In February 2026, pop culture lost a real one when teen heartthrob-turned-adult heartthrob James Van Der Beek passed away at the age of 48 as a result of colorectal cancer. The news was hard to hear for many fans, with the actor's adoring wife Kimberly and their children obviously taking it the hardest. As it usually goes, holidays and other annual observances allow for those grieving to look back and extoll cherished memories, and Father's Day 2026 is no exception.

Less than a week after celebrating daughter Gwen's eighth birthday, Kimberly Van Der Beek took to Instagram to share some love for her late hubby by pointing out in photographic form how much of a loving father he was...and perhaps still is. As she put it:

James and Kimberly Van Der Beek got married back in August 2010, following a divorce from his first wife Heather McComb. The couple went on to have six children, with the youngest (Jeremiah) being born in October 2021. Before that, they sired Olivia (born Sept. 2010), Joshua (March 2012), Annabel Leah (January 2014), Emilia (March 2016), and the aforementioned Gwendolyn (June 2018). Emilia is the one who shared that heartbreakingly mature video honoring the actor's birthday.

To be expected, the IG post is filled with pictures of JVDB and each of his adorable kiddos. The past four months have no doubt been as mournful as any they've experienced thus far, but hopefully all the pictures taken over the years can keep the best memories of their father intact for many years to come.

Also to be expected, Kimberly Van Der Beek's garnered a lot of heartfelt sympathy and love from fans and followers, and more than a few famous faces. One of those commenters was Dawson's Creek vet Mary-Margaret Humes, who portrayed the titular teen's mother Gail Leery for all six seasons. Here's the touching message she shared:

She may have only played his mother on TV, but Humes' words still carry that same kind of parental love. When fellow co-star Joshua Jackson opened up about his feelings after Van Der Beek's death, he addressed how being a father himself compounded the grief he was already experiencing for his longtime friend. Here's hoping the Doctor Odyssey vet is having a good Father's Day in the meantime.

Some of the other celebs who commented on Kimberly Van Der Beek's post ranged from Tracker's Dave Annable to Dateline NBC's Andrea Canning to former WWE diva Stacy Keibler.

• DAVE ANNABLE: The best father there ever was
• RICKI LAKE: Truly. Loving you all. ❤️
• ANDREA CANNING: 🩵🩵🩵
• NIKKI REED: The best of the best forever. We love you so much James🙏🏼❤️✨Wrapping all of your little people in the warmest hugs today, and always. ❤️❤️❤️
• STACY KEIBLER: The best of the best. I love you all 💕

For anyone in need of a quick burst of "awww cute" comments, go ahead and swipe through all the adorable pictures in Kimberly Van Der Beek's post below.

The death of a loved one is a pain that can never be truly healed over, but here's hoping that James' passion and spirit can live on through those who miss him most on this Father's Day.

Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues star James Van Der Beek sadly lost his battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer a couple of weeks ago, at only 48 years old. The days since have seen a number of his family members, co-stars, and friends come forward to pay tribute to him, and open up about the “devastation and pain” of his passing. However, one Creek cast member has just now found the right words to say goodbye to their friend.

What One Dawson’s Creek Cast Member Just Said About The Death Of James Van Der Beek

A number of stars who worked with James Van Der Beek have come forward since his death on February 11 to talk about what he and his death has meant to them. The 2026 TV schedule will see the premiere of Elle, the Legally Blonde prequel in which Van Der Beek stars, and executive producer Reese Witherspoon opened up about working with the actor, saying he was “extraordinary, talented” and “showed great kindness and grace in every action.” Meanwhile, Dancing with the Stars co-host Alfonso Ribeiro spoke about being “broken” after his friend’s death.

Several celebrities have also contributed to the GoFundMe set up to help his family pay off medical bills and move forward financially, but there is one Dawson’s Creek co-star of his who’s only recently been able to find the words to pay tribute to the star, and that’s Meredith Monroe, who portrayed Andi McPhee. She’s now taken to Instagram to express her feelings and after noting that Van Der Beek and his family have been “constantly in my thoughts, my prayers & on my heart” she said, in part:

The 2026 movies schedule will see Van Der Beek star in The Gates, which is his last film, and the cast of that thriller also had kind words for him after his passing. As Monroe also noted in her post, she waited to open up because, “I still don’t know what to say?? Nothing seems right??” which anyone who’s lost a friend or family member can likely understand. She continued:

It’s clear that Monroe took her time so that she could find the right way to get her thoughts out about his death and the time she was able to spend with him. You can see her full post, below:

Many people have a hard time figuring out what to say when someone passes, as it’s an obviously hard situation to deal with. While Monroe was clearly still unsure about what she did share, she got her loving points across just fine.

It’s apparently been quite a week in the Van Der Beek household. When James Van Der Beek was unable to join Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and other cast members for a Dawson’s Creek reunion due to illness, his family showed up on his behalf, with his oldest daughter giving a small solo performance. Days later her proud dad penned an emotional tribute to Olivia on her birthday, and if this doesn’t call for his viral Dawson’s Creek crying meme, I don’t know what does.

Olivia is the oldest of six children James Van Der Beek shares with wife Kimberly, and the man known for playing Dawson Leery for six seasons on the WB took to Instagram to praise her performance at the Dawson’s Creek reunion and acknowledge her personal milestone. Olivia turned 15, which is quite meaningful to her dad — it’s how old Van Der Beek’s character was in the Dawson’s Creek pilot. James wrote:

James Van Der Beek had expressed regret over not being able to attend the reunion; he revealed in November 2024 he’s battling Stage 3 colorectal cancer and this week had come down with two stomach viruses.

However, Kimberly Van Der Beek was there with all six of their brood — Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 2. As mentioned in James’ lengthy birthday post, Olivia took center stage for a solo, as the cast sang Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which served as the show’s iconic theme song.

James Van Der Beek’s post continued, relaying a story about how proud he was of her, even when she wasn’t perfect (don’t worry, Olivia — Dawson was far from perfect himself), encouraging her to keep being her authentic self. In his words:

I’m just gonna grab a tissue real quick, if you want to take a look at James Van Der Beek’s full post and Olivia’s amazing performance alongside sister Emilia:

Fans at the were undoubtedly disappointed James Van Der Beek couldn’t join the reunion — which was a charity event to raise money for F Cancer and to honor the actor — and participate in a live reading of the pilot’s script, but I think getting his reaction to his daughter in this moment really kind of makes up for it.

If you want to relive the best Dawson’s Creek episodes, all six seasons can be streamed with a Hulu subscription.

Much of the Dawson’s Creek cast have reunited over 20 years after the beloved teen drama came to an end, and for a very good cause. On Monday, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, and many others came together for a special live reading of the 1998 pilot episode to raise money for F Cancer and star James Van Der Beek, who previously opened up about battling colorectal cancer. During the reunion, he hilariously referenced his viral crying meme, and it’s perfect.

Despite the reunion being held in his honor, the man of the hour could not attend due to a stomach illness. While Broadway legend Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped into the role of Dawson Leery, Van Der Beek still took the time to record a video for his fellow castmates and fans, which was shown before and after the reading. Via Variety, the actor reflected on Dawson’s Creek and its similarities to Phantom of the Opera, but there is one glaring difference that the two have, and I wouldn’t have it any other way:

Dawson may have been the worst character on Dawson’s Creek for a number of reasons, but Van Der Beek’s epic cry-face during Season 3 when Dawson lets Joey go so she can try things out with Pacey is perhaps the best moment on the series. Or at the very least, the most meme-able moment before memes were even a thing. It was bound to come up at some point during the reunion, and it only makes sense for Van Der Beek himself to mention it, even if he wasn’t actually there in person.

It is disappointing that Van Der Beek couldn’t be at the reunion in person, especially since it was set up to help him, as well as F Cancer. At the very least, him still being able to do a video and be in good spirits about it, aside from getting choked up, is better than nothing, and there’s also nothing he could have done about the illness.

Also in attendance were Michelle Williams, who is the mastermind behind the reunion, as well as Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps. Renée Elise Goldsberry served as the narrator for the evening, which still seemed like a fun time.

Meanwhile, fans were probably doing their own version of Dawson’s crying face when they found out James Van Der Beek would be missing the reunion. He’s reunited with the Dawson’s Creek cast before, and this just gives them an excuse to do another reunion, whether public or private, so Van Der Beek can be there when he’s feeling better. In the meantime, fans can always reminisce on the Millennial favorite with all six seasons streaming with a Hulu subscription.

Before stanning existed, you could probably call me a Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) stan. The fictional man could do no wrong. He was my fictional dream boy. Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey were and are my favorite TV couple of all time. Dawson’s Creek was such a vital part of my adolescence that all my hopeless romantic beliefs and tendencies were probably born because of it. Therefore, everyone who knows me has been sending me photos of Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes filming their new movies.

I have been reliving my early tweens and teen years, swooning over this reunion. I will be waiting at the theater when these Happy Hours movies are officially released. Since we have absolutely no clue when that will happen, because they’re still being filmed, I decided to instead watch a few of my favorite Dawson’s Creek Joey and Pacey episodes.

They made me even more excited for these Jackson and Holmes reunion movies.

Rewatching A Few Of My Favorite Pacey And Joey Episodes Reminded Me How Electric Josh And Katie’s Chemistry Is

Some of the best Dawson’s Creek episodes are those with Pacey and Joey at the center. There are so many entertaining ones about them throughout the show’s six-year run. However, most of the peak Joey and Pacey episodes happen in Seasons 3 and 4. So you would expect me to watch one of those episodes, right? Correct, but I didn’t.

The first Pacey and Joey episode I rewatched was Dawson’s Creek Season 6, Episode 15, “Castaways.” I chose to watch this one because it was one of the rare episodes that completely focused on Pacey and Joey. It’s 42 minutes of just Jackson and Holmes' on-screen chemistry. I also remember being completely floored when they kissed during it. We hadn’t had romantic Joey and Pacey for nearly two devastating seasons.

I was delighted with this shocking moment. Additionally, “Castaways” feels reminiscent of classic romantic movies, where it’s all about highlighting the two leads. I immediately reverted to my teen ways, watching them again skirt around the undeniable chemistry. I was kicking my feet and twirling my hair.

Like many great romantic pairings, Jackson and Holmes just have it. There is just something — at least for me — magical about seeing them on screen together. They are two stars whose on-screen chemistry feels everlasting.

I Am Looking Forward To Seeing How That Translates 20+ Years Later

I will admit, I am a tiny bit nervous about seeing Holmes and Jackson on-screen together after 20+ years. What if the magic is gone? What if it feels forced? Teen me will never recover if they can’t recapture the spark in these movies. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic, because the photos from the set automatically give me that giddy teen feeling. Yes, I am way too old to be excited about this, yet here we are.

I have also been following Holmes and Jackson’s careers since Creek ended. Therefore, I know both have just become more talented with age. Therefore, I expect them not only to reignite their spark but to showcase some very compelling acting. These upcoming movies are romantic dramedy, so I am very excited to see what angst they bring to their performances.

These Dawson’s Creek Episodes Remind Me How Much I Miss Seeing Joshua Jackson As A Romantic Lead

Jackson has been in a few movies, but has mainly stayed within the television universe since Dawson’s Creek. I have seen almost every television show with him as the star. Almost every time, he does an amazing job convincing you that he’s madly in love with his co-star. I was glued to the Peter (Jackson) and Olivia (Anna Torv) romance on Fringe. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that into Max and Avery’s (Phillipa Soo) romance on the now-canceled Doctor Odyssey. In fact, this show made me a bit nostalgic to see Jackson return to his romantic leading man roots in a way I enjoyed.

I need to see Jackson deliver lines so beautifully poetic, just because he said them. I need to see the way Pacey looks at Joey return in this movie. I need Jackson to channel the romantic leading man he always was and is meant to be in these movies.

Romantic movies seem to now be geared towards a younger generation, so this probably won’t be the birth of Jackson’s romantic movie career, but it will serve as a reminder of how he used to deliver romantic-lead gold. It will also show us what we lost by not having him star in more romantic movies.

I Got A Big Hit Of Nostalgia Rewatching Them, And I’m Curious How These Movies Will Affect That Feeling

There have been a lot of great remakes and reboots, and a few of them have been duds. These movies or TV shows haven’t changed my opinions of the original, but they can anger me. For example, I am quite nervous about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer continuation series. There are so many things that can happen that potentially will make me mad that they couldn’t let the show rest in peace.

Fortunately, these movies are not Dawson’s Creek reboots or continuations. I can live in peace knowing the perfect Creek finale will remain untouched (which were also some of the Pacey and Joey episodes I rewatched). However, Jackson and Holmes on screen together has a nostalgic quality to it.

Therefore, watching them together could make me more nostalgic and rewatch even more Pacey and Joey episodes, or it could make me not want to see them on screen together ever again. The latter would probably never happen, even if they lost all of their previous magic. I am fully committed to the Happy Hours trilogy, whether it’s good or bad.

However, there is a chance these films will haunt me if they’re not actually good, or if it becomes like one of those heartbreaking breakup movies. These things could kill my nostalgia buzz.

The Dawson’s Creek Episodes Made Me Mentally Develop A Checklist Of What I Need To See In These Movies

I don’t know if this movie will just randomly include some Dawson’s Creek references and Easter Eggs, but that’s a possibility. I would love to see a few nods to the WB series. I also need Jackson’s character to give us an epic speech, similar to the one he delivers in the Creek finale.

I also need their characters dancing, some intense fighting, maybe a scene on a boat, them being parents, and the list goes on. These are some of the upcoming movies that I cannot wait to see. My Pacey and Joey-loving heart is finally getting a sort-of reunion all these decades later, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Dawson’s Creek may have ended over 20 years ago, but that doesn’t mean fans don’t still have a soft spot for the ensemble. The tight-knit Dawson’s Creek cast has remained close over the years, even reuniting for the 20th anniversary of the show, and discussions of a revival have been rumored. Whether or not a reboot is on the horizon is still in question; however, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson are finding a way to work together regardless. That became even clearer as they were seen on set together for their new project, and there's a lot to be excited about.

Recent photos showed the duo on the set of their new movie, Happy Hours, which is filming in New York City. The two looked like they were having a great time talking and laughing like no time had passed. They were both either really into their characters or just enjoying their time together, as it’s been a while since the two have collaborated in such a capacity. It seems like the chemistry never left them, and they are channeling this energy into their upcoming film. You can see the behind-the-scenes moment below:

What I love about these photos is how happy they both look. The camera doesn’t appear to be rolling, so this likely took place during some actor talk between scenes, or it's just two people catching up after not working together for a number of years. Actors often talk about what a pleasure it is to work with your friends, and this pleasure is evident based on the picture. I can’t wait to see what Happy Hours has in store for Dawson’s Creek fans, and if there will be any nods to their previous collaboration that made both of them stars.

According to Deadline, Happy Hours is actually set to become a trilogy, with Holmes expected to write, direct, and star in all three films. The movies will follow a couple, played by Jackson and Holmes, who navigate their relationship while also dealing with life’s challenges. The story will also follow the young lovers who reconnect as adults through a shared desire to pursue something more together. Along with the Dawson’s Creek alumni, the cast will also include Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker and Crazy Rich Asians’ Constance Wu.

While it’s not a Dawson’s Creek revival (for now), it’s still exciting to see these stars come back together.

They have both been busy since the show ended, with Holmes acting in Batman Begins, Logan Lucky, and Ray Donovan, and Jackson taking on popular shows like Doctor Odyssey, The Fringe, and The Affair.

With Holmes’s recent venture into indie filmmaking, it’s exciting to see some of her friends singing on to her projects and supporting her while she embarks on her behind-the-camera journey. And honestly, I can’t think of a better actor by her side than Joshua Jackson.

Happy Hours is still in production, so it may be a while until we both see these two reunite on the big screen. In the meantime, fans can revisit Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson in Dawson’s Creek, which is currently available to stream for those with a Hulu subscription. For more information on other exciting titles available on the streamer, make sure to check out our feature on everything new and coming soon to Hulu.

Pop culture is full of fun rivalries like Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, and the ever-popular debate over the best Chris in Hollywood. One member of that latter discussion, Chris Evans, actually helped to answer some of these questions alongside his Materialists co-star Dakota Johnson amid the release of their film on the 2025 movie calendar. And wow, there’s no love here for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

In Materialists, which received a full 5 stars in CinemaBlend’s review, Dakota Johnson’s Lucy finds herself torn between Chris Evans’ John and Pedro Pascal’s Harry. It therefore seemed appropriate to get their opinions on other famed love triangles. Twilight was the first series mentioned by MTV, to which Johnson cagily responded, “Who?” as Evans admitted:

Honestly, I appreciate Chris Evans’ candor here, because we’ve all got an opinion. (I used to think I was Team Jacob, but I now know I was just Team Shirtless Taylor Lautner.) Dakota Johnson’s response is particularly hilarious coming from the star of Fifty Shades of Grey, whose novels began as Twilight fanfic. She ultimately copped to being Team Edward as well.

Next up was Dawson’s Creek, where The Avengers star again offered a quick judgment on the Dawson vs. Pacey debate, saying:

Sorry, James Van Der Beek, this vote’s unanimous as well, with Dakota Johnson agreeing:

Then came the YA book-to-screen adaptation The Summer I Turned Pretty, whose third season premieres July 16 and will be available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. The question of Team Jeremiah vs. Team Conrad elicited confused stares from the Materialists stars, and Dakota Johnson unknowingly went full Belly with her response of:

Honestly, she has no idea how spot-on she is. At least, as someone who has watched the YA series.

In Chris Evans’ and Dakota Johnson’s defense, if you’re old enough to have watched Dawson’s Creek, you may be a bit old to have read Jenny Han’s coming-of-age young adult romance trilogy or watched the Prime Video series. Alas, I am just that older Millennial, so I will weigh in with my unpopular (but correct) TSITP opinion.

Here at CinemaBlend, some of us are very Team Jeremiah, while naturally we’ve also got the Team Conrad girlies. Personally, I find Conrad and Belly both very annoying, not great people, and if they want to do that together, more power to them. My official stance is Team Jeremiah Can Do Better.

Now that I’ve settled that, it really is worth checking out Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans’ confusion when asked about The Summer I Turned Pretty characters:

Be sure to catch these two in Materialists, which is in theaters now, and if you’re looking for something to watch at home, be sure you’re caught up on the first two seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty so you can see how this love triangle plays out when the trilogy resumes Wednesday, July 16, on Prime Video.

The 2025 TV schedule is filled with new and returning show as well as reboots and revivals. Unfortunately, the WB series Dawson's Creek has yet to return in some form or fashion. To this day, there's still a lot of love for the show. To that point, an original NYC subway ad for the show just resurfaced by way of someone slashing through two-plus decades of posters to get to it. And fans responding online seem thrilled as they discuss the vintage image’s appearance and the time from which it originated.

Since Dawson's Creek aired its series finale in 2003, it's been amazing to see how the young adult show has remained in the cultural zeitgeist. In 2018, the Dawson’s cast celebrated the show’s 20th anniversary together, but I have to say I'm really loving this latest gesture. Instagram user @subwaycreature shared an astonishing poster. The one-sheet features the classic lineup of Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen, and it's so surreal to see such an ad in a subway station in 2025. Take a look for yourself:

What a blast from the past! And what's even wilder is that the poster still looks decent after all these years. Seeing the classic advertisement featuring the Capeside quartet in the wild of the has me highly interested in doing a rewatch of the show. (Or, at the very least, I could just check out best Dawson's episodes.)

I'm not the only one who's hyped about this poster, though. Fans took to the comment section, and they seem to be eating up this throwback ad. The responses really run the gamut, with many either sharing their love, shouting out the theme song or stars, reminiscing about The WB days and much more. Check out some of the responses:

• Who else misses late 90s/early 00s The WB? - misterhepburn
• I DONT WANNA WAIT - jameschristophergonz
• Dawson's creek ❤️❤️- nevalyakut
• Fine, I’ll rewatch Dawson’s Creek again - renelanausse
• ICONIC - ryantowers718
• This is my Mona Lisa - prettytoneyy
• If you say Paula Cole is not running through your head right now, you are a liar - withanaich
• Wow😢 I miss them - denali_reigns_undefeated
• I want it framed in my home - metacakes

Regardless of how you viewed the show’s storylines, I'm sure many can agree that it amassed a large following throughout its six-season run. Dawson’s Creek was a precursor for modern media about young romance. And once the Dawson's pilot aired in 1998, the TV landscape was changed forever.

Today, the main cast and the show's creator, Kevin Williamson, and the cast -- including James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams -- remain booked and busy. They also haven't forsaken their time on the show. Some could even argue that Jackson's Doctor Odyssey character has a hint of Pacey.

Interestingly, there was almost aDawson's Creek reboot, with Williamson attached, but it ultimately fell through. He and the cast seem fine with leaving the franchise be, though. After all, it remains popular in its own right even over two decades after its conclusion, and the hype over the sweet poster is proof of that.

TV shows that cause a stir are certainly nothing new, but every once in a while a series comes along and enters the conversation so loudly that everybody is talking about it. And, for six seasons, one of the most popular ‘90s shows was the teen drama, Dawson’s Creek. Starring James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson, the series focused on the lives of Capeside High students Dawson, Joey, Jen, Pacey and their assorted friends, and many viewers completely fell in love with the drama. Now, we have the story behind the attempted reboot and why it didn’t get off the ground.

When Was A Dawson’s Creek Reboot Proposed And Why Didn’t It Happen?

Say what you will about hating the youth that Dawson’s Creek was named for (that would be James Van Der Beek’s Dawson Leery), or looking back on the show and having it bring up questions over some of the wild storylines or deep thoughts over just the pilot episode, but the teen soap was an unequivocal hit. People either loved it or loved to trash it, and the topical series has remained one of the most beloved/derided shows in semi-recent memory.

When talking to TV Insider, show creator Kevin Williamson (who’s working on Scream 7 and has the upcoming 2025 Netflix show, The Waterfront, debuting soon) revealed that there was a time, not that long ago, when there was talk of attempting to revive the story of the now-very adult Capeside crew. Conversations about it began during the pandemic, when nearly every long-gone TV show under the sun was doing cast reunions for charity. As Williamson said:

There was also a time fairly recently that we got a lot more than charity cast reunions, but also revived/rebooted TV series on the air. The most successful of these were probably Rosenne, which was quickly turned into The Conners and recently ended with a shortened Season 7, and Will & Grace, which ran for an additional three seasons after returning to NBC in 2017. Fans also got revived editions of shows like Murphy Brown, iCarly, Punky Brewster, Frasier, Dynasty, and the recently canceled Night Court, along with many others.

However you may have felt about all the other reboots that have crossed our screens over the years, there are doubtlessly some viewers who would have loved to catch up with the Capeside kids…or their kids, as the case may have been. And, it sounds like the original cast (sans Michelle Williams, for obvious reasons) was game. But, the creator noted that, as usual, scheduling was an issue:

This is hardly any surprise, even with many of these discussions about a reboot taking place during those dark pandemic days. Dawson’s Creek launched the careers of all of its young stars, with all of them going on to numerous other TV shows and movies in the decades since it ended. Once productions were able to begin filming again, it makes sense that they’d be busy, and at inopportune times to finalize plans for a revival. Eventually, this led Williamson and the OG cast to call it a day on the idea. He continued:

So, no Dawson, Pacey or Joey, but their kids with very modern problems? Oh, Kevin, don’t tempt us with a good time!

The 1990s gave us all-time great sitcoms like Home Improvement and Friends, iconic crime dramas like Law & Order and Oz, and so many other legendary shows considered “must-see TV” by millions of people week in and week out. And while those shows gave us unforgettable characters, side-splitting and shocking moments, and jokes that are still being told decades later, they also had some outrageously nonsensical or head-scratching moments.

That said, here’s one ridiculously unrealistic thing about 32 ‘90s TV shows…

There's No Way Danny Tanner Could Afford That House (Full House)

There’s so much ridiculousness going on with Full House, but one question that remains just as baffling now as it did decades ago is “How did Danny Tanner afford a historic house in the heart of San Francisco?” The math just doesn’t work when you have a local news anchor and a pair of part-time jingle writers paying the mortgage and other expenses for an ever-growing household.

Mr. Feeny Teaches The Main Characters Through Multiple Grades And Several Schools (Boy Meets World)

There’s nothing wrong with Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World; in fact, William Daniels’ take on the beloved teacher and neighbor was one of the show’s greatest strengths. However, this educator stays with Corey Matthews and his friends through middle school, high school, and college. The guy was either teaching above his level or dumbing it down early in his career to spend more time with those kiddos.

Steve Urkel Cloned Himself (Family Matters)

Let’s face it, Steve Urkel was a mess on Family Matters. This guy built outrageous machines, destroyed the Winslow house countless times, and went to space, but the most unrealistic thing he ever did was clone himself. Not only does human cloning not exist, but his clone, Stefan Urquelle, was just too cool (and not in a good way).

There's No Way Tim Taylor Could Survive All Those 'Tool Time' Mishaps (Home Improvement)

You’ve heard of cats having nine lives, but what about TV show hosts from Detroit? How many do they have? Well, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor must have had at least 50 on Home Improvement because he survived being crushed, electrocuted, burnt, you name it.

The Midnight Society (A Group Of Kids) Is Able To Meet In The Middle Of The Night (Are You Afraid Of The Dark?)

The various stories told during Are You Afraid of the Dark? were intense and fantastical and terrifying at times, but that’s not the unrealistic part. Instead, what’s up with “The Midnight Society,” the group of kids and teenagers who would sneak out of their houses in the middle of the night to tell scary stories in the woods? Where are the parents?

Monica's Apartment (Friends)

Sure, it is later revealed there was a loophole that allowed Monica to have a cheap apartment in Manhattan throughout Friends, but this whole rent-control aspect is so unrealistic.

That Time Scully Had An Alien Baby (The X-Files)

The X-Files was one wild show where anything and everything could happen. But what about when Scully got pregnant with the help of aliens? Yeah, this is a show that doesn’t live within the constraints of reality, but this is a stretch.

The Gang's Extracurricular Activities Go Unnoticed By Red Forman (That '70s Show)

Red Forman is a no-nonsense and tough-as-nails father who doesn’t seem like a guy who would like to be tricked, lied to, or misled… especially in his own home. Are you honestly saying he didn’t know what Eric and his friends were up to down in the basement? Really?

Jack McCoy's Success Rate (Law & Order)

Law & Order is one of the great crime/legal dramas in the history of TV, but the one thing that’s always been baffling (especially during the show’s glory days) is Jack McCoy’s success rate in the courtroom. This guy is constantly collecting wins in high-profile cases, so much so that it seems too good to be true.

The ER Doctors Are Jacks Of All Trades (ER)

ER will forever be remembered as one of the most popular medical dramas to ever grace the small screen, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its problems. The biggest of those has to be the fact that some of the doctors were jacks of all trades. Sure, they are in the emergency room at a trauma center, but they were all like five doctors in one at various points throughout the series.

The Way The Teenagers Talk About Politics, Cinema, And Poetry (Dawson's Creek)

Have you gone back and watched Dawson’s Creek? What’s up with the cast of teenagers shooting out dialogue that sounds like it was an AI-generated version of a first-year English major’s diary? They talk about politics, cinema, poetry, and music like they’re adults, not sappy teenagers living in a fictional Massachusetts town.

The Dancing Baby (Ally McBeal)

The CGI dancing baby from Ally McBeal became one of the biggest memes of the ‘90s when the popular legal drama series introduced the uncanny youngster. Though the baby can be seen as the manifestation of Ally’s inner turmoil, the thing looked so bad, so random, and so out of place.

Dr. Mark Sloan's Uncanny Ability To Solve Crimes (Diagnosis: Murder)

There were so many oddball crime shows in the ‘90s in the wake of Murder She Wrote. One of the most absurd has to be Diagnosis: Murder, which saw Dick Van Dyke play a doctor that – you guessed it – helped solve homicide cases. But here’s the thing: he was better at it than the detectives who do this every day of the week.

Angel Grove Constantly Being Destroyed And Rebuilt (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers)

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, one of the best kids shows for those who grew up in the ‘90s, was absolutely bonkers looking back. But you know what’s crazier than teenagers turning into masked fighters to take on a witch from the Moon? Well, it has to be the fact that Angel Grove gets destroyed and rebuilt like nobody’s business each episode, and no one seems to notice.

Zack Morris Being Able To Graduate Despite Never Being In Class (Saved By The Bell)

Zack Morris, pretty much the king of Bayside High, did everything he could at school to not going to class, and he was mostly the class clown when he was in class. But somehow, someway, he was able to graduate with his friends and go on to college. Maybe, he should have been held back; we at least wouldn’t have had to sit through Saved by the Bell: The College Years.

Warden Leo Glynn Not Being Canned Or Sent To Prison Himself (Oz)

Anyone who’s watched a single episode of Oz knows that the prison at the center of the landmark HBO series wasn’t the best place to be. Despite riots, inmates sneaking in guns, inmates trapping people behind walls, and all sorts of madness, Oswald Pentitentiary Warden Leo Glynn kept his job. Make that make sense.

Can We Talk About The Serial Killers And Supernatural Phenomena (Picket Fences)

Remember Picket Fences, the CBS drama series about life in a seemingly quiet small town filled with serial killers, supernatural phenomena, and a variety of other strange and distressing occurrences? This show had it all, except for maybe a realistic view of the world. Pure madness.

Ranger Cordell Walker Is Seemingly Bulletproof (Walker, Texas Ranger)

Insert Chuck Norris joke here. Seriously, his titular character from Walker, Texas Ranger was pretty much the bulletproof cowboy. Between the dodging bullets, scores of roundhouse kicks, and other heroics, it seems like it’s all too good to be true.

Bike Cops Do What Normal Officers Can't (Pacific Blue)

Pacific Blue, a show that was often the lead-in for Monday Night Raw on Monday nights, followed bicycle cops as they went about their days. But here’s the thing, they often pulled off feats (and bike stunts) that normal cops couldn’t match.

The Lifeguards Do Way More Than Save People At The Beach (Baywatch)

The last time we checked, lifeguards watched over the beaches for drowning swimmers, shark attacks, and missing kids. But if you watch Baywatch, you’ll see them do that plus defeat terrorists, help out in wrestling matches, and run on the beach in slow-motion. Not very realistic, right?

No One Thinks Angels Interfering In Everyday Life Is Odd (Touched By An Angel)

Everybody’s grandma’s favorite show, Touched by an Angel, followed a group of three heavenly visitors who helped people back on Earth make incredible decisions that mostly saw them take a more righteous path. But the fact that angels could interfere in people’s lives and not cause a stir (or end with a trip to the mental ward) is hard to believe.

Will Gets Into Princeton After Solving A Rubik's Cube (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

Though he ended up not going to the Ivy League institution, the fact that Will received an offer to attend Princeton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is just wild. But you know what’s crazier? It wasn’t the “Fresh Prince’s" charisma that impressed his interviewer, but instead his skill with a… Rubik’s Cube.

All Kinds Of '90s Tech And Luxuries In The Age Of The Dinosaur (Dinosaurs)

Okay, Dinosaurs was a meta deconstruction of the sitcom format with a family of dinos in place of the standard nuclear family. But, the thing that has always been so wild is the fact that the Sinclair family has all kinds of modern tech – TVs, radios, construction equipment, you name it, and it’s there.

Dylan's Dad Dying In A Car Bomb Explosion (Beverly Hills, 90210)

What started as a show about uber-rich kids living in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the world turned into a wild exploration of pretty much every TV genre by the time it was all said and done. One of the most insane plotlines in Beverly Hills, 90210 was the one involving Dylan’s dad being blown up in a car bomb explosion, which would lead to the character played by the late Luke Perry trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Unaccompanied Minors Going On With Their Lives (Party Of Five)

Though the eldest of the five Salinger siblings in Party of Five was technically an adult, Charlie wasn’t that responsible, leaving his younger (and underage) brothers and sisters to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

The School/Band Balance Is Not Sustainable (California Dreams)

Do you remember the ‘90s teen comedy California Dreams? No? Well, imagine Saved by the Bell, but the main characters also have to balance school with being in a successful rock band. Somehow, they’re able to balance both worlds while not getting too stressed out or falling behind. Anyone who has been in a band before knows this is a dream.

How Is Al Bundy's Family Not In Serious Debt? (Married... With Children)

Before Married… with Children jumped the shark, it gave TV viewers some of the funniest (and most uncomfortable) moments. But one thing that has always been baffling is the fact that Al Bundy was able to have a decent-sized house, raise two kids, and have a shopaholic wife by working at a shoe store. How did they not go into debt?

How Did The Family Afford That Disney Trip? (Step By Step)

Despite being one of the greatest TGIF comedies, Step by Step was a show with a lot of problems. Not to harp too much on finances, but how did that massive family afford to go on an all-inclusive trip to Disney? How many people was that again?

How Many Moral Dilemmas Can One Family Face And Overcome? (7th Heaven)

The Camden family had one moral dilemma after another over the course of 7th Heaven’s 11-season run, so much so that it got exhausting by the time the show ended in 2007. At times, it felt like this family had a black cloud hanging over them or was placed under some kind of curse.

The Origins Of Alex Mack's Powers (The Secret World Of Alex Mack)

The Secret World of Alex Mack was a massive ‘90s Nickelodeon show about a young girl who gains some wild powers after coming in contact with a mysterious substance. How does she come in contact, exactly? Well, she is nearly hit by a truck containing the stuff in a company town owned by her father’s employer. What year is this again?

The Whole ‘High School On A Demonic Portal' Aspect Of The Show (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Everyone loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer here, so no judging. One thing that’s always been so funny about the show is the fact that Sunnydale High School was built over the Hellmouth, a literal portal to a demon realm. Why not just close the school down?

