The Best 1990s CBS Dramas, Ranked
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Vote up your favorite CBS dramas that aired on TV in the '90s
- 1Angela LansburySet against the picturesque backdrop of Cabot Cove, Maine, Murder, She Wrote revolves around the intriguing life of mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). The series, which garnered multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, artfully combines elements of mystery, suspense, and drama. Each episode cleverly unveils a new whodunit, as Jessica's keen observation skills and crime-solving prowess are put to the test. With an ensemble cast that includes recurring guest stars of notable caliber, the show keeps its viewers on the edge of their seats while weaving a tapestry of engaging narratives.More Murder, She Wrote
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- 2Jane Seymour, Joe Lando, John SchneiderDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is a Western drama series that follows the story of Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn (Jane Seymour), a strong-willed physician who leaves her comfortable life in Boston to set up a practice in the frontier town of Colorado Springs during the late 19th century. Facing gender prejudices and the challenges of frontier life, Dr. Quinn earns the trust of the locals and becomes a pillar of the community. The show addresses themes such as social reform, prejudice, and morality. The series also features personal relationships, including Dr. Quinn's romance with Byron Sully (Joe Lando). The series was well-received for its progressive portrayal of women and won several awards, including a Golden Globe for Seymour's performance.
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- 3Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, John CorbettSet against the picturesque backdrop of a remote Alaskan town, Northern Exposure offers a charming and witty exploration of life's idiosyncrasies. The show follows the journey of Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow), a New York City physician who finds himself practicing medicine in the quirky community of Cicely. Boasting an ensemble cast that brings the town's eccentric residents to life, the series delves into themes of culture shock, personal growth, and the search for love and meaning. With its unique blend of humor, drama, and memorable storylines, Northern Exposure garnered critical acclaim, earning multiple Emmy Award nominations and wins throughout its six-season run.More Northern Exposure
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- 4Carroll O'Connor, Howard E. Rollins, Anne-Marie JohnsonInvestigators tackle difficult cases.More In the Heat of the Night
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- 5Candice Bergen, Faith Ford, Joe RegalbutoA trailblazer in television history, Murphy Brown returns to the small screen as a shining beacon of wit and tenacity. The show's eponymous protagonist, played by Candice Bergen, continues her journalistic endeavors while navigating the fast-paced world of modern media. With its ensemble of dynamic characters, the series artfully balances comedy and drama, garnering multiple accolades including 18 Primetime Emmy Awards. As Murphy and her team tackle pressing societal issues, viewers are treated to a thought-provoking yet lighthearted viewing experience. In a world where headlines change at breakneck speed, Murphy Brown remains a relevant and engaging force in the realm of television.More Murphy Brown
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- 6Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, Jodi Lyn O'KeefeNash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of 122 episodes being produced. The show has aired in over 70 countries.More Nash Bridges
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- 7David James Elliott, Catherine Bell, Patrick LaborteauxWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialIn a seamless fusion of military drama and legal intrigue, this long-running series delves deep into the high-stakes world of the United States Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps. Through the eyes of determined characters such as Lt. Cmdr. Harmon Rabb (David James Elliott) and Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie (Catherine Bell), the show explores complex cases involving criminal investigations, ethical dilemmas, and international disputes. Spanning ten seasons,JAG is often lauded for its accurate portrayal of military life and thought-provoking storylines. With an ensemble cast delivering compelling performances, this TV gem remains a classic in the annals of television history.More JAG
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- 8Dick Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke, Victoria RowellA doctor and amateur detective helps the police solve cases.More Diagnosis: Murder
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- 9Chuck Norris, Clarence Gilyard, Sheree J. WilsonA Ranger uses his instincts and experience to solve crimes.More Walker, Texas Ranger
- Dig Deeper...23 Pictures of Young Jared Padalecki
