that started a phenomenon. Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant,
19:23the show is a masterpiece of cringe comedy, and is undeniably one of the best British sitcoms
19:28in television history. While it's much darker than its American counterpart, it is still
19:33breathtakingly funny, with astonishing performances, clever camera work, and sensational writing from
19:39Gervais and Merchant. Sometimes we forget we're watching a show, so realistic is its style and
19:44technique. David Brent may be one of the most complicated protagonists in sitcom history,
19:49but he sure makes for good television, and Gervais plays him to perfection.
19:53Six Feet Under
20:13As you can probably tell from its title, Six Feet Under is obsessed with death.
20:18A mix of black comedy and psychological drama, it follows the owners of a Los Angeles funeral home,
20:23their family drama, and their profound interactions with grieving individuals.
20:27It's a very dark show, but it has a lot of smart and interesting things to say about mortality and
20:32the meaning of life. Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan Ball proves an adept showrunner, bringing
20:37a writing quality to TV that was revolutionary for the time. And man, that series finale drops
20:43the mic harder than any drama before or since. Band of Brothers
21:13Many people make re-watching Band of Brothers an annual tradition,
21:19often around Veterans Day or Christmas, and it speaks to the show's incredible staying power.
21:24Following Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg teamed up again to create this
21:28historical epic following Easy Company in the European theater of World War II.
21:32Band of Brothers is one of the best war dramas ever made, containing a remarkable cast of huge
21:37stars, a deeply emotional storyline, and some of the best production values in television history.
21:43It is remarkable how well the show holds up, and it deserves every second of its annual re-watchings.
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22:23The Sopranos
22:24Television changed forever on the night of January 10, 1999. The second James Gandolfini
22:48sat down opposite Lorraine Bracco, we knew we were watching something different.
22:52The acting was impeccable, the writing flawless, the themes it was speaking on universal and
22:58relatable. And that's just the first five minutes. What followed is one of the greatest and certainly
23:03the most influential dramas in TV history, changing the course of the medium forever.
23:08And legacy aside, The Sopranos is just as fresh, funny and hard-hitting today as it was 26 years
23:14ago. And now, everyone knows what Gabagool is. There may be no better legacy.
23:22Can you believe these shows are now 25 years old? Let us know in the comments below.
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