Kel's Constant Destruction Has No Consequences (Kenan & Kel)

Following the success of All That, Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell got their own show: Kenan & Kel. It’s impossible to count how many times Kel’s character caused massive amounts of damage to houses, stores, restaurants, and schools, facing little to no consequences.

We know them, we love them, and most of the time, we love to hate them. Regardless of how any of us feel about the iconic, troublesome teens that round out the fabric of Hollywood’s youth-centric media, they’ve left their signature messy marks. This list covers the big hitters, the unmistakable part-of-pop-culture adolescents who derailed monumentally (dependent on their character and world, not all misguided minors are created equal). Each calling card of these chaotic characters has a few things in common–they’re lost and faced with conflict–but how they solve their issues leads to many more issues than solutions. Buckle up and grab your favorite nostalgic mix tape/playlist; we’re in for a bumpy ride.

Jim Stark and Buzz Gunderson - Rebel Without a Cause

This is by far one of the most influential movies that jumpstarted the teen genre and it’s big thanks to Jim Stark (James Dean) and Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). When gang leader Buzz and new-in-town Jim agree to a “chickie race,” that’s when things go up in smoke. Jim is left to face the fallout.

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

You could probably make a case for most of The O.C. kids, but Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) undoubtedly tops them all. Coop’s undoing was a monolith and started on the wings of her parents' divorce. It led to underage drinking, tumultuous relationships, petty theft, and eventually to her passing away after a car crash at the end of Season 3.

Danny Zuko - Grease

Like many other ensembles, you could make a pick mostly anyone from the Grease cast, but Danny Zuko's (John Travolta) issues bled into everyone else’s. Not to mention, he strung Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) along until the very end of the movie.

Serena van der Woodsen - Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is another show where you could argue a good case for any of the characters being the biggest saboteur. But like Marissa Cooper, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) just can’t shake off trouble in most things she does. The thought of old her and Georgina Sparks together really sounds like they’d top the list together.

Veronica Sawyer - Heathers

Heathers and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) were ahead of the curve. When awkward loner Veronica gets invited to join the school’s most popular group, she quickly realizes it’s not the place for her. After befriending new kid Jason Dean (Christian Slater), they accidentally kill one of the Heathers. This sets off an entire killing spree that wreaks havoc on Westerburg High School.

Dawson Leery - Dawson’s Creek

Even though he may have been seen more as a golden boy during his reign, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) caused some major damage in his day. We literally have a separate list showcasing all the times Leery was the worst character for his loved ones to be around. If he'd only been supportive of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) going to Paris, who knows what could've been?

Cady Heron - Mean Girls

Tina Fey’s wildly quotable Mean Girls needs no introduction or explanation. With Cady (Lindsay Lohan) coming to terms with attending a public high school in the US after growing up in Africa, she is a poster child for this list. As she explores her new reality, she gets lost for a moment amid girl world drama, which leads to multiple friend, family, and relationship troubles.

Rue Bennet - Euphoria

The Max ‘teen’ jewel-encrusted drama juggernaut holds another ensemble of lost and morose students. However, Rue Bennet (Zendaya) and her substance abuse issues are the focal point. It's upended friendships, caused familial stresses, multiple times over, causing Rue to lie, steal and hurt everyone in the East Highlanders.

Chris Hargensen - Carrie

Stephen King’s Carrie is another classic high school staple that helped push the envelope on what fictional teen worlds could hold. Popular girl and bully, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen) makes Carrie’s (Sissy Spacek) life a living nightmare. Hargensen continues down a downward spiral that leads to the bone-chilling but iconic prank that happens at the dance (which has some truly grim consequences).

Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

If you know anything about this NBC network TV classic, you either love or hate Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). While he was a regular womanizer, heavy partier, not to mention that he sabotaged himself and the team with some regularity, he straightened up.

Dallas ‘Dally’ Winston - The Outsiders

Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders is a quintessential coming-of-age story. Even though the whole gang is rough and tumble, along with any of the ‘Socs,’ Dally (Matt Dillon) is the most troubled. With an already tumultuous background, Johnny’s death sends him on to make poor decisions for himself and his friends.

Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World

Surprising, I know. The more classic choice from Boy Meets World may be Shawn Hunter, but Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) sparked plenty of trouble in his time (like fellow do-gooder, Dawson Leery). Throughout the 7 seasons, he caused more rifts between his family, friends and Topanga than anyone else.

Billy Loomis & Stu Macher - Scream

Naturally, any teen in any scary movie generally has some baggage that leads to strife in one way or another. Youths like Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) are different, though, they are intentionally motivated to terrify and harm their fellow classmates and the people of Woodsboro. Unfortunately for them, their plans backfire on them gravely.

Lucas Scott - One Tree Hill

Like the aforementioned teen network drama shows of the mid and late ‘00s, any character is up for debate. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), the main protagonist, puts on a good show of commotion for everyone in his life. Being a serial heartbreaker while being unloyal and manipulative to others lands him this particular title.

Jennifer Check - Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer’s Body, again, isn’t filled with average adolescents, and especially not Jennifer (Megan Fox). While she and longtime friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) head out for a semi-average night of Jennifer-approved fun, all goes awry. We find out that Jennifer has turned into a demon feasting on the male teens of Devil’s Kettle, WY. After the friends face off, Needy gets pinned for the murders and gets taken to an insane asylum.

Rachel Berry - Glee

The destined-for-greatness Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) typically stopped at nothing to get what she wanted, regardless of the consequences. While the fictional NYADA darling had moments of hope and promise, her ego and ambition always seemed to cause more harm than good. (Any Ryan Murphy-created teen could do, though.)

Seth - Superbad

The 2007 classic was the first Seth Rogen-Evan Goldberg project, and it immediately put them on the map. The semi-biographical Superbad revolves around characters with the same names and pretty typical senior tropes. Of the fictional duo Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), and their pal, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the first of the trio creates the most trouble for their celebratory evening. While the trio make up, along with the girls (Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac), before graduation.

Rory Gilmore - Gilmore Girls

“Why did you drop out of Yale?” Even though Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is one of the more unusual fictional high schoolers on the list, her dropping out was monumental for the world of Gilmore Girls. Even Lauren Graham didn’t like the storyline because of the turmoil it created between Lorelai and Rory. Not to mention, her sleeping with Dean, missing Lorelai's graduation and later on, being more lost than ever in her 30s.

Donnie - Donnie Darko

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) isn’t your typical troublesome, drama-filled teen, even though his choices in one reality lead to serious consequences. His present ED signifiers (Emotional Disturbance) present Donnie as something else, but we eventually come to realize he's an anti-hero of sorts. As he comes to realize that there are multiple timelines at play, he chooses to fix it to save Gretchen Ross' (Jena Malone) life. And with his developed powers, he returns to the day when it all went awry, which leads to his destiny--death.

Archie Andrews - Riverdale

Archie of The CW’s Riverdale was one of the many, much darker TV reboots out there. And though all the drama has always hinged on the red-headed football hero regardless of genre, the TV show really packs Archie with a punch. To be fair, he also found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time quite frequently–it’s how he reacted to them that gives him the top spot for the searching students of Riverdale High.

Kathryn Merteuil & Sebastian Valmont - Cruel Intentions

Another young and terrifying twosome is Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe). The oddball step-siblings wager a bet that involves innocent and new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Through the scheme, the group of students is faced with continuing drama until a very sad end.

Valerie Malone - Beverly Hills, 90210

Though there was plenty of actual drama on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Valerie Malone (Tiffani Thiessen) wasted no time sowing seeds of chaos. Arriving in Season 5 with a lot of baggage in the form of family trauma, Malone was immediately set up to be in trouble. She dated many of the guys and regularly feuded with the girls.

Max Fischer - Rushmore

As one of the many stylized Wes Anderson films, Rushmore was one of his earliest. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a love-drunk student determined to date his teacher and will stop at nothing to achieve it. After an array of mishaps and his fellow acquaintance, Blume (Bill Murray), hitting it off with her, Max loses it. He leaked the affair publicly and temporarily burned bridges with both of them.

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) rise to raising hell for Buffy and co. may be a slow burn, but once she hits it, things get wild. While her use of telepathy, manipulation and struggling to keep her magic in check kick off the season, Tara’s death sets Willow into overdrive in trying to destroy the world.

PJ & Josie - Bottoms

Gen Z coming-of-age comedies come in all shapes and sizes, including Emma Seligman’s Bottoms. The satirical take on the high school experience is wild, especially with PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri). The BFF’s hatch a fight club for girls so they can talk to cheerleaders they have crushes on. Needless to say, a lot of drama goes down, including a car blowing up.

Mona Vanderwaal - Pretty Little Liars

Honestly, most characters from the 2010 series have a fair shot here. But Mona (Janel Parrish) is the reason for all of the mystery and torment. She is who sparks the series because of her grudge against the main friend group. Eventually, she becomes one of them, and even more trouble ensues.

Laura Palmer - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

In my opinion, there’s no list about misguided high schoolers complete without Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The character was cemented into pop culture in David Lynch’s cult show, Twin Peaks, but the less popular prequel movie shows her tragic undoing. Her last days are filled with traumas relating to her drug addiction, web of lies and darker spirits. Warning, this movie isn't for the faint of heart.

DeGrassi: The Next Generation

DeGrassi: The Next Generation is maybe the only title on the list in which each character is as chaotic and troubled as the last. The iconic Canadian teen soap has multiple iterations, but the 2002-2015 series takes the cake. Between the students, they have every classic dramatic HS storyline in the book, and alumni Drake’s “I’m Upset” reunion-filled music video summarizes some key points.

Nancy Downs - The Craft

The quartet of girls in The Craft start as lost as the next, but Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) power-hungry ways destroy what they have together. After quiet Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) moves to town and gets wronged, Downs and her pals take her in. All four hatch a scheme to cast a spell on the wrongdoer, and when it succeeds, that’s when Nancy starts sabotaging everything.

John B - Outer Banks

Netflix’s Outer Banks is one wild ride with wayward John B (Chase Stokes) at the helm. Sure, other characters may be outwardly more troubled (JJ, Sarah or Rafe), but everyone’s lives intensified because of John B’s initial treasure hunt.

Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson - Lady Bird

As one of the more subtle teenage pot stirrers, Ladybird (Saoirse Ronan) still makes her presence and opinions unmistakably clear. Her main sources of conflict reside within her relationship with her hardworking mom (Laurie Metcalf) and nerdy best friend (Beanie Feldstein). While Lady Bird temporarily burns bridges with both in pursuit of greater life expectations and new friends, she mends things with both.

Effy Stonem - Skins UK

A cult classic that ran from 2007-2013 and largely featured the rebellious but lost Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). From the jump, we see 14-year-old her sneaking home in the early morning after being out all night at a rave. Needless to say, Effy’s journey was a bumpy one filled with substance abuse, mental health crises, and a web of lies.

ABC is the place to be on network television to find Joshua Jackson nowadays as star of Doctor Odyssey in the 2025 TV schedule, but many still remember him from his days as Pacey Witter on Dawson's Creek, and not just because James Van Der Beek's titular Dawson was the absolute worst at times compared to Pacey. The actor looked back on his days in Capeside and named a specific storyline he doesn't remember too fondly, as well as one physical feature of his character that he didn't love.

Joshua Jackson spoke with People about the WB show that marked his big break into television (since there are those among us who might count his first ever big break as the Mighty Ducks films), and he shared the Pacey storyline from Dawson's Creek Season 6 he could have probably lived without:

I can't say I disagree with Joshua Jackson on this one, and I'm still enough of a Dawson's Creek fan that I was flashing back to Pacey while watching the series premiere of Doctor Odyssey! The sixth season wasn't the strongest of the show, and that wasn't the strongest story for Pacey.

At least Jackson's character ended the series on a high note after some missteps in that sixth season, thanks to a last-minute change to the ending that had Joey ending up with Pacey instead of Dawson. The Fringe alum named another element of the sixth and final season that didn't work for him:

The goatee wasn't the most popular look for good old Pacey, although Joey (Katie Holmes) shaving it off of him was part of one of Dawson's Creek's Top 10 best episodes... which also happened to inspire an episode of All American: Homecoming just last year, more than two decades after it originally aired on The WB. While Season 6 may not be the most popular of the show, "Castaways" has to be one of the most memorable episodes.

At least, that's likely the consensus among fans who were rooting for Pacey and Joey rather than Dawson and Joey. Fortunately, Joshua Jackson is with the former group, as he reaffirmed to People that he'll "go to my grave Team Pacey" because he's "way too petty" to change his mind on that show's endgame.

If getting Joshua Jackson's perspective on some of Pacey's less stellar storylines puts you in the mood to revisit the iconic show, you can find all six Dawson's Creek seasons streaming with a Hulu subscription now. I can't promise that the series that ran on The WB from 1998-2003 aged particularly well from start to finish, but it is fun to see stars like Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and Jackson himself in some of their earliest work, when there was no way of knowing how successful they'd become in following decades.

In January 1998, the world was introduced to a close-knit group of teen friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. And at the center of the iconic Dawson's Creek cast was Dawson Leery himself (played by James Van Der Beek), an introspective 15-year-old and aspiring filmmaker with a serious love of Steven Spielberg movies and a complicated relationship with the girl next door, Joey Potter (a breakout Katie Holmes).

And whether you're a first-time watcher of the popular nineties show or viscerally remember watching that formative pilot when it first aired on The WB all those decades ago, you will quickly recognize that, despite the show literally being named after him, sometimes Dawson Leery wasn't all that. He could be insensitive, self-righteous, entitled, melodramatic and downright insufferable — over six seasons, here are 32 times that Dawson himself was the absolute worst on Dawson's Creek.

When Dawson Shamed Jen For Her Romantic Past

In the first season, Dawson dates — and deifies — the mysterious new girl in town Jen Lindley (played by future four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams, who would ironically go on to play Steven Spielberg's mother). However, when he finds out that his new girlfriend has been sexually active since age 12, Dawson's reaction is less than understanding and he harshly ridicules Jen for her past experiences.

When He Used Mary Beth To Try To Make Jen Jealous

Though Dawson regularly posits himself as a self-proclaimed "nice guy" throughout the six-season series, he does frequently behave quite callously to those he's dating. Case in point: taking innocent Mary Beth (Megahn Perry) out in the season one episode titled "Double Date," all as a ruse to get a reaction out of his on-again-off-again love interest, Jen Lindley.

When He Read Joey's Diary Without Her Permission

Dawson can proclaim all he wants that he and Joey are soulmates, but that still doesn't give him the right to read Joey's personal diary without her knowledge in the season 2 episode "Crossroads". Even worse is that he believes he's in the right to be angry that she derided his talent as an amateur filmmaker but remains unapologetic about the fact that he violated her privacy.

When He Guilted Joey For Her Summer Plans Abroad

Given her penchant for the arts, it makes sense that Joey would want to spend a summer in the famously beautiful and cinematic city of Paris. However, when she relays such plans to Dawson at the end of the first season, he selfishly guilts her about how hard the distance would be for him, instead of thinking of how great it would be for her. Ultimately, she forgoes her French plans to be near Dawson and stays in Capeside for the summer. (Thankfully, she would eventually see the Eiffel Tower in season 6.)

When He Filmed His and Jen's First Kiss Without Her Knowledge

Dawson famously wants to be a director like Spielberg when he grows up and frequently films little student movies and such throughout Dawson's Creek. However, one of his creepier screen projects was in the third episode of the first season, when he set up a camera to secretly record his first kiss with crush Jen in tribute to all of the famous movie smooches in film history. Only, life isn't a movie, Dawson!

When He Broke Up With Natasha Over Voicemail After Cheating On Her

In the sixth season of Dawson's Creek, Dawson has a fling with an actress named Natasha Kelly (Bianca Kajlich) during his summer working as an assistant director in Los Angeles. However, things get very complicated when he returns to Capeside and rekindles, ahem, physically with Joey. After the longtime friends finally sleep together, Dawson phones Natasha the morning after and brutally dumps her via answering machine.

When He Accused Jack of "Stealing" Joey From Him

In the season two episode "Unchartered Waters,” Dawson unfairly snipes at Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) that he stole Joey from him. However, in reality, Joey actually broke up with Dawson well before she and Jack got together because she needed space from their relationship. Jack wisely reminds Dawson of that important fact, and that Joey is far too smart to be "stolen" by any boy.

When Dawson Entered That Boat Race To Spite Pacey

Saying that Dawson handled the fact that his beloved Joey was dating his best friend Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) very poorly is an understatement. In the third season, he even decides to enter a local sailing competition at the last minute under the guise of beating Pacey and winning Joey back. Of course, that misguided scheme is a big old fail, with Dawson nearly crashing his boat into Pacey's vessel and getting disqualified from the regatta.

When Het Got Too Drunk And Ruined His Surprise Birthday Party

In the sixteenth episode of season 2, fittingly entitled "Be Careful What You Wish For," Joey sweetly plans a surprise party for Dawson's big 16th birthday at the Leery residence. The only problem is that Dawson and Andie (Meredith Monroe) decide to get rowdy at a nightclub beforehand and get absolutely zonked — while underage! — on rum and cokes. When he finally arrives at the surprise party, he's acting plenty foolish, falling face-first into his birthday cake and spending the rest of the night vomiting in the bathroom alongside Andie.

When He Publicly Aired His Parents' Dirty Laundry At His Birthday Party

During a drunken tirade at his 16th birthday in season 2, Dawson takes the time usually reserved for making a wish and blowing out his candles to instead ruthlessly rant about his parents, telling a party full of people about how his mom Gail (Mary-Margaret Humes) slept with her co-anchor, how his dad Mitch (John Wesley Shipp) doesn't have a job, and so on. It goes without saying that it brings the shindig to quite a halt.

When He Guilted Joey Into Turning Her Father Over to the Cops

In season 2, Dawson sees that Joey's father Mike Potter (Gareth Williams) — who had previously been in prison for drug trafficking — has sadly resumed his drug-dealing activities. And instead of quietly supporting Joey and letting her handle that strained family situation on her own, Dawson forces Joey to wear a wire and get a confession implicating her dad. The plan works but is distressing not only for Joey, who tells Dawson she will never forgive him for forcing her decision, but also for actor James Van Der Beek, who cites the episode as the moment when Dawson's Creek went off the rails.

When Dawson Practiced Kissing On A Mannequin In Front Of His Dad

Okay, sure, there's coming-of-age sweetness throughout the iconic teen drama series Dawson's Creek, especially where first romances and such are concerned. But an early scene where Dawson is given smooching pointers by his dad, all while practicing said moves on a mannequin doll fashioned to look like his female best friend Joey is definitely less cute and more creepy.

When He Demeaned Pacey In Front of Everyone At His Birthday Party

The love triangle between Dawson, Joey and Pacey meant that there was a lot of animosity between the two boys throughout the series, but even before Joey and Pacey got together, Dawson demeaned his supposed best friend on the regular. An especially egregious example is Dawson's boorishly drunken rant at his 16th birthday party in season 2, which saw the birthday boy suggest that Pacey's only purpose is to make Dawson feel better about himself in comparison. Even worse, we never actually saw him apologize for that slight!

When He Prodded Joey About Her Physical Relationship With Jack

In the early seasons of Dawson's Creek, Dawson had a bit of an obsession with the status of Joey's virginity. One such instance of the teen butting his nose into his friend's business is in a season 2 episode where he publicly questioned Joey about whether she had slept with Jack and lied about sleeping with Jen just to make Joey jealous. Jen rightly dubbed the whole thing a "pathetic little display."

When He Insulted A Film Critic Who Was Reviewing His Movie

Dawson's dreams of being one of the film industry's great directors was a common thread through the show's six seasons. However, he didn't always make things easy for himself — in the season 5 episode "Cigarette Burns," Dawson insults Amy Lloyd (Meredith Salenger), a film critic tasked with reviewing a movie he made, even telling the writer that she has bad taste in films. We don't think Spielberg behaves that way, Leery!

When He Made Fun Of Jack's Coming Out Journey

With Jack McPhee, Kerr Smith played one of TV's great queer characters — he even was the first man to have an on-screen gay kiss on American television. As part of that onscreen LGBTQ+ representation, Smith's character navigated the ups and downs of his coming out journey in the back-half of season 2, a self-discovery that Dawson drunkenly mocked at his 16th birthday. "Tonight, starring in his very own version of In & Out," Dawson taunted him. "He's in, he's out, he's in, he's out! Nice hair by the way." He might've been joking but it was clearly not funny.

When He Dated Pacey's Older Sister After Giving Him a Hard Time About Joey

For giving Pacey such a hard time about dating his best friend Joey, Dawson didn't seem to see any problem with romancing Pacey's own sister Gretchen (played by NCIS star Sasha Alexander) for much of his senior year. Not to mention there's a not insignificant age difference between the 17-year-old Dawson and the 21-year-old Gretchen.

When Dawson Ruined Joey's Time At The Anti-Prom

At the end of season 3, the Capeside gang throws an "Anti-Prom" in support of the newly out Jack, but Dawson instead takes it as an opportunity to parade Joey around as his date to make Pacey jealous. After seeing Joey and Pacey slow dance — in a sweet and romantic scene that will make you believe in love again — Dawson melodramatically storms out of the event and unfairly yells at Joey that the only reason he suggested "this whole stupid alternative prom" wasn't about Jack at all but rather her. Manipulative!

When He Was Upset That Joey Moved On With Pacey, Even Though He Rejected Her First

The end of season 3 saw the lifelong friendships of Dawson Leer, Joey Potter and Pacey Witter implode when Joey and Pacey started developing romantic feelings for each other. That development really shouldn't have been a problem for Dawson at all, since he previously turned down Joey's offer to rekindle their own romance because he didn't want to ruin their friendship, plus he had specifically asked Pacey to look after the young Miss Potter in the first place.

When He Overreacted About His Student Film And Swore Off Movies Forever

Teenage hormones are a famously fussy phenomenon, but even so, Dawson Leery always had quite the penchant for melodrama. One textbook example is in season 3 after he enters his Blair Witch rip-off student film into a film festival and gets rightly roasted by the other filmmakers in contention. After dismissing the constructive criticism of those “art house snobs," he goes home, clears his walls of all of his beloved movie posters and then drops out of film class. Overreaction much?

When He Didn't Tell Joey He Had a Girlfriend Before They Slept Together

It was six long seasons before Dawson and Joey consummated their on-and-off again relationship, but the slow-burn moment was pretty much ruined when Joey catches a girl calling Dawson on his cell phone the morning after. Turns out, the girl is an actress he had been seeing up until that very morning. "I would rather you weren't involved with someone when we finally sleep together...you should have told me, before!" Joey roars in the season 6 episode "The Song Remains The Same," only for Dawson to respond that she's blowing things out of proportion.

When He Clashed With The Director and Got Fired on His First Day Of Work

Sure, British director Todd Carr (Hal Ozsan) was no picnic to work for, what with his hot temper and no filter, but given that Dawson was only a mere intern working at a Hollywood film studio for the very first time, the young Leery lad probably shouldn't have told his boss that he's basically a hack who only makes bad movies. Unsurprisingly, Dawson was promptly fired and even dropped out of film school because of the embarrassing incident.

When He Reacted Badly To His Mom's Pregnancy

The introduction of a new baby into a family can conjure up feelings of jealousy in a soon-to-be sibling, but usually not when that sibling is a fully-grown 18-year-old. In the season 4 episode "The Family Way," Dawson doesn't take well to the news that his parents are expecting a baby, sulking around the house and offering a very belated — and begrudged congratulations — to Gail and Mitch. Things get worse when Gail reveals that she's considering an abortion, given her age and the family's financial troubles, which causes Dawson to react horribly instead of supporting his mother in her personal decision.

When He Broke Pacey's Nose By Throwing A Basketball At His Face

We'll play devil's advocate here: Pacey was definitely out of line telling Jen that Dawson's childhood nickname was Oompa Loompa and for trying to embarrass Dawson in front of an entire squad of cheerleaders in the season 1 episode "Detention." But that doesn't mean Dawson should have ever resorted to violence, especially not chucking a basketball directly at his best friend's face and breaking his nose. Unsurprisingly, that courtside fight lands both boys in detention.

When He Didn't Listen When Joey Said She Was Uncomfortable Sharing a Bed

For much of their childhood friendship, Joey would spend the night over at the Leery residence and share a bed with her good buddy Dawson. However, what with the changes that come with puberty and such, Miss Potter reveals in Dawson's Creek season 1 that she's no longer comfortable being bunkmates with her boy bestie. "Things change, Dawson. Evolve!" she tells him. However, Dawson downplays her concerns and forces her to spend the night even though she's clearly not feeling totally okay with it. Plus, he hogs the bed!

When He Immediately Went Against His Film Teacher's Rules

In season 1, aspiring director Dawson wanted to take a film class at the fictional Capeside High, but the underclassman was deemed too young. However, after some earnest begging from the student, the school's film teacher Mr. Gold (Mitchell Laurance) decides to let him audit the class, so long as he promises not to participate since he's not officially enrolled. Cut to Dawson's very first film class and what does he do? He immediately throws passive observation out the window and smugly inserts comments and questions into the film class.

When He Cringingly Sang The Blues About His Romantic Troubles

As part of Dawson's alcohol-fueled 16th birthday celebrations, he and Andie decide to throw themselves into a night of unabashed and underage recklessness, which includes taking the stage at a jazz club to awkwardly sing "the blues." Such choice lyrics include: "My name is Dawson Leery, I'm feeling kinda weary / Today is my birthday, and you all look a little blurry / The girl that I cared for left me and ran away / straight into the arms of a guy who turned out to be gay." Better stick to filmmaking, Dawson!

When He Tempted His Friends With A Stolen Copy Of The PSAT Test

In the season 3 episode "None of the Above," Dawson is far from the only student tempted to cheat when the Capeside gang gets their hands on an advance copy of the PSAT test, even veritable goody-two-shoes like Joey and Andie consider it. However, he was the one who brought the stolen test to his friends in the first place — in school, no less! — after getting the test from his bad-girl love interest Eve Whitman (Brittany Daniel).

When He Wrecked His Dad's Boat While Hooking Up With Eve

Dawson's season 3 romance with Eve revealed a wild, and irresponsible, side of the usually straightlaced character. While smooching with the mysterious blonde during a cruise on his dad Mitch's boat, Dawson gets so distracted that the boat crashes into a dock, warranting $3,000 worth of repairs. As if that isn't bad enough, he decides to have a rowdy house party with strippers and charge $20 a pop for attendees to drum up the cash, all while his parents are out of town. Of course, Mitch comes home early and is not happy about the situation.

When He Spent His Professional Career Stuck In His High School Days

Sure, by the series finale of Dawson's Creek, our titular lead finally got his happy ending as a director working in Hollywood, one with apparently enough notoriety to snag a meeting with the one and only Steven Spielberg. However, it's revealed that Dawson isn't working on acclaimed feature films like his filmmaking hero — instead, he's working on a TV show, The Creek, about his relationship with Joey and their experiences in Capeside. "Write what you know" is one thing, but "obsess over your past" is a different thing altogether.

When He Didn't Take Joey's Artistic Talents Seriously

"Dawson, why is it that your obsession with movies is your life passion, but my interest in art is just a hobby?" Joey rightly questions Dawson early on in season 2. Indeed, Dawson had regularly diminished Joey's sketches and artistic pursuits as a mere pastime all the while expecting his best friend-slash-love interest to take his short films and student projects seriously. It's no surprise, then, that when Pacey iconically bought Joey a wall as a canvas to pursue her art, she — and we — swooned!

When Dawson Made This Crazy Face As He Cried

It's the face that launched a thousand hilarious memes: when Dawson finally realized that Joey and Pacey were endgame in season 3, he sadly had to come to terms with his broken heart over losing Joey. And he did so, but not before unleashing one of the most memorable crying faces in TV history. The cry-face was so iconically awful that Van Der Beek's own Dawson's Creek co-star Joshua Jackson jokingly offered up his own small-screen sob in tribute.

Some of the best TV theme songs were already hits or great songs that were adapted as a theme song. These are songs that were written for the show, like the retro ones that still slap, but these are all great songs.

Like The Who contributing to the CSI franchise, or Jane's Addiction lending one of its songs to Entourage. For this list, we're going to avoid covers or reworked versions of the songs that were already famous, like the cover of The Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," which was used for the show Life Goes On. This is our list of existing songs that became awesome TV theme songs.

"Who Are You" - CSI

All of the CSI franchise shows have used songs by The Who as their theme song, creating a nice symmetry between the shows. The original show, CSI, or later CSI: Las Vegas used "Who Are You," and it turned out so great, that when CSI:Miami became the first spinoff, the producers chose

"California" - The O.C.

The band Phantom Planet released their second album, The Guest, in 2002, which included the earworm "California." It was a natural choice for The O.C. which has to be one of the most "California" shows ever. A fun fact about the song is that Phantom Planet's drummer at the time, and on the track, was actor Jason Schwartzman.

"I Don't Want To Wait" - Dawson's Creek

"I Don't Want to Wait" was first recorded and released on Paula Cole's second album, titled This Fire, in 1996. A couple of years later the song was chosen to be the theme song for the WB's first mega-hit Dawson's Creek. The song likewise became a hit, rocketing to #11 on the Billboard charts.

"Bad Reputation" - Freaks And Geeks

19 years after Joan Jett told the world she didn't care about her "Bad Reputation," the cult classic show Freak And Geeks used it as its theme song for its one and only season. The song has had a life far beyond the show, just as the show has had a long life beyond it's only season.

"With A Little Help From My Friends" - The Wonder Years

If you're going to set a TV show in the '60s, it's a good idea to dig deep into that well of amazing rock and soul music of the era. The Wonder Years smartly used tons of great music from the era, including a theme song by a famous musician who first had a hit with it in 1968. Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles song "With a Little Help from My Friends" was a bigger hit than The Beatles' version, and this was the song that led off The Wonder Years.

"We Used To Be Friends" - Veronica Mars

The Dandy Warhols are one of the great cult bands from the late '90s/early '00s. It was one of their songs, "We Used To Be Friends," that was chosen to be the theme of Veronica Mars and it's frankly the perfect choice for the show. The band, like the show, has a strong fanbase that won't let the song, or the show, be forgotten.

"Way Down In A Hole" - The Wire

This one is a little tricky because technically it breaks our rule about having cover versions of the original song (or the original hit, at least). The first season of The Wire featured a version of the Tom Waits song "Way Down In The Hole" by the Blind Boys Of Alabama. But we're in luck because the second season of the HBO classic features Tom Waits' original version. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th seasons would also feature cover versions of the song.

"C'mon, C'mon" - Rescue Me

The Von Bondies were a good band that really only gained the attention they deserved when their song "C'Mon, C'Mon" was chosen to be the theme song of Rescue Me, starring Denis Leary. For seven seasons, the song ran over the opening titles and as a result, became a big hit for the group.

"Teardrop" - House

Massive Attack has never been a...massive band in the United States. In Britain, however, they are huge. The trip-hop electronic act has released a slew of fantastic records, though their third album, Mezzanine, remains probably the most popular. One of the best songs on that album, "Teardrop" became the theme song for House, though a different, more generic song has been used on streaming and in syndication.

"Reflections" - China Beach

There aren't a lot of shows about Vietnam, but there are a lot of movies about the war. All those movies feature great songs from the era and thankfully the one hit show about the Vietnam War followed suit. China Beach chose the fantastic song "Reflections" by Diana Ross & the Supremes. Solid choice, for sure.

"Save Me" - Smallville

"Save Me" was the lead single on the album The Golden Hum, by the band Remy Zero. It was dubiously released on September 10th, 2001. A week later the WB hit Smallville debuted, using "Save Me" as its theme song. The song became a minor hit for the band, but sadly, Remy Zero broke up before recording a follow-up album.

"Woke Up This Morning" - The Sopranos

"Woke Up This Morning" by the British band Alabama 3 was a minor hit in the U.K. in 1997, when it was released, but didn't gain any traction in the U.S. That changed in a huge way when it was picked to be the theme song of The Sopranos. The song became one of those spine-tingling moments whenever viewers would here that famous HBO audio mark right before the beat of the song would hit as Tony drove from New York City to his house in New Jersey each week.

"Love And Marriage" - Married... With Children

For a show that took pride in just how crude it can be, it's kinda awesome that the theme song was by one of the classiest singers of all time. Married... With Children used the Frank Sinatra song "Love And Marriage" as its theme song and it worked amazing for that intro with the shot of a fountain in Chicago.

"Little Boxes" - Weeds

Malvina Reynolds wrote "Little Boxes" in 1962 and gave it to her friend, legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, who had a minor hit with it in 1964. It was Reynolds' version that would become the biggest hit when it was used as the theme for Showtime's Weeds.

"Superhero" - Entourage

Jane's Addiction had their biggest hits in the early '90s before they broke up (for the first time) in 1994. When they reconvened in 2001, they finally recorded their third "proper" album, Strays (JA fans will tell you it was their fourth album, including their debut live album commonly called XXX). The song "Superhero" from Strays became the best-known song from the album when it was used for the theme of HBO's Entourage.

"Stand" - Get A Life

Highlighting just how offbeat Get A Life, starring Chris Eliot, was, the show managed to score an REM hit for its theme song. "Stand" from the REM album Orange was a huge hit and the band was notorious for protecting their songs from too much commercialization. In short, they were the last band you'd expect to allow one of its songs to be used on TV. But the show was so unique, that it made perfect sense.

"Rock Around The Clock" - Happy Days

We know what you're thinking, "Wait a minute, Happy Days had its own song. You're right, but that famous theme song wasn't used until the show's second season. The theme in the first season was the Bill Haley and the Comets hit "Rock Around The Clock."

"Jessica" - Top Gear

"Hold on! Top Gear used a cover version of The Allman Brothers Band's song "Jessica"" is what you're thinking here. Well, you're right. But the old Top Gear, the original version that ran from the '70s until the late '90s, used the original version by The Allmans.

