The 1990s were an explosive time for premium cable channels, especially industry leader, Home Box Office.  Arguably the reigning champ of pay cable, HBO began its dominance in the “grunge” decade with a string of groundbreaking original programs that added so much value to the network and its brand new multiplexing system, that to this day a majority of HBO’s subscribers keep the channel on the bill solely to enjoy their TV shows.  I know I do!  Although after this season’s Big Love, I’m feeling a little less inclined to justify the expense.

In recent years, viewers and award shows have lauded the success of programs like Deadwood, Entourage, Six Feet Under, Rome, Curb Your Enthusiasm, True Blood, and one of my favorites, Eastbound & Down.

 The stable of shows coming out of HBO has been beyond impressive.  Even dating back to the 70s and 80s with their stand up specials and sports, they’ve provided plenty of quality programs.

But it is the 90s where HBO really started taking the reigns and putting broadcast television on notice.  I never got around to OZ, but I hear nothing but great things.  The documentary series Real Sex began a run that continues today in 1992.  Tenacious D, Tracy Takes On…, and The Chris Rock Show all provided some of the funniest moments of the decade.  As a young film school student, this stuff was required viewing.  Here are my Top 5 favorite HBO shows from the 90s and let me tell you, this wasn’t an easy list to assemble!

Honorable Mention: Sex and the City (Class of 98)

(Image via hotelchatter.com)
While the first season is lackluster and the big screen movie was pretty horrible, the remainder of this TV series was quite good.  The story arcs went beyond just sex and dating and found a way to speak to even men like myself.

5. Dennis Miller Live (Class of 94)

If you enjoy the biting satire of The Daily Show, then you should go back to the man that really perfected the current political sarcasm movement with his funny and insightful rants and great mixture of guests.  A true wordsmith, some of the humor might not hold up for today’s younger generations, but Miller is a funny funny man.

(Image via cerec25.com)

4. Arliss (Class of 96)

In 1990, HBO gave us Dream On, a show about a somewhat fugly guy who had a lot of sex with super hot women.  It was a weekly does of pay cable nudity.  Arliss picked up the slack after Dream went away only coupled it with better scripts and an endless parade of sports celebrities.

3. Mr. Show with Bob and David (Class of 95)

I had some connections to the alternative comedy scene of the 90s and this show with stand ups Bob Odenkirk and David Cross was the pinnacle of that group of young comedians.  Keep an eye out and you’ll spot people like Greg Behrendt, Jack Black, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sarah Silverman, and Brian Posehn.  It was a tremendous influence on basically everything you find funny today.

2. The Sopranos (Class of 99)

Obviously, right?  If I didn’t include this, I might end up like “Big Pussy” in season 2!  Of course I loved it, as the flagship for HBO dramas, The Sopranos tore open the TV landscape and completely changed the game.  It provided a depth of storytelling usually reserved for the big screen, and yet used its weekly appearance to delve into the characters like not even The Godfather could achieve.

1. The Larry Sanders Show (Class of 92)

I have a special place in my heart for Larry Sanders.  This show about a late night talk show host was the first set I ever visited and had a friend as one of the main cast members.  Beyond that, it was gut busting hilarious with celebrity guests playing themselves with the funniest of results.  The David Duchovny moments are some of the best!  Jay Leno wishes his show could be this funny.