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- 10Michele Lee, Ted Shackelford, Joan Van ArkKnots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. A spin-off of Dallas, it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles, and centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle. By the time of its conclusion, Knots Landing had become one of the longest-running primetime dramas on U.S. television after Gunsmoke and Bonanza. Knots Landing was created by David Jacobs in conjunction with producer Michael Filerman. Although it became a spin-off of Dallas, the concept predates that series, and was initially rebuffed by CBS in 1977, as the network wanted something more "saga-like". Jacobs then created Dallas, which the network accepted and premiered in 1978. After Dallas became a hit, Jacobs was then able to adapt Knots Landing as a spin-off series by way of incorporating characters originally introduced in the parent series. The series was largely inspired by a 1957 movie No Down Payment but also by the 1973 Ingmar Bergman television miniseries Scenes from a Marriage.More Knots Landing
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- 11Adam Arkin, Héctor Elizondo, Mark HarmonA drama set in a high-tech medical facility in Chicago.More Chicago Hope
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- 12Roma Downey, Della Reese, John DyeTouched by an Angel, which premiered in 1994, is a heartwarming drama that follows the celestial missions of angels Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese). They are sent to Earth to help individuals facing challenging times and guide them toward making better decisions. The show goes into themes of faith, redemption, and divine intervention. With guest appearances from notable actors like Cloris Leachman and Bill Cosby, the series was praised for its uplifting messages and strong performances. It won multiple awards during its run, including an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.More Touched by an Angel
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- 13Tom Skerritt, Kathy Baker, Costas MandylorSet in Rome, Wis., this drama/mystery series revolves around a small town where strange things happen. The central focus is the Brock family, headed by Sheriff Jimmy Brock and his wife, Jill, the town doctor. Along for the ride are Kenny and Maxine, the sheriff's trusty deputies.More Picket Fences
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- 14Gary Cole, Jake Weber, Paige TurcoAmerican Gothic is a supernatural drama series set in the small town of Trinity, South Carolina. The plot centers around Sheriff Lucas Buck (Gary Cole), whose malevolent tactics and use of dark powers make him a formidable figure in the community. The main themes involve the battle between good and evil, as well as the corruption of power. A young boy named Caleb Temple (Lucas Black), who may be Buck's son, is at the center of the narrative, as various townsfolk try to protect him from Buck's influence. The series is noted for its eerie atmosphere and exploration of the darker aspects of human nature.More American Gothic
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- 15William Conrad, Joe Penny, Alan CampbellJake and the Fatman is a television drama starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. The series ran on CBS for five seasons from 1987 to 1992. Diagnosis: Murder was a spin-off of this series.More Jake and the Fatman
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- 16Alexa Vega, Ron Perlman, Laurie HoldenThe Magnificent Seven is an American western television series based on the 1960 movie, which was itself a remake of Japanese classic Seven Samurai. The series aired between 1998 and 2000. The cast of The Magnificent Seven included Michael Biehn, Ron Perlman and Dale Midkiff. Robert Vaughn, who played one of the seven gunmen in the original 1960 movie, guest-starred frequently as a crusading judge. The series was largely filmed in Newhall, California. The pilot, directed by New Zealander Geoff Murphy, was shot in Mescal, Arizona and the Dragoon Mountains of Arizona, near Tombstone. The pilot was scripted by Chris Black and late writer/director Frank Q. Dobbs.
- 17Paul Gross, Callum Keith Rennie, Beau StarrA Canadian Mountie and a wise-cracking police officer find common ground.More Due South
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- 18Fran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Lauren LaneA delightful comedy with a touch of sophistication, The Nanny features the charming Fran Fine (played by Fran Drescher) as she unexpectedly becomes the nanny to a wealthy Broadway producer's three children. Set in an opulent Manhattan mansion, the show artfully combines humor and heart, making it a cherished classic. Throughout its six-season run, The Nanny garnered multiple award nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods for its talented ensemble cast. With memorable performances by Charles Shaughnessy as the dashing Maxwell Sheffield and Daniel Davis as the witty butler Niles, the series remains a beloved gem in television history.More The Nanny
- 19Rob Estes, Mitzi Kapture, Charlie BrillA policewoman and her partner investigate crimes of passion.More Silk Stalkings
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- 20Carrie-Anne Moss, Janet Gunn, Dick O'NeillDark Justice is an American crime drama about a judge who becomes a vigilante by night so that he can bring high-level offenders who use technicalities to "escape" the legal system to what he calls "dark justice." The role of Judge Nicholas Marshall was played by actors Ramy Zada and Bruce Abbott. The series began airing in 1991 and ran for three seasons finishing in 1993.