"Wanted Dead Or Alive" - Deadliest Catch

Even reality shows like to use big hits. Take, for example, The Deadliest Catch, which used a perfect song, Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive." There's no way you can find a more perfect theme, nor could anyone write a more perfect one.

"Straight Up And Down" - Boardwalk Empire

One of the coolest ideas the showrunners of HBO's Boardwalk Empire had was to use a very modern song by The Brian Jonestown Massacre. For a show set in the 1920s, you wouldn't expect a song like "Straight Up and Down" and yet it works perfectly.

"Low Rider" - The George Lopez Show

It might be a little on the nose, but somehow it still works. The George Lopez Show uses the band War's hit "Low Rider" which is one of the best songs Chicano rock songs of all time.

"What A Wonderful World" - Family Matters

This is another one where you might be thinking that the show had its own, unique theme song and you're right. For most of its run Full House used its own song, but for the first five episodes of Season 1, the show used the classic "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

"Carry On My Wayward Son" - Supernatural

If we're being honest, "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas doesn't jump out as the perfect theme song for a fantasy show like Supernatural, but today, it's impossible to think the theme song to the show could be anything other than the 1970's hit.

"Tea For The Tillerman" - Extras

"Tea For The Tillerman" by Cat Stevens is the perfect choice for the Ricky Gervais show Extras. The song wasn't a huge hit, it was more of a coda on Cat Stevens' album by the same, which was a huge hit when it was released in 1970.

"Bad Boys" - COPS

COPS is one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, as it's basically been on the air in one form or another since 1989. In total, there have been well over 1000 episodes of the groundbreaking reality show and all of those episodes have started with the song "Bad Boys" by reggae legends Inner Circle.

"Closer To Free" - Party Of Five

Wisconsin band BoDeans landed their biggest hit when their song "Closer To Free" from their fifth album became the theme song to Party Of Five. The song charted as high as #16 once the show took off.

"Bad Things" - True Blood

Singer-songwriter Jace Everett released "Bad Things" in 2005, but it failed to make a big impression on the public. It was a great song though, and when it was picked as the theme to the HBO hit True Blood, the song, like the show, took off and became a hit among fans of the show.

"Livin' On The Edge" - Ice Road Truckers

Following in the footsteps of his cousin, Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers picked another song from a hair metal band. The theme for the first four seasons of the nail-biting show was "Livin' On The Edge" by Aerosmith, a perfect choice.

"Next Year" - Ed

NBC's Ed found a cult following during its four seasons on the air, but the band whose song was the theme, The Foo Fighters, is anything but a cult band. They were then and are still one of the biggest bands in the world and their song "Next Year" is one of their many hits.

"Flagpole Sitta" - Peep Show

it's sad to say that Harvey Danger, who released "Flagpole Sitta" in 1997, is a one-hit wonder. They deserve so much better. But alas, "Flagpole Sitta" was their lone hit, but what a hit it's been. It's seemingly everywhere, even more than two decades since its release. That includes as the theme for the British show Peep Show for the show's final eight seasons.

"Where You Lead" - The Gilmore Girls

The Gilmore Girls has been a surprisingly enduring show over the years. Though it ended almost two decades ago, the show remains beloved by its fans. It's fitting that the show's theme song is an enduring hit too. "Where You Lead," by Carole King, was first released in 1970. it's worth noting that the theme song is slightly reworked by King and recorded for the show by King and Louise Goffin.

"Forever Young" - Parenthood

Parenthood pulled off quite the coup when they landed the Bob Dylan song "Forever Young" as its theme song. Dylan is famously protective of this music.

For decades, countless TV shows have relied on a trope that has come to be known as the "will they, won't they?" phenomenon, in which the story teases the romantic potential of two central characters with great chemistry. The gimmick has worked on many audiences who love tuning in to see if the couple is one step closer to breaking from their platonic dynamic, however, when that moment finally comes, it does not always lead to a happily ever after, especially for the show they were on. We looked at several classic TV sitcoms and hits of other genres, too, and found some prime examples of couples who perhaps should have stayed friends for series' sake.

Rachel And Joey On Friends

The first couple of seasons of Friends largely focused on the potential romance between Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), which ultimately proved to be one worth rooting for even during their rough patches. However, Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) brief attempt to date after developing feelings for one another was so awkward that it was even acknowledged by the characters before they decided to go back to being platonic.

J.D. And Elliot On Scrubs

When J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke) first come together on Scrubs, it is one of the most fun and fulfilling plot developments from the medical comedy's early days. However, their rekindling in Season 8 does not have quite the same magic, which might also be a symptom of its less-beloved final years.

Troy And Britta On Community

Following hints that Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) had developed feelings for each other, the study group members' romance was made official in Season 4. Of course, that season, considered the worst season of the show, is also referred to as "The Gas Leak Year" to explain why everyone at Greendale was acting a little off during that time and we consider this awkward and unfunny coupling an essential example of that.

Mulder And Scully On The X-Files

Creator Chris Carter's The X-Files, which follows the unusual investigations of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), is considered to be one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time but another genre you could lump it in with is romance. However, the series was at its best when it only went as far as implying a spark between the FBI agents but was at its weakest any time it went in more explicit directions.

Barney And Robin On How I Met Your Mother

The first season of How I Met Your Mother saw Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) going back and forth on his feelings for Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) before they finally took the leap in a satisfying way or, at least, far more satisfying than Robin's relationship with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris). The coupling never quite felt right and the fact that most of Season 9 is set at the weekend, which leads to divorce in the finale, makes it feel even more wasted.

Dawson And Joey On Dawson's Creek

The concept of James Van Der Beek's title character from Dawson's Creek having romantic potential with his childhood friend, Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) was already a little too on-the-nose at the time. Their tumultuous "will they, won't they" arc was so irritatingly drawn out and their inevitable coupling proved to lack some significant chemistry, ultimately making it clear that they were not right for each other.

Steve And Laura On Family Matters

You could argue that making Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White the star of the Family Matters cast was the true beginning of the end for the sitcom in terms of overall quality, considering it was originally supposed to be about his neighbors, the Winslows. However, seeing the stereotypical nerd's one-sided crush on Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams) turn into an actual relationship might be the series' furthest leap over the shark.

Sam And Rebecca On Cheers

Perhaps the quintessential example of an ideal "will they, won't they" relationship is that of Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) from the Cheers cast, whose relationship may have ended by bittersweet means but was fun and satisfying while it lasted. As a result, the bartender's similar "will they, won't they" dynamic and eventual romance with his manager Rebecca Howe (Long's replacement, Kirstie Alley) was not necessarily a detriment to the long-running series but deeply pales in comparison.

Luke And Lorelai On Gilmore Girls

An essential example of a "will they, won't they?" dynamic being far more entertaining than the inevitable romance is Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) from the Gilmore Girls cast. Everything about the single mother's relationship with the diner owner, especially their witty banter, was at its peak when they were still strictly friends who occasionally flirted.

Maddie And David On Moonlighting

One of the first couples that comes to mind when the topic of "will they, won't they" arcs with disappointing turnouts is brought up is David Addison (Bruce Willis) and Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) on the Emmy-winning comedy, Moonlighting. The pair – a sarcastic detective and a former model managing a private investigation firm – drove each other nuts and teased a potential romance for several seasons until they finally gave it a shot but with an underwhelming reception from critics and audiences alike.

Erin And Andy On The Office

If there is one undeniably positive thing we can say about Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) and his relationship with Erin Haynes (Ellie Kemper), it is that the hapless Dunder Mifflin salesperson and flighty receptionist make a much better couple than he and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey). However, Andy and Angela's tragically one-sided dynamic (particularly due to her secret affection for Dwight) led to jokes and storylines that were far more interesting by comparison.

Damon And Elena On The Vampire Diaries

The CW's hit vampire TV show, The Vampire Diaries, boasted the distinction of having a "will they, won't they" arc that branched off from a different trope: the love triangle between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and undead brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). While "Delena" ended up becoming the winning couple, the challenges they faced – from memory-erasing storylines to Dobrev's exit from the cast – made for an exhausting watch until their happy ending in the series finale.

Daenerys And Jon On Game Of Thrones

Most fans of Games of Thrones would agree that the HBO original series started to go downhill once the writers began deviating from the original source material, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. One such disappointing element of the epic fantasy show was the romance between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) – a relationship that saw the fan-favorite characters veering into directions that seemed unnatural for how they were developed.

Nick And Jess On New Girl

Even though they retained a pleasantly platonic relationship early on, anyone who has ever seen a sitcom likely was able to predict that Jessica "Jess" Day (Zooey Deschanel) and Nick Miller (Jake Johnson) from the New Girl cast were destined for romance from the beginning. For how much it was a delight watching the roommates become a couple, most would agree that the show was always at its best when they were still friends.

Booth And Brennan On Bones

Fans of Bones would argue that seeing forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) officially becoming a couple after years of teasing did not ruin the crime procedural by any stretch. However, many viewers were disappointed to see the series immediately jump ahead and show them settled down and with a baby on the way instead of taking the time to show the natural evolution of their relationship.

House And Cuddy On House

Admittedly, it was fun to watch Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) flirt with Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) but no one could have imagined that such as selfish, manipulative, and emotionally unavailable jerk like him could be in a loving relationship with her. Of course, it was these very behaviors that doomed their romance, which ended permanently when Edelstein left the hit medical drama.

Rory And Jess On Gilmore Girls

The romance between Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) and Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) was a sweet tale of first love that made Gilmore Girls' inaugural run a winning first season. Unfortunately, after Luke's troubled nephew, Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia), moved to Stars Hollow and piqued Rory's interest, it ruined the relationship and, after she and Jess became official, her likability began to wane.

Buffy and Spike On Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Angel (David Boreanaz) briefly shared a romance that Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would agree was fun and exciting. In fact, we can think of several reasons why Buffy should have picked Angel over Spike (James Marsters), who was never intended to be a regular character in the first place anyway.

Josh And Donna On The West Wing

There is no denying that among the West Wing cast members, Bradley Whitford's Josh Lyman and his assistant Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) had one of the most irresistible dynamics. However, when their relationship became more than strictly professional, the coupling was largely deemed as coming too late into the political drama to make for a satisfying outcome.

Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin was an otherwise sweet and inspiring dramedy who did not know how to handle the blossoming romance at the center of it all. Because of various contrived developments and signs of incompatibility, the title character (played by Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni) are considered one of the weakest TV couples in recent memory.

Max And Helen On New Amsterdam

One of the biggest mistakes that a TV show can make when pairing up a "will they, won't they?" couple is changing the fundamental makeup of each character. That is how many fans felt when Dr. Max Goodwin (former The Blacklist cast member Ryan Eggold) and Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman) struck up a relationship on the NBC medical drama, New Amsterdam.

Clark And Lana On Smallville

Smallville established at the very beginning that Clark Kent (Tom Welling) had a crush on classmate Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and eventually formed a relationship with her that was riddled by an unstable foundation before they split in Season 8. Luckily, soon after, Clark would begin dating his true soulmate, Lois Lane (Erica Durance).

Jackie And Fez On That '70s Show

To be fair, fans and critics would agree that That '70s Show had already been experiencing a steep decline in quality by the time Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis) developed a crush on Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) out of the blue in the seventh and final season. However, seeing them finally come together in the finale following years of Jackie rejecting him just felt weird and the creators seemed to agree, based on how they split them up and got Jackie and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) back together for That '90s Show.

Zack And Kelly On Saved By The Bell

Watching Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) pursue Kelly Kapowki (Tiffani Thiessen) to no avail was always one of the most fun things about Saved by the Bell. Watching the often horribly behaved sitcom kid become a true romantic and win Kelly's heart just felt off-brand and things only became more ridiculous when they got engaged during Saved By the Bell: The College Years.

Coulson And May On Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have enjoyed shipping characters, but few "will they, won't they?" couples in the franchise were more popular than Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his colleague, Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen). It is just a shame that it took Coulson's imminent death, and with only days left to spare, to inspire them to finally give a relationship a try.

Shawn And Juliet On Psych

Fans of Psych would likely agree that the best relationship on Psych is Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) and Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill). Yet, it might be a hot take to say that Shawn's slowly built-up coupling with Det. Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) was added to show for a needless element of romance but without taking the time to build the relationship into something genuinely worth rooting for.

Lane And Zack On Gilmore Girls

There are many polarizing romantic storylines on Gilmore Girls but most fans have come to agree that Lane Kim (Keiko Agena) and Zack Van Gerbig (Todd Lowe) have the worst. To be frank, they just feel Lane's former bandmate is a bad influence on her.

Oliver And Felicity On Arrow

While audiences are willing to suspend disbelief for all kinds of reasons when watching a comic book TV show, fans and critics had a hard time believing the relationship between Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards). The wealthy vigilante and his employee-turned-lover were incompatible for an irritating number of reasons.

Pete And Myka On Warehouse 13

What made the coupling of Secret Service agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) a low point for SyFy's Warehouse 13 was that there was no actual "will they, won't they" buildup. They were clearly and perfectly platonic duo until Pete realizes he is in love with Myka completely out of the blue.

Michael And Holly On The Office

Let's make something clear: seeing Michael Scott (Steve Carell) find a happy relationship with Holly Flax (Amy Ryan) was a grandly heartwarming sight. We're only counting their relationship because it led to Carell's exit from NBC's The Office cast and, with it, the series' creative downfall.

Maeve And Otis On Sex Education

Over the course of four seasons, it seemed like Netflix's Sex Education was building toward a long-awaited happily ever after for Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey). Unfortunately, the series betrayed its centerpiece couple by introducing a long-distance relationship plot, ultimately ruining them for good.

Lucifer And Chloe On Lucifer

Despite having the actual Devil as its main "hero," Lucifer is a fun, bizarre take on the crime thriller genre. Yet, many fans felt that the show went in an overly dramatic direction when the title character Tom Ellis and Det. Chloe Decker (Lauren German) became a romantic couple.

There are so many types of films and TV shows out there where one of the main focuses is romance, whether it's the best rom-com movie out there or it's a dramatic, neverending tale of love. But today, we'll be focusing on films and TV shows that focus on young love – teenagers and the like, obviously. Let's get into it.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before Trilogy (2018 – 2021)

This To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy defined a generation of young women like me who dream of having someone like Peter Kavinsky sweep them off their feet. We all agreed that Noah Centineo was the internet's boyfriend for years after this—indeed, a culture shift.

Teen Wolf (2011 – 2017)

While Teen Wolf certainly ranks high on our list of supernatural teen dramas because that is the basis of this show, a lot of people focus on love. And I mean a lot. The romances that happen are mainly what drives this series about a high schooler turning into a werewolf. You can't really get much better than that.

Grease (1978)

Okay, while literally, not a single person in the Grease cast was of high school age, the movie itself is about young romance. While I sometimes think Grease can be overrated, the movie musical does a good job of showing how young romance can affect a teenager – in an enjoyable musical form.

One Tree Hill (2003 – 2012)

When literally anyone thinks of teen romance, they think of One Tree Hill. Running for a total of nine seasons, the series tells the story of two half-brothers who compete for the same position on their school's basketball team, but of course, their love lives get entwined and tangled as well. This is drama to the max.

Easy A (2010)

When I think of Emma Stone's best movies, Easy A is always up there. While she's excellent in her dramatic roles, there is just something about seeing her in this comedic romance movie, which takes the cake every time. It takes young romance and makes it a joke, and honestly, it makes the relationship that her character forms with someone else even better.

Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)

Yes, I know I'll have some people say that Gilmore Girls isn't really based on young romance because it's more about the relationship between mother and daughter, but you tell me that you haven't spent time wondering who Rory was going to end up with in this series. Before there was Team Edward and Team Jacob, there was Team Dean and Team Jess (and Jess was the better option, BTW).

X.O. Kitty (2023 – Present)

A spinoff of To All The Boys I've Loved Before, this series, X.O. Kitty, is all about Lara Jean's younger sister, Kitty, and her adventures across the world in South Korea and honestly, I love it. While romance is a main aspect of the series, it's also a fun little coming-of-age comedy that anyone can get behind.

Dawson's Creek (1998 – 2003)

Running for six seasons, Dawson's Creek is another essential teen romance TV series that has been talked about for years. The series is like most teen romances out there, where it follows a close group of friends in high school and their lives together, as well as the relationships that follow, but man, it was huge and shot the stars to fame.

She's All That (1999)

Nah, we are not talking about He's All That. We are bringing up the original She's All That. The movie, starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook, is all about a high schooler who says he can make any girl popular and takes a bet to turn a random woman into a prom queen in six weeks. Romance ensues, and it's just a fun teen rom-com from there on.

Twilight (2008)

They are about romance when you think about it. The Twilight films are primarily all about the romance between Bella and Edward. And Bella is a teenager – and Edward is trapped in a young person's body, so technically, it is a teen romance…even if he is hundreds of years old, but THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT, OKAY? It's a teen romance.

Glee (2009 – 2015)

When I was coming up with ideas for this article, Glee was one of the first I knew I had to include here. Sure, we all love the Glee covers, but man, we ate up these romances when the show was out. Blaine and Kurt, Santana and Brittany, Rachel and Finn – it was endless, y'all. This may be about a Glee club, but we are all here for the love.

Gossip Girl (2007 – 2012)

The Gossip Girl cast undoubtedly reached a point while filming this show when they were no longer teenagers, but we all loved this series for its romances—no matter how absolutely messy they got. And they got messsssssy.

My So-Called Life (1994 – 1995)

While My So-Called Life only ran for one season, it certainly cemented itself into pop history. It was very realistic in its portrayal of teenagers and took a natural examination of romance in young love. Sure, it wasn't as dramatic as the others, but it's still a great show – and now a cult classic.

She's The Man (2006)

For a time, it felt like Amanda Bynes was the queen of teen romance comedies, and She's The Man was undoubtedly her best. Telling the story of a female soccer player who goes undercover as a man to join the men's soccer team in order to play, the movie is hysterical and creates a comedic young romance that is just too good.

Never Have I Ever (2020 – 2023)

Running for four seasons, Never Have I Ever is a great teen romance show. It's reportedly loosely based on Mindy Kaling's (the co-creator) life and her life in Boston. It follows the story of a teenager in high school and how she deals with her personal and school life in the aftermath of her father's passing. The romance is just as great as everything else.

Ginny & Georgia (2021 – Present)

While you could make the same argument for Ginny & Georgia as you could with Gilmore Girls – where it's essentially about a mother and a daughter – the Netflix series takes a hard stance on romance and really makes it a primary part of the story. Sometimes, you'll love these relationships. Other times, you'll want to pull your hair out. But hey, it's a fun time.

The O.C. (2003 – 2007)

Taking place over four seasons, The O.C. is another excellent teen drama that puts romance at its front most of the time. The series follows the life of a teenager who is adopted into a wealthy home, how he deals with his new life, and the relationships around him. It's one of the best teen series out there, so you should check it out if you haven't.

Crush (2022)

Starring Rowan Blanchard, this Hulu original film is a fun one. Crush is all about a high schooler who joins the track team in order to get close to her crush – but, in a plot twist, she ends up falling for her crush's twin sister instead and causes a whole mess of problems.

The Vampire Diaries (2009 – 2017)

Don't even get me started on this show. The Vampire Diaries may be about mythical creatures, but the romance is the plot. The show is all about a normal girl falling for a vampire that she thinks is a human, but then his brother ends up falling for her too, and she does as well as it's this whole love triangle – god, it was everywhere at the time. It's a young romance show despite the vampires being hundreds of years old.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best adaptations of a William Shakespeare piece because it is so fun. The movie is about a student who wants to date someone, so he enlists the help of the local bad boy to date the sister of the person he wishes to date—I mean, it's a recipe for success.

Dash & Lily (2020)

It's a shame because Dash & Lily came out during a time when it wasn't properly appreciated. The Netflix series stars Austin Abrams and Midori Francis and tells the story of two teenagers who fall in love while trading messages and dares in a notebook across various locations in NYC. I mean, that's adorable. Please watch it if you haven't.

Warm Bodies (2013)

I had to get one fun pick on here. Warm Bodies is one of Nicholas Hoult's best movies, and it's so funny. It's literally about a zombie teenager and a human teenager falling in love. Like, come on. That's freaking adorable.

The Secret Life Of The American Teenager (2008 – 2013)

With five seasons, The Secret Life of the American Teenager was a massive hit for ABC Family when it was released. The central premise of the first season is about a teenager who gets pregnant after her time at band camp and a one-night stand, but of course, the series takes plenty of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time, especially with the romance.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022 – Present)

Now, this is a tremendous young romance pick. The Summer I Turned Pretty is based on the novels of the same name and tells the story of a teenager and the love triangle that she develops between two brothers. Yes, it is about as dramatic as you can expect it to be, and I eat it up each time.

Euphoria (2019 – Present)

Is Euphoria a lot more mature than any other picks on this list? You betcha, but that's what you get when you do a young romance show on HBO. The series mainly follows Rue and her time with drugs, but the romance aspect is a massive part of the show, mainly between other characters, but also between Rue and Jules.

Love, Victor (2020 – 2022)

A spinoff of the movie Love, Simon, this series is honestly a great one, and I wish it had more seasons. Love, Victor is all about the titular character, Victor, who comes to terms with his sexuality and learns to love himself and others over the course of its three seasons. It's a great LGBTQ+ TV show that I personally love.

The Kissing Booth (2018)

Okay, so The Kissing Booth in itself is a meme because there are so many moments that make you scratch your head and wonder how these relationships even work. But that doesn't change the fact that the first movie is entertaining as heck and certainly makes for a fun young romance.

A Cinderella Story (2004)

There are so many adaptations of Cinderella out there, but personally, A Cinderella Story is one of my favorites. It's about two teenagers who are online penpals who plan to meet up for the first time at a school's Halloween event. It's so sweet and adorable—ugh, I love it.

Sex Education (2019 – 2023)

I mean, this show is all about romance, love, and sex, thrown into a pretty bow. The series mainly follows a teenager and his experiences at school when everyone finds out that his mother is a sex therapist, but there are some excellent portrayals of young love on this show that really take the cake – ones I genuinely adore.

Love, Simon (2018)

This teen romance movie is one of the best out there. The film, starring Nick Robinson, follows the story of a closeted high schooler who is being blackmailed by someone at school while also trying to find out who the person is that he has fallen in love with online and dealing with his personal life as well. The movie does a great job of showing young love, and I love it.

Heartstopper (2022 – Present)

Based on the graphic novels of the same name, Heartstopper has three seasons and mainly follows the love story between Charlie and his feelings for Nick, a schoolboy with whom he shares a class. But as the series progresses, you get more and more relationships that make it so much more fun.

Literally, Any Romeo & Juliet Adaptation

Do I have to explain why? Whether you're talking about the one from the 1960s, Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo + Juliet, or any of the others, it's all about teen romance and what it does to us.

These are just some of the great picks I can think of, but there are so many others. I think these will be perfect for a little date night or a long weekend binge.

Spoilers ahead for the final season of All American: Homecoming.

The All American: Homecoming era has ended on The CW in the 2024 TV schedule, with the series finale airing just months after the original series' sixth season closed on an episode that really felt like an ending. Although showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll didn't know that Homecoming's third season would be the last when planning it out, the finale tied up some loose threads anyway and gave Simone and Lando a happy ending. And as it turns out, that happy ending might not have hit as hard if not for an episode earlier in the season that was actually inspired by one of Dawson's Creek's best installments. Who knew?!

In the wake of the series finale, All American: Homecoming showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll spoke with Deadline about the final season, including the very special episode that was almost entirely about Simone and Lando. She shared that the inspiration behind the episode came from a show that aired on the same network decades earlier, before The WB became The CW. Carroll said:

The Dawson's Creek episode that Nkechi Okoro Carroll is referring to is called "Castaways" and aired in the latter half of the sixth and final season. It ranks on CinemaBlend's picks for the best Dawson's Creek episodes and is definitely a classic... as long as you're Team Pacey/Joey and not Team Dawson/Joey, anyway! As somebody who qualifies, I'm now ready to rewatch "Castaways," with Dawson's Creek fortunately available streaming both with a Hulu subscription and an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Nkechi Okoro Carroll continued:

If Simone and Lando were indeed going to be endgame of All American: Homecoming, there needed to be a point of the two getting back on the same page, or at least the same chapter of the same book. Co-showrunner Marqui Jackson came up with the idea of an episode that plays out similarly to "Castaways" on Dawson's Creek, to the surprise and delight of Carroll. She concluded:

If you want to revisit the first two seasons of All American: Homecoming in the wake of the finale, you can do so now with a Netflix subscription. Season 3 will be arriving on the streamer soon as well. All six seasons of All American so far are available on Netflix as well.

If Nkechi Okoro Carroll's comments also put you in the mood to revisit the days of Dawson, Joey, and Pacey, you can find Dawson's Creek on Hulu and Prime Video... or just watch the series premiere of Joshua Jackson's Doctor Odyssey on Hulu, which totally gave me some unexpected Creek vibes.

Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of Doctor Odyssey on ABC.

One of ABC's most-hyped new shows of the 2024 TV schedule has been Doctor Odyssey, which brings Josh Jackson back to a network TV series regular role for the first time since Fringe. In the new medical drama, Jackson plays the overqualified Dr. Max Bankman after he becomes the onboard doctor of a glamorous cruise ship. While this isn't Jackson's first time playing a doctor, Doctor Odyssey certainly isn't Dr. Death. A s somebody who has enjoyed the actor's various projects going back to The Mighty Ducks on VHS in the '90s, I was expecting a totally new character with the ABC drama... and definitely not to get any Dawson's Creek vibes.

To be clear – Doctor Odyssey is not a Dawson's Creek: High Seas sequel, Dr. Max Bankman is not Pacey, and I'm not suggesting that Joshua Jackson can only play one kind of role. But two elements of the series premiere did have me flashing back to his Pacey days, and the first was while he was confiding in nurse practitioner Avery (Phillipa Soo) about where he learned to dance:

Max went on to tell an emotional story about being the first person in Connecticut to be diagnosed with COVID back in early 2020 and how his experience made him want to pursue joy at all costs... which was his "very, very long-winded way of saying that I finally enrolled in a dance class."

Admittedly, the closest that I can think of Pacey wanting to pursue joy at all costs was when he paid the price for neglecting his schoolwork, but his comment about dance class reminded me of the Dawson's Creek episode in which Pacey agreed to help Joey (Katie Holmes) by secretly being her partner at a dance class.

And then there's the fact that there's already a love triangle brewing between the three main characters of Doctor Odyssey, with nurse Tristan (Sean Teale) harboring feelings for Avery but Avery quickly having eyes for Max (and Max looking back). When it comes to playing out complicated love triangles on TV, Joshua Jackson has more experience than most after his Dawson's Creek days when Pacey came out of nowhere to become the romantic rival to the title character in the best way.

It was a long, bumpy, and occasionally ugly road between sparks flying and Joey and Pacey becoming – spoiler alert for Dawson's Creek – the show's endgame couple, however, so I don't think I can be blamed for flashing back to it at the merest first suggestion of a love triangle in Doctor Odyssey.

All in all, I enjoyed the pilot of Doctor Odyssey, and not because it reminded me of Dawson's Creek. There were just a couple of parallels that stuck out to me as a viewer of the teen drama back in the day. My favorite line of the new show might actually be the very last of the pilot, when Max asked "Is every week a theme?" after Avery announced that next week would be singles week.

It struck me as a fun setup for what the show has in store and a solid hook for the rest of the season. If you're curious about what singles week involves on board The Odyssey, check out the promo for the next episode:

Keep tuning in to ABC on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET for new episodes of Doctor Odyssey. The network gave the freshman show a strong time slot by shifting fellow medical drama Grey's Anatomy up to 10 p.m. ET and following 9-1-1 at 8 p.m. If you prefer to stream TV over watching live on broadcast, you'll be able to find Josh Jackson's newest show on Hulu.

News broke this week that Stargate SG-1 and Dawson’s Creek’s Obi Ndefo had died at age 51. It was his sister who first shared the news, sharing in a message that her beloved “younger” brother had passed away years after a 2019 car accident had left him without both of his legs.

Nkem Ndefo shared a picture of her brother on Facebook and wrote a message, though cause of death has not been disclosed at this time.

My first recollection of Obi Ndefo was in Stargate SG-1 where he played Rak-nor, a member of the Free Jaffa Nation with connections to main character Teal’c. I first watched the series on DVD in the early aughts, but more recently the actor had come back onto my radar after I started binge-watching Dawson’s Creek.

For Holmes, though, the connections were not loose. Ndefo was an integral part of her growing up experience. He played a reasonably large role in the first season of the hit teen drama (after replacing George Gaffney, who starred in the Dawson's Creek pilot) when Holmes was still a teenager. He would have had scenes with her quite often as his character was dating Joey’s sister on the series, Bessie Potter. (The two were in an interracial relationship that was seen as taboo by some characters on the series at the time.)

Holmes took to her Stories to recall her time working with Obi Ndefo, then a young Yale graduate taking on his most prominent TV role at that time. (He’d later appear in six episodes of Stargate SG-1 and in several guest roles on shows like NCIS: LA, The West Wing and NYPD Blue). Holmes called her former co-star “wonderful,” also sharing a picture from the show on her Instagram account.

Other series lead Mary-Margaret Humes (who played Dawson's mom Gail) also paid tribute to the actor on Instagram, calling him a part of her “TV family.” She also wrote:

A few years back, Ndefo had gotten into a car accident that led to the loss of both of his legs. The accident was a DUI hit and run outside of Erewhon Market in Los Angeles where he'd been shopping for groceries following a yoga class. A drunk driver hit him while he was standing beside his vehicle and a bystander stayed with him until paramedics arrived, according to an NBC report at the time.

He kept himself going with positive mantras at the time, telling news outlets, "I can do this. And I want to keep being a contributor to the world," and later said he held no anger over the incident. He founded the Arts Alliance for Humanity in the Los Angeles area and worked for many years in the Los Angeles community, including his acting stints.

Our thoughts go out to his friends, his family and his TV family at this time.

I just want to start out this post with a little bit of context: I am a millennial who is sort of in the middle of the age bracket for that group. I know people around my age who did watch Dawson’s Creek, particularly the later seasons, in the early aughts. Most of these people had older siblings, but given I was the eldest in my family, I didn’t have a ton of interest during the show’s original run. Now, though, it’s time to go back and binge, baby. So I’m in the middle of watching the Creek with an Amazon Prime subscription, and while there’s a lot of star power in this series and some things I like, there are three big questions I have for original fans about some of the choices made on this show.

To also mention, I decided to write this before I finished binge-watching. I’m currently only partway through Season 3, so if there’s some big, crazy plot that comes up later, just think of me as being on a fledgling journey; I’m not dumb, I just don’t have the full picture of this series yet.

Did Everyone Originally Cringe-Watch Through The Tamara And Pacey + Jack Coming Out Plotlines?

I had no idea going in that signing on for this show would mean countless minutes of watching a young teenager hooking up with his 40-something teacher. (I think she says she's even younger than that during one ep?) Or that one LGBTQ+ character would come out while getting hazed by his teacher. Really I get Jack coming out on one of the most popular nineties shows was brave and I’ve read it was a compromise show creator Kevin Williamson –who is himself LGTBTQ+ – made to get better representation on network TV. Still, things have changed a lot since this TV moment and there’s quite a bit to learn from Jack’s coming out.

But this Tamara plotline and Pacey actually getting hazed about it when people found out?! I literally had to watch many of these scenes with my hands over my eyes and peek through the gaps. Were we OK with this plotline in the ‘90s? Was it cool? Was it as cringe as I find it in 2024?

Why Does This Show Kill So Many People Off? 

For a small town in Massachusetts, an awful lot of Dawson's Creek cast members seem to die. There’s Jenn’s grandfather, of course, but that one kind of made sense. But then Monica Keena wanted to leave the show, and her character died in a drunken drowning accident. Joey Potter’s mom is dead when the series starts. I’m not to the end of this series yet, but from what I understand, Dawson loses a parent at some point. I’m probably missing more, but you get the gist.

I know a lot of shows have loved killing off characters over the years. There was a big run of this when shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Justified, Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire were killing off characters while making peak TV happen. But like, at least those shows were meant to be violent. This is a coming-of-age drama!

Most Importantly: Did Everyone Hate Dawson In The ‘90s? 

Look, I don’t think it’s even really meanspirited for me to say I dislike Dawson. Even when he’s more palatable in Season 1, he’s too precocious and self-aware to be anything but eye-roll inducing. Normally I use self-aware as a positive adjective, but it’s really, really not here. Years later, James Van Der Beek has made comments about Dawson's Creek going off the rails, as well as not really enjoying some aspects of playing his most famous TV character.

A quick perusal shows that I am not alone in my Dawson hate. In fact, a colleague of mine even rewatched the Dawson’s Creek pilot a couple of years ago and voiced a similar thought. But when the show was first airing, was this the case? Was Dawson a misunderstood teen who garnered sympathy? Or has it only been the passage of time that’s been unkind to our young, selfish, titular hero?

As a millennial who didn’t watch during the early run, these are the questions that have really stood out to me most as I’ve started embarking on my binge-watching journey. My sister has informed me there’s more to hate on later, notably after the main gang graduates from high school. I guess I can’t wait.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that some of the best TV theme songs are courtesy of some of the greatest musicians in pop culture. Iconic TV theme songs can be as fondly remembered as the characters on the show, sometimes even more so. These are themes that still slap because they were created by the best of the best. Here is our list of some of the great songs that became iconic TV theme songs.

Friends - The Rembrandts

The legend goes that REM was first approached to have their song "Shiny Happy People" used as the theme song to Friends, but they turned the producers down. According to Michael Stipe, the producers then turned to the LA-based dup The Rembrandts to write an REM-like song. Frankly, "I'll Be There For You," the song that became a hit as the theme doesn't sound much like REM, but it's a great song, even if the band found the fame very stressful and almost quit over it. 

