Ah, ’90s TV characters. They don’t make them quite like they used to, eh? Have you ever wondered what Daria might be like ca. 2012? Or Wilson from Home Improvement? After noticing a familiar Sex and the City-type plot line in a recent episode of Girls — or, more specifically, that Hannah is as addicted to Adam as Carrie was to Mr. Big — we were inspired to seek out other current counterparts to popular ’90s TV characters. Needless to say, it was a little tough and a lot of fun. After the jump, check out our modern matches for Rachel Green, Jerry Seinfeld, Jessie Spano, and more.
Mr. Big (Sex and the City) and Adam (Girls)
As much as Carrie Bradshaw tried, she just couldn’t kick her addiction to Big. Sounds a bit familiar, eh? Didn’t a teary-eyed Hannah give Adam a laundry list of reasons why she never wanted to see him again, then proceed to suck his face? Although we’re finding Adam to be increasingly likable, we wouldn’t be surprised if Hannah inevitably dates a super-sane Aidan type in upcoming seasons of Girls. But will she go running back to Adam when her new relationship gets tough? Probably. Will Adam leave her at the altar? Well, judging from his precious reaction to Jessa’s wedding, probably not, but Adam and Big undeniably play the same hot-and-cold roles in their ladies’ TV lives.
Daria and April (Parks and Recreation)
The endless similarities between these two ladies are pretty obvious. They rarely smile, they are in love with dopey guys in bands, they have morbid senses of humors, and they get excited about very, very few things in this life. Yup, and that’s why we love them.
Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) and Dennis Reynolds (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Imagine Jerry Seinfeld and Dennis Reynolds having a normal conversation. Then, imagine them in an argument. Their voices got significantly higher, right? Not only do these two argue in falsetto, they also woo inexplicable amounts of chicks. Do they treat said ladies well? Not usually. Do they have short best friends who are always getting themselves into a little more trouble than the rest? Certainly. Although Dennis is a bit nuttier than Seinfeld, these two fill the same shoes in their respective TV friend groups.
Rachel Green (Friends) and Robin Scherbatsky (How I Met Your Mother)
Rachel and Robin are both fickle, gorgeous, and have trouble maintaining relationships. At any moment, it’s a given that one of their best friends is in love with them. They can bro out when needed, and they are prone to on-again, off-again courtships with their sensitive guy friends… who also both happen to be nerdy professors.
Michael Kelso (That ’70s Show) and Schmidt (New Girl)
Here we have two pretty boys who pride themselves on being ladies men, but are truly whipped by their strong-willed girlfriends. They both go by their last names, they’re often chastised for their goofy, idiotic statements, and they have both suffered through the requisite, “Did I accidentally get a girl pregnant?” episodes. They try to be tough guys, but deep down, they’re naive little lovesick puppies.
Jessie Spano (Saved by the Bell) and Britta Perry (Community)
Britta and Jessie both pride themselves on being politically aware feminists and occasionally drool over fitness-obsessed guys (A.C. Slater and Jeff Winger). Said men are in love with their own looks, while these girls claim to not care about theirs. Remember when Jessie freaked out after taking caffeine pills? Well, Britta isn’t much of a good girl, but these two are similarly prone to getting preachy in any given situation.
Wilson (Home Improvement) and Jack Donaghy (30 Rock)
Initially, these two characters seem completely different, but think about it — they are both the irreplaceable mentors to their shows’ protagonists. Both characters give sage advice and speak in metaphors, although Wilson often talks in outdoorsy fishing terms and Jack Donaghy can relate any situation to a suit, but when push comes to shove, Tim Taylor and Liz Lemon would be lost without Wilson’s and Jack’s guidance.
Mr. Turner (Boy Meets World) and Mr. Schuester (Glee)
Remember Mr. Turner from Boy Meets World? He had a mullet, a motorcycle, and a heart of gold. When he wasn’t busy being a fantastic English teacher, he was fostering a somewhat homeless Shawn Hunter. So, who else is a modern “cool” teacher who would do anything for his students? Mr. Schuester from Glee, of course. What ever happened to Mr. Turner, anyway? Did we ever hear from him after that motorcycle accident? Bizarre.