- 21Kyle Chandler, Shanesia Davis, Fisher StevensEarly Edition is an American television drama series that aired on CBS broadcast network from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this knowledge to prevent terrible events every day. Created by Ian Abrams, Patrick Q. Page, and Vik Rubenfeld, the series starred actor Kyle Chandler as Gary Hobson, and featured many real Chicago locations over the course of the series' run. Despite fan efforts to save the show, it was cancelled in May 2000, and it began airing in syndication on Fox Family Channel that same month. Fan conventions about the show were held for multiple years, and CBS Home Entertainment later released the first and second seasons on the DVD format in the United States in 2008 and 2009.
- 22Cloris Leachman, Ossie Davis, Celeste HolmPromised Land is an American drama series which aired on CBS from 1996 to 1999. It is a spin-off from another series, Touched by an Angel.
- 23Karen Sillas, Phillip Casnoff, Seymour CasselUnder Suspicion is an American television police drama set in Portland, Oregon. It was created by Jacqueline Zambrano. Its episodes were broadcast on the CBS network from September 16, 1994 to March 10, 1995. Though short-lived, the show premiered to fairly strong reviews, which praised lead Karen Sillas's performance and observed that the show functioned as a kind of Americanized Prime Suspect. Filming occurred in Portland, with views of the South Park Blocks and Willamette River.
- 24Adam RodrÃguez, Dylan Walsh, Titus WelliverBrooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997–98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. Milch was Bochco's co-creator for NYPD Blue. Finkelstein and Clark both also worked on NYPD Blue. The series attempted to create a setting of a gritty, realistic police station similar to that of NYPD Blue, but differed by focusing on the uniformed police officers rather than the detectives. The pilot of Brooklyn South was noted as the first TV-MA rated episode on broadcast television.
- 25Fiona Fullerton, Pedro Armendáriz, Jr.Tropical Heat is a Canadian action series produced in cooperation with Mexico and Israel that aired between 1991 and 1993. The plot revolves around private investigator, ex-DEA agent Nick Slaughter who after arriving in the fictional resort town of Key Mariah, Florida and setting up a detective agency there, met up with local tourist agent Sylvie Girard to solve a variety of different cases. The series ran for three seasons totaling 66 episodes. Season one was filmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico due to tax breaks the production was eligible for under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Season two was filmed in Eilat, Israel. Season three was filmed in Pretoria, South Africa, with some sequences shot on the Isle of Mauritius. The show was extremely popular in Serbia, and the main character, Nick Slaughter, became a symbol of political opposition in the country.
- 26Raquel Welch, John Barrowman, Lauren HuttonCentral Park West is an American prime time television soap opera that ran from September 1995 to June 1996 on CBS. The series was created and executive produced by Melrose Place's Darren Star. As the title suggests, CPW was set in New York, in the affluent Central Park West area of Manhattan. Actresses Mariel Hemingway, Lauren Hutton, and Raquel Welch portrayed three of the central characters on the show. The program represented CBS's attempt to reestablish itself after a disastrous 1994-95 television season where the network lost a heavy amount of established affiliates due to affiliation switches related to Fox acquiring NFC football rights, and an attempt by the network to attract younger viewers. It was the network's most-promoted new show in many years with a promotional campaign exclusively produced to appeal to younger viewers, and attempted to recapture the network's past nighttime soap glory from the years of Dallas and Knots Landing. The series was not successful and was removed from CBS' schedule mid-season, returning some months later with new additions made to the cast. The retooling was not enough to save the show, which was canceled in June 1996.
- 27Ken Olin, Matt Craven, Rick RobertsL.A. Doctors is an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles primary care practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.
- 28LeVar Burton, Tyne Daly, Kellie MartinChristy is an American period drama series which aired on CBS from April 1994 to August 1995, for twenty episodes. Christy was based on the novel Christy by Catherine Marshall, the widow of Senate chaplain Peter Marshall. The novel had been a bestseller in 1968, and the week following the debut of the TV-movie and program saw the novel jump from #120 up to #15 on the USA Today bestseller list. Series regular Tyne Daly won an Emmy Award for her work on the series.