Orange Is The New Black - Regina Spektor

The creative team behind Orange Is The New Black found the perfect voice in Regina Spektor to compose and perform the theme song for the show. "You've Got Time" was written for the show and lyrically and musically it fits the show perfectly. 

The Wire - Tom Waits

The Wire did something unique with its theme song. Each season, the same song, a dark, brooding song called "Way Down In The Hole" written by Tom Waits and included on his 1987 classic album  Franks Wild Years. In the first season, it was performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Waits' original version was used for Season 2. Seasons three and four saw the theme performed by  The Neville Brothers and a group of local Baltimore kids dubbed  DoMaJe, respectively. For the fifth and final season, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who also played Waylon on the show, did the song. 

The Golden Girls - Andrew Gold

"Thank You For Being A Friend" is certainly most well known for being the theme to the classic sitcom The Golden Girls, but it was written and recorded by singer Andrew Gold almost a decade earlier and became a top 25 hit in 1978. Singer Cindy Fee sang the TV version. 

Get A Life - REM

In the early days of the Fox network, they were throwing anything and everything at the wall to see what stuck. One brilliant show that never found its audience was Get A Life starring Chris Elliott, now most famous as being from the cast of Schitt's Creek. The show even featured "Stand" by REM as its theme. 

Boardwalk Empire - The Brian Jonestown Massacre

HBO's Boardwalk Empire may have been set in the 1920s, but the theme is from the 1990s. The song, "Straight Up and Down" comes from the excellent 1996 album Take It From The Man by the notorious Brian Jonestown Massacre. Side note - that's the best band name ever. 

A Different World - Aretha Franklin

When A Different World was spun off from the most popular sitcom of its era, The Cosby Show, you know they had to go big with the theme song. It doesn't get any bigger than the Queen of Soul herself, the legendary Aretha Franklin, who sang the theme song for Seasons 2 through 5 after Phoebe Snow sang it in the first season. Later Boyz II Men took over. 

Freaks And Geeks - Joan Jett

Joan Jett didn't give a darn about her bad reputation, nor did the characters in Freaks and Geeks, making the rocker's song, "Bad Reputation" the perfect theme song for the beloved cult show. 

The Big Bang Theory - The Barenaked Ladies

A show about nerds deserves a theme song by a band made of, let's be honest, other nerds. The Barenaked Ladies had a slew of hits in the '90s with their unique brand of dorky, catchy tunes like "Brian Wilson" and "If I Had A Million Dollars," and that aesthetic was perfect for The Big Bang Theory's theme about the origins of the universe. 

China Beach - The Supremes

In the late 1980s, Baby Boomer nostalgia was at its peak, with shows from the '60s being rebooting left and right, and shows like China Beach, about the Vietnam War, finding success on the airwaves. The theme song had to fit the era, and so the producers chose "Reflections" from 1967 by Diana Ross and The Supremes. 

South Park - Primus

An offbeat cartoon like South Park needs an offbeat theme song, so there was no better choice than to enlist Les Claypool and Primus to write and perform it. The theme has become iconic and Primus has even occasionally played it in concert. You just can't imagine the show beginning with anything but that twangy intro. 

The Proud Family - Solange And Destiny's Child

Let's be honest, it's kind of shocking that The Proud Family only aired for two seasons on the Disney Channel in the early '00s. It was a ground-breaking cartoon featuring an African-American family and as such, it deserved a theme song by legends like Solange and Destiny's Child. 

Entourage - Jane's Addiction

HBO's Entourage has one of the coolest intros of any TV show of its era as the characters cruise through Hollywood in a vintage convertible. The Jane's Addiction song "Superhero" plays over the scenes, adding to that coolness. It's a song that comes from JA's 2003 release Strays, but feels very much like it could have been written for the show. 

Dog The Bounty Hunter - Ozzy Osbourne

Dog The Bounty Hunter was a wild show, and having one of rock's wildest characters, Ozzy Osbourne perform the theme song was a match made in heaven. It doesn't sound much like a song you'd expect from the heavy metal legend, but you can't mistake his trademark vocals. Really, it's the best part about the show, if we're honest. 

Miami Vice - Jan Hammer

Jan Hammer might not be a household name, but he's played with some of the biggest jazz and rock legends of all time. His career stretches back to the late 1960s and throughout the '70s he played with legends like Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin. He also composed virtually all of the music for Miami Vice throughout the show's entire run, including the iconic theme song. 

House - Massive Attack

If you watch House on a streaming service, you likely won't hear the song it originally used as its theme, "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. Instead, there is a generic song that vaguely sounds close to that song but is not nearly as good. 

That '70s Show - Cheap Trick

The theme to That '70s Show has a disjointed history. The song, "In the Street," was originally written and performed by Big Star, and released in 1972. A slightly reworked version, renamed "That '70s Song" was performed by Todd Griffin for the show's first season. Starting in Season 2, Cheap Trick recorded a version of "That '70s Song" which remained the theme for the rest of the show's eight-season run. 

The Drew Carey Show - The Presidents Of The United States of America

The best-known theme song from The Drew Carey Show is "Cleveland Rocks" by the Seattle band The Presidents of the United States of America. However, it actually had a completely different theme in its first season, a song by Carey himself called "Moon Over Parma." 

All That - TLC

Nickelodeon's All That was groundbreaking in a lot of ways. An SNL for kids that helped launch the careers of actors like Nick Cannon, Kennan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Gabriel Iglesias, and Jamie Lynn Spears. It has to be said that the TLC, who performed the theme song also got a boost from the show, though they were already pretty huge when they recorded it. 

Malcolm in the Middle - They Might Be Giants

In a lot of ways, Malcolm in the Middle defines what being a kid in the early 2000s was all about. Though it was about Milennial childhood, the band who recorded the theme song, They Might Be Giants, are Gen X stalwarts. "Boss of Me" even won the group a Grammy. 

Dawson's Creek - Paula Cole

Paula Cole's song "I Don't Want To Wait" was first released on her 1996 album This Fire and hit #11 on the Billboard charts in 1997. In 1998, it became the theme song for Dawson's Creek and has become simply iconic in the years since. 

The Wonder Years - Joe Cocker

Of course, a show set in the '60s had to have an epic '60s song for its theme song. For The Wonder Years that meant going with Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles' "A Little Help From My Friends." Due to its appearance at the beginning of every episode, Cocker's version is at least as well known by Gen X as the original by the Fab Four, if not more. 

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Who

The original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, set in Las Vegas, spawned spin-offs set in Miami and New York, and all the shows used songs by The Who as their theme songs. For the original, it was "Who Are You," for CSI: Miami it was "Won't Get Fooled Again," and for CSI: NY it was "Baba O'Riley." The short-lived CSI: Cyber, which only had 31 episodes also used a song by The Who, "I Can See For Miles."

One Day At A Time - Gloria Estefan

When One Day At A Time was rebooted by Netflix in 2017, this time about a Latino family, the famous theme song was recorded by one of the greatest Latin artists of all time, Gloria Estefan. You couldn't have asked for a better match. 

Weeds - Malvina Reynolds

Malvina Reynolds has one of the most fascinating stories in 20th-century music. She didn't even start her career in earnest until she was in her forties and her biggest hit, "Little Boxes," was written and recorded until she was in her 60s. The song, first released in 1962, became a hit again as the theme song to Weeds in the '00s. 

The O.C. - Phantom Planet

The most famous member of Phantom Planet is an actor and drummer, Jason Schwartzman, so it tracks that they would find their biggest success when their song "California" was picked to be the theme song of The O.C. Without a doubt, it's a banger and fits the show perfectly. 

Gilmore Girls - Carole King

Carole King's massive hit album Tapestry sold millions of copies on the strength of two hit songs, "I Feel The Earth Move" and "It's Too Late." A third song from that album, "Where You Lead" was re-recorded by King and served as the theme song to Gilmore Girls decades after it was first written. 

Married... With Children - Frank Sinatra

When it comes to 20th Century recording artists, it doesn't get any bigger than Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. You wouldn't expect one of his biggest hits, "Love and Marriage" to serve as the theme to a raunchy sitcom like Married... With Children, and yet it works perfectly. 

Veronica Mars - The Dandy Warhols

The show Veronica Mars and the band that performed the theme song, "We Used to Be Friends," by The Dandy Warhols, have something in common. Both the show and the band were critically lauded and gained a loyal and rabid fanbase, but neither really broke through to a broader mainstream audience. Fitting partners, for sure. 

Party Of Five -  BoDeans

For more than a decade, starting in the early '80s, Wisconsin band BoDeans worked hard to develop their career in music. It all came together for them in the early '90s with their album Go Slow Down, which featured their hit "Closer To Free." The song ended up as the theme song to Party Of Five and has since become iconic. 

Sanford & Son - Quincy Jones

When it comes to TV theme songs, there is not bigger banger than the theme to Sanford & Son. The infectious, impossibly funky tune was written by one of the all greats, composer and producer Quincy Jones. So if you ever wondered what made it so great, there's your answer. 

Ed - Foo Fighters

For decades, The Foo Fighters have been on top of the rock n' roll world. There isn't much that the Dave Grohl-led band hasn't done and that includes having a song serve as a theme song to a TV show. Ed was an underrated hit show on NBC in the early '00s and the Foos' "Next Year" was a great choice for a theme.

So, sometimes, certain characters become fan favorites when it comes to TV. They capture the interest of television viewers, and almost instantly, we are pulled into their stories. 

But sometimes, these characters that we love are repulsive human beings. They all have significant issues, whether evident at first or slightly subdued. Today, we'll be going over 32 TV characters that, at first, you might like but you would not want to be friends with in real life. 

Joe Goldberg (You)

This is an obvious one, but I have to put Joe Goldberg from You because there was a time when it seemed everyone was falling for this guy. He's the main character of the series and is played by the talented Penn Badgley. 

Look, I think the actor is handsome too, and Badgley can bring a sort of charisma to Joe that makes him hard to deny – hence why, every season, it seems like he can score some new woman. 

But don't get it twisted – Goldberg is a serial killer. He may think that he's killing people for the sake of his love to make sure all their problems are taken care of, but he's still killing people. And even in the fourth season, when he tries to be "better," he ends up just giving in to his dark side and deciding that killing is acceptable. He is as repulsive as a human as you can get. 

Andrea Harrison (The Walking Dead)

I watched all eleven seasons of The Walking Dead, and few characters annoyed me as much as Andrea – which makes sense since she was killed off quite early compared to the comics. She was whiney, trigger-happy, and always turned everyone down when it came to help – and she nearly killed Daryl, so instantly, that makes her the worst. 

Pete Campbell (Mad Men)

Mad Men was a huge show, and Pete Campbell was a prominent character. But man, this dude was the absolute worst. At first, he seems like a cocky businessman, a smug person who thinks he deserves everything. But as the seasons go on, he gets worse in every way possible. He would be in jail now if this were the real world for all he had done. 

Ross Geller (Friends)

I love the Friends cast just as much as the next person, but let's be honest – Ross Geller is awful. He may be hilarious in specific ways and sometimes sweet, but he's self-centered, has pretty bad anger issues, and cheated on Rachel. And no, they were not on a break. 

Merle Dixon (The Walking Dead)

Ironically, I didn't necessarily hate Merle Dixon in The Walking Dead – maybe because I was such a big fangirl of Daryl as a teenager – but he certainly wasn't my cup of tea. And now, years later, he was just a repulsive human being in many ways. While he did have a love for his little brother, Merle left people to die, killed innocents, and only had one redeemable moment – when the Governor killed him after releasing Michonne from her captivity. 

Dawson Leery (Dawson's Creek)

Yes, we all know that famous meme crying face, but have we ever talked about how the titular character or Dawson's Creek is the worst? Dawson Leery is a miserable crybaby who thinks just because he's a more likable guy than most, he deserves more when, in reality, he's just a whiner.

Lori Grimes (The Walking Dead)

While there have been plenty of female characters from shows that people have hated for no good reason, Lori Grimes from The Walking Dead was pretty bad – in many ways. Not only was she a major complainer about everything, but her significant repulsive action was that she slept with her husband's best friend not that long after he was supposedly left to die in a hospital – and then got pregnant with his baby. Judith is sweet and all, but come on. 

Piper Chapman (Orange Is The New Black)

The Orange is the New Black cast has plenty of great characters, but Piper Chapman, the main character the show follows, is probably one of the worst. She's selfish, doesn't know what she wants, and leads many people on. She also had a crazy power trip a few seasons in that turned her into a malicious person.

Will Schuester (Glee)

I'm sorry, Will Schuester from the Glee cast must be imprisoned. Let's push to the side that he sort of lays all his problems out for his students to see half the time – what kind of chorus teacher has his children sing adult songs like "Toxic" in front of the entirety of the school – and join in? Jailtime, right now. 

Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Everyone at this point knows how terrible Rory is, in so many ways. She may have been kind in earlier seasons, but she treats her mom horribly, doesn't take her advice well, drops out of school to run on with boys, and treats her significant others pretty terribly. She's awful. 

Madison Sinclair (Veronica Mars)

I usually give high school mean girls a pass because nine times out of ten, they're just going through something at home that makes them that way. But Madison Sinclair in Veronica Mars was as vicious of a mean girl as possible. And what makes it even worse is that she's still just as petty and malicious in the Veronica Mars film, so it's just her personality. 

Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)

There are several people from the Gossip Girl cast I can point out on this list, and one is Blair Waldorf. No, she does not get an excuse for being a teenage girl and making stupid decisions because she keeps making them as time goes on to get what she wants. She's the stereotypical rich girl. 

Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Let's be honest – if Sheldon Cooper were our friend, we wouldn't like him. Sure, the Big Bang Theory cast is extremely talented, including Jim Parsons, but the character of Sheldon Cooper is the worst. He's a know-it-all who has the emotional range of a teaspoon (in Hermione Granger's words) and would probably be the worst friend to have. 

Jenny Humphrey (Gossip Girl)

God, don't even get me started on Jenny Humphrey. She started the series as a pretty innocent girl on Gossip Girl, but it didn't take long for her to rebel and start doing pretty messed up stuff to fit in, and she just started getting worse and worse. I'm not surprised that her character was barely in the show by the time it ended. 

Santana Lopez (Glee)

Look, I love Glee just as much as the next person and Satana Lopez's vocals were some of the best on the show. She killed in every single solo she was in. And while a part of me is in love with her attitude and the fact that she's great representation for LGBTQ+ viewers, she's also kind of a jerk. Like actually. 

At least in the first few seasons, Santana is manipulative in the worst way possible, and if she was going down, she often dragged her friends down with her. It wasn't until later seasons we saw her break out of her shell more and learn to be kinder. 

Serena Joy (The Handmaid's Tale)

The Handmaid's Tale may be one of the best shows on Hulu, but Serena Joy is arguably one of the most despicable characters in the series. You can give me all the backstory into how she became the way that she is, but there is no denying that she is a massive reason why this oppressive society began, and there is nothing you can do or say that will make me forgive her, ever. 

Goku (Dragon Ball Franchise)

Nah, man. I may love anime and will introduce it to everyone, but if they say their favorite character is Goku from Dragon Ball, I'm unfriending them. Why? Because Goku is a deadbeat dad, and he leaves his family and children, especially Gohan, so much that it's a joke that Gohan isn't his kid. 

Erwin Smith (Attack On Titan)

I love Attack on Titan, and Erwin Smith was a part of some of the best arcs of the franchise. But my guy was almost too into the idea of what lay beyond the Walls of Paradis – so much that he's willing to sacrifice hundreds – if not thousands – of the lives of young soldiers just to win a battle. I don't care if you're an army commander – that's pretty messed up, no matter how dire the situation is. He's a kick-butt character, don't get me wrong, but also not that good of a person.

Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)

We can all laugh at Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast as much as we want, but if we met a real-life Stinson, we'd all hate him. He's the definition of a womanizer and has the attitude to match in many ways.

Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)

Nope. No. I don't care if he's marketed as the "bad boy," he and Blaire are an entertaining but toxic Gossip Girl relationship and, more so, a horrible person. No random acts of kindness can make up for how bad he truly is. 

Dwight Schrute (The Office)

Dwight Schrute can take a vegetable beat and suck it – but on a real note, he isn't a great person. The Office cast is exceptionally talented, and yeah, Rainn Wilson certainly gives some humorous moments as Dwight. Still, at the same time, I'm pretty sure the office worker has some OCD with how he micromanages his job and others around him and will sacrifice anyone to get to the top.

George Costanza (Seinfeld)

The Seinfeld cast is full of characters that are all pretty bad in many ways, but let's be honest and say that George Costanza is one of the worst – if not the worst. He may be funny, but he's done some pretty bad things to get ahead in life or out of precarious situations. His frugality even led to the death of his fiance after buying toxic envelopes because they were cheap. 

Angelica Pickles (Rugrats)

No, she does not get a pass because she is a child – Angelica Pickles got her start as a mean girl early in her life with how she treated those babies, and what makes it worse is that she's still a brat in the spinoff, All Grown Up. I don't know who took her bottle away at a young age, but she's just awful. 

Brian (Family Guy)

While Brian is biologically a dog, he's practically a human in the way he speaks in Family Guy and man, has this "hilarious" dog done some messed up stuff. There is not another character that's as self-righteous as this dog, where he thinks he's just better than any other person and always uses that against them. It just makes him so unlikable. 

Dennis Reynolds (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

I mean, do we even really need to explain this that much? Dennis Reynolds, at first, seems like a typical narcissistic male – a womanizer who thinks he's better than most just because his daddy has money. But there are some severe cracks in his mental state and moments where you wonder if this dude would let you walk out of a hookup with him.

Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

I love Jujutsu Kaisen, but Gojo is also a repulsive human being. Yes, I know he's the anime boy that everyone – even some of my closest friends – seems to have a crush on, but he's as selfish as they come and always thinks he'll win everything just because he's powerful. I'm also pretty sure he would sacrifice innocent lives to live, and that's pretty repulsive. 

Ned Flanders (The Simpsons)

There are plenty of popular The Simpsons characters that I could talk about, but Ned Flanders is a pretty repulsive person. I know, at first, he seems like a friendly neighbor, but as the series progresses, he gets more wrapped up in this radical religious mindset. Don't get me wrong, it's alright for you to have your faith – but when you push it on others like Flanders begins to do, that's never the right choice. 

Charlie Harper (Two And A Half Men)

It's his character to be repulsive, but I feel like we've all let that slide because it's Charlie Sheen, and he's funny as Charlie Harper. But if we all met a real-life Charlie Harper, we wouldn't want to be close or even related to him, no matter how many times we watch Two And A Half-Men. 

Eric Forman (That '70s Show)

At first, Eric Forman seems agreeable, but when you rewatch That 70s Show, he is one of the worst characters here. He's just lazy and uses that as an excuse for so many things, and also, he does not deserve the angel that is Donna. 

Debbie Gallagher (Shameless)

Oh, Debbie. At first, Debbie Gallagher of the Shameless cast felt like a misguided teenager who needed someone to help her, but then she got an attitude. And then it got worse. And then she purposefully got pregnant at fifteen. What? It's no wonder Fiona practically lost her mind with this family. 

Rachel Berry (Glee)

Rachel Berry is the type of theater kid that you would never want to be friends with. In Glee, she makes everything about herself, always strives to steal opportunities from others, and even when she goes through something terrible, it doesn't feel like she grows up at all. I could never understand why Finn dated her. 

Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother)

There are so many things wrong with Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother, so much so that I could write an entire article about them. He would continuously pursue women no matter what despite trying to find the perfect match and still somehow ended up with Robin in the end, even after his wife passed away – which isn't right. 

There are plenty of other characters that I could add to this list, but let's cap it there – and now, I feel the need to check out different characters that make me happier than some of these horrible ones. 

One Tree Hill is a classic teen drama, and to this day it’s beloved for its soapy drama, romances and focus on friendship, family and basketball. The story follows the iconic OTH cast – which features Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz – as they make their way through high school in a small town. This early 2000s series was a staple of its time, and if you are looking to find this kind of drama and nostalgia again I have some show recommendations for you.

The O.C.

When the wealthy Cohen family adopts Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), he and Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) go about their dramatic lives in Orange County.

Why The O.C. Is Like One Tree Hill: This soapy teen drama from the early 2000s focuses on two brothers, albeit their relationship is a lot healthier than Nathan and Lucas’, and their journey through high school. With romantic pairings like Seth (Brody) and Summer (Rachel Bilson), and big dramatic moments played out by the ensemble cast of The O.C. too, it’s actually super similar to One Tree Hill.

Stream The O.C. on Max.

Stream The O.C. on Hulu. 

Outer Banks

A crew of teens from the Outer Banks, led by Chase Stokes’ John B. are on the hunt for an ancient treasure. 

Why Outer Banks Is Like One Tree Hill: Need a show that also takes place in one of the two Carolina states and features beloved romances, intense adventures and unexpected action? Outer Banks is for you. While its main character John B. almost dies way more often than any character on One Tree Hill, it’s still full of the same soapy drama that I’m sure you’ll like if you dug the early 2000s show. 

Stream Outer Banks on Netflix.

Dawson's Creek

To this day, you’ll find people re-watching Dawson’s Creek much like they do One Tree Hill. The story follows Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) through high school and the drama that ensues between them and their romantic interests – especially when Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Jen (Michelle Williams) get involved.

Why Dawson’s Creek Is Like One Tree Hill: This show is arguably the most similar to One Tree Hill on this list. Both series ran for many seasons during the early 2000s and centered around high schoolers dealing with love, life, family and soapy drama. Along with their plot similarities, both the Dawson’s Creek cast and OTH ensemble took off because of their shows. Also, Chad Michael Murray played a role in both seminal teen dramas. 

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Hulu.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Amazon Prime.

Stream Dawson's Creek on The CW.

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl centers around a group of rich Upper Eastside teens (and Dan from Brooklyn) who are targeted by the titular anonymous gossip blog. 

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: While the New York City setting is what greatly differentiates these two shows, at their core, they are both centered around a dramatic high school and the interpersonal relationships between the core characters. And let’s face it, both One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl live up to their hype because of their iconic relationships (like Chuck and Blair and Nathan and Haley). 

Stream Gossip Girl on Max.

Stream Gossip Girl on The Roku Channel.

Gilmore Girls

Mother/daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) live in Stars Hallow, and they go about life in their small town with their friends and family.

Why Gossip Girl Is Like One Tree Hill: Both Tree Hill and Stars Hallow are small towns, and both shows span over many years as we watch the ensemble cast grow up. Also, like Gilmore Girls, OTH focuses a lot on family, both biological and found. Not to mention, one of the Gilmore Girls cast members whose career took off after he starred in the show was our beloved Chad Michael Murray – however, a big difference is Lucas from Tree Hill is significantly nicer than Stars Hollow’s Tristin.

Stream Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

Riverdale

Based on Archie Comics, Riverdale follows Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) through high school. Throughout the show, there are murder mysteries, supernatural entanglements and even musicals.

Why Riverdale Is Like One Tree Hill: If you are looking for over-the-top high school drama, relationships that you’re excited to ship and a fun ensemble, both these shows have you covered. While Riverdale has crazy plot twists that involve more magic and mystery than OTH, they both will fill your need for a good ol' high school drama. Oh, also, Chad Michael Murray guest stars in a few episodes of this too.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.

Stream Riverdale on The CW.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights follows one of high school’s best football teams, the Dillon Panthers, and their coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler).

Why Friday Night Lights Is Like One Tree Hill: The biggest reason these two shows are like one another is how sports play into the story. The majority of the Friday Night Lights cast are on or involved with the town’s football team. Just switch the sport to basketball, and you have a similar situation with One Tree Hill, especially in the earlier seasons. 

Stream Friday Night Lights on Netflix.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Hulu.

Stream Friday Night Lights on Amazon Prime.

All American

All American follows a young football player, Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) after he moves as he attempts to adjust to his new school, life and team. 

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: While there are many shows like All American, One Tree Hill stands out as an apt comparison because it's centered around sports -- football and basketball, respectively -- and the story of one guy adjusting to a new team. While Spencer is new at his school, Lucas has been in Tree Hill forever. However, when he joins the basketball team, it almost feels like he’s the new kid. 

Stream All American on Netflix.

Stream All American on The CW.

On My Block

On My Block follows Monse (Sierra Capri), Ruby (Jason Genao), Jamal (Brett Gray) and Cesar (Diego Tinoco) through high school in this coming-of-age drama. 

Why All American Is Like One Tree Hill: When it comes to the legacies of On My Block and One Tree Hill, they both stand as beloved dramas about growing up, coming-of-age and friendship. If you are looking for a YA drama from more recent years, this is the show for you.

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

Parenthood

Parenthood follows the Braverman family by focusing on Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia), their kids and grandkids. 

Why Parenthood Is Like One Tree Hill: Along with One Tree Hill and Parenthood featuring famous folks you forgot were in it, its central focus on family and the trauma and love that comes with them is the major reason why these two shows are alike. 

Stream Parenthood on Hulu.

Degrassi

This long-running Canadian teen drama follows an ensemble of kids as they deal with love, life and high school as well as the transition from childhood into adulthood. 

Why Degrassi Is Like One Tree Hill: Like One Tree Hill, Degrassi was long-running, ending on Season 14, and it told its stories in a soapy way. Whether it be tales of love, coursework, sports or the occasional crime, both shows are big and dramatic, which is why we love them.

Stream Degrassi on Amazon Prime.

Stream Degrassi on Max.

Stream Degrassi on Tubi.

The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty focuses on Belly (Lola Tung) and her relationship with Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) as she navigates her romantic feelings for the brothers.

Why The Summer I Turned Pretty Is Like One Tree Hill: Both TSITP and One Tree Hill have romance at the center of them, and feature some seriously iconic love triangles. From Lucas, Peyton and Brooke on OTH to the aforementioned Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad, the romantic relationships in these shows are messy, dramatic and oh-so-compelling. 

Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime.

One Tree Hill is truly one of the most iconic teen dramas, and luckily many came both before and after it that are worth checking out. So, after you see how Brooke, Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Peyton’s stories come to a close, make sure to check a few of the aforementioned shows out. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them! 

Have you ever caught a rerun of an older TV show and during the opening credits sequence, you spotted someone who made you say, “Hey, I know that person!”? This is actually a more common occurrence than you may realize, as there many A-list celebrities whose first IMDb credit (or one of the first) was a supporting role on a series long before they earned the honor of being a leading presence on the big (or small) screen. The following are some of our favorite examples of famous actors who appeared a bit further down the the line on the call sheet on a TV show when they were starting out.

Chris Pratt (Everwood)

Before Guardians of the Galaxy made him a leading man, Chris Pratt really began to gain traction from starring in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer. However, even earlier than that, he starred on a WB family drama called Everwood as high school joke Bright Abbott alongside fellow future MCU star Emily VanCamp, who played his sister, Amy.

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)

Before her Academy Award-nominated performance in 2010’s Winter’s Bone, her star-making role as Katniss in The Hunger Games and Oscar-winning turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence was a sitcom star — specifically a cable network sitcom star. On The Bill Engvall Show, which lasted three seasons on TBS, she starred opposite the eponymous stand-up comedian as his on-screen alter ego’s teenage daughter, Lauren Pearson,

Austin Butler (Zoey 101)

The musical talents that earned Austin Butler the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis can be traced back to his part on Ruby & the Rockits, which lasted 10 episodes on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2009. However, the Oscar nominee’s first major TV role was on the final season of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 as James Garrett — a character missing from Paramount+’s feature-length follow-up, Zoey 102.

Margot Robbie (Pan Am)

While her earliest role was actually the long-running soap opera, Neighbours — much like many other Aussie A-listers — we thought we would highlight American audiences’ first true introduction to Margot Robbie on Pan Am. An interesting fact about Robbie is that the future Oscar nominee and DC movies star was actually roommates with co-star Christina Ricci while playing 1960s-era flight attendant Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC drama from 2011 to 2012.

Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks)

While still part of the main ensemble, Seth Rogen’s role as the initially arrogant Ken Miller pretty much got the short end of the stick amongst the Freaks and Geeks cast, for the most part. Ironically, Rogen, arguably, went on to become the painfully short-lived coming-of-age dramedy’s biggest star, which is really saying something, given his co-stars include Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley.

Brie Larson (Raising Dad)

A notable moment in Academy Award winner Brie Larson’s evolution from child star to modern A-list actor was her role as the late Bob Saget’s youngest on-screen daughter on Raising Dad — a sitcom that ran for one season on The WB (now The CW) in the early 2000s. Following her success as the MCU’s Captain Marvel, Larson returned to TV in 2023 — reprising her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World role for Netflix’s animated series reboot, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and leading the Lessons in Chemistry cast for Apple TV+.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)

While doing press for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt recalled how they both appeared on the hit ABC sitcom Growing Pains much earlier in their career. Of course, Pitt had a one-episode guest appearance while the Oscar-winning The Revenant star and Titanic cast member had a prominent role as Luke Brewer — a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers in Season 7. 

Ana De Armas (The Boarding School)

One of the films that earned Academy Award nominee Ana de Armas a spot on the A-list was Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit, Knives Out, from 2019. More than a decade earlier, the Cuban-born actor landed a role on a coming-of-age mystery TV show called El Internado (or The Boarding School), which originally aired in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Michael B. Jordan (The Wire)

After getting his start as a Toys ‘R Us kid, the fascinating Michael B. Jordan made his official acting debut on an episode of The Sopranos, but later landed a more prominent role on another acclaimed, gritty HBO series in 2002. He appeared amongst The Wire cast as Wallace — an orphan whose tragic story had a profound impact on the Emmy-nominated series beyond his 13-episode stint.

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

Anne Hathaway fans should know that before she broke into the mainstream by leading Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, the Academy Award winner made her acting debut on a 1999 Fox TV show called Get Real as a high school senior who shocks her family with the decision to refuse college. Coincidentally, the short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS' Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere)

With two Oscars to his name, it’s hard to imagine a TV screen big enough to contain the talent of one Denzel Washington, yet it was a TV show that helped launched the young actor’s career in the early 1980s. Following his official debut in the 1977 TV movie Wilma, the future Training Day lead played Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC’s hit medical drama, St. Elsewhere.

Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek)

For years, Michelle Williams was known best from the Dawson’s Creek cast as Jen Lindley. Now — after receiving multiple Academy Award nominations for acclaimed dramas like Manchester by the Sea and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans — that role on the hit teen drama is, typically, among the last things mentioned in regards to her career.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun)

As a child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in some good movies and made a few notable TV guest appearances before landing his first successful series regular gig with 3rd Rock from the Sun. He played the eldest member of a group of extra-terrestrial visitors, and the character resembles a teenager in human form on the Emmy-winning sci-fi sitcom.

George Clooney (The Facts Of Life)

As a TV star, George Clooney is best known from his main role on the popular ‘90s show, ER, on which he played Doug Ross. Much earlier, however, the future two-time Oscar winner had a memorable recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes' (very different) spin-off, The Facts of Life, as George Burnett — a carpenter who would become close to the girls living under Mrs. Garrett’s roof.

Woody Harrelson (Cheers)

With multiple Academy Award nominations to his name, Woody Harrelson is known today as one of Hollywood’s most versatile movie stars, but his first big break came when he joined the Cheers cast in the mid-1980s. In fact, he won his first Emmy Award for playing the naive, but lovable, Woody Byrd, whom Sam (Ted Danson) hires on as a new barkeep following he death of Coach (Nicholas Colasanto).

Jason Bateman (Little House On The Prairie)

At least before he led Netflix’s Ozark cast, Jason Bateman has always best known on the small screen as a sitcom star, with his roles as David Hogan on Valerie (later changed to The Hogan Family) and Michael Bluth on Arrested Development being the famous examples. However, his very first gig was playing James Cooper Ingalls for 21 episodes of Little House on the Prairie during the early 1980s.

Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace)

An early Don Cheadle role you may have forgotten about was featured on a TV show spin-off you may not have heard of, either. The future Academy Award nominee and MCU actor starred alongside most of the Golden Girls cast on The Golden Palace as Roland Wilson — the young manager of the titular hotel where the short-lived sitcom took place. 

Jason Momoa (Baywatch)

Even long before he landed the role of Aquaman in the DC movies, Jason Momoa was no stranger to saving lives in the water. The Hawaiian-born actor made his debut in his home state when he joined the Baywatch cast as a character also named Jason from 1999 to 2001.

Marisa Tomei (A Different World)

We know her from her Academy Award-winning role in My Cousin Vinny as Mona Lisa Vito (who she'd love to revisit) or as Peter Parker’s (reinvented) Aunt May in the MCU, to name a few examples. Yet before many people knew who Marisa Tomei was, she was on the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, as Hillman student Maggie Lauten.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down)

One interesting fact about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: before he was an Emmy-winning DC TV show star (for playing Cal Abar on HBO’s Watchmen) and a scene-stealing DC movie villain (Black Manta in Aquaman), he worked as a San Francisco city planner until he was laid off in 2010. The role that first helped him make a name for himself as an actor was night club owner Clarene “Cadillac” Caldwell in Netflix’s musical period drama series, The Get Down, from co-creator Baz Luhrmann.

Alexandra Daddario (All My Children)

Speaking to Women’s Health in 2022, Alexandra Daddario recalls that she was fired from the long-running daytime soap opera, All My Children, which she actually found to be a liberating, educational experience. It led to seek improvement in her acting skills and pave the way for her to breakthrough in the Percy Jackson movies, give an Emmy-nominated performance as part of the HBO’s The White Lotus cast, and star in many other notable works.

