Teen shows from the '90s and 2000s were once cornerstones of our youth. We all raced home from school to catch 4:00 P.M. specials or tried to get all our homework done for whatever new episode was airing in the coveted 8:00 P.M. slot.
But while we fell in love with some classic characters and storylines, there are certain teen shows that are undeniably cringeworthy today. From problematic themes to outdated stereotypes and tropes, here are 10 that simply haven't stood the test of time.
Scroll to see all the classic teen shows that actually aged pretty poorly...
ABC
One of the most controversial aspects of Pretty Little Liars is the relationship between high schooler Aria Montgomery, played by Lucy Hale, and Ezra Fitz, depicted by Ian Harding.
The pair's romance is the heart of the show, but their relationship would raise a lot of eyebrows today, considering Ezra is Aria's teacher, and she's a minor. Pretty Little Liars also glosses over the power imbalance, ethical issues, and the fact that a teacher dating a student is illegal.
Nowadays, a teen show featuring such an inappropriate relationship wouldn't fly for anyone.
NBC
While Saved by the Bell continues to be a beloved '90s sitcom, it still has plenty of cringeworthy moments. Arguably, the worst incident occurs in Season 1 Episode 2, when Lisa Turtle exceeds her father's credit card limit.
This pushes Zack Morris to come up with an idea to help Lisa pay off the debt: she could charge boys $1 to kiss her without consent. He even gave the scheme a name, "Losing their Lisa cards."
Somewhat similar to Pretty Little Liars, this plot line disregarded consent. We can probably all agree that joking about ignoring women's autonomy wasn't humorous then and still isn't funny now.
Warner Bros.
Smallville, which is based on a young Clark Kent grappling with his newfound superpowers, had a lot of bizarre storylines. Nonetheless, Season 1 Episode 7 definitely took the cake.
It featured Jodi Melville, an overweight teen classmate of Clark's, who uses a kryptonite-infused detox juice in order to lose weight. Things take a turn when the juice boosts her metabolism so much that she craves human fat.
The episode took extremely sensitive issues, like body image and the pressures of losing weight, and transformed them into a horror trope instead of giving viewers a nuanced take on eating disorders. It sensationalized Jodi's struggles and added a level of cruelty to an already vulnerable topic for teenagers.
90210 Productions
To be fair, Beverly Hills, 90210 was actually known for tackling taboo subject matters, such as racism, substance abuse, and domestic violence, which were typically overlooked by mainstream media.
Even so, one specific episode dealing with gun control is still highly controversial today and has even been ripped from streaming platforms. During Season 2, Episode 14, West Beverly High students open up a time capsule. Then, the character Scott Scanlon accidentally shoots himself with his father's gun in front of a friend.
In the wake of today's ongoing problems with gun access and school violence, the storyline is unsettling and lacks the depth to address such complex topics.
Warner Bros.
Oh, where to begin with Gilmore Girls. Even though this show ended in 2007, it remains extremely popular among both old and new fans. Still, it's also packed with tons of representation and diversity issues.
First of all, the cast is predominantly white, and the sole Black character, Michel Gerard, is relegated to a one-dimensional role as a sarcastic and snobby concierge. Then, there's Lane's mother, Mrs. Kim, whose character is based on the stereotypes of Asian mothers being overly strict and traditional.
Throw in Emily Gilmore's blatant mistreatment of her household staff, and it's clear that genuine representations of race are lacking.
This show brought together some of our favorite actors like Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, and more!
The CW
Moving on to One Tree Hill, this show has come under fire for its portrayal of women, who are often pitted against each other. The female characters are thrown into emotional turmoil, especially when it comes to romantic conflicts. And despite the potential for character growth, they get into catfights and more drama again.
Meanwhile, the men are able to move past issues with something as simple as a fist bump. The unequal approach to gender dynamics paints women as irrational and emotionally unstable, which just isn't valid.
One Tree Hillstarred teen drama faves like Chad Michael Murray, Sophia Bush, Bethany Joy Lenz, and Hilarie Burton.
The CW
Gossip Girl gave all of us everyday teens a glimpse into the (supposed) lives of Manhattan's wealthiest and most scandalous teenagers. Despite the premise being undeniably intriguing, the show featured a lot of debauchery that still shocks parents today.
One of the most problematic characters is probably Chuck Bass, who treats women like objects. Yet, his actions are written off or even accepted since he's rich. There's also the subplot of teenage Nate having an affair with an adult (and married) duchess. Just these two examples alone wouldn't work on screen in 2025, especially in a show targeted at adolescents.
This starred your all your faves, including Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, and Ed Westwick!
MTV
Finally, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County captured the glamorous lives of Southern California teenagers. In the process, it frequently depicted casual underage drinking, which doesn't send a good message to impressionable viewers.
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County promoted the idea that alcohol has to be involved in order to have some real fun. With more awareness around the risks of underage drinking today, that much partying couldn't be so romanticized.
This series gave us the icons that are Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari!
Looking for more TV & entertainment news? Follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!
