Mental Floss

THE '90S

(L to R) Law & Order stars Jerry Orbach, Angie Harmon, Sam Waterston, and Jesse L. Martin pictured in 1999.

Though NBC called it quits on 'Law & Order' in 2010, after 20 seasons and more than 450 episodes, the series lives on in reruns and spinoffs. In fact, it's probably playing somewhere on TV right now.

Randee Dawn
Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in 1999's Notting Hill.

When it comes to the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, opinions differ widely. But if you’re from Washington, you might be partial to ‘10 Things I Hate About You.’

Ellen Gutoskey






Selena live in concert in 1994.

By the time of her tragic death at the young age of 23, Selena Quintanilla—better known simply as Selena—was already an American icon.

Nili Blanck


The cast of Cop Rock—in a rare moment of not singing about law and order.

There’s a time and a place for a jaunty Hall & Oates pastiche, but—as the creators of 'Cop Rock' discovered the hard way—it’s probably not in the middle of a self-described “baby merchant” getting caught in a child abduction sting.

Jon O'Brien
Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin in House Party (1990).

Reginald Hudlin's 'House Party' proved to Hollywood that the growing interest in Black cinema seen in the late 1980s was no mere fad.

Faridah Gbadamosi








Highlander: The Series, starring Adrian Paul, was an international hit.

'Highlander' ran from 1992 to 1998 and developed a cult following for its depiction of good-looking immortal beings lopping off each other's heads.

Jake Rossen
Matthew Peyton/Getty Images

Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for his Scottish kilt and bagpipes, but he was also a serious martial artist and even recorded a pop song.

Jake Rossen


L to R: Beastie Boys Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz), MCA (Adam Yauch), and Mike D (Michael Diamond) pose in Portugal 1998.

Though Beastie Boys effectively disbanded following the 2012 death of Adam "MCA" Yauch, the band has been collecting fans for more than 40 years with its uniquely intoxicating, and ever-evolving, sound.

Todd Gilchrist






"Once you get your hands on Bop It!, you're not gonna want to stop it!"

Bop It, the popular kid's toy, started out as something called Remote Out-of-Control that required players to pull, twist, or bop it. The last one stuck.

Jake Rossen