Adam Driver (Girls)

Without Lena Dunham, there might not be a Kylo Ren — or at least, the memorable version of the Sith Lord we got in the hands Adam Driver. The former Marine’s scene-stealing role on HBO’s Girls as Adam Sackler is what got Hollywood to take notice of his talent, leading to his casting in the Star Wars movies and his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls proved to be a launch pad for many A-listers — few of which would blow up quite like Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie St. James on the hit dramedy.  She later won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role as a member of the Bridesmaids cast. And that film skyrocketed her to the A-list as a trusted name in comedy and more.

Drake (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most memorable and important characters from Degrassi: The Next Generation is Jimmy Brooks, who served as an inspirational representation for wheelchair users on the long-running Canadian coming-of-age drama. The role was played by an actor named Aubrey Graham, who still acts on occasion — an Anchorman 2 cameo, for instance — but primarily performs as a rapper under the moniker Drake.

Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men)

At just eight years old, Kiernan Shipka proved to be a stand-out alongside AMC’s Mad Men cast with her performance as Sally Draper. She later went on to lead her own TV show (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and headline movies like Amazon Prime’s horror-comedy, Totally Killer and The Silence.

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite his many earnest roles over the years, it may be hard to picture Ryan Reynolds as anything other than the smarmy goof he plays in the likes of the Deadpool movies and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, for instance. Perhaps watching him make his debut in the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen will help audiences see another side of him.

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

It is amazing to think about how many acclaimed and even legendary actors started out on soap operas, such as Tommy Lee Jones. One of the earliest roles for the Academy Award-winning star of The Fugitive and the Men in Black movies was the ill-fated Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975.

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Before his Academy Award-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever — and its fantastic movie soundtrack — made him one of the biggest stars of all time, John Travolta was better known by another name: Vinnie Barbarino. That was the future Pulp Fiction cast member’s character on Welcome Back, Kotter — a hit sitcom that never made it to 100 episodes. He practically stole the show from star and co-creator Gabe Kaplan with his famous catchphrase, “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kids Incorporated)

Her role as Sarah Reeves on the original Party of Five may have made Jennifer Love Hewitt a teen idol, but it was not her first major TV gig. The Ghost Whisperer star was 10 when she demonstrated her multiple talents on Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, which focuses on the lives of a group of young artists who perform live music at a club for children.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething)

It was his eponymous role on the modern crime drama Sherlock that made Benedict Cumberbatch a nigh-unpronounceable household name, but his first starring role on a TV series was Fortysomething. The MCU’s Doctor Strange actor played the on-screen son of none other than House’s Hugh Laurie on the English dramedy that lasted six episodes.

Jared Leto (My So-Called Life)

In one of the best ‘90s shows that ended too soon, My So-Called Life, Jared Leto portrayed what would become his first iconic role: high school heartthrob Jordan Catalano. The much celebrated coming-of-age drama also marked one for the first times the future Academy Award winner acted alongside his sibling and Thirty Seconds to Mars bandmate, Shannon.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Passions)

Movie star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more than a few very notable small-screen roles — such as a leading stint in Fargo Season 3 and Hera Syndulla alongside the Ahsoka cast for Disney+. The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast member’s earliest major TV gig, however, was on the supernatural soap opera Passions.

For any TV actors out there hoping one day to make it onto the big screen, let these stories serve as proof that your dreams may not be far away from becoming a reality.

Considered by many to be one of the best TV shows on Netflix and, most definitely, one of its most popular in recent memory is Outer Banks. Created by Shannon Burke with Jonas and Josh Pate, the series — which first premiered in 2020 — follows a young man (Chase Stokes) who discovers that his father’s disappearance is connected to a lost treasure that he and his friends set out to find, which soon brings him face-to-face with death multiple times as a result.

However, the Outer Banks cast is not the only group of teens that you can find on the small screen who live dangerously… or, at least, have a lot of problems that seem to get worse with each season. As fans await the upcoming fourth season’s currently unannounced premiere date on the 2024 TV schedule, let’s dig up some similar favorites that you can bide your time with.

Surviving Summer (2022-Present)

An expelled Manhattan teen (played by Sky Katz) is sent to the land down under where she makes herself at home in a small town where surfing is treated like a way of life.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: The similarities between OBX and Surviving Summer do not just stop at the title — considering how John B. and company genuinely struggling to make it through the season alive — since this coming-of-age Australian import (also featuring Talk to Me cast member Chris Alosio) also boasts some stellar scenes of characters surfing the waves.

Stream Surviving Summer on Netflix.

Blood & Water (2020-Present)

A young woman (played by Ama Qamata) enrolls into a prestigious school where she begins to uncover shocking secrets about her own family history.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Yet another Netflix exclusive, international teen drama where the title reflects some of OBX’s own plot details, South Africa’s Blood & Water is also a compelling mystery thriller that will have viewers of all ages hooked.

Stream Blood & Water on Netflix.

On My Block (2018-2021) 

A group of bright teens and close friends try to keep each other out of trouble while living in South Central Los Angeles.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Before the action gets going, OBX is, essentially, the story of a young quartet dealing with romantic troubles, family issues, and their own hometowns economic hardships — much like the great Latinx TV show, On My Block, which later spawned a spin-off called Freeridge in 2023.

Stream On My Block on Netflix.

Panic (2021)

A high school senior (played by Fear Street cast member Olivia Scott Welch) and other hopeful graduates participate in a mysterious annual tournament consisting of high stakes challenges for a life-changing reward.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: Created by Lauren Oliver (who also wrote the original novel), the Amazon Prime original miniseries Panic, like OBX, focuses on teens whose aspirations to leave their hometown end up putting them in harm’s way, but with a twist similar to The Hunger Games movies without the dystopian setting.

Stream Panic on Amazon Prime.

The Wilds (2020-2022)

When their plane crashes on a deserted island, a group of teenage girls must learn how to survive the harsh terrain and each other.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: The teens from OBX may be fed up with their hometown, but at least they are not quite as desperate to leave the island like the young ladies on the Amazon Prime original, The Wilds — a TV show that was cancelled before reaching a proper ending, but is worth giving a try for the thrill.

Stream The Wilds on Amazon Prime.

The Society (2019)

A teenager girl (played by Kathryn Newton in one of her best roles) and other youths discover that all of their adult peers have suddenly vanished from their small town, which they are also mysteriously unable to leave from.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: If the teens from OBX actually found themselves physically and inexplicably unable to leave their hometown (and they did not live near water) their situation might resemble the plot of Netflix’s The Society — another prematurely cancelled coming-of-age drama, but with a sci-fi twist, and one of Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s best TV shows, too.

Stream The Society on Netflix.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

The increasingly unsettling adventures of Archie (K.J. Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Jughead (Cole Sprouse), Veronica (Camila Mendes), and others in a small American town plagued by shady individuals and haunting secrets.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: While the setting of The CW’s dark adaptation of the Archie comics is not as idyllic and some plot points border on the supernatural, the situations that the Riverdale cast members finds themselves in — ranging from murder mysteries to love triangles — are not too different from what the OBX crew often face.

Stream Riverdale on Netflix.
Buy Riverdale on Amazon.

Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)

A young aspiring filmmaker (played by James van der Beek) and his friends find themselves at odds with life and with each other as they approach adulthood.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: When first promoting Outer Banks, Netflix literally referred to it as “Dawson’s Creek meets The Goonies,” which is a concept that might go over their target audience’s heads, but is just another reason for them to check out creator Kevin Williamson’s primetime soap opera that launched the careers of Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, and others when The CW was still called The WB.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Amazon Prime.
Stream Dawson's Creek on Hulu.

One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

A young man (Chad Michael Murray), his half brother (James Lafferty), and their loved ones face various social and professional challenges while growing up together in a small town from North Carolina.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: What could be considered The WB’s successor to Dawson’s Creek is this intense coming-of-age drama that also served as breakthrough for many members of the One Tree Hill cast — including Sophia Bush and Brooke Davis Baker.

Stream One Tree Hill on Hulu.
Stream One Tree Hill on Max.
Buy One Tree Hill on Amazon.

Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

After the disappearance of their friend, four young women become taunted by an unknown enemy that puts their deepest and darkest secrets at risk of being revealed.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: One of the most popular series about attractive youths in danger in recent memory (and with multiple spin-offs to prove it) is Pretty Little Liars — an adaptation of Sara Shepard’s best-selling book series that lasted long enough to see its parent network, ABC Family, eventually become Freeform.

Stream Pretty Little Liars on Hulu.
Stream Pretty Little Liars on Max.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-Present)

A teenage girl (Lola Tung) suddenly finds herself embroiled in a love triangle with two of her childhood friends (Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno) while spending the summer at their beach house.

Why it is one of the best shows like Outer Banks: In case you come to a point where you have had enough of attractive youths in danger, but still long for Outer Banks’ picturesque setting and romantic complications, Amazon Prime’s series adaption of the novel The Summer I Turned Pretty should do the trick.

Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime.

Hopefully, these are just the right treasures that should satisfy your appetite for more Outer Banks.

Long ago, there was a separation between film and television. Actors who excelled in one rarely transitioned over to the other. The industry catered to Movie Stars and Television stars, and all was right with the world. Gradually, more TV stars started to make the leap to movie stardom. Many of them failed, but several broke out, and continue to enjoy massive success to this day. (Fascinatingly, movie actors also started to go back to television during the advent of the streaming service, but that’s a different topic). Here are 32 TV shows that helped launch a young actor’s career. How many have you seen?  

Saturday Night Live

The obvious answer, but that doesn’t make it any less correct. Since its earliest days, Saturday Night Live has been turning cast members like Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig into huge movie stars. It’s a proving ground for unproven talent, and remains that way to this day. 

In Living Color

It doesn’t have the proven track record of SNL, but the sketch comedy show In Living Color did give the world Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, as well as multiple members of the Wayans family.  

Moonlighting

Recently, we have been lamenting the retirement of the great Bruce Willis, who has been diagnosed with aphasia. And the return of Moonlighting to Hulu serves as a wonderful reminder of the snap and crackle that launched his star into the stratosphere. His detective character, David Addison, was an instant classic, and Moonlighting remains one of the sharpest written programs in TV history. 

Mork and Mindy

Robin Williams’ brand of comedy was out of this world. He resembled an extraterrestrial, with his strange voices and unusually quick brain. So making him an actual alien, Mork from Ork, in the winning Mork and Mindy proved to be a genius stroke for this 1970s sitcom.   

Happy Days

Back in the day, The Fonz (Henry Winkler) epitomized “cool.” It’s hilarious to see what Winkler has become, a cuddly, neurotic character actor who can be comfortable in an Adam Sandler comedy, and the pitch black satire Barry. In addition to Winkler, Happy Days shined a brighter light on Ron Howard and Penny Marshall, who became major storytellers for the next generation.   

Laverne and Shirley

The Happy Days spinoff took the characters we loved on Happy Days and gave them a larger platform. It still makes me laugh that Michael McKean, who played Lenny of “Lenny and Squiggy” fame, went on to give perhaps one of the greatest dramatic performances of all time as Chuck on Better Call Saul.  

Growing Pains

Growing Pains was a vehicle for Kirk Cameron, who has gone on to be a pretty big star in his own corner of Hollywood. But here’s a fun fact. The amiable sitcom about the Seaver family also played host to a very young Brad Pitt, and a very young Leonardo Dicaprio. I wonder if Quentin Tarantino is a huge Growing Pains fan?

Alias

A terrific spy thriller with the beating heart of a coming of age soap opera. Alias capitalized on the white-hot charisma (and physical prowess) of Jennifer Garner, who’d go on to become Elektra and, eventually, a rom-com superstar. Also, look for a young Bradley Cooper in the show, as well.

The Facts of Life

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have a TV sitcom that hosted George Clooney, Helen Hunt, Molly Ringwald, David Spade and Cloris Leachman as they dipped back and forth between movies and television. 

Diff’rent Strokes

Diff’rent Strokes was a sweet show about a lonely, wealthy man who rediscovered family by bringing in two foster kids, brothers Arnold (Gary Coleman) and Willis (Todd Bridges). The ensemble was stellar, but there aren’t enough words to describe how big of a star Coleman became from this show. He’d always be known as Arnold, his catchphrase “Whatchoo talkin’ bout, Willis?” becoming the stuff of legend.  

Dawson’s Creek

Sometimes, the right ensemble comes together and creates on screen magic, which was the case for Dawson's Creek. This earnest teenage show set in coastal North Carolina focused on young James Van Der Beek as film student Dawson, but had two wild cards in Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes as the best friends and occasional love interests over the course of the show.     

Friends

Speaking of “the right ensemble,” TV sitcoms don’t hit home runs like Friends all that often. But an incredibly simple premise – three girls and three guys try to make it in New York City – became the voice of a generation, while making massive stars of each friend. Jennifer Aniston probably has enjoyed the most successful post-Friends career, but it’s the late Matthew Perry who probably remains the most beloved of the crew.

Freaks and Geeks

Paul Feig and Judd Apatow have their fingerprints all over modern comedy. But their roots trace back to Freaks and Geeks, a short-lived television program that boasted Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, James Franco, and Jason Segel at the beginning of their career arcs.  

That '70s Show

Similarly, That ‘70s Show explored the lives of suburban teenagers while shaping some talents that would create memorable movies for years to come. Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Topher Grace, and Laura Prepon probably benefited the most from their '70s Show bump, but the whole crew enjoyed post-Show success.  

Parks and Recreation

Thanks to Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler already was a household name when Parks and Recreation launched. But the show helped to elevate the status of Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and – in easily one of the most unexpected moves – Chris Pratt, who went from shlubby Andy to the chiseled Star Lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  

The Office

What started as a riff on a beloved English sitcom became the most-watched TV sitcom for an American audience. Steve Carell cemented his status as a comedic legend, and John Krasinski turned the role of Jim into a budding action hero and directorial career. But everyone in The Office went on to become more famous than they ever were before the show. It’s impressive.

Bosom Buddies

Certain shows worked very well for their time, but probably wouldn’t make it today. In Bosom Buddies, Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari dressed up in drag and pretended to be women to get affordable rent in New York City. Like Moonlighting for Bruce Willis, the show acted as a launch pad for one of the industry’s biggest and brightest stars in Hanks.   

E.R.

Medical dramas will never lose their luster. Just ask the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. E.R. was that show in its prime, and made a star out of George Clooney (who had been acting in things for years). Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, Eriq La Salle, and Laura Innes also shined, but Clooney used E.R. to reach superstar status.  

Roseanne

When Roseanne started, co-leads Roseanne Barr and John Goodman were proven talents. As they show developed, though, it made household names out of wild talents like Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, Johnny Galecki, and Sarah Chalke. Watching the show return to form in recent times has been a delight.  

21 Jump Street

It’s a terrific premise for a television program. Cops who look too young for the force are assigned back to high school, where they crack down on crimes affecting teenagers. We joke about Richard Grieco being a standout, but 21 Jump Street forever will be associated with the rise of Johnny Depp, still one of the biggest movie stars in modern times. 

Cheers

The bar where everybody knows your name. Additionally, the sitcom that launched the careers of a dozen proven talents, from Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Kelsey Grammer (who continues to play Dr. Frasier Crane to this day) to the legendary Woody Harrelson, a comedic and dramatic icon of impressive range.   

Stranger Things

So many of the shows on this list are network television shows, which always was the high-profile showcase for young talent. In time, streaming programs took over that mantle, with Stranger Things becoming a serious launch pad for incredible young personalities like Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard.  

Family Ties

What would we do, baby, without us? Well, without Family Ties, we might not have Michael J. Fox, who charmed audiences as the conservative financial wizard Alex P. Keaton, and used that notoriety to land the all-time gig of Marty McFly in Back to the Future.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

There was a time when Will Smith was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Big Will owned Fourth of July weekend with sci-fi blockbusters such as Independence Day and Men In Black. Smith would go on to become notorious for some bad behavior at the Oscars, but he owes his start to the sitcom that introduced the kid from West Philadelphia, born and raised.

Friday Night Lights

High school football in Texas is no joke. Communities rally around the hometown team, and Hollywood tried to tap into that loyalty. There was a movie with Billy Bob Thornton, but the T show kicked off real talent, showcasing Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Minka Kelly, Jurnee Smollett, and Taylor Kitsch.   

3rd Rock From The Sun

This was a weird little show carried by an outlandish John Lithgow performance (and, for some reason, our collective delight in French Stewart). But it also gave us young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who continues to entertain on the big and small screen.  

The Wire

Is it the best television program ever created? Some argue this, while others take the side of Breaking Bad. Both of them are essential viewing. But The Wire did more in terms of introducing young talent to a fascinated industry, giving crucial roles to a young Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, Michael K. Williams, Wood Harris, and the versatile Amy Ryan. The cast was stacked with heavy hitters, and makes this show so rewarding on a rewatch every time. 

Welcome Back, Kotter

Let’s throw it into the wayback machine, to a time when Welcome Back, Kotter cast Gabe Kaplan as a teacher forced to return to his old high school and educate a group known as the Sweathogs. And in that group? Blossoming talent John Travolta, who’d go on to appear in some of the biggest movies of this or any other era. 

St. Elsewhere

Similar to E.R., St. Elsewhere was a weekly medical drama that rode on the backs of its incredible ensemble. Some new faces that we found on the St, Elsewhere staff? Ed Begley Jr., the brilliant David Morse, Howie Mandel, and Denzel Washington!

Silver Spoons

This was one of my favorite shows growing up. Ricky Schroder was a born star, playing a young boy who wants to move in with the father he never knew. But the standout in the cast, and the young actor destined for much bigger things, was Jason Bateman, who parlayed Silver Spoons into recurring roles on It’s Your Move and the smash hit Valerie, which lasted for 110 episodes.

The Cosby Show

It was an enormous show, structured around the personality of a popular stand up comic. But The Cosby Show also helped launch the careers of several young talents, including Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe, Raven-Symone, and the incomparable Keshia Knight Pulliam. They would be linked to The Cosby Show for years, with Bonet pushing herself dramatically to distance herself from the show’s legacy. But there’s no denying the influence this sitcom had on their careers. 

Shake It Up

What if I told you that the two stars of Shake It Up, Zendaya and Bella Thorne, would go on to become some of the most famous talents of their generation? We all have to start somewhere, and for so many young actors, the Disney Channel was that place. But Shake It Up stood out by being an entertaining program with two magnetic leads.  

And those are just some of the TV shows that helped launch the careers of budding talent. 

For about as long as there has been television, there have been spin-offs — TV shows that exist in the same continuity as one popular series, typically focusing on a side character made into the central protagonist. Some have proven to be very successful (such as when Kelsey Grammer’s Cheers character became the title role of the Frasier cast) while others are remembered today as a notorious failure (such as when Friends cast member Matt LeBlanc led Joey for two seasons — a season too long for some).

Then, there are some series spun-off from hits that exist in-between, neither achieving success, nor going on to be remembered for their short-lived run. We thought it would be fun to jog your memory (or inform you for the first time) about those shows by looking back at some our favorite TV shows and their forgotten spin-offs.

21 Jump Street (Booker)

While the breakout star of 21 Jump Street was obviously Johnny Depp — who would cameo in the 2012 movie adaptation as Tom Hanson — it was Richard Grieco — who appeared in the 2014 sequel, 22 Jump Street — who got to lead his own show as recurring character, Dennis Booker. However, Booker, which followed the rebellious, youthful-looking cop as an insurance investigator, only lasted one season from 1989 to 1990.

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (Planet Sheen)

Most fans might consider The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius to be one of the rare TV shows that surpassed the movies they were based on, but would not say the same about Planet Sheen. In fact, the series — which follows the adventures of Jimmy’s hyperactive best friend (Jeffrey Garcia) while stuck on an alien planet — managed to last three seasons, but has an IMDb rating of 2.9.

All In The Family (Archie Bunker's Place)

Creator Norman Lear’s groundbreaking comedy, All in the Family, was the parent series of several other successful sitcoms, including Maude and The Jeffersons, with one of its lesser-known spin-offs being Archie Bunker’s Place. Starring Carroll O’Connor reprising his Emmy-winning role as the owner of his own bar and restaurant, the series actually had a good four-year-run, but now lives in obscurity.

Alice (Flo)

The series adaptation of Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore promptly steered clear of becoming a forgotten TV show based on a movie, but its sole attempt at a spin-off was not as successful as its parent series. Her scene-stealing, Emmy-nominated performance on Alice as outspoken server Flo earned Polly Holliday her own eponymous series set at her own diner in her Texan hometown, but after one season, viewers told the show it could kiss their grits.

American Idol (American Juniors)

There have actually been multiple times when popular reality TV shows attempted a version that featured underage participants, including American Idol. Airing on Fox in 2003 (just a year after its predecessor’s debut), American Juniors featured host Ryan Seacrest, according to EW, and Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini as a judge, but did not generate quite the same buzz — despite launching Lucy Hale’s career, which Jimmy Kimmel Live! unearthed.

Barney Miller (Fish)

One of the reasons why Barney Miller is remembered as one of the funniest and best mystery TV shows of its time is its hilarious supporting cast, which included the late Abe Vigoda in the Emmy-nominated role, Phil Fish. ABC greenlit a sitcom that would follow the New York detective outside of the precinct, but — as USA Today recalls — it was cancelled after one-and-one-half seasons in mid-1978, less than a year after Fish’s retirement episode of Barney Miller aired.

Battlestar Galactica (Galactica 1980)

Years before the 2000s-era reboot of Battlestar Galactica became one of the most beloved sci-fi TV shows of its time, the first reboot of Glen A. Larson’s cult favorite series was greenlit pretty quickly after it ended. However, Galactica 1980, which brought the action to modern day Earth, would also end very quickly after 10 episodes, due to poor reviews and was later edited into the TV movie, Conquest of the Earth. 

Baywatch (Baywatch Nights)

In 1995, while Baywatch was still in its prime, David Hasselhoff reprised his Baywatch cast role of Mitch Buchannon on a series that saw the lifeguard moonlighting as a private investigator. As ratings declined, the writers opted to turn Baywatch Nights into an X-Files-style paranormal investigation drama for its second season, which would also be its last.

Bewitched (Tabitha)

In 1977, just five years after the end of Bewitched, an attempt to continue its magical legacy was made in the form of Tabitha. Following Samantha and Darrin’s eponymous daughter (Lisa Hartman) as an adult, the show failed to cast a spell on viewers and was cancelled after 11 episodes.

Bones (The Finder)

A Season 6 episode of Bones called “The Finder” — in which Brennan and Booth call upon the help of eccentric, but inquisitive, Army veteran Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults) — served as a backdoor pilot for a spin-off of the same name. Also starring the late Michael Clarke Duncan, The Finder, unfortunately, could not find an audience and did not make it past its 13-episode run in 2012. 

Cheers (The Tortellis)

While Frasier would find great success in its 11 seasons, it is not the only spin-off from Cheers, let alone the first, which would be The Tortellis. This sitcom put Dan Hedaya’s recurring role as Carla’s ex-husband, Nick, and his own family at the forefront, but was met with criticism for its stereotypical depiction of Italian-Americans (according to ScreenRant) and low ratings, sealing its early downfall.

Columbo (Mrs. Columbo)

If you want to see a good whodunit TV show in the style of Columbo but with a female lead, I would recommend checking out Peacock’s Poker Face with Natasha Lyonne, instead of Mrs. Columbo. This mystery series starring fellow Orange is the New Black cast veteran Kate Mulgrew as the never-before-seen wife of Peter Falk’s iconic lieutenant was not so well-liked by audiences, or the producers of the parent series, and was taken off the air after 13 episodes, as Slash Film recalled.

Dawson's Creek (Young Americans)

In the same year he was introduced on Dawson’s Creek for a three-episode stint, Rodney Scott’s Will Krudski went on to be the lead character of Young Americans, which aired on The CW when it was still called the The WB. Despite being ahead of its time for its commentary on themes like gender roles and starring Kate Bosworth and Ian Somerhalder, the absence of anyone from the Dawson’s Creek cast may have deterred viewers from tuning into its summer 2000 run.

Doctor Who (K-9 And Company)

In its 60 years of existence, the British sci-fi staple, Doctor Who, has inspired multiple spin-offs, with Torchwood being a successful example, but we cannot quite say the same about K-9 and Company. The series never continued past its 1981 pilot, but a more successful team-up of Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith with the robotic dog called K9 would happen years later in the form of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The Dukes Of Hazzard (Enos)

Bumbling Hazzard County cop Enos Strate (Sonny Shroyer) had the honor of leading his own self-titled series that followed his adventures fighting crime in L.A. with his partner, Turk Adams (the late Samuel Wright). However, he would return to his original role on The Dukes of Hazzard after Enos faced cancellation after a single, 18-episode season in 1981.

Dynasty (The Colbys)

The primetime soap opera Dynasty — the most popular show of the 1984-1985 season — focused on the personal struggles of the wealthy Carrington family. In 1985, ABC debuted a spin-off centered on the rival family, the Colbys, which would earn an Emmy nomination for its cinematography, but was cut short after just two seasons.

Fame (Fame L.A.)

More than a decade after the end of Fame — which was loosely based on 1980 movie of the same name — a new series emerged that was set on the other side of the country. Yet, despite earning Emmy Awards wins for its opening title music and choreography, Fame L.A. did not live forever, and was cancelled after one season in 1998.

Family Ties (Day By Day)

There are some spin-offs that really try to stretch the connective tissue between to their parent series, such as Day by Day, which starred Douglas Sheehan as Brian Harper, who was written as an old college roommate of Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) from Family Ties. That tie was, apparently, not strong enough for this NBC family sitcom to last longer than two seasons, but  — on the bright side — it would allow series regulars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Courtney Thorne-Smith to go on to star on Seinfeld and Melrose Place, respectively.

The Golden Girls (The Golden Palace)

After The Golden Girls ended with Dorothy (Bea Arthur) moving away with her new husband (Leslie Nielsen), Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia (Estelle Getty) would invest in a very understaffed Miami hotel. Also starring Don Cheadle in one of his earliest roles and Cheech Marin, The Golden Palace was actually the third spin-off of The Golden Girls (after Empty Nest and Nurses) but the first to last only one season.

Growing Pains (Just The Ten Of Us)

Even if you have never seen Just the Ten of Us — for which Bill Kirchenbauer reprised his recurring Growing Pains character, Coach Graham T. Lubbock, from 1988-1990 — you might recognize a few of its key actors. Namely, A Nightmare on Elm Street cast lead Heather Lengegnkamp and Matt Shakman (director of WandaVision and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot) played two of Graham’s eight children and Dennis Haysbert played his assistant coach, Duane Johnson.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.)

Most modern day audiences had never even heard of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. before Guy Ritchie’s movie adaptation of the 1960s spy series came out in 2015. Therefore, we would certainly forgive anyone for forgetting (or never knowing about) The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., which followed the assignments of another agent from the titular organization, played by Stefanie Powers, for 29 episodes from 1966 to 1967.

Once Upon A Time (Once Upon A Time In Wonderland) 

Just a couple years after the debut of Once Upon a Time, ABC introduced another story of fairytale characters struggling to find an escape from the real world which looked directly toward the seminal work of Lewis Carroll for inspiration. Yet, critics and audiences were more impressed with the visual aesthetic than anything else about Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which went off with its head after one 13-episode season.

Party Of Five (Time Of Your Life)

Acclaimed family drama Party of Five was a breakout hit for rising stars Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, Lacey Chabert, and Jennifer Love Hewitt — the latter of whom would reprise her role as Sarah Reeves Merrin as the lead of Time of Your Life. Also starring Jennifer Garner, the series — in which Sarah moves to New York to learn more about her biological parents — suffered from low ratings during its sole season, which was split in half by a five-month hiatus before Fox’s failed attempt to bring it back for Summer 2000.

Pretty Little Liars (Ravenswood)

It is funny to think of how many somewhat ordinary dramas take place in the same universe as another series that is complete fantasy, such as Ravenswood. In 2013, Pretty Little Liars cast member Ashley Benson appeared as Hanna Marin to establish her hit series’ connection to this show — about five strangers embroiled in a curse plaguing the titular town — which lasted one season on Freeform when it was still called ABC Family.

Rugrats (Rugrats Pre-School Daze)

A special episode of Rugrats — which Paramount+ recently rebooted — that imagined the babies as preteens would inspire a successful series called All Grown Up!, which was the first spin-off to the long-running Nicktoon, but that was not always the case. According to Variety, Nickelodeon had originally been developing a series focused on Angelica Pickles and Susie Carmichael that would be shelved for years and eventually be released in 2005 as Rugrats Pre-School Daze, which only had a total of four episodes.

Sanford And Son (Sanford Arms)

Despite a few exceptions on this list alone, spin-offs tend to be most successful when a popular and recognizable character is given the lead role and not an entirely new character, like what they did with Sanford Arms. This continuation of Sanford & Son saw widowed father Phil Wheeler (Teddy Wilson) take over Fred (Redd Foxx) and Lamont’s (Demond Wilson) rooming house — a change of pace that did not seem to resonate with viewers and resulted in a very quick cancellation in 1977.

That's So Raven (Cory In The House)

Raven-Symoné would reprise her role as a psychic of the same name as an adult on Raven’s Home, which was not the first time Disney Channel debuted a That’s So Raven spin-off. In 2007, Kyle Massey came back to play Cory Baxter on Cory in the House, in which he moves into the White House after his father (Rondell Sheridan) becomes the President’s personal chef. Also starring Madison Pettis, you could say the sitcom lasted a fitting two terms (seasons) after 34 episodes. 

Three's Company (The Ropers, Three's A Crowd)

The original Three’s Company landlords were Stanley (Norman Fell) and Helen Roper (Audra Lindley), until they left in 1979 to lead their own self-titled sitcom that was cancelled after two seasons in 1980. In 1984, the parent series’ finale served as a sort of backdoor pilot to a new show called Three’s a Crowd — centered on Emmy winner John Ritter’s character, Jack Tripper, his new girlfriend, Vicky (Mary Cadorette), and her father, James (Robert Mandan), who becomes their landlord — which only lasted one season.

Walker, Texas Ranger (Sons Of Thunder)

Years before The CW rebooted Walker, Texas Ranger with Jared Padalecki in the title role (and also greenlit a short-lived prequel set in the old West called Walker: Independence), Chuck Norris and his younger brother, Aaron, had their own idea for a spin-off. After introducing Dallas detective Carlos Sandoval (James Wlcek) in Season 4, he was given his own series in 1999 called Sons of Thunder — in which he becomes a private investigator — that ran for six episodes on CBS.

The X-Files (The Lone Gunmen)

There are three TV shows that exist in Chris Carter’s X-Files universe: the iconic original (which was brought back for two more seasons in 2016), the marginally successful Millennium (which was retroactively confirmed as a spin-off), and The Lone Gunmen, which some say Fox should be embarrassed about cancelling after one 13-episode season. 

Focusing on the titular trio of eccentric conspiracy theorists (Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund) who previously aided Mulder and Scully, the pilot episode of the spin-off, which aired in March 2001, is eerily similar to the tragic events of September 11th that year — as Journal News Online recalls — which is not why it was cancelled, but why it is somewhat infamous to fans who may remember it.

How many of these spin-off series do you actually remember? How many would you like to see brought back? And how many of these do you think never should have seen the light of day?

When thinking about some of the biggest shows right now, The Summer I Turned Pretty instantly comes to mind. Sporting two seasons, with a third one already ordered, the Amazon Prime Video adaptation, based on the books by Jenny Han, follows the story of a teenager (Lola Tung) who's involved in a love triangle between two brothers who happen to both want her (Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno).

The series became a major hit for Prime Video when it first premiered and has only gotten bigger with Season 2. But, if you're looking for shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty, there are plenty of great romantic, coming-of-age stories that you can check out now.

Dawson's Creek (1998 - 2003)

The first show I think of in this category is Dawson's Creek. The series is named after the titular character, Dawson Leery, and follows a group of friends as they journey through their younger years and experience love, heartbreak, love triangles, grief, and so much more.

Dawson's Creek ran for six seasons and many great episodes and was created by the same person who made The Vampire Diaries, so you know that it will be full of drama and romance -- perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It was a huge show when it first came out, and is quite honestly, one of the most significant coming-of-age romance shows ever. The Dawson's Creek cast is also insanely talented.

Stream Dawson's Creek on Hulu.

The Sex Lives Of College Girls (2021 – Present)

In this dramedy created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, The Sex Lives of College Girls is as outrageously hilarious as that title. It follows four young women who happen to be roommates starting out college, and follows their lives as they grow up, including their sexual endeavors, romantic relationships, and more. 

While I do think that the content of The Sex Lives of College Girls is a bit more mature than The Summer I Turned Pretty, both deal with the idea of love at a younger age and what growing up in today’s world is like. Plus, The Sex Lives of College Girls cast is insanely talented and I assure you, you will laugh your butt off. 

Stream The Sex Lives of College Girls on Max. 

Emily In Paris (2020 – Present)

Have you ever dreamed about running away to Paris and starting a new life? Well, Emily in Paris is the answer to that dream. Starring Lily Collins in one of her best roles, the show (created by Darren Star) follows a young woman who gets the chance to go to Paris for her job as a replacement, and it turns her life upside down. 

This is another case where the characters in this show are older than the ones in The Summer I Turned Pretty, but there’s something so similar about these two main characters where they are putting themselves out there in a new place where I can’t help but draw comparisons. Plus, an Emily in Paris Season 4 is on the way, so might as well catch up on all the drama. 

Stream Emily in Paris on Netflix. 

Dickinson (2019 - 2021)

The comedy-drama, Dickinson, is one of the best Apple TV+ shows and it stars Hailee Steinfeld. The series tells the story of Emily Dickinson and follows her relationships, her role in society, and more. 

Love isn't the focus here. It's certainly in the background compared to everything else in Emily's life. but the series is great for those who want to see a young woman find herself. While different customs and time periods separate her and Belly, there's a solid commonality between these two characters – both want to be understood by their families and accepted as they are.

