2017 brought the exciting news that Hulu got the rights to some of ABC's TGIF shows. TGIF was the network's popular Friday night block. In addition to airing all the hits, the block included interstitials with actors from its shows. Riding on the cultural nostalgia of the 1990s, Hulu subscribers giddily queued up their Friday night favorites. Except now, no one has to wait until Friday night.
Titles come and go on streaming services, so not every TGIF acquisition has remained. Some have never been on Hulu at all (for example, fans are excited to see Sister, Sister hit Netflix for the first time this fall). People may not notice the disappearance of Dinosaurs from Hulu, but they certainly noticed when shows on Hulu are a huge draw, but how many of them are still available?
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper - 6.4
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is a must-see for fans of other TGIF shows. After his professional basketball career takes a different turn, Mark Cooper sets out on a new path. He works as a substitute teacher, then as a PE teacher and a high school basketball coach.
Throughout the show's five seasons, Mark finds chemistry with one of his roommates and works to give his all as a coach and educator. He also provides a strong family atmosphere for his cousin, Geneva Lee, and her daughter, Nicole. The series has some interesting connections to other ABC shows. The pilot was filmed on the old Growing Pains set. Early in the first season, Mark Cooper substitutes for Michelle Tanner's class and gets to meet Michelle and her Uncle Jesse.
Step By Step - 6.5
After the success of perfect mix of real kid issues and adult problems.
Frank and Carol Lambert kept the romance alive in their marriage while providing a safe and comfortable life for their combined six, then seven, children. Though the show covers some serious issues, it is fun to watch the kids grow up and grow closer to one another. They go from meeting each other and being thrown under one roof to actually feeling like brothers and sisters. Hopefully, the show's seven seasons aren't going away anytime soon.
Family Matters - 6.6
Their series started off as a humble spin-off of Perfect Strangers, but the Winslow family grew a lot in nine seasons. Family Matters (1989 - 1998) began like many family sitcoms: two parents, three children, work-life balance, and a lovely home.
Set in Chicago, the show was set up for a relevant yet humorous dynamic. True fans love Steve Urkel, alter-ego and all. Though Judy disappears at the end of season four, fans still got to see Eddie and Laura finish their teenage years and become adults. The show is more timely now than ever, and who knows? Perhaps a reboot could eventually take shape. For now, fans can keep laughing and crying with the Winslows on Hulu.
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch - 6.6
with The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix, fans are still crazy about the classic, where it all started.
It is fun to watch Sabrina navigate her teenage and young adult years as a witch with guidance from her aunts Hilda and Zelda. She goes through the ups and downs of friendships and relationships, and her other-worldly storylines are consistently engaging. Check out all seven magical seasons.
Full House - 6.7
Full House (1987 - 1995) fans were most likely rewatching the show well before it made it to Hulu. The eight-season series has been out for years on DVD boxed sets, and cable subscribers have watched its reruns for a long time.
Thankfully, the heartwarming family sitcom is still a mainstay in the 80s/90s department on Hulu. Fans enjoy spending time with the Tanners and many kids who grew up with the show associate it with happy memories. Like Step by Step, Full House included a Steve Urkel storyline. In season four, Urkel arrives at the Tanner home and helps Stephanie embrace her new glasses.
Perfect Strangers - 7.2
Perfect Strangers (1986 - 1993) is one of the earliest TGIF shows available for streaming. Larry and Balki may not be the most ed duo of the 80s and 90s, but their show ran as long as any others did.
Balki comes from the Mediterranean to live in America with his distant cousin, Larry. The two cousins' differences provide the comedy in this sitcom. With Harriette Winslow as a springboard, the series spawned Family Matters and ran concurrently with it. All eight seasons of Perfect Strangers are ready on Hulu.