Top 10 Teen Shows You Forgot Were Awesome

Who didn’t love the “Sweet Valley High” books growing up? While this TV show about beautiful twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield was only loosely based on the series, it still brought all the high school theatrics. This included your typical homecoming queen battle between sisters, to kidnappings by an orderly – which would make anyone reconsider their volunteer hours at the local hospital. You could always count on this show to fulfill all your teen drama needs. But airing during the same period as other popular California-based teen shows like “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Sweet Valley High” doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.

High school sure ain’t easy – especially if you’re trying to be popular. Just ask Karma and Amy, two best friends at Hester High School who pretend to be a lesbian couple in order to gain attention and acceptance amongst their peers. The show is hilarious right from the start as Karma and Amy – or Karmy as fans call them – are nominated to be homecoming queens, much to the dismay of Amy’s soon-to-be stepsister Lauren. Plus, the introduction of Karma’s crush, Liam, adds plenty of drama as the girls try to keep the secret that they are just “faking it.” Even after their secret is exposed, the show keeps viewers invested with the subsequent fallout from their decisions, as well as some new feelings that emerge.

There are a lot of serious topics you can tackle in a teen show, but early 90s sitcom “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” brought some much needed lightheartedness to the table. The series is often compared to “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Just like Ferris Bueller, Parker Lewis is popular and suave. He can practically get away with anything. Nothing can stand in his way. But if he does encounter a problem, you’ll hear him quip “not a problem.” One of the best episodes of this show was actually when our handsome lead just couldn’t catch a break. In a fun twist, the season one finale was called “Parker Lewis Can’t Win,” and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

Arguably no one displayed more teen angst than Caitlin Seeger in this Nickelodeon series from the early 2000s. The show was about a 14-year-old amateur photographer from Philadelphia who moves to Montana to live with distant relatives after getting charged with theft. Of course, Caitlin experiences some serious culture shock as she adjusts to life on a ranch. But things begin to change – and old wounds begin to heal – when a wild horse saves Caitlin from a wolf. And while Caitlin finally begins to make a new home after jumping from foster to foster, she never loses that attitude that made you fall in love with her in the first place.

“Clone High” is almost like “Daria” meets “Dawson’s Creek”... but with historical figures. Does that make sense? The animated series was about scientists who used DNA from dead famous figures to create clones of them. “Clone High” revolved around Cleopatra, Abe Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Gandhi, and JFK. Abe and JFK both have the hots for Cleo. Joan is in love with Abe, but he’s oblivious. As for Gandhi…well, he’ll do anything to try to fit in and be liked. Then there’s the “Secret Board of Shadowy Figures” and an insane principal who has his own secret. Though the original series was canceled in 2003, receiving some backlash for its Gandhi character, its subsequent cult status has led to the production of a 2023 revival.

Before “Skins” and “My Mad Fat Diary,” there was “As If.” The series followed a group of friends living in London who each have their own set of problems, like Rob whose had a violent past. Then there is Sooz, who has mental health problems, and Nikki, who has a reputation as a boyfriend stealer. The crew is constantly at odds. And since they are a good-looking group, they even swap partners at some point. But someone is always seemingly cheating on someone, and that fueled a lot of the drama throughout the four seasons it ran on the air.

“The Facts of Life” found so much success on its own that it’s easy to forget that it was actually a spinoff. Set at an all-girls boarding school in Peekskill, New York, this sitcom was full of laughs. But it also tackled some pretty serious issues – which was very controversial at the time. However, it was the way that the series went around these tough topics that provided so many great life lessons. The season three episode in which a procurer and a sex worker attempt to pick up Tootie will have you yelling at your screen every viewing. And then there’s the season nine episode when Natalie loses her virginity to her boyfriend. “The Facts of Life” is a classic that stands the test of time.

Ryan Murphy has created some epic TV shows throughout the years, like “Nip/Tuck” and “American Horror Story.” His first series might surprise you though. Murphy co-created “Popular,” a teen comedy about two rival girls, popular cheerleader Brooke and unpopular school newspaper reporter Sam, who find themselves forced together when their single parents get engaged. The plot is pretty predictable. Brooke and Sam try to break up their parents, but end up being friends. However, it’s still filled with all the high school drama you could ask for. And while we don’t want to spoil anything for those that haven’t watched yet, the series finale is a total jaw dropper.

“Breaker High” is a total throwback. This teen comedy, which starred a young Ryan Gosling, is like no other on our list. Why? Well, it’s set on none other than a cruise ship! Although it only ran for one season, the kids of “Breaker High” went all over, from Japan to Switzerland. Shenanigans always ensued, like the time when some of the girls thought they would be spending the weekend at a spa, but ended up at a Buddhist monastery. Or when Gosling’s Sean and his buddy Jimmy got a Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace to chug a pack of Yoo-hoo. “Breaker High” was a fun and goofy show that was sure to lighten any mood.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Just Deal” (2000-02)
Who Didn’t Love the TNBC Lineup on Saturday Mornings?

“Malibu Shores” (1996)
Sign Us up for Any TV Series Starring Keri Russell

“Square Pegs” (1982-83)
It’s Truly Funny How Realistic This Sitcom’s Portrayal of Teen Life Was

Before you could stream an episode anytime and any place, you had to make sure you were in front of your TV at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays to watch “Felicity.” The series followed recent high school grad Felicity Porter as she abruptly changed her college plans in order to follow her crush Ben Covington to New York. Enter Resident Advisor Noel Crane and you’ve got one of the most talked about TV love triangles of all time. The first season had such a great buildup as Felicity pined over Ben while trying to move on with Noel. And when Felicity had to make a decision between the two… let’s just say that some fans are still bitter over who she ended up with.