It's a great show and one I recommend to anyone who wants something new to watch after The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Stream Dickinson on Apple TV+. 

One Tree Hill (2003 - 2012)

One Tree Hill is a famous CW show that goes everywhere at some points for the most ridiculous plotlines. Still, the two people we focus on at first are Lucas and Nathan, two sports stars and half-brothers, competing for a spot on their school's basketball team, and the drama from their romances – including dating the other's girlfriends. 

This show is just completely out there sometimes with its story in the later seasons, but the first few are perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It captures that drama and romance I'm sure we all secretly crave, just in a more dramatic way.

Stream One Tree Hill on Hulu.

On My Block (2018 – 2021)

This was a Netflix show that was cancelled way too soon. On My Block follows a group of friends who all attend Los Angeles, and while they grow up, they discover more of the world that is darker than what they ever experienced, going through social hardships, secretive betrayals, and more. 

Okay, so On My Block is a lot darker than The Summer I Turned Pretty, but for some reason, I really like these two and compare them a lot. Both of them feature some great friendships that are super complex, and both feature situations that really force the characters to grow up quicker. I think I just like On My Block so much because it feels so real in comparison to many of the others on this list – and sometimes, you really need a show that speaks on these real-life issues so skillfully. 

Stream On My Block on Netflix. 

XO Kitty (2023 - Present)

Serving as a spinoff to the Netflix franchise, To All The Boys I've Loved Before, this series, called XO Kitty, follows Kitty in her adventures as she travels across the world to South Korea to see her long-distance boyfriend, but her trip ends up changing her life more than she thought it would. 

Unlike many spinoffs, you don't need to have seen To All The Boys to enjoy it. Like The Summer I Turned Pretty, the series features an independent young woman on her journey to understand love and grow up, which is beautiful. Plus, you get to see a new country – South Korea. And, Jenny Han wrote both Pretty and To All The Boys, so I think it's a good fit. 

Stream XO Kitty on Netflix. 

Heartstopper (2022 – Present)

This is the teen dramedy that everyone needs to watch. Heartstopper is based on the graphic novel series of the same name and follows Charlie, a gay schoolboy who winds up falling for his classmate, Nick, when school begins, and we dig deeper into their relationship as time goes on. 

With two seasons, I can’t rave enough about Heartstopper. Truly. I love this show with such a passion that I will literally get anyone to watch it. For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, it has plenty of the same type of love you would expect from younger couples, all the fumbling and awkwardness and everything else, but there’s so much more to this series, and I have to share plenty of love for it. 

Stream Heartstopper on Netflix. 

Ginny & Georgia (2021 - Present)

Totaling two seasons (and a third one on the way), Ginny & Georgia follows the titular characters, Ginny and her mother, Georgia, as they travel to a new town with her half-brother to settle down for good. But soon, demons from Georgia's past show up, and Ginny discovers that her mom isn't as perfect as she seems.

Here's another excellent example of a TV series that only partially focuses on love. It's a big part of the show, and we even saw that in Season 2 of the series, but what makes it great is the dynamic between Ginny and her mother. I love watching their scenes together. 

For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you'll come for the romances and drama; trust me, there is plenty. But, you'll stay for the intriguing plot and the characters that always draw you in. If we're being truthful, you'll want a mom like Georgia by the time you're done with the series. 

Stream Ginny & Georgia on Netflix. 

Never Have I Ever (2020 - 2023)

Spanning four seasons, Never Have I Ever was co-created by Mindy Kaling and is loosely based on her childhood, as told through the eyes of Devi, a young, Indian-American girl who wants to change her social status in high school after her father's sudden death. 

Never Have I Ever is the perfect show for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. There's romance, drama, hilarious scenes, and a great lead character. While the show only lasted four seasons, it told a complete and compelling story, and we all got to watch Devi grow into a beautiful young woman. 

Stream Never Have I Ever on Netflix. 

Grown-ish (2018 - Present)

Grown-ish is a spinoff of the popular sitcom, black-ish. The series mainly focuses on the children that were featured in Black-ish as they go to college and learn how to become an adult – and all the drama and hilarities that ensue from that. 

If I’m being honest, I almost enjoy grown-ish more than black-ish because I connect more with the main characters as someone who just graduated from college three years ago. I understand all of the stresses, pain, and everything else – which is why I think it's perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty. There's love and romance, but the friendships and sweet moments make this a good pick. 

Stream grown-ish on Hulu. 

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019 – 2023)

Lastly, we have to talk about High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. This Disney+ show follows the students who actually go to East High School where the High School Musical movies were filmed. And during the first season, they are filmed in a documentary style as they put on their high school musical – an actual musical version of High School Musical. 

Yes, you read that right, and yes, the joke is just as meta as you would think it would be —  and the comedy doesn’t stop there. This show is so funny so often that sometimes it almost feels unintentional. For fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you’ll love the cute romances and the evolving friendships, but you’ll stay for the musical numbers. Plus, you also get to see Olivia Rodrigo before she blows up to stardom – that’s always worth the time. 

Stream High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. 

There are so many great TV shows you should check out once you finish up The Summer I Turned Pretty. I'm about to go and binge-watch them again just for fun. I need my romance fix until season 3 for this show comes around.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 5 of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2, called “Love Fool,” and six seasons of Dawson’s Creek. 

Prime Video brought back the summer love triangle drama in the 2023 TV schedule with Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, which arrived with fewer waltzes and a whole lot of complications that weren’t in play in Season 1. Unlike many other fans, I didn’t have to suffer through a hiatus of waiting to see what would happen next, as it was only recently that I finally got around to binge-watching all the available episodes. Now, after the events of the “Love Fool” episode that shifted the narration over to Jeremiah, I’m flashing all the way back to Dawson’s Creek, and in my book, good old Jere is definitely the Pacey of TSITP for Amazon Prime Video subscribers.

Now, I admit that Dawson’s Creek fans could point out that Conrad and Belly breaking up at prom in Season 2 has more than one parallel to Pacey and Joey breaking up at their prom, and Jeremiah/Belly are closer to the Dawson/Joey childhood best friend dynamic than Conrad/Belly. I can cop to Jeremiah having his Dawson moments, but I still see more of Pacey in Jeremiah and Dawson in Conrad than vice versa, and it goes deeper than the fact that I was Team Pacey then and am Team Jeremiah now. If you’re not a Dawson’s Creek expert, however, let’s start with some background!

Why I’m Flashing Back To Dawson’s Creek In 2023

Dawson’s Creek was a teen drama that ran for six seasons on The WB from 1998 - 2003, and starred James Van Der Beek as aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery, Katie Holmes as Dawson’s tomboy best friend Joey, Joshua Jackson as the underachieving Pacey, and Michelle Williams as the ill-fated Jen Lindley. I actually didn’t watch the show while it was on, but caught up via DVD box sets years after the finale aired. 

Still, I knew enough about Dawson’s Creek before I popped that first Season 1 disk into the DVD player – yes, this was more than a few years ago – that I was aware that a love triangle would brew between leading man Dawson, leading lady Joey, and the other guy played by that actor from Mighty Ducks who definitely wasn’t going to come out on top over the literal title character. 

Imagine my surprise when I found myself getting as invested in Pacey as the other two right off the bat, and not just because I grew up on the Mighty Ducks films! Admittedly, I technically became Team Not Dawson For Joey before I stepped firmly over to Team Pacey, and the whole Dawson’s Creek triangle was messy enough that of course the very messy current season of The Summer I Turned Pretty jogged my memory… and drew parallels between Pacey and Jeremiah. 

I Feel Like I’m Rooting For The Wrong Team

One of my first impressions after starting The Summer I Turned Pretty was that I was rooting for the losing team right away. Despite the dreamy slow motion, the sweet flashbacks, and the Taylor Swift all seemingly designed to make me favor Conrad Fisher, the friendly and fun Jeremiah won my allegiance early on. Belly established pretty quickly that she’d loved Conrad for years and Jeremiah was just her summer best friend, so surely Team Conrad was bound to win in the end. I know this, and yet I was (and am) still pulling for Jeremiah. 

And that couldn’t be any more similar to how I felt when I realized that I was just not invested in Dawson and Joey on Dawson’s Creek and was instead all-in on Pacey getting more stories. At the time, I still didn’t know how the show would end even though the finale had aired a few years before. My head said that the guy whose name is in the title of the show was going to get the happiest ending, but my TV-loving heart sided with Pacey. 

Now, Dawson’s Creek actually came very close to ending with Dawson and Joey together instead of Pacey and Joey, and I’m not really expecting lightning to strike a second time for the same to happen with The Summer I Turned Pretty. I just find Pacey and Jeremiah more interesting as characters than Dawson and Conrad, respectively. None of the four guys is a paragon of virtue, but I’m fairly certain that “Love Fool” would have even made me switch to Team Jeremiah if I hadn’t already been there! Win or lose, what's not to love about an underdog story? 

Pacey And Jeremiah’s Love Stories Are Shown And Not Told

A big reason why I ended up invested in Team Pacey and Team Jeremiah goes all the way back to the fact that the foundations of Dawson/Joey and Conrad/Belly were set before the respective series picked up. Joey already had a crush on Dawson, Belly already had a crush on Conrad, and Pacey and Jeremiah were… also there. 

And I was much more hooked on a potential love story that actually unfolded on screen from the start instead of one that had to be established via references, flashbacks, and exposition. I wasn’t inclined to become a fan of Conrad as a love interest when he wasn’t treating Belly well in Season 1, no matter how many times the narration told me that she loved him.

If a relationship is going to be at the emotional center of a story or an arc, then I want to see it from the beginning rather than be told that it’s epic already. Again, I liked Pacey and Jeremiah separately before I started to root for their romance with the leading lady, and I almost immediately preferred Jeremiah’s friendship with Belly to her yearning for the guy who was giving mixed signals. Pacey and Joey were great as friends before sparks flew as well.

Plus, sometimes it’s more fun to see one character shoot their shot than watch a slow burn that I’ve been told to be invested in, and both Pacey and Jeremiah did indeed shoot their shot pretty early on once they were motivated. Belly encouraged Jeremiah a whole lot faster than Joey was on board with Pacey after their very first kiss in Season 1, but they made their moves... and let's not forget that Belly gave Jeremiah every reason to think that they were together.

Why I’m Not Leaving Team Jeremiah In Season 2

The result of the Summer I Turned Pretty/Dawson's Creek comparisons is that I’m totally cool with knowing that I may have boarded a sinking ship from the very beginning, because the Paceys and the Jeremiahs make stories more interesting and unpredictable than the Dawsons and Conrads being set up as the winners from the start. Dawson’s Creek swerved to give Pacey and Joey the endgame; could the same happen with TSITP? 

Only time will tell on that front, but Jeremiah seems to get a lot of flak in certain corners of the The Summer I Turned Pretty fandom for reasons that just don’t track with what has been shown on screen; if that hasn’t changed after his point-of-view episode gave context to what he always tries to hide behind a smile, then I’ll just keep… well, flashing back to Dawson’s Creek and writing features in his defense, probably! Can we all just cut him some slack after "Love Fool," please? 

You can find the full first season and first five episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty’s second season streaming with a Prime Video subscription. If you now want to give Dawson’s Creek a shot, you can find all six seasons of the iconic teen drama streaming with a Hulu subscription.

Dawson’s Creek is the first TV show that I loved. It was the first show that I was completely devoted to watching every episode as it aired and freaking out about every development. It is a series that meant a lot to me growing up. However, as an adult, I rewatched it and realized that Dawson’s Creek wasn’t the brilliant show I once thought it was. Nevertheless, it’s probably been over a decade since I watched the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode. 

Even though it’s been 25+ years since the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode, I still vividly remember the excitement I felt watching it. The ads leading up to the Dawson’s Creek series premiere really sold me on the show. I was glued to the premiere hanging on to every line, every intense look, and every melodramatic moment. I loved it. Because it’s been over two decades since the show’s premiere, I thought it was time to rewatch the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode.

I have thoughts.

Joey and Dawson’s Conversation At The End Of The Episode Basically Sums Up My Problems With Them As A Couple 

Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Joey (Katie Holmes) remain one of my favorite TV couples of all time, but that’s not why I hated Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey together. It’s because Dawson and Joey always felt like a toxic relationship to me. Even as a kid, I could spot all the red flags in their romance. However, I don’t think I could really articulate what made them not work for me until rewatching the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode.

Joey spends much of the episode being a brat because Dawson quickly develops a crush on Jen (Michelle Williams). At the end of the episode, Dawson and Joey honestly discuss their actions during the faux-double date. He noticed that the lipstick made her look pretty but he didn’t start to develop romantic feelings for her.  Joey didn’t want Dawson to hold her hand, but she didn’t want him to hold Jen’s hand. Some could and will argue that they were young teens and unaware of their feelings for each other yet.

I will argue that this conversation showed how Dawson and Joey never truly wanted each other romantically. They just didn’t want to lose the other. They were safety nets for each other and that made them constantly try to hold on to the other, even if it stalled their growth and hurt their relationships with others. They loved each other but mostly treated each other like possessions, not partners. 

The Show Really Handled The Tamara And Pacey Storyline Terribly 

I would like to believe that if Dawson’s Creek was made today, it would explore how Tamara (Leann Hunley) should have been punished for (trigger warning) statutory rape. The show sort of acknowledged the situation was wrong when Tamara almost got exposed for her crimes. However, later, the show kind of backtracks judging Tamara, because when she returns, and Andie (Meredith Leigh Monroe) discovers Pacey’s secret about their relationship, Andie seems more hurt that he slept with Tamara than she seems concerned about his emotional and mental state because of it.

The show plays the Tamara and Pacey relationship like the ultimate male fantasy. It even tries to make it seem like it’s sort of okay because Tamara sees Pacey as a man and not a boy, and it mentions all these movies that had a similar storyline.

This is one of the main Dawson’s Creek storylines that aged horribly. The writers should have at least acknowledged that Pacey may have had some traumatic response to sleeping with a 40-something woman when he was a 15-year-old boy.  

I Didn't Really Notice How Unnecessarily And Incredibly Mean Joey Is To Jen  

Joey could always be mean at times, and I do remember her being very nasty to Jen, especially in the early seasons when they were competing for Dawson’s affection. However, I didn’t remember her just shutting the door to any friendship between them from the start. Jen, literally, tried everything to be nice to Joey.

Joey just let jealousy overpower any manners. Thankfully, the two actually become friends but boy oh boy Jen had some restraint dealing with rude Joey in the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode. 

So Many Movie References 

Almost all of the best Steven Spielberg movies are mentioned in the first half of the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode. At one point it feels like every Steven Spielberg movie (that had been released prior to 1998) is mentioned. Spielberg is mentioned extensively in this episode, so much so, that I started to remember how obsessed Dawson was with him. Like Spielberg-should-have-gotten-a-restraining-order obsessed. 

I also decided to count and write down every time a movie is referenced in this episode. I counted at least 12 different movies being shown or mentioned, including one of the best romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally, and one of the best Alfred Hitchcock movies, Psycho. 

The Dawson’s Creek pilot episode really wants you to know that Dawson is a film geek, obsessively so.  

The Twist At The End Of The Episode Is Still Such A Mouth Drop Moment 

I remember being shaken when I saw Dawson’s mom, Gale (Mary-Margaret Humes), kissing her co-worker. That moment may have been the first time a TV show surprised me. It was a great twist that would make sure people constantly tuned into the TV series. Even knowing the twist is coming, it’s still such a shocking moment.

Dawson had a perfect life, so to see that twist made everything feel more real because sometimes people self-sabotage and this was a clear example of it. 

Unintentionally, There Are A Lot Of Connections You Can Draw To The Fabelmans And The Dawson’s Creek Pilot

I watched The Fabelmans last year, and like others, I had many thoughts about it, but none of those thoughts were “the Dawson’s Creek pilot and this movie have a lot in common.” Now, I do have that thought. Let me explain. Obviously, Michelle Williams being one of the stars of both is a similarity, but that’s not where they end. Dawson, the Steven Spielberg super-fan that he is, talks about Spielberg’s childhood in the episode. He mentions how Spielberg started filming movies at 13, which is shown in the movie.

We also see a reveal that happens in The Fabelmans that happens in a similar way in Dawson’s Creek. To not spoil it for those who haven’t seen The Fabelmans, I’ll say it involves seeing something in a video that only an observant viewer would notice and then it is proven true later. 

Those are the main similarities. Obviously, I don’t think Dawson’s Creek is a prequel to The Fabelman made over two decades before, but the similarities are just a fun coincidence.  

Even By Today’s Standards The Sex And Sexuality Talk Seems Bold 

Cable channels, especially HBO, have never been afraid of explicit sex scenes in movies and TV shows. However, I do remember Dawson’s Creek, at the time, being a bit controversial for its frank discussions of sex, especially involving teen characters. It was saucy for a network TV show. However, 25+ years later, it’s still kind of bold with its frank sexual discussions.

Yes, HBO TV shows show lots of sex, but how often do you hear masturbation talk, menstruation being mentioned, discussions on changing genitalia, blunt conversations on raging hormones, etc? HBO doesn’t shy away from showing sex, but it and other networks still don’t talk too often about sex. Dawson’s Creek was never afraid to have those uncomfortable sex talks in front of millions of viewers.

Other Thoughts  

The Dawson’s Creek theme song still brings me so much comfort. It’s really a shame that Hulu still doesn’t have the original theme song. And now here are some more thoughts.  

• Someone who wrote the pilot really hated Gandhi. 
• Even though the Dawson’s Creek cast is clearly older than 15 during the pilot episode, they all look so young compared to now.  
• Kevin Williamson is so funny for having I Know What You Did Last Summer (a horror movie he also wrote) appear in the Dawson’s Creek pilot episode twice. 
• Nellie (Nicole Nieth) walked so Abby (Monica Keena) could run. 
• I completely forgot they recast Bodie, so imagine my surprise when he popped up looking completely different. 

The Dawson’s Creek pilot episode isn’t one of the best episodes of Dawson’s Creek, but it’s overall a good pilot to establish what the show will become. It’s melodramatic, bold and honest about sex, and full of romantic drama. It's a teen drama at its best. Stream Dawson’s Creek on Hulu.

Michelle Williams could very well be the most underrated actress in Hollywood today. Sure, she’s been nominated for five Oscars, won two Golden Globes, and been in some of the most impactful movies of the 21st century, but Williams seems to always fly under the radar, only to fly up unnoticed with the release of each Academy Award-nominated performance that seemingly catches everyone by surprise. 

We shouldn’t be surprised, though. Not in the slightest. The list of the best Michelle Williams movies and TV shows streaming is one that goes back a little over two decades at this point, with outstanding performances ranging from a symbiote superhero to a slight dramatization of Steven Spielberg’s mother. To celebrate Williams, we’ve put together a quick list of the very best performances from her incredibly versatile career. 

The Fabelmans (2022)

Told through a series of vignettes, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama, The Fabelmans, takes audiences back to where it all began for Hollywood legend. The good, the bad, the magical, and the heartbreaking are all on display in this sprawling drama about a young boy finding his voice while his family falls apart.

Michelle Williams is the real scene-stealer in The Fabelmans, with her portrayal of Mitzi Schildkraut-Fabelman, a character based on Spielberg’s late mother, Leah Adler. She is a tour de force in several of the movie’s most memorable scenes, including the tornado chase sequence, the camping trip, and during a foreboding nightmare about a certain family member.

Rent/buy The Fabelmans on Amazon.
Buy The Fabelmans on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Manchester By The Sea (2016)

Kenneth Lonergan’s Oscar-winning Manchester by the Sea is in the running for the most gut-wrenching movie of the century with its heartbreaking story about an already broken man trying to come to terms with the death of his older brother, which leaves him the guardian of his teenage nephew. That is just part of the story, however.

Casey Affleck received heaps of praise for his portrayal of Lee Chandler, and rightfully so, but Michelle Williams’ take on his ex-wife, Randi, is one of the most heartbreaking and harrowing performances I’ve ever seen. The scene in which Randi finally opens up to Lee about their shared tragedy is without a doubt the most powerful speech of her career.

Stream Manchester by the Sea on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Manchester by the Sea on Amazon.

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

Set during the heights of Marilyn Monroe’s (Michelle Williams) career, Simon Curtis’ 2011 biographical drama, My Week with Marilyn follows the ill-fated actress as she is given a brief respite from her career, her shaky marriage to Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), and the exhaustion brought on by both.

Williams would go on to win her first Golden Globe and be nominated for an Oscar for her captivating portrayal of Monroe, a performance that is in the top tier of portrayals of the Hollywood starlet, and at times, it feels as if this is a documentary instead of a painstakingly crafted docudrama.

Stream My Week with Marilyn on HBO Max.
Rent/buy My Week with Marilyn on Amazon.
Buy My Week with Marilyn on DVD on Amazon.

Blue Valentine (2010) 

Told through a nonlinear narrative structure, Derek Cianfrance’s 2010 drama, Blue Valentine, jumps between past and present to tell the story of Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), a couple with a string of bad luck and major blowups. 

Though the movie does tear you down emotionally with one grueling scene after another, the performances by Williams and Gosling make it to where you just can’t stop watching. You won’t find it on the list of best romantic comedies or anything like that, but this Oscar-nominated drama is something you just have to see, even if it’s only once, and even if it’s just to see Williams and Gosling feed off one another’s grief and anger.

Stream Blue Valentine on Freevee.
Rent/buy Blue Valentine on Amazon.
Buy Blue Valentine on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Shutter Island (2010) 

Though it just missed the cut on the list of best Martin Scorsese movies, the acclaimed filmmaker’s 2010 psychological thriller, Shutter Island, is a movie you just can’t afford to miss. Set at the isolated Ashecliff Hospital for the Criminally Insane, the movie follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he tries to get to the bottom of a missing persons case, or so he believes.

Here’s another example of Michelle Williams being the emotional anchor of a movie with her heartbreaking portrayal of Dolores, Teddy’s late wife, who haunts him in his dreams through intense visions. To prevent giving away the Shutter Island ending, I’ll just say that Williams’ performance only gets better as the movie goes on.

Rent/buy Shutter Island on Amazon.
Buy Shutter Island on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee’s 2005 neo-Western drama, Brokeback Mountain, details the tumultuous relationship shared by rugged cowboys Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) over the course of several decades as they try to hide their true feelings from their respective families, their fellow sheepherders, and themselves.

The movie did take home three Oscars, but Brokeback Mountain should have won Best Picture for its transformative story and incredible performances by its two leads, as well as Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway. Williams is particularly powerful in her portrayal of Ennis’ wife, Alma, and was given plenty of time to show her expansive acting skills in some of the movie’s key scenes.

Stream Brokeback Mountain on Netflix.
Rent/buy Brokeback Mountain on Amazon.
Buy Brokeback Mountain on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Charlie Kaufman’s mind-bending psychological drama, Synecdoche, New York follows theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) as he deals with the recent departure of his wife and daughter by hiring a group of actors to create a fictionalized version of society in a massive New York City warehouse. Over time, the production grows to the point where the line between reality and fantasy is nowhere to be found.

Synecdoche, New York is full of brilliant performances, including those from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dianne Wiest, Emily Watson, Catherine Keener, and Michelle Williams, who plays an actress who enters into a relationship with the struggling theater director.

Rent/buy Synecdoche, New York on Amazon.
Buy Synecdoche, New York on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Station Agent (2003)

Tom McCarthy, who would go on to direct Academy Award-winning newspaper drama Spotlight more than a decade later, made his directorial debut with 2003’s The Station Agent, a dramedy about a young and nihilistic train enthusiast named Fin McBride (Peter Dinklage) as he moves to a small rural town in New Jersey.

The movie features a who’s who of future stars including the aforementioned Dinkalge, Bobby Cannavale, and John Slattery, and Michelle Williams, the latter of whom is phenomenal in her portrayal of a local librarian named Emily. Though not the central character, Williams steals the show whenever on camera.

Stream The Station Agent on Paramount+.
Rent/buy The Station Agent on Amazon.

Take This Waltz (2011) 

A little more than a decade before writing and directing the Academy Award-nominated Women Talking, Sarah Polley came out with the 2011 romantic drama, Take This Waltz, which saw Michelle Williams play a woman named Margot, who finds herself being torn between her husband, Lou (Seth Rogen) and a mysterious stranger named Daniel (Luke Kirby) she met on a work trip.

Both charming and tense, the film features stellar performances from all involved, Williams especially. And if you were a fan of the dynamic shared by Williams and Rogen in The Fabelmans, this is something you want to see.

Stream Take This Waltz on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Take This Waltz on Amazon.
Buy Take This Waltz on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Wendy And Lucy (2008) 

Kelly Reichardt’s 2008 drama, Wendy and Lucy (which is a brisk 80 minutes in length) follows Wendy Carroll (Michelle Williams) as she attempts to make it to Alaska with her dog, Lucy, so that she can find work and make a better life for herself. But hopes, dreams, and aspirations are no match for the harsh realities of poverty and the unforgiving road, which Wendy finds out the hard way on her cross-country odyssey.

Though not talked about as much as some of Williams’ higher-profile movies, Wendy and Lucy features one of her best performances to date, one that features one of her rawest and most vulnerable characters. Plus, it’s one of the best dog movies of the past decade-and-a-half.

Stream Wendy and Lucy on Peacock.
Rent/buy Wendy and Lucy on Amazon.
Buy Wendy and Lucy on DVD on Amazon.

Dawson’s Creek (1998 - 2003) And Fosse/Verdon (2019)

These final two performances are technically TV shows, but both are musts when talking about Michelle Williams’ career, and leaving them off would be a disservice to her legacy. First is Dawson’s Creek, which is undeniably one of the most iconic ‘90s shows. Throughout the series six-season run, Williams played Jen Lindley, Dawson’s (James Van Der Beek) neighbor and close friend with whom she has an on-and-off relationship. 

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Prime Video.
Buy Dawson’s on Amazon.
Buy Dawson’s Creek: The Complete Series on DVD on Amazon.

Williams would have one-off TV appearances over the years, but she wouldn’t return to the format in a more involved manner until the 2019 biographical limited series, Fosse/Verdon, which chronicled the romantic and working relationship shared by Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (Williams). The actress would go on to win multiple awards for her performance, including a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Stream Fosse/Verdon on Hulu.
Buy Fosse/Verdon on Amazon.
Buy Fosse/Verdon on DVD on Amazon.

Only time will tell if Michelle Williams will hear her name called at the 2023 Oscars. Even if she’s not rewarded for her incredible performance in The Fabelmans, though, Williams has quite the body of work that makes a case for her being one of the best actresses of her time.

Joshua Jackson has come a long way since his days as wisecracking Pacey Witter in the teen drama Dawson’s Creek. His frightening turn as Christopher Duntsch (aka Dr. Death) made that quite clear. But now, the actor is switching genres by signing on for a new romantic drama after declaring Pacey and Joey forever.

The new drama was announced as part of Starz’s television upfronts on May 19. The Dawson’s Creek veteran will co-star in the untitled drama alongside Eternals’ Lauren Ridloff. Queen Sugar creator Ava DuVernay will serve as executive producer for the developing series. The network has great confidence in the drama as it ordered a script-to-series commitment if the series is officially greenlit. Through this commitment, the upcoming series will get three six-episode seasons if the cable network approves the pilot. DuVernay couldn’t help but express her excitement over bringing the romantic drama to TV viewers.

Given its focus on romance, the half-hour drama will follow two opposites who turn each other’s world upside down upon becoming entangled in a love affair. The series will see Jackson and Ridloff having to navigate their new romance as a hearing person and a deaf person. Not only will they deal with the physical limitations, but they’ll also have to push against other issues like race, gender, and class. The two lovers will continue to become emotionally and physically intertwined despite adversity.

This isn’t the first time that the series leads have played opposite each other. The Dr. Death actor and the Eternals actress played romantic interests in a 2018 revival of the Tony-nominated play Children of a Lesser God. DuVernay is also bringing over some cohorts from her OWN drama series Queen Sugar. Kat Candler and Paul Games will serve as executive producers alongside the Wrinkle in Time director. Candler will also write the pilot and serve as showrunner for the untitled drama. DuVernay will be in charge of the writers’ room while STARZ VP Kathryn Tyus-Adair will oversee the production.

Joshua Jackson is Joey and Pacey’s Number One Supporter

Throughout the series' run, it was obvious that Katie Holmes’ Joey and James Van Der Beek’s Dawson were intended to be the endgame couple. But watching Joey and Pacey’s scenes together made the argument that the two friends were the true endgame.

Recently, Jackson let everybody know that he’s the number one Pacey and Joey shipper. The actor admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he was the onscreen couple’s biggest advocate during his time on the WB drama.

But his overzealousness didn’t stop at pestering series creator Kevin Williamson. The TV and film actor spilled that he would get giddy when the scripts featured Joey and Pacey scenes. He recalled his favorite episode being “Castaways” from Season 6 (one of Dawson's best) where the couple got stuck inside a K-Mart after hours despite his strong opinion on the final two seasons. After hammering home his agenda to Williamson, The Affair actor still wasn’t sure if the series was going to fulfill the promise until Williamson came back for the series finale.

Of course, the teen drama ended with the couple living their best lives in New York. The new developing Starz series may be Jackson’s next big TV romance. It would mark the actor’s first ongoing series regular role since The Affair ended in 2018, as Dr. Death was a miniseries. Romance isn’t the only thing on the Fringe vet’s mind as he and Lizzy Caplan are attached to bring the classic erotic thriller Fatal Attraction to Paramount+ as a television series. If you want to be kept updated on these shows, you can check out our 2022 TV schedule for premiere dates. 

In the meantime, you watch all six seasons of Dawson's Creek by getting an HBO Max subscription.

Ah, the ‘90s. A decade that is not so old (I mean, what’s two decades at this point, really?), but brimming with nostalgia for how much of a mixed bag it was in terms of pop culture, especially on the small screen. In fact, I would call something of a golden age of television for shows like Seinfeld, Friends, The X-Files, or other programs that defined the era of a nearly endless variety. See for yourself with our nearly endless list of ‘90s TV shows that you can stream right now, starting with what could be the greatest sitcom of all time.

Seinfeld (Netflix)

From creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, this Emmy-winning NBC series (which ran from 1989 to 1998) follows the increasingly bizarre misadventures of a comedian (Seinfeld), his ex-girlfriend (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), his eccentric next door neighbor (Michael Richards), and his neurotic childhood buddy (Jason Alexander), which often serve as inspiration for his stand-up material. With an expansive universe of supporting characters, a dictionary’s worth of quotable lines, and a groundbreaking sense of brutally honest wit, Seinfeld is much more than nine seasons of nothing.

Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.

ER (Hulu)

Also boasting an expansive and ever-evolving cast (including George Clooney and many other future A-list guest stars) is the Emmy-winning ER, which covers the daily grind at Chicago’s County General Hospital and the personal lives of its staff. What keeps the long-running NBC hit which premiered in 1994 from creator Michael Crichton one of the most influential TV medical dramas of all time is its grounded sense of realism that never goes off life support for all 15 seasons.

Stream ER on Hulu.

Batman: The Animated Series (HBO Max)

One of most influential superhero TV shows (and animated programs in general) also boasts what many fans consider to be the finest portrayal of the iconic DC Comics character in any screen adaptation. Kevin Conroy voices the title role of Batman: The Animated Series (later rebranded as The New Batman Adventures in 1997), which also features the iconic performances of Mark Hamill as The Joker and Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn in her very first appearance in any medium.

Stream Batman: The Animated Series on HBO Max.

Friends (HBO Max)

Could there be a more celebrated ‘90s comedy than Friends? Honestly, few sitcoms which debuted in the era have gone on to achieve as much lasting relevance in pop culture as co-creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman’s seminal, Emmy-winning NBC hit. The secret would have to be the glowing Friends cast (who recently reunited for an HBO Max special) and the enduring, genuine sense of sweetness and sentimentality brimming in all 235 episodes.

Stream Friends on HBO Max.

Living Single (Hulu)

Of course, we should also give credit where it is due to another series about six twenty-something New Yorkers struggling to navigate their personal and professional lives which first aired on Fox in 1993 - a year prior to the debut of Friends. While it only lasted five seasons, the snappy writing of creator Yvette Lee Bowser’s hit and the Living Single cast (including a pre-Oscar-nominated Queen Latifah) still made a grand impression on Hollywood. 

Stream Living Single on Hulu.

NYPD Blue (Hulu)

New York was also the setting of one of the darkest, grittiest, and most captivating police procedurals of the decade, which co-creators Steven Bochco and David Milch brought to ABC in 1993. As the gruff, rebellious cop Andy Sipowicz, Dennis Franz led the constantly interchanging NYPD Blue cast for 12 seasons and to four-time Emmy-winning acclaim.

Stream NYPD Blue on Hulu.

Saved By The Bell (Netflix, Peacock, Hulu)

Mark-Paul Gosselaar would join the cast of NYPD Blue in the later seasons after first rising to fame as Zach Morris, the fourth wall-breaking de facto leader of the Saved by the Bell cast, from 1989 to 1993. The zany misadventures of Bayside High School’s students became a big enough hit to inspire a few spin-offs - most recently on Peacock with most of the original cast coming back to reprise their iconic characters.

Stream Saved By The Bell on Netflix.
Stream Saved By The Bell on Peacock.
Stream Saved By The Bell on Hulu.

Dawson’s Creek (Netflix)

Of course, high school is not always so funny, which the Dawson’s Creek cast would be forced to come to grips with on a weekly basis. Created by Scream writer Kevin Williamson and debuting in 1998 when The CW was still called The WB, this primetime soap opera was one of the most captivating dramas about growing up at the time and launched the careers of James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, and Michelle Williams, to name a few.

