MTV stopped living up to the "M" in its name so long ago that the joke, "I remember when MTV used to play music," is itself a relic at this point. For those that remember the network's '90s heyday, it marked the last time that great, original shows were able to coexist with hours of music video blocks. And while YouTube is the new-- and likely permanent-- home for music videos these days, MTV could still reinvent itself as a channel that has cool shows that aren't just about pregnant teenagers.
Full disclosure: A few of the shows on this list have been revived since the '90s, and some are said to have reboots currently in the works. But as long as a show originally existed in that decade and its supposed return has yet to happen, it was eligible for this list. If anything, we'd love for this list to be made obsolete, as that means these shows have already come back!
20 You're Standing On My Neck
Whereas Beavis and Butt-head perfectly captured one facet of '90s teens-- listless, easily-amused, and obsessed with rock music and greasy snacks-- spin-off Daria absolutely nailed the rest. And that show's brand of snarky, over-it angst would resonate just fine with disenfranchised Gen Zers, showing them they have more in common with their parents than they thought.
19 Mr. Show Plus Judd Apatow Equals...
Netflix's Mr. Show spiritual reboot, W/Bob & David, proved that sketch comedy stars from the '90s often still have plenty left to joke about. So the Bob of that show-- one Mr. Odenkirk-- should also reunite with old pals Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, and Andy Dick to revive the other '90s sketch show he was part of, The Ben Stiller Show.
18 Throw Us Another (Love)Line
If there is one thing that today's curious youth have way too easy of access to, it's misinformation about relationships and mental health. While Loveline has helped to fight that good fight on the radio for much of the past two decades, the young people who most need guidance want it in a visual format like MTV provided in the '90s.
17 She Is The Edge
It's a downright tragedy that the last time we entered the brilliant world of Aeon Flux and its titular anti-hero, it was via the disappointing live-action movie. So the planned live-action reboot series that got mentioned last year needs to be canceled before any more damage is done, and instead, we want another batch of animated episodes.
16 White And Nerdy
Every couple of years, comedy music legend "Weird Al" Yankovic would appear to take over MTV's broadcast signal for multi-hour blocks called AL TV, during which time he'd do comedy skits, play his videos, and most famously, conduct fake interviews with celebrities. With Yankovich not only still around but as popular as ever, more AL TV seems like a no-brainer.
15 And In This Claymation Corner...
Originally debuting as a one-off post-Super Bowl special, Celebrity Deathmatch would pit clay versions of celebrities against each other in ridiculous and brutal wrestling matches. It's exactly the kind of thing a lot of YouTube channels do now, meaning there's obviously an audience for this type of thing today. Let's get it on!
14 The Kind Of Show You Watch By Candlelight
For MTV viewers of a certain age, Undressed wasn't just one of those shows that you watched with your bedroom door closed, but it also introduced many people to the idea of different kinds of relationships that were largely absent from television at the time. A reboot was announced in 2018, but has yet to materialize. Fingers crossed.
13 United States Of Whatever
Speaking of TV shows that would later inform the kind of content that kids would flock to YouTube for, the "stars" of the bizarre sock puppet-based comedy series The Sifl and Olly Show have continued to exist in various forms on the internet since the show's 1999 cancellation. But we think they deserve a traditional series again.
12 MTV's Original Jackass
Once again, it's pretty apparent that MTV was way ahead of the curve in terms of the kinds of content that much of YouTube would later be built around, and that's especially true of prankster and provocateur Tom Green. Instead of Rob Dyrdek presenting other people's videos on MTV, The Tom Green Show should be there to make new ones.
11 Doug Needs To Come Back Heeeere
What do Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Reno 911!, Wet Hot American Summer, Party Down, Stella, and Children's Hospital all have in common? They are just a few of the movies and TV shows starring and/or created by the cast of MTV's groundbreaking sketch comedy series The State, which ended way too soon and is way overdue for a comeback.
