Clarissa Explains It All

Clarissa Darling is a teen girl dealing with typical pre-adolescent concerns such as school, boys, pimples, wearing her first training bra and an annoying little brother Ferguson.

Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994) is an American Nickelodeon teen sitcom created by Mitchell Kriegman. Melissa Joan Hart plays Clarissa Darling, a wisecracking pre-teen who turns to the camera to explain her troubles with school, crushes, pimples and her first training bra. Her chief antagonist is her meddling little brother Ferguson, played by Jason Zimbler, and the household is rounded out by parents Janet (Elizabeth Hess) and Marshall Darling (Joe O'Connor), plus neighbor Sam Anders (Sean O'Neal). The engine of each episode is simple: Clarissa wants a normal social life and a little independence, and the everyday chaos of a suburban family keeps getting in the way. Stories unfold as self-contained half-hour comedies, with the direct-address confessionals doing much of the comic work and each episode closing on a neat, warm resolution. The show runs five seasons and sixty-five episodes in a classic multi-camera family format. Set in a contemporary suburban American home of the early 1990s, it has a joyful, breezy, satirical edge that suits viewers who loved Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Full House and the wider Nickelodeon sitcom tradition. Fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Full House will find the same mix of sibling comedy and friendly family warmth here.

Audiences received the series as a mixed but warmly remembered Nickelodeon teen sitcom, valued for its fourth-wall-breaking humor and relatable take on pre-teen life.

• Sabrina the Teenage Witchlighthearted teen sitcom tone, breaking the fourth wall, family household comedy
• Full Houseteen girl protagonist, sibling rivalry, family sitcom with direct address
• Hannah Montanafourth wall breaking teen comedy, satirical youth perspective

Created by

Mitchell Kriegman

Release Date

1991-03-23

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (177)

What is Clarissa Explains It All about?

A teen girl navigates school, boys, and an annoying little brother while speaking directly to the audience.

What is Clarissa Explains It All like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Clarissa Explains It All as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Clarissa Explains It All violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Clarissa Explains It All.

What did critics think of Clarissa Explains It All?

Audiences received the series as a mixed but warmly remembered Nickelodeon teen sitcom, valued for its fourth-wall-breaking humor and relatable take on pre-teen life.

Which shows are like Clarissa Explains It All?

Shows with a similar feel include Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Full House, and Hannah Montana.

How long is Clarissa Explains It All?

Clarissa Explains It All: 5 seasons, 65 episodes.

Is Clarissa Explains It All still running?

No, Clarissa Explains It All has ended.

Where can I watch Clarissa Explains It All?

In United States, Clarissa Explains It All streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Wonder Project Amazon Channel.