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Netflix.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (Hulu)

If you thought high school was hard, college is no picnic and adulthood is practically impossible as the original Beverly Hills, 90210 cast would be forced to come to grips with on a weekly basis. From Sex and the City creator Darren Starr and debuting on Fox in 1990, this primetime soap opera would launch several careers, with the original premise centering on twin teens who move to California and face many of the challenges of growing up, while also adapting to life in Beverly Hills. 

Stream Beverly Hills, 90210 on Hulu.

Frasier (Hulu)

One of the most unsurprisingly successful spin-offs of all time followed Kelsey Grammer reprising his role from the Cheers cast after he relocates to Seattle where he hosts a radio show, while also regularly facing his own relationship issues. I would actually hope that we could see a reunion of the Frasier cast one day, either as a way to relive the sitcom’s greatest memories or as a full-on revival to see what they have been up to since the 2004 finale.

Stream Frasier on Hulu.

Rugrats (Hulu, Paramount+)

A more fun and imaginative, yet still undeniably honest, take on the trials and tribulations of growing up was Nickelodeon’s Rugrats, which recently became one of the latest ‘90s properties to get a revival on Paramount+ in 2020. The backyard adventures of Tommy, Chucky, Phil, Lil, and Angelica would also inspired three big screen spin-offs - one of which would introduce Chucky’s step-sister Kimi onto the cast.

Stream Rugrats on Hulu.
Stream Rugrats on Paramount+.

The Real World (Paramount+)

What could provide a more honest portrayal of America’s youth, however, than a reality show (when that term really meant something) that puts a diverse group of people living together in the spotlight? The groundbreaking docuseries The Real World, which has not quite ended after decades since its 1992 debut, was just what MTV needed to gain recognition as more than TV about music.

Stream The Real World on Paramount+.

Walker, Texas Ranger (Pluto TV)

Justice is best served with a roundhouse kick to the face, as Chuck Norris’s titular, Lone Star State lawman would prove over and over again from 1993 to 2001. Essentially a B-movie of irresistible lunacy extended over 196 episodes, the power of Walker, Texas Ranger could never be replicated, even though The CW seems to have done pretty well with its reboot starring Jared Padalecki.

Stream Walker, Texas Ranger on Pluto TV.

Ally McBeal (Hulu)

The TV legal drama genre would never be the same after the debut of Ally McBeal, which starred three-time Emmy-nominee Calista Flockhart as the title character who often gets lost in her own wild imagination while practicing at a law firm that also happens to the be the workplace of her ex-boyfriend. Created by David E. Kelly, the hit series is a profound time capsule of the dramatic changes at the end of the 20th Century and beginning of the next.

Stream Ally McBeal on Hulu.

Touched By An Angel (Paramount+)

Some people, when they are at their lowest, tend look up to the sky for inspiration. However, the rotating guest stars of the long-running CBS drama Touched By An Angel were able to find it right in the backyards with the help of three spiritual entities sent from Heaven to provide whatever assistance necessary. 

Stream Touched By An Angel on Paramount+.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Hulu)

The spiritual entities and strange creatures that “Chosen One” Buffy Summers (Scream Queen Sarah Michelle Gellar) would encounter in Sunnydale from 1997 to 2003 were anything but helpful. In a way, you could argue that the old school fantasy elements of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series served as an exciting and witty metaphor for the modern teen’s struggles to balance school with some very demanding extracurricular activities. 

Stream Buffy The Vampire Slayer on Hulu.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Netflix)

Because Buffy had a penchant for being extremely dark and disturbing quite often, younger viewers in the 1990s had another fantastic (and deliciously campy) metaphor for the struggles of adolescence to turn to. Originally a Japanese show re-edited with footage of an American cast of teens when not in their colorful uniforms, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was the start of an ongoing cultural phenomenon which perfectly captures every child’s dreams of saving the universe.

Stream Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Netflix.

3rd Rock From The Sun (Tubi)

The ‘90s would also prove that the average and mundane can be just as scary, especially when seen through the eyes of extraterrestrials who have taken human form to observe our species. Such is the plot of the unique and thoroughly fun NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, which sees John Lithgow at his zaniest and future A-lister Joseph Gordon-Levitt at his most reserved by comparison.

Stream 3rd Rock From The Sun on Tubi.

The X-Files (Hulu)

The 3rd Rock from the Sun cast would have been in a lot of trouble if they ever crossed paths with FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who constantly found themselves on a journey to find “the truth” behind the strange cases they investigated. In addition to being easily one of the best sci-fi TV shows of its time, The X-Files has practically become synonymous with the genre itself since debuting in 1993.

Stream The X-Files on Hulu.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (HBO Max)

Thanks to roles in Independence Day and Bad Boys, Will Smith would eventually become synonymous with the world “blockbuster.” However, to get there, the rapper-turned-actor proved his chops and his hilarious charisma as the star of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast, playing a Philly native who moves in with his aunt, uncle, and cousins in Bel-Air after one little fight got his mom scared.

Stream The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air on HBO Max.

Everybody Loves Raymond (Peacock)

Little fights of the verbal variety would happen on a regular basis among the stars of the Everybody Love Raymond cast, whether it was between Ray Barone (Ray Ramano) and his wife, his brother, or his parents. We would not have had it any other way because this long-running sitcom likely helped any person who has ever butted heads with their own family realize it could be much worse in the most hilarious fashion.

Stream Everybody Loves Raymond on Peacock Premium.

My So-Called Life (Hulu)

Speaking of, My So-Called Life would provide some very profound examples of how things could be worse either in a cleverly funny or simply unapologetically bleak way, as seen through the eyes of Angela Chase (Claire Danes). Short-lived, but much-loved and groundbreaking for the ways it tackled social issue unlike series before, the ABC drama would earn Danes a Golden Globe and launched future Academy Award winner Jared Leto’s career.

Stream My So-Called Life on Hulu.

Boy Meets World (Disney+)

While never particularly groundbreaking for the social issues it highlighted, the moral lessons offered in this classic coming-of-age sitcom (especially when coming from William Daniels’ Mr. Feeny) were undeniably valuable. It is always a joy to witness the Boy Meets World cast grow up while rewatching Cory Matthews evolve from a charming, underachieving pre-teen to a neurotic, married man-child, even if the overall narrative does not always add up.

Stream Boy Meets World on Disney+.

Martin (HBO Max)

Nothing ever really had to make sense on Martin, which aired on Fox from 1992 to 1997. As long as star and co-creator Martin Lawrence kept the laughs coming (either as the titular radio and TV personality Martin Payne or any of his other characters), you were guaranteed a good time.

Stream Martin on HBO Max.

Twin Peaks (Hulu, Paramount+)

Now if you really want to talk about entertainment in lieu of things not always making much sense, look no further than Twin Peaks - the story of an eccentric FBI agent (Golden Globe winner Kyle MacLachlan) tasked with solving a murder that has shaken a small town in Washington. Co-created by the incomparable David Lynch, this is one bizarre, inventive mystery that will have you hooked until its shocking cliffhanger ending… that you can see “conclude” in the 2017 revival from Showtime.

Stream Twin Peaks on Hulu.
Stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+.

You know, I was about to say that they don’t make television like they do in the ’90s anymore, until I remembered that many of these shows have been rebooted or revived in recent years. What I will say, however, is that none of these ‘90s shows could ever be done the same way, and thank God for it because the unique feeling you get from rewatching them on streaming is one-of-a-kind.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Joshua Jackson has been acting since a very young age. This has led to Jackson starring in many beloved TV shows and films, including The Mighty Ducks, Dawson’s Creek, and Fringe. Though Joshua Jackson has played many varied roles, from lovable best friend to werewolf, his most recent series, Dr. Death, has allowed the actor to take on a role like no other. He plays Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a man more butcher than surgeon and more narcissistic than most.

The role has been gaining Jackson a lot of buzz and winning him new fans. His fans may not need a recap of great Joshua Jackson movies and TV shows to watch, but everyone else may need some suggestions. Luckily, we have plenty of TV shows and movies for you if you’re a new Joshua Jackson fan.

Dawson’s Creek (Netflix)

Dawson’s Creek was one of the WB’s (now the CW) first major hit teen series. It followed Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and the Capeside crew as they dealt with coming of age, family drama, and love triangles. It was deliciously melodramatic.

Joshua Jackson first won over many of our hearts as Pacey Witter. Pacey was supposed to be Dawson’s wisecracking, very horny sidekick, but he quickly became the leading man. Pacey somehow managed to charm not only Joey (Katie Holmes) but the audience. Admit it, you were totally Team Pacey by the end of Dawson’s Creek.

Stream Dawson’s Creek on Netflix.

Buy Dawson’s Creek on Amazon.

The Affair (Peacock)

The Affair was a Showtime original series that followed an affair between Noah Solloway (Dominic West) and Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson) and the consequences of their affair. When the show first begins, Noah is married to Helen (Maura Tierney) and Alison is married to Cole (Joshua Jackson). Neither couple is at a good place in their marriages.

Like with Dawson’s Creek, Jackson managed to win over many The Affair fans and become a really well-liked character. This made his departure before The Affair ended particularly hard for some fans. Cole was a complex character who wasn’t always likable but you understood his motives and found yourself rooting for him and his happiness.

Stream The Affair on Peacock.

Buy The Affair on Amazon.

The Mighty Ducks Movies (Disney+)

The Mighty Ducks follows lawyer Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez) as he’s forced to coach a pee-wee hockey team as part of his community service. He turns the hopeless District 5 team into the champion The Mighty Ducks. The Mighty Ducks is a three-film series that was released in 1992, 1994, and 1996.

Joshua Jackson played eventual team captain Charlie Conway in all three films. Charlie became like a surrogate son to Bombay. The Mighty Ducks is Jackson’s first major film and what helped launch his career. Though we have yet to see Jackson return to his Charlie Conway role, there is still hope he could lace up his skates for The Mighty Ducks TV show.

Stream The Mighty Ducks on Disney+.

Rent The Mighty Ducks on Amazon.

Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)

Little Fires Everywhere is an original Hulu miniseries based on Celeste Ng's book of the same name. It stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Little Fires Everywhere focuses on Elena (Reese Witherspoon) and Mia (Kerry Washington), two mothers with very different backgrounds and philosophies.

Joshua Jackson plays Bill, Elena’s lawyer husband. Little Fires Everywhere received lots of critical praises and a few Emmy nominations. The series has great performances by the entire cast and definitely leaves a lasting impression. It’s one of Hulu’s most popular shows for a reason.

Stream Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu.

Buy Little Fires Everywhere on Amazon.

When They See Us (Netflix)

When They See Us is Ava DuVernay’s powerful miniseries based on the true-life story of the Central Park Five. It tells the story of five teenage boys of color who confess to the rape of a woman in New York’s Central Park. However, the boys are found innocent years later after the real rapist confesses to the crime. The boys are intimidated and have fear tactics used on them to get the confession.

Joshua Jackson plays Michael Joseph, Antron (Caleel Harris)’s lawyer. Jackson only appears in a couple of episodes of When They See Us, but he comes across as someone who believes these boys’ innocence, but knows he’s up against a system that wants to see them pay for these crimes. When The See Us may not be a major role for Jackson, but the entire miniseries is worth watching for the powerful storytelling done by DuVernay and the entire cast and crew. It’s just as good as some of the best movies on Netflix.

Stream When They See Us on Netflix.

Fringe (IMDBtv)

Fringe is a science fiction series created by J.J Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. It follows the Fringe Division of the FBI, and the department basically investigates paranormal activity. Fringe stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, and John Noble. The series aired on Fox from 2008 to 2013.

I would like to make a bold statement and say that Fringe is one of the best science fiction shows of the last ten years. It’s funny, surprising, and easy to understand for those (like me) who don’t really consider themselves science fiction smart. Joshua Jackson’s Peter Bishop represents people who don’t quite get all the science talk. He’s charming and earnest in a way that makes you immediately adore Peter.

Stream Fringe on IMDBtv.

Buy Fringe on Amazon.

Gossip (Amazon)

Gossip is a 2000 thriller about a group of college students who decide to start a rumor to see what happens. Of course, the rumor spins out of control and someone possibly ends up murdered. Gossip stars an ensemble cast that includes James Marsden, Lena Headey, Norman Reedus, Kate Hudson, and Joshua Jackson.

Gossip is one of those movies that I saw when I was much younger and adored it so much. It may not hold up as well over 20 years later, but it’s still one of the best Amazon Prime movies to rent if you want a good “gotcha” ending. Joshua Jackson plays a key role as Beau, the boyfriend of Kate Hudson’s character, Naomi. He becomes the main subject of the rumor. Gossip also has a great cast of future stars.

Rent Gossip on Amazon.

Cruel Intentions (CineMax Go)

Cruel Intentions is one of the classic '90s teen movie dramas. It stars some of the biggest 20-something actors of the time, such as Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Also, keeping up with the '90s movie trend, it’s based on the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, translated to Dangerous Liaisons. It follows step-siblings Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), who enjoy engaging in cruel activity. They make a bet that involves Sebastian seducing the virginal Annette (Reese Witherspoon).

Sebastian bonds with Annette and it changes his whole perspective on his life and love. Joshua Jackson has a very small, but iconic, role as Blaine, a gay student who helps Sebastian by sleeping with another student so that Sebastian can then blackmail that student. Cruel Intentions has become a cult hit that’s worth at least one watch, especially for the cast and Gellar’s devilish performance as Kathryn.

Stream Cruel Intentions on CineMax Go.

Rent Cruel Intentions on Amazon.

Ronnie & Julie (Tubi)

Ronnie & Julie is a modern reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet. It’s a Canadian movie that follows a young hockey player Ronnie (Joshua Jackson) and a figure skater Julie (Margot Finley) who fall in love. However, their families try to tear them apart because their parents are both competing to be mayor.

This is another movie that I loved in my younger days that doesn’t quite live up to its '90s glory over 20 years later. However, Ronnie & Julie is a very sweet, simple, and cute teen romance movie. It also manages to at least feel like it understands Romeo & Juliet. It’s not the best modern reinterpretation but it’s definitely an enjoyable Romeo & Juliet-inspired film.

Stream Ronnie & Julie on Tubi.

Rent Ronnie & Julie on Amazon.

One Week (Amazon/Rent)

One Week is a movie about a man who discovers that he has cancer. Instead of undergoing treatment, he decides to hop on his motorcycle and travel across Canada. The journey makes that man reevaluate his life and relationships. The role won Joshua Jackson a 2010 Best Actor at the Genie Awards, a Canadian film and television award that honors Canadian cinema.

One Week is a film that’s all about appreciating life and cherishing the big and small moments. It’s also about being willing to buy the bike and take the ride. This is one of Jackson’s best film roles because he really makes you care about his character.

Rent One Week on Amazon.

Cursed (HBO Max)

Cursed is a 2004 movie that follows siblings Ellie (Christina Ricci) and Jimmy (Jesse Eisenberg), who are attacked by a ferocious beast one night. They later learn that the beast was a werewolf and they’re slowly turning into werewolves. The Cursed cast also includes Milo Ventimiglia, Joshua Jackson, and Judy Greer.

Controversial opinion, but I found Cursed to be a very fun movie, and once again Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven showed they're good at cheeky horror films. Was it the best Wes Craven movie? No. Did it give us a great Kevin Williamson and Joshua Jackson reunion? Absolutely.

Stream Cursed on HBO Max.

Rent Cursed on Amazon.

Joshua Jackson has many other great movies and shows available to rent or stream, so if you need some other suggestions, try Lone Star State, Urban Legends, or Skulls. You can currently watch Jackson on Dr. Death.

Stream Dr. Death on Peacock.

It’s been 18 long years since fans said goodbye to Dawson’s Creek. While the series still lives on in streaming (aside from its iconic theme song), with so many shows getting revived and rebooted these days, is there hope we could see Dawson, Pacey, Joey and Jen once again? (Okay, maybe not Jen.) Pacey Witter himself, Joshua Jackson, gave his opinion on that and more.

The Mighty Ducks alum spoke to Variety about all things Dawson’s Creek, as well as new Peacock limited series Dr. Death. When on the subject of the possibility of a Dawson’s Creek revival, Joshua Jackson wasn’t too keen on the idea, nor was he particularly fond of the final two seasons:

At the time that Dawson’s Creek was a thing, so were Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity, Degrassi, One Tree Hill, and The O.C. Most of these shows had a very specific setting in high school and so resonated with so many people at the time. When shows move away from that storyline because the characters are growing up, the audience can grow with them. But at the same time, those high school storylines are so relatable that it makes sense that Joshua Jackson feels there wasn’t really a need to get away from that.

Moreover, many people who watched Dawson’s Creek were Pacey and Joey (Katie Holmes) shippers. While it would be nice to see what the couple is up to now – if they are still together, if they have kids of their own, etc. – it doesn’t seem like Jackson is up for that story, and for good reason:

Despite Joshua Jackson not being on board for a revival, Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Gail throughout the series, revealed in 2017 she would be on board for a Dawson’s Creek revival simply to tie up some loose ends. Even though Jackson doesn’t necessarily want a revival right now, opinions can change. Though much of the cast is busy doing other things so it may be hard to get them all together, if there were to be a revival. While still waiting for a Dawson’s Creek revival or reboot, the series is streaming on both Netflix and Hulu in full.

Dawson’s Creek was a hit WB series that aired from 1998 to 2003 and followed Capeside teenagers Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), and Jen Lindley (Michelle Wiliams) as they dealt with raging hormones, sexuality, friendship, love, and growing up in a small town. The best episodes of Dawson’s Creek were heartfelt, honest, and a bit cheesy.

Dawson’s Creek was a defining part of my younger days. I grew up watching the show and it helped define my over-the-top romantic fantasies, like having a wall rented for me. Pacey and Joey are my all-time favorite TV couple, but for this list, I tried to take an objective look at the best episodes and not just select Joey and Pacey moment ones. This list does contain plenty of those, but that’s mainly because I believe the series’ had some of its best moments when writing about the endless triangle.

Let’s take a trip back to Capeside and rank the top ten best episodes of Dawson’s Creek.

10. Detention, Season 1, Episode 7

Each member of the core crew, Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen, find themselves having Saturday detention for various misconducts. They also end up there with Capeside High’s notorious Abby Morgan (Monica Keena). A cool thing about the early seasons of Dawson’s Creek was that it was full of movie references and parody style episodes. This was Dawson’s Creek’s attempt at The Breakfast Club.

The “Detention'' episode is full of Creek firsts, like Dawson and Joey’s official first kiss and the first episode featuring Abby Morgan, who later becomes a very important recurring character. It’s a very entertaining episode with the usual detention hijinks and even a funny mention of Emilio Estevez and The Mighty Duck franchise, which Joshua Jackson starred in for the first three films. The episode also has each character playing into their main character flaw from Season 1: Jen’s determination to not conform to Capeside standards, Joey’s tough girl-no nonsense demeanor, Pacey’s hypersexual nature, and Dawson’s insecurities.

9. The Scare, Season 1, Episode 11

“The Scare” is Dawson’s Creek’s attempt at a horror film-themed episode. Dawson continues his yearly Friday the 13th antics by trying to scare Joey and Pacey. Jen feels a little left out because he makes no attempts to scare her, and she worries that he may not want to be friends after their breakup.

Fun fact for those who aren’t huge Dawson’s Creek and Scream fans, the series creator, Kevin Williamson, wrote the screenplay for three out of the four, soon to be five, Scream movies, including Scream and Scream 2. This episode features a lot of fun nods to the Scream franchise, which had already released the first two movies by the time this episode aired. Williamson also wrote I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is also referenced in this episode. “The Scare” includes a guest appearance by Scott Foley, who would later appear in Scream 3 and become part of another hit WB series, Felicity. This episode is just one of those very self-aware ones that’s heavy on pop culture references in a way that shows the series’ appreciation for the film geek fandom, especially the horror geek one.

8. Decisions, Season 1, Episode 13

Joey is given the opportunity of a lifetime to spend some time in Paris, but she isn’t sure what she wants to do. Meanwhile, Dawson has finally realized that he loves Joey and doesn’t want her to go. Joey also must decide if she wants to visit her father in prison.

“Decisions” focuses a lot on the future of Joey and Dawson. Will they finally make the move that takes them from friends to dating? We get a big declaration of affection by the end of the episode, but that’s not only why this is a good episode. It’s also a very emotional one as Joey finally confronts her father, Mike (Gareth Williams), about his past and how he betrayed his family. Joey opening up those wounds allows her to start a new relationship with him, which eventually leads to more heartache in season two.

7. The Long Goodbye, Season 5, Episode 4

Major Spoiler Alert if you haven’t seen Dawson’s Creek, this is the episode where everyone says goodbye to Mitch Leery (John Wesley Shipp). Mitch’s death is such an unexpected moment in Dawson and his friend’s world that each deal with his death in their own sad way. Dawson takes the numb approach to things until the flood gates open.

Structurally, “The Long Goodbye” is unlike any other Dawson’s Creek episode. It takes on a play-like quality with each of the original main characters and Dawson’s mom, Gail (Mary-Margaret Humes), remembering moments with Mitch. Instead of actually doing flashbacks, the show has Mitch appear to their current selves but you can tell by the way the moment is described that it exists in the past, like Dawson remembering receiving his first video camera from his father on his 12th birthday. It’s a somber episode but done very well.

6. Stolen Kisses, Season 3, Episode 19

Dawson, Joey, Andie (Meredith Monroe), Pacey, and his friend Will Krudski (Rodney Scott) go on a trip to see Dawson’s aunt Gwen (Julie Bowen). It becomes a trip down memory lane for Dawson and Joey, but it’s full of tension as Pacey and Joey try to forget their secret kiss and just be friends.

This is an important Dawson’s Creek episode because it introduces Will, who was used to start the Dawson’s Creek spin-off series Young Americans, which also starred Ian Somerhalder, Katherine Moennig, and Kate Bosworth. But the real reason this is an important episode is it ends with Joey and Pacey confessing their true feelings for each other and deciding to act on them, setting the show down a completely new path.

5. True Love, Season 3, Episode 23

Pacey has decided to set sail this summer and leave Capeside behind for a few months. Joey now must decide to ask him to stay and try to make a relationship work--hence picking him over Dawson--or to just play it safe and maintain things with Dawson.

“True Love” gave us the infamous Dawson cry face gif, so for that alone, this episode deserves to be in the episode hall of fame. The entire third season of the series leads up to this moment where Joey must make this decision and either release her fears and take a chance with Pacey, even if it means forever fracturing her friendship with Dawson, or play it safe. Teen me cheered so hard (internally) at the end of this episode.

4. To Be Or Not To Be/That Is The Question, Season 2, Episode 14 And 15

Jack (Kerr Smith) writes a poem that he’s forced to read aloud to his class. It sends the rumor mill off about Jack’s sexuality. This two-part episode focuses on Jack admitting to himself and others that he is gay.

In the late-90s, this episode was revolutionary because there weren’t many gay teen characters on network television. The way the episode handled Jack’s coming out and his character development was one of Dawson’s Creek’s biggest strengths. This episode may have allowed many gay teens to feel seen and comfortable admitting their own sexuality. Jack becomes a key member of the show in Season 2 and remains one until the series finale, and these episodes allowed him to start to establish his identity as a character.

3. Castaways, Season 6, Episode 15

Joey and Pacey make a quick Kmart run that ends with them trapped there overnight. The two then discuss their past relationship and their current friendship. Besides being an advertisement for Kmart, and the start of my desire to be trapped in a department store overnight, it’s also a really unexpected episode.

Taking notes from movies like Before Sunrise, “Castaways” has Joey and Pacey revisit their post-breakup relationship. Interestingly, after Season 4, the show kind of pretends Joey and Pacey weren’t madly in love and takes more of a friendship dynamic with them. However, in this Season 6 episode, it brings up that decision and why they have been so okay with just being friends now, and why no lingering feelings have come up. The episode confesses to viewers that they both still have those lingering feelings and decide to give it another go, only to take it away from us a few episodes later. This brief detour allowed two of the series’ strongest characters to remind fans why they’re so enjoyable together.

2. The Longest Day, Season 3, Episode 20

Pacey and Joey have begun their secret romance. They decide that it’s time to tell Dawson before he finds out on his own. “The Longest Day” takes several points of views, giving viewers a little more of the story with each person’s perspective. By the end of the episode, along with the trio, the viewers are taken on an emotional, devastating journey.

“The Longest Day” also includes some of the most memorable lines and best acting from the entire cast. You feel the weight of this decision and how Dawson, Joey, and Pacey have basically doomed their friendship.

1. All Good Things/Must Come To An End, Season 6, Episode 23 And 24

It’s the last time that viewers will see the Capeside crew as the show takes its final curtain call. Series finales are really hard to pull off. Most of the time, they result in fans being very mad with the outcome. The Dawson’s Creek series finale is one of those rare finales that works. It was emotionally riveting, gave almost every character a satisfying conclusion, and it offered plenty of surprises. These two episodes also had so many nods to previous episodes. It really felt like the crew wanted to do their best to honor the fans and Dawson’s Creek in the most respectful and loving manner.

The finale also made the bold decision to not go a predictable way, which helped make the ending so satisfying, at least to me.

Adult me can now see the many flaws of Dawson’s Creek, but I still adore it and would love another trip to Capeside to check in with Pacey, Joey, Jack, Jen, and even Dawson. For now, I’ll just have to revisit the series by streaming it on Hulu. Stream the entire series of Dawson’s Creek here.

This poll is no longer available.

As the theme song famously noted, the characters in Dawson's Creek didn't want to wait for their lives to be over. They wanted to know, right now, what would it be. Now that it's been nearly 18 years since The WB drama series left the air in 2003, it can feel like a lifetime has passed since these characters were regularly seen on TVs. When the show finished its run, several of the actors involved moved on to many different, often exciting, new projects. Notably, one star in particular has found incredible critical and commercial success throughout her prestigious, award-winning acting career.

Still, it's hard to know where Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, and Busy Phillips (to name a few) would be today if it weren't for this beloved high school drama. But, what have they done with their lives since? Well, let's find out!

James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery)

As the titular Dawson Leery, James Van Der Beek found his star-making role in this WB drama series. During his time on the show, the actor would also star in Varsity Blues, Texas Rangers, The Rules of Attraction, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. After Dawson's Creek came to an end, Van Der Beek gained acclaim for playing a fictionalized version of himself on Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23. He was also in the main cast for CSI: Cyber, and he voices a role on Vampirina. He was in Pose, and starred in Labor Day, Downsizing, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and the short film, Power/Rangers, which he co-wrote. Most recently, Van Der Beek appeared on Season 28 of Dancing with the Stars. He'll be seen in Bad Hair next month, and also starred in Quibi's Princess Bride remake.

Katie Holmes (Joey Potter)

Playing the part of Joey Potter, Katie Holmes had one of the lead roles in Dawson's Creek. Previously best known for The Ice Storm, her screen debut, this WB series paved the way for Holmes' career as an actress. Through the show's success, Holmes played prominent roles in Go, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Wonder Boys, The Gift, Phone Booth, and Pieces of April, all during her time on the series. When the show wrapped, Holmes was most notably seen in Batman Begins, Thank You For Smoking, Mad Money, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Jack and Jill, The Giver, Miss Meadows, Woman in Gold, and Logan Lucky. Plus, in 2016, Holmes made her directorial debut with the indie drama All We Had, which the first-time filmmaker also produced and starred in. Earlier this year, Holmes starred in Brahms: The Boy II and The Secret: Dare to Dream.

Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley)

As Jen Lindley, a New York City transplant in the town of Capeside, MA, Michelle Williams found fame through her main role on Dawson's Creek. Since then, Williams has received a great deal of acclaim and accolades for her dramatic film performances, notably in Wendy And Lucy, My Week With Marilyn (for which she won a Golden Globe), Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea, Brokeback Mountain, Take This Waltz, Meek's Cutoff, and more. Williams currently has four Oscar nominations, and she also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her lead performance in the miniseries, Fosse/Verdon. Additionally, Williams also earned a Tony nomination for her 2016 performance in Blackbird. She was also seen in Venom, Shutter Island, The Greatest Showman, and Oz the Great and Powerful. Most recently, Williams starred in After the Wedding. Next, she'll be seen in Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter)

In the role of Pacey Witter, a longtime friend of Dawson and Joey's (with strong romantic feelings for the latter), Joshua Jackson stole many hearts during his time on Dawson's Creek. His character was a constant presence throughout the show's entire run, and he fueled a burning love triangle between the three lead characters. Prior to his role in this series, Jackson was best known for The Mighty Ducks movies and Scream 2. During his time at the Creek, Jackson was also seen in Cruel Intentions, Muppets From Space, and The Skulls. When the show wrapped, Jackson became the star of Fringe and The Affair. He also starred in Cursed, Bobby, Shutter, One Week, Lay the Favorite, and Bobby, to name a few films. Last year, the actor starred in Netflix's acclaimed mini-series, When They See Us. He was last seen in Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere.

Mary Beth Peil (Evelyn Ryan)

As Evelyn Ryan, Jen's grandmother, Mary Beth Peil was seen throughout all six seasons of Dawson's Creek. Once primarily a stage and opera actress, Peil didn't make her screen debut until 1992's Jersey Girl. Therefore, Dawson's Creek became one of the actress's first prominent screen roles. Following her time on this popular series, Peil starred in 2004's The Stepford Wives, Shortbus, Flags of Our Fathers, Mirrors, and Collateral Beauty. She also appeared in nearly fifty episodes of The Good Wife, as well as episodes of Fringe and Law & Order: SVU. In this time, Peil still acted on stage, notably in productions of Nine, Sunday in the Park with George, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Follies, and Anastasia, for which she received a Tony nomination. Most recently, she starred in the short-lived series Katy Keene earlier this year.

Mary-Margaret Humes (Gail Leery)

In the role of Gail Leery, Dawson's mom, Mary-Margaret Humes played a primary role in the first four seasons of Dawson's Creek, followed by recurring appearances in Seasons 5 and 6. The former Miss Florida USA winner has appeared in more than 50 shows over the course of her acting career, including The Dukes of Hazzard, The Love Boat, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Matlock, Blossom, Murphy Brown, and more. Dawson's Creek, however, remains her most well-known role. Since the series concluded, Humes continued to appear on various TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy, CSI: NY, Criminal Minds, Luck, and Saving Grace. She also starred in several TV movies. The more recent ones include 2018's Home By Spring and Christmas in Love, and 2019's A Feeling of Home and Winter Love Story. In February, Humes starred in A Valentine's Match.

Nina Repeta (Bessie Potter)

Playing the part of Bessie Potter, Joey's sister, Nina Repeta was seen throughout all six seasons of Dawson's Creek. Prior to her role in this WB series, Repeta appeared in episodes of Matlock and starred in Radioland Murders. Additionally, during her time on Dawson's Creek, the actress was also seen in 2002's Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Since the show's finale, however, Repeta hasn't appeared on screen quite as consistently as some of her former Dawson's Creek co-stars. She's appeared in episodes of Palmetto Pointe, The Originals, and Good Behavior, also starring in Southern Gothic, The Remaining, and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Most recently, Repeta starred in the 2018 short film, Long Drive To Yadkin. She had a child in 2008, which might explain why she hasn't appeared in as many movies and shows since Creek wrapped up in 2003.

John Wesley Shipp (Mitch Leery)

As Dawson's dad, Mitch Leery, John Wesley Shipp was seen prevalently throughout the first four seasons of Dawson's Creek. Before he joined this WB series, Shipp was best known for playing the lead character on The Flash in the early '90s. The actor also appeared on soap operas like As the World Turns and Guiding Light throughout the '80s. Following his time in Dawson's Creek, Shipp appeared in One Life To Live, and he was also seen in episodes of Teen Wolf, Drop Dead Diva, JAG, CSI: NY, and The Closer before he reprised his role as Barry Allen in The CW's The Flash, also playing this part in episodes of Supergirl and Arrow. Most recently, Shipp was in an episode of Blindspot, and starred in the TV movie Ruby Herring Mysteries: Prediction Murder. Next, he'll be seen in Climbing Life.

Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee)

Playing Jack McPhee, Kerr Smith was a primary cast member on Dawson's Creek from his Season 2 introduction through the show's sixth season. His role gained considerable attention, particularly for sharing what was considered "TV's first passionate kiss between two men" with Adam Kaufman. Prior to playing Jack, Smith was notably seen in The Broken Hearts Club and As the World Turns, but while the show was on the air, he starred in Final Destination. After the Creek ran dry, he played a main role in E-Ring, Justice, and Life Unexpected. He also had recurring roles on CSI: NY, Eli Stone, NCIS, The Fosters, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and, most recently, Riverdale. Kerr also starred in Cruel Intentions 3, My Bloody Valentine 3D, and When Hope Grows. Additionally, last year, Smith starred in episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles and Into the Dark.

Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee)

Playing the part of Andie McPhee, an academic, ambitious fellow classmate at Capeside High School, Meredith Monroe joined Dawson's Creek in Season 2 and became a main cast member in Seasons 3 and 4. During her time on the show, Monroe was also seen in Minority Report, New Best Friend, and Manhood. Since Dawson's Creek came to a close, the actress has bounced between film and television, notably with her recurring role in Criminal Minds, Hart of Dixie, and 13 Reasons Why, as well as roles in NCIS, Bones, CSI, Psych, Hawaii FIve-0, CSI: NY, House, Cold Case, Wake, Castle, Drop Dead Diva, Private Practice, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, S.W.A.T., and The Edge of Seventeen.

Busy Phillips (Audrey Liddell)

As Audrey Liddell, Busy Phillips joined Dawson's Creek in Season 5 and became a main cast member for the show's sixth and final season. Prior to her role in this WB drama, Phillips was best known for her work in the beloved short-lived sitcom, Freaks & Geeks. Following the show's conclusion, Phillips became better known for her standout role in Cougar Town. She also played roles in ER, Love, Inc., Undeclared, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, Vice Principals, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She also starred in White Chicks, He's Just Not That Into You, Made of Honor, The Gift, and I Feel Pretty. From 2018-2019, Phillips hosted her own talk show, Busy Tonight. Additionally, in 2018, Phillips published her memoir, This Will Only Hurt A Little, which became a New York Times bestseller. She also recently appeared in an episode of Camping.

