From ‘Dinosaurs’ To ‘Bug Juice’–4 Nostalgic TV Shows You Totally Forgot Existed

I grew up in the 90s, which is the best decade to grow up in and I won’t be taking any other opinions at this time.

But seriously, the 90s and early 2000s were just so awesome and filled with so much nostalgia for so many of us. There was nothing quite like taking care of a Tamagotchi while drinking bug juice and wearing jelly sandals. Of all the memories I have of childhood, I also have so many memories that feel like a fever dream and that they weren’t even real until I talk to someone else that seemingly had the same childhood as me. It made me realize that I have forgotten more from my childhood, specifically movies and TV shows, than I remember. If you want a blast from the past and want to revel in your childhood nostalgia, check out this list and see if you remember any of these TV shows.

Dinosaurs (1991-1994)

I loved Dinosaurs. I definitely wanted to be a Paleontologist as a kid, so being able to watch a sitcom style show about dinosaurs was right up my alley. Dinosaurs is about the Sinclair family and how they’re growing up in a dinosaur suburbia. They face problems paying bills, going through puberty, self-expression, and anything else that a typical family would struggle with… just in dinosaur form. Dinosaurs can still be watched on Disney+. 

Smart Guy (1997-1999)

Smart Guy is heavily forgotten from when I was growing up. Starring Tahj Mowry as TJ Henderson, Smart Guy is about a 10-year-old genius who makes the violent jump from elementary school to high school and struggles with how to be older without actually being older. TJ never got to be a kid because of his intelligence, so he likely grew up to be a stressed out adult like the rest of us former gifted and talented kids. Smart Guy is still streaming on Disney+. 

My So-Called Life (1994-1995)

Oh, the angst of My So-Called Life. Claire Danes and Jared Leto starred in this show about a teenage girl trying to manage her social, love, and home life. Honestly, a lot of shows in the 90s were about just normal everyday things that we all dealt with. My So-Called Life definitely had the potential to be deeply relatable to the moody teenager getting through high school and not realizing how unserious and not tough life is at that time. My So-Called Life can still be watched on Hulu. 

Bug Juice (1998-2001)

Bug Juice might have been where my obsession with reality TV started. This docuseries followed the lives of children as they attended Camp Wazyiatah. The premise of the show is just to watch all the experiences of these kids at camp, between bonding with their peers, doing outdoor activities, eating in the cafeteria, and the struggle of being away from home. I truly think if this show had happened a little later, it would’ve been a bigger hit. Society just wasn’t into reality TV the way they are now quite yet. Bug Juice may only be able to be found on YouTube now.