Chad Michael Murray (Charlie Todd)

Just a couple years before he played the lead role in One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray played Charlie Todd, Jen's college boyfriend, in Dawson's Creek's fifth season. In what is certainly his most noteworthy "before he was famous" role, this appearance helped to solidify Murray as a mainstay on The WB/CW. This tradition continues as the TV actor is currently playing a role in Riverdale. In addition, he's also known for his roles in Freaky Friday, A Cinderella Story, 2005's House of Wax, and Fruitvale Station. He also played a supporting role in Agent Carter, and appeared in Left Behind, The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia, and A Madea Christmas. Murray was recently seen in Survive the Night, and a pair of holiday-themed movies, Write Before Christmas and Love in Winterland.

Who is your favorite Dawson's Creek star? Let us know in the comments!

If there was a hall of fame for iconic television theme songs, the Dawson's Creek theme would almost certainly be inducted. Paula Cole's "I Don't Want To Wait" is so tied to the iconic coming-of-age series that some listeners may just think of the TV show as opposed to what the song is about. Dawson's Creek alum Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell) recently performed the song during production difficulties on Busy Tonight and revealed the tune's true meaning to a surprised audience.

Yep, "I Don't Wanna Wait" is about World War II and not about close-knit friends making their way through high school. The best bit of this video is it shows two different reactions. The person in the audience speaking represents those who have had their minds blown by the news, while Nailed It's Nicole Byer represents the folks mildly intrigued with the factoid and just jamming out to the talented Busy Philipps and her surprisingly good voice.

To be fair, it's understandable if Dawson's Creek viewers never picked up on the actual meaning. The song always picked up on the chorus, which bypasses the whole tragic tale of a woman wondering if her husband will come home from war to father his children. That said, "I Don't Wanna Wait" got a fair amount of radio play before Dawson's Creek would premiere, so perhaps teens just weren't listening to Paula Cole's lyrics so intently?

To everyone baffled by this revelation and somewhat ashamed, the '90s were a different time. If someone wanted to look up the lyrics to a song, it probably would've been faster to buy the CD and pore over lyrics on the inside cover than to search the internet. Additionally, lots of families had pay-per-minute internet, so searching for something like the lyrics to the Dawson's Creek theme song may not have warranted what it cost to know the answer.

It's also worth mentioning that Paula Cole was not born anywhere close to when World War II took place, and her song was released in 1997. This might make it easier to disassociate the song with the tragedies of war and make it more relatable to when Joey wore a wire to get her dad sent to jail. Ok, maybe that's a bit extreme, but it is weird to think such a sad song can have such an uplifting chorus.

With all that said, does the reveal really make the theme song any less perfect? If Dawson's Creek were to return with a revival, it's hard to imagine any other song going into the main title credits. It's still a great song, even if it's not entirely thematically appropriate, and works with the adapted clip well enough. Still, I'm sure Busy Philipps just ruined it for a lot of people who now think of WW2 when an episode starts.

Busy Philipps and hopefully more of her singing voice can be seen on Busy Tonight, which returns January 7 and airs Mondays through Thursdays at 11:00 p.m. ET on E!. For a look at all the shows coming to television in the future near and far, visit our fall and midseason premiere guide.

Before he co-created The Flash, Greg Berlanti was the series showrunner on the classic teen drama Dawson's Creek. With more than 15 years having passed since the landmark series left the airwaves, Berlanti is opening up about how it helped him prepare for the backlash surrounding the casting of Ruby Rose as the Arrow-verse's openly lesbian Batwoman. Addressing the matter head-on, Berlanti shared how handling reactions to Dawson's Creek, came into play, saying:

Greg Berlanti's past experiences on the teen drama have helped him navigate the road ahead and will undoubtedly continue to serve him well when it comes to divisive decisions. Berlanti's comments (per THR) shed light on how he is handling the online reaction to Ruby Rose's casting. The Arrow-verse extraordinaire's comments offer a telling glimpse into how fan mail has progressed, as viewers are now able to relay their opinions on social media more directly, and some especially critical viewers certainly had a lot to say about Ruby Rose.

While Twitter can often be a barometer of where fans stand on certain storylines or casting decisions, Greg Berlanti is not letting it alter things. He is standing by his star. Batwoman will make her debut during the network's annual Arrow-verse crossover. Once Ruby Rose has flexed her muscle in the highly-anticipated multi-series spanning event, she could end up headlining her own Batwoman spinoff.

After all, you do not introduce a character as major as Batwoman, and not consider giving her, her own show. Greg Berlanti expressed his optimism over Ruby Rose's portrayal and viewers' chance to see her play the part. Berlanti said:

The reaction that ensued following the announcement of Ruby Rose's casting as Batwoman with some arguing she was not the right choice for the role is suspected to have contributed to her deciding to leave Twitter. Fans have a while longer to wait before Rose makes her much-anticipated debut as Batwoman. In a sign that she is set to knock it out of the park, Greg Berlanti shared his hope that people will tune in to see what everyone has been talking about and go from there.

Just in time for the holiday season, the Arrow-verse's crossover event, which will herald the debut of Batwoman, will kick off on Sunday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET with an episode of The Flash. The show that started it all a.k.a. Arrow will return for its seventh season on Monday, October 15 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. The Flash will speed by Arrow's debut, making its Season 5 bow on Tuesday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET. They will not be the only series returning or premiering on the superhero-friendly network, this fall.

Dawson's Creek has a legacy in pop culture that has fans wondering about the possibility of a revival with the original cast on board, even 20 years after it first hit the airwaves back in 1998. It also has a legacy for a very different reason: The Dawson Leery Cry-Face. In an episode that saw Dawson go on an emotional ride, James Van Der Beek's face crumpled into a cry that would be turned into a popular meme years later. By this point, it's safe to say that more people recognize James Van Der Beek from the meme than from Dawson's Creek. Well, Van Der Beek's Dawson's Creek co-star Joshua Jackson has offered up a challenge to The Dawson Leery Cry-Face, and it's pretty epic. Take a look!

Joshua Jackson has officially upped the cry-face ante! If you'd asked me only a few days ago if it was at all possible for a member of the Dawson's Creek cast to pull a face that could possibly eclipse The Dawson Leery Cry-Face, I wouldn't have believed it. Most of the members of the Dawson's Creek cast shed plenty of tears over the years on the teen drama, and Pacey certainly didn't have the stiffest of upper lips. Never once did Pacey's cry-face come close to resembling Dawson's. Did Joshua Jackson just need 18 years or so to perfect what James Van Der Beek pulled off back in 2000?

At least Joshua Jackson's cry-face had nothing to do with Joey Potter and the bizarre teen love triangle between Pacey, Joey, and Dawson during the early years of Dawson's Creek. That said, Jackson's post makes me want to see an ugly-cry entry from Katie Holmes. We're probably not going to get that Dawson's Creek revival that so many may be looking for; why not an ugly cry-face competition via social media?

James Van Der Beek responded with "Bring It" comment on Joshua Jackson's Instagram post, so we can have fun imagining what might happen next. If we can't get a three-way cry-off between Jackson, Van Der Beek, and Katie Holmes to see which Dawson's Creek love triangle alum deserves the top prize for best ugly cry face, why not a web video or sketch of Jackson and Van Der Beek going head-to-head with their tears?

Then again, there's still one full season of The Affair to go before it ends on Showtime. Maybe James Van Der Beek could appear as a rival love interest to Joshua Jackson's character. Pacey came out on top of the Dawson's Creek love triangle; maybe James Van Der Beek could tackle a role that puts him on top in a sticky romantic storyline. Is this likely? Not even a little bit. But it's fun to imagine the possibilities in a a world in which two 90s teen heartthrobs are joking about their cry-faces on social media in 2018.

If you want to relive the glory days of Dawson's Creek, you can find the full series streaming on both Hulu and Amazon Prime. For Joshua Jackson's more current work, you can catch the Season 4 finale of The Affair on August 19 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. For more of what you can watch in the not-too-distant future, take a peek at our fall TV premiere guide.

The teen drama is a vital part of the television experience, with shows that each generation has their loyalties to. What would happen, however, if we took each major teen drama stereotype and named the definitive character of that category in hopes Hollywood would construct an all-star team of characters similar to them? We're not sure, but we did it in hopes someone gets wise and makes a show with characters modeled after our favorites in each category. We even threw in some runner-ups just so that whoever tackles this primo drama has some additional options for inspiration. Take a look!

The Leading Man: Ryan Atwood - The O.C.

If ever there was a character in a teen drama everyone could get behind, Ryan Atwood of The O.C. was it. Who doesn't love a kid from a bad upbringing finally seeing some comeuppance and transforming a community around him in the process? In a genre where it's seemingly hard to write a leading man who is objectively good as well as entertaining, Ben McKenzie's portrayal is the gold standard. The ideal teen drama leading man needs the opportunity to grow into the character he should be as the series continues on, and Ryan Atwood is the perfect example of what happens when that works.

Runner-Up: Lucas Scott - One Tree Hill

Ironically enough Chad Michael Murray turned down the role of Ryan Atwood to play Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill. Lucas and Ryan are similar characters, but Ben McKenzie's portrayal and the overall cheese One Tree Hill got into with its later seasons certainly put Ryan above Lucas.

Leading Lady: Veronica Mars - Veronica Mars

Veronica Mars was such a great character she has the show named after her. Kristen Bell's portrayal as the young private investigator was so popular it even managed to get a film years later, which is yet another nod to how great her character was. Teen dramas often feature young characters solving mysteries the town is stumped by, and while Riverdale's Betty Cooper does some pretty good investigating, Veronica would've easily sniffed out her father was the Black Hood killer long before Cooper ever did. Veronica Mars also taps into the compelling story of a lead overcoming a terrible past situation, which is not something that always happens for principal female characters in these types of shows.

Runner-Up: Elena Gilbert - The Vampire Diaries

Elena certainly has the tragic background for a female lead, but it's a hard sell to say she's as good as Veronica Mars. Put simply, The Vampire Diaries was able to continue without Nina Dobrev. Could Veronica Mars have kept going without Kristen Bell?

The Girl Next Door: Joey Potter - Dawson's Creek

The girl next door archetype isn't always vital to the teen drama, but when it is done it needs to be done right. Joey Potter is the perfect case study for what the "girl next door" should be, as it sets some real-world expectations for teens who may be experiencing a relationship similar to that of Dawson and Joey. As hard as it may be to hear for young lovers, fairy tale romances don't always happen the way folks plan, and surely Joey's story on Dawson's Creek encouraged plenty of people to move on from their Dawson to link up with their Pacey.

Runner-Up: Betty Cooper - Riverdale

Betty might not be the definitive archetype in any teen drama category, but her character often falls in the middle of the road in many other categories. This includes her playing "girl next door" to Archie and keeping that perfect balance between close friend and potential lover about as close as teens like to walk that tightrope.

Best Friend: Paul Pfeiffer - The Wonder Years

Best friends don't get much better than The Wonder Years' Paul Pfeiffer, who stuck with his friend Kevin Arnold for about as long as anyone could. Sure the two had a bit of a strained relationship in the show's later years, but it's completely understandable considering Kevin could be a real dick sometimes. Despite that, Paul stuck around in the younger years and really managed to make Kevin look much better in comparison even though Kevin was just an average kid. That's about as good of a solid as any best friend can do for another

Runner-Up: Bill Haverchuck - Freaks and Geeks

There had to be some inspiration taken from Paul Pfeiffer to create Freaks and Geeks' Bill Haverchuck, which means the title by default has to go to the OG who started it all. Plus, Bill is cooler (not by much) than Paul, and best friends that outshine lead characters rarely benefit anyone and can end in ill-conceived spinoffs that no one wants.

The Queen Bee: Cheryl Blossom - Riverdale

A lot of teen dramas like to make their alpha female a raging "B," but that isn't always necessary to create a memorable and interesting side character who shakes things up. Riverdale showed this with Madelaine Petsch's Cheryl Blossom. While Cheryl does have quite the mean streak, she's hands down also one of the most lovable parts of Riverdale. Whether she's rocking some flawless outfit, going off the rails crazy, or just delivering a snarky one-liner in the midst of a serious situation, Cheryl commands every scene she's given in. She certainly keeps things interesting when the story starts to lag, which is really what this type of character should always be doing.

Runner-Up: Blair Waldorf - Gossip Girl

This one was incredibly close to call, although Cheryl ends up besting Blair because she has no discernable weakness. Blair, on the other hand, had a weakness for perhaps one of the sleaziest characters in teen drama history, which segues beautifully into the next category.

The Redeemable Bad Boy: Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl

Chuck Bass is one of the most beloved and memorable characters of Gossip Girl, which is really a testament to how the show changed his character around. Chuck was originally written to be an antagonist in the novels and was portrayed as an attempted rapist sociopath in Season 1. Somewhere down the stretch the character won some fans, and while he was still a self-absorbed asshole seasons later, Chuck was well-liked enough that he even got a happy ending just like everyone else. Honestly, it's not something anyone can understand if they didn't watch Gossip Girl, but trust us, it worked.

Runner-Up: Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights

Tim Riggins is certainly a solid choice for the bad boy aspect. Not so much. Friday Night Lights knew Tim was a good kid deep down but had a lot of demons he had to deal with in real life. He's nowhere near the level of crazy exhibited by Chuck Bass and in our opinion a distant second.

The Parents: The Taylors - Friday Night Lights

Eric and Tami Taylor are about the most wholesome, strong, and amazing adult couple the teen genre has ever seen. The Friday Night Lights parents aren't just mentors to their daughters, but to just about every other teen in the series they come in contact with. On top of that, they both weather some pretty tough times while still being the definition of relationship goals. All of these things are nearly impossible for a parent to accomplish in the average teen drama, so credit to Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton for owning those roles so well the show never actively sought out to create drama between them.

Runner-Up: Karen Roe - One Tree Hill

Out of a sea of teen drama parents who are incompetent sticks in the mud, Karen is kind of a boss. That said she almost had just as much drama as the teen characters in One Tree Hill, and the ideal teen drama parent rises above that kind of stuff. Had Karen known of the motto "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," perhaps things may have been different.

The Douchebag Villain: Dan Scott - One Tree Hill

No villain in teen drama history will ever be able to measure up to the diabolical Dan Scott of One Tree Hill. In addition to pitting his son against his illegitimate son, murdering his brother, and being a jerk literally each and every chance he got, he also had an incredibly punchable face. No disrespect to Paul Johansson of course, and if anything, it's more of a testament as to how well he played a truly miserable and self-entitled human being. In short, he was a character people loved to hate, and so effective the series rarely had to switch focus to a new villain throughout a bulk of its run.

Runner-Up: Cliff Blossom - Riverdale

Cliff Blossom is one of the big reasons Riverdale is rife with crime in the first place. Sure Hiram Lodge ran with things once he got out of prison, but with the Blossom family's deep crime links it wasn't hard for him to flip the town into some corrupt criminal underworld in the course of months. He also killed his son, so there's that.

The Teacher: Will Schuester - Glee

Who better to be the hypothetical teacher of the best teen drama than the teacher who started a nationwide phenomenon? While glee clubs existed to sing their hearts out well before the show Glee, certainly not in the way that Will Schuester and his singing students would inspire other schools to do. Aside from that, Will was always ready to go to bat for his students when it came to the club and was a strong mentor to the students throughout the series. We may never forgive him for playing part of the show's various butchering of classic songs, but as a teacher, he was pretty solid.

Runner-Up: Tami Taylor - Friday Night Lights

Tami was never technically a teacher, but she worked for the school and inspired a whole lot of kids without a football team. The fact that she could snag this role without technically meeting the requirements is just a bigger testament to how awesome her character is, although most folks probably don't need that reminder.

Best Kid Sibling - Sam Weir: Freaks and Geeks

Kid siblings in teen dramas are rarely relevant, and almost always the worst. Sam Weir is one of the sole exceptions to this rule, which is likely due to the fact Freaks and Geeks split the story between him and his older sister Lindsay. Regardless, Sam was able to be a part of the Freaks and Geeks storyline without falling into the stereotype of always meddling and being a general nuisance. He also had that ridiculous and infectious laugh that made every funny moment he was in that much better, but that's ultimately just icing on the cake.

Runner-Up: N/A

There really is no one second to Sam Weir. Most if not all younger siblings in teen dramas are annoying and unremarkable.

Are there any characters you think got left out or teen drama stereotypes we missed? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to keep tabs on all upcoming current television with our summer premiere guide.

Television nowadays is in an era of reboots, remakes, and revivals, and few shows seem to be entirely off-limits as candidates for returns to the small screen. Dawson's Creek recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its premiere on The WB way back in 1998, which naturally led fans to wonder if a trip back to Capeside to check back in with Dawson and Co. could be in the cards. Members of the cast and the creator weighed in on a potential revival, and fans may have mixed feelings about what they had to say. Here's how creator Greg Berlanti feels about a Dawson's Creek revival:

The show was a way for Greg Bertlanti to express himself back in the late 1990s, and his life has evidently changed to the point that he couldn't channel the same emotional connection for a Dawson's Creek revival. He certainly has no shortage of other projects to work on as well, so it's not like he's lacking in jobs these days. Interestingly, Berlanti is totally fine with somebody else taking over the show for a revival, if it got the green light. Not all creators of hit shows might be willing to pass the torch to another producer, but Berlanti is apparently so cool with the prospect that he'd watch the revival. Good for him!

James Van Der Beek, who played Dawson himself, has thoughts about a potential revival as well:

All things considered, it's difficult to imagine a Dawson's Creek revival that didn't reinvent the premise. James Van Der Beek--who has had some less-than-complimentary reactions and comments about the show--evidently doesn't believe that Dawson's Creek could come back without some major changes, which is understandable. As much as nostalgic fans might want to see Joey climbing through Dawson's bedroom window again, it might not make much sense for them as adults. These are characters who may be married with kids at this point! Well, except for poor Jen, but it would be fun to see how Jack has fared raising her child.

Another star doesn't sound like she'd even consider a Dawson's Creek revival. Katie Holmes had this to say in the chat with EW about returning to Capeside:

Katie Holmes hasn't changed her tune about a potential revival since she first addressed the question back in February 2016. She evidently believes that the past is best left in the past when it comes to Dawson's Creek, and it wouldn't work in 2018 the way it worked in 1998. While some stars are definitely on board to reprise their roles, Katie Holmes isn't one of them. At least we got Holmes and the rest of the cast back together for an adorable reunion photo!

If you now feel the need to relive Dawson and Co.'s time on the small screen, the full series is available streaming on Hulu. Don't forget to swing by our midseason TV premiere guide and our summer premiere schedule. For a look at the shows that have already had their fates decided this season, check out our rundown of TV cancellations and renewals.

Dawson's Creek was once one of the biggest shows for young adults, and fans are still passionate to this day about whether Pacey or Dawson was a better match for Joey. In fact, it's difficult to believe that the show premiered way back in 1998 and the young actors who tackled the four lead roles are now accomplished performers with many roles to their names. James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams reunited for Dawson's Creek's 20th anniversary. Take a look at the pic!

Something tells me Joey/Pacey fans will be happy with this reunion photo! Katie Holmes has her hands on Joshua Jackson's shoulders in a pose that could almost pass for a photo of Joey and Pacey, 15 years after the finale ended with the two poised to enjoy a happily-ever-after. The response to the pic (posted on EW's Twitter) might have been quite negative among those fans if James Van Der Beek had been touching one or both of them. That love triangle may be best left in the past. For her part, Michelle Williams looks lovely as always as she stands over the other three.

Now that TV is in an era of reboots, remakes, and revivals, this reunion of the four key Dawson's Creek players will undoubtedly have fans wondering if they could comeback for another batch of episodes together. Revivals -- such as Will and Grace and the newly-premiered Roseanne -- have turned in huge ratings and given the actors more exposure. That said, the actors are more or less doing pretty well for themselves without tackling their Dawson's Creek roles again, and Katie Holmes has already said that she doesn't think Dawson's Creek could work again for a fairly understandable reason.

Some members of the cast have spoken about a willingness to return for a revival, however, so who knows? Maybe something could happen to bring them all together again, even if not for a full batch of episodes. Surely fans would tune in for a reunion special on the small screen. Even the busiest members of the cast might be able to get together for a special running an hour or two rather than a full season. We'll have to wait and see. Dawson's Creek does still have an impact on current shows, so we can be positive that its legacy lives on.

If you're now in the mood for a blast from the Dawson's Creek past, you can find the full series of 128 episodes streaming on Hulu. For your viewing options now and in the coming months, be sure to take a look at our midseason TV premiere schedule and our summer TV premiere guide. For the shows that have already gotten the axe from the 2017-2018 season, check out our rundown of TV cancellations and renewals.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Riverdale episode "Chapter 26: The Tell-Tale Heart." Read at your own risk!

Riverdale delivered many mind-blowing moments in "Chapter 26: The Tell-Tale Heart". But the reveal that Agent Arthur Adams was not affiliated with the F.B.I., and was an informant for Hermione Lodge was the best of them all. Interestingly enough, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said that plot twist would have never happened had it not been for executive producer Greg Berlanti and Dawson's Creek. Berlanti passed on some sage television wisdom to Aguirre-Sacasa when learning about Agent Adams, and it ended up changing Season 2 for the better:

The Dawson's Creek moment Greg Berlanti is referring to was when character Joey Potter wore a wire for the police to get her father to confess to dealing drugs. The moment has been criticized by fans of the series and even the Dawson actor himself, James Van Der Beek. Had Berlanti not intervened in the Riverdale writing for Season 2, Archie might've done the exact same thing to Veronica's dad, Hiram. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told Variety that, following Berlanti's suggestion, the writers flipped the script and wrote Agent Adams to be an informant of Hiram's, but then changed their minds and landed on Hermione.

The change in script definitely paid off, as Riverdale has now set Archie on a path much darker than the one he was headed down at the start of Season 2. Archie ratting out Hiram wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world, but it would've been out of character. Archie thus far in Season 2 has been all about doing things the wrong way, provided it gets done. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teased Archie's allegiance to the Lodge family will put him at odds with his father Fred, and that this twist will also introduce some drama between Hermione and Hiram as the two engage in a bit of a power struggle.

Family in-fighting can only mean bad things for Archie, as the Lodge family not being on the same page could cause them to slip up and have some of their more illegal dealings be discovered. Archie might still have Veronica's love by the time Season 2 concludes, but could he also have a criminal charge to boot? There's never really any telling with Riverdale, and all we can hope is that Archie's commitment to breaking bad doesn't end with the character behind bars, or a target worthy of bringing the actual Black Hood out of hiding.

Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW. For a look at shows set to premiere in 2018, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

Dawson's Creek is a show that changed the game for teen television during its run on The WB from 1998-2003, and it kickstarted the careers of some young actors who would go on to become stars in their own right. The series was anchored by some adult characters, however. Gail and Mitch Leery were major presences in the series as Dawson's parents, and Gail's second wedding is what brought everybody back together in the series finale. Actress Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Gail throughout all six seasons, has revealed that she would be on board for a Dawson's Creek revival, saying this:

Mary-Margaret Humes was pretty clear in her comments to Digital Spy that she's not suggesting a full-on revival, a la Will and Grace or even The X-Files. Four episodes would be enough to check back in with the characters, get a look at their lives 15 years after the finale, and say goodbye to them once more, perhaps with more closure than the first time around. The series finale was initially going through very significant changes in the writing process, even going so far as to switch Joey from ending up with Dawson to ending up with Pacey. Perhaps a revival would enable the show to settle things a bit more.

As it happens, Mary-Margaret Humes has the support of another Dawson's Creek star when it comes to a revival, although his participation might not actually work. John Wesley Shipp played Mitch Leery until early in Season 5, when the character was killed in a car accident. Nevertheless, Shipp--who gained new fame in recent years thanks to roles on The Flash--would be on board for a revival as well:

John Wesley Shipp certainly does know how successful series can be when brought back to the airwaves, although The CW's The Flash isn't a revival of his original Flash series. Still, it's hard to imagine how he would fit into a revival when his character was killed and his wife remarried on the show. Flashbacks would be a possibility if fewer years had passed. Then again, Roseanne is bringing John Goodman back for the revival despite his character's death. Maybe a Dawson's Creek revival could pull something similar.

All of this said, a revival isn't likely in the cards. The actors who played Dawson's parents may be on board, but a revival almost certainly couldn't happen without at least James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson on board. Katie Holmes has come right out and said that she doesn't think Dawson's Creek could work as a revival nowadays. For his part, James Van Der Beek was super uncomfortable talking about the show back in March, and he more recently said that the show went off the rails back in Season 2. Something tells me he won't be dying to reprise his role as Dawson.

If you're now in the mood for a Dawson's Creek rewatch, you can catch the full series streaming on Hulu. For the shows that are soon to leave the airwaves, take a look at our rundown of all the TV cancellations in 2017. Our midseason TV guide can let you know when your shows will be back in 2018.

James Van Der Beek doesn't have many opinions about Dawson's Creek these days, but he did recently give an answer as to when he believed the show went off the rails. Van Der Beek shared his answer on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen when Andy asked him when he believes the show officially jumped the shark:

While it seems Andy Cohen was using the term "jumped the shark" to mean Dawson's Creek stretching the boundaries of realism, the official definition is when a show does something so outrageous that it becomes clear they've run out of ideas. Those who know it from that definition might think this is a cold hearted diss, but it could be that Van Der Beek understood Cohen's context in the question or he may just not know much more about the show beyond Season 2. Given his statements in the past and the fact that Joey actually wore the wire to frame her dad and not Dawson, the latter wouldn't be all that surprising.

Earlier in the year James Van Der Beek appeared on a U.K. daytime talk show and was blasted with questions regarding Dawson's Creek despite being there to promote another show. Van Der Beek mentioned there that he had not watched the series all the way through so he only remembers the scripts and what they shot. Considering television shows aren't shot scene by scene and have lots of unused footage it's understandable his response and accuracy in answering the question on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen is a bit spotty.

Even so, it's pretty hilarious to hear James Van Der Beek might think Dawson's Creek ran out of ideas in Season 2 when they went well beyond that. Certainly, there are enough fans who feel differently, otherwise that gay porno Van Der Beek got caught with would've never been made to begin with. Unfortunately, the juice on Dawson's Creek__ practically ended there as Van Der Beek wouldn't even tell Cohen in their interview whether Katie Holmes or Michelle Williams was a better kisser.

Dawson's Creek is no more but can be found on Hulu, and Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen airs Sundays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. ET on Bravo. Those more concerned with the here and now can visit our summer premiere guide to find start dates for all the hottest shows or even look ahead at our fall premiere guide to prep their cold-weather watching schedule.

While the world has been transfixed on the fact that it's been 20 years since Buffy The Vampire Slayer first aired, let's not forget another 20th anniversary of a popular 90s show is rapidly approaching. Next January will mark two decades since the beginning of Dawson's Creek, and while the cast will probably be excited to talk about the glory days at that point, maybe it's best not to blindside James Van Der Beek with questions when he's promoting a completely different project. These two U.K. daytime talk show hosts did, and it was a trainwreck:

Just in case you were spent less time listening and more time watching James Van Der Beek's internal-screaming faces, This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield spent just under half of their five-minute interview discussing Dawson's Creek. That likely threw James for a loop considering he came on the show to promote his upcoming family comedy Carters Get Rich, which will be airing on U.K.'s Sky 1 network March 30th. You wouldn't know that was the focus, though, considering the entire crew went straight up fanboy on Van Der Beek, and was apparently blasting Paula Cole backstage before the segment started. It's definitely not the best way to start off an interview.

It's also a little tacky to do that kind of thing without any forewarning, as evidenced repeatedly by James Van Der Beek's awkward smiles. Past projects and stuff of that nature are always going to come up, but as a professional courtesy, perhaps everyone should have checked before crafting those then-and-now graphics and downloading the Dawson's soundtrack on Spotify. Had This Morning even led with a coy joke and moved on, I think they would've been safe, but they lingered all too long.

It also kind of doesn't make sense, as host Phillip Schofield points out in the video that James Van Der Beek never watched Dawson's Creek all the way through. With so many takes, cuts, and scenes shot out of sequence during filming, I'm sure Van Der Beek isn't familiar with a lot of the series outside of Dawson Leery, so his limited context doesn't work so well for their questions. There are probably a few people reading this that would be able to give a better interview than he can without any prep time.

While he was uncomfortable, I don't think that necessarily means that James Van Der Beek doesn't like Dawson's Creek. Actors and actresses not wishing to watch themselves on screen are common, and you'd be surprised at the list of people who haven't seen the shows that made them famous. Maybe this encounter will lead Van Der Beek to binge all six seasons of the series before the 20th anniversary in January, so he'll be more prepared for moments like these in the future.

He might also just continue to let the past be the past and check out our midseason premiere guide and summer premiere schedule so that he can dive into new shows and further escape Dawson Creek's shadow.

TV is filled with such a wide variety of shows in just about every genre nowadays that it can be easy to forget when other series actually came to an end. There are just too many awesome new options to dwell too much on shows that have already been cancelled. We've picked out 8 of the best shows from days gone by that ended way longer ago than we thought. Some were cable hits while others found their audiences on broadcast networks, but they were all great enough then to warrant recognition now. Get ready for some blasts from the past, and check out our 8 picks!

Deadwood, 2004-2006

HBO debuted a show unlike anything else on the airwaves back in 2004 with Deadwood. The show was a western based on legendary historical characters, and it wasn't afraid to bust out some anachronistic F-bombs if the situation called for it. Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane were stellar as Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, and the show was actually still going strong when it was cancelled in 2006. There have been rumors of a TV movie or HBO reunion in the years since the series went off the air, but nothing has yet come of it. We can still cross our fingers and hope.

That '70s Show, 1998-2006

Fox landed a cast of largely unknown actors back in 1998 to create an unexpectedly hilarious sitcom set in the late 1970s. That '70s Show embraced the time period in everything from the fashion to the Circle to Eric Foreman's obsession with the newly-released Star Wars. Notably, the show survived shaking up some of its most established dynamics. Who could have guessed that Hyde and Jackie would be an interesting match? Or that Eric would movie to Africa? Or Fez and Laurie would marry? That '70s Show ran for eight seasons, launched the careers of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Laura Prepon, and was overall a fun watch each week.

The West Wing, 1999-2006

The West Wing was a show that probably would not have worked without Aaron Sorkin at the helm. The drama followed the political action of the White House staff in a fictional Democratic administration, and the plots often revolved around the characters' frustration with various branches of the government. The show perfected the "walk and talk" method of delivering exposition, and it undoubtedly would have been a hard-to-follow mess without Sorkin in charge and a killer cast in front of the cameras. NBC garnered a lot of awards attention thanks to The West Wing, and it feels like just yesterday that the show came to an and.

Sex And The City, 1998-2004

HBO wouldn't be the premium cable juggernaut it is today without Sex and the City. The series starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon as a group of friends with different careers and different attitudes toward sex and romance, but they stuck together through thick and thin and created a legendary dynamic of female characters. The actresses returned to their characters twice after the series ended in 2004 for big screen sequels. The Sex and the City movie did well enough, but Sex and the City 2 was a critical flop, and we may never see the show return to TV. At least it had a solid run for its six seasons on the airwaves.

Dawson's Creek, 1998-2003

The entire television landscape of the last decade might have looked very different if not for The WB's Dawson's Creek. It wasn't the first teen drama, and it might not even be the best, but it popularized the concept of fast-talking teenagers dropping pop culture references every other sentence. We almost certainly never would have gotten The O.C. if not for the success of Dawson's Creek, and much of The WB's (and later, The CW's) programming might not be what it is today. Dawson's Creek also set a TV precedent in the series finale when - spoiler alert - the heroine didn't choose the main character at the end of the long-running love triangle. Although Dawson's Creek was no The West Wing, it was an impactful series that had some pretty great seasons.

Six Feet Under, 2001-2005

One of HBO's biggest critical hits of all time is Six Feet Under, which ran for five seasons and followed the stories of the Fisher family, who owned a funeral home in Los Angeles. The cast was unforgettable from start to finish, and the writing consistently played to their strengths. Six Feet Under has a legacy for producing one of the best-received series finales of all time, which was a major accomplishment considering all the expectations for the end of a phenomenal series. The characters weren't always likable and the relationships weren't always particularly tolerable, but they were compelling from beginning to end, and it's hard to believe that the final episode was more than a decade ago.

Veronica Mars, 2004-2007

Veronica Mars is a show that might have run for a lot longer than three seasons if it had aired on a different network. The mystery series started off on UPN, then moved to The CW. The lack of mainstream exposure (combined with the change of format that came with the CW move) meant that Veronica Mars fizzled out in 2007, and fans were left wondering for years what would have happened after the Season 3 finale cliffhanger. The first two seasons featured season-long mysteries that came to explosive ends, and it really should have lasted longer than it did. Even despite the movie tying up some loose ends, I know I'm not the only one who would be on board for a Netflix revival.

The Sopranos, 1999-2007

If Six Feet Under is remembered for its fantastic finale, The Sopranos may be best remembered for the finale that frustrated fans everywhere. That said, the six seasons of the show were largely well-crafted and wonderfully acted, and the stories of mobster Tony Soprano, his family, his therapist, and his fellow members of the mafia often made for unpredictable storytelling. All things considered, The Sopranos is another series that helped make HBO the prominent and well-respected network that it is today, and it definitely deserves to be remembered for more than its final moments.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest news on the shows that are still on the air, and don't forget to take a look at our midseason TV premiere schedule.