IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Slam that Surge! 9 ways the totally sweet '90s live on

That decade of scrunchies, Beanie Babies, the "Macarena" and Furby keeps on making a comeback.
/ Source: TODAY Contributor

Think the '90s are gone? Tell that to your friend who's unwrapping a Ring Pop while reading "FoxTrot" in the Sunday paper, prepping for the "Mystery Science Theater" reunion, lounging on Lisa Frank bedding and counting the days till the "Twin Peaks" reboot.

That decade of scrunchies and grunge, Beanie Babies and the "Macarena" still lives on. In 2013, when my college friend Brian Bellmont and I wrote the book "The Totally Sweet '90s," some people told us it was too early for 1990s nostalgia. After all, we weren't even two decades away from the era of MC Hammer and "Melrose Place," and some people just weren't ready for it to be history.

We never get that reaction any more. Something about the three years between 2013 and 2016 has made the 1990s slip comfortably from "recent past" to "decade of fond memories." Maybe blame all those BuzzFeed 1990s features, or just the sheer number of '90s kids who now work in the media and find a certain comfort in reliving their past.

In honor of TODAY's "I Love the '90s" concert, here's a look at nine ways the decade of Palm Pilots and "Pop-Up Video" is still with us.

1. "Mystery Science Theater" is still circulating the tapes

The beloved commentary-over-bad-movies show was canceled in 1999, but its members formed similar groups Cinematic Titanic (now defunct) and RiffTrax. Now the original MST3K cast is reuniting for a live show in Minneapolis in June that'll be broadcast to theaters across the nation, and a Kickstarter-funded revived series is coming later this year. Push the button, Frank.

Twin Peaks ,  Sherilyn Fenn,  Kyle Maclachlan
Twin Peaks , Sherilyn Fenn, Kyle MaclachlanREX via Shutterstock

2. Fire walk with 'Twin Peaks'

26 years after Laura Palmer was found wrapped in plastic, the eerie 1990s series is returning this fall with a present-day version of the series. Much of the original cast, including Kyle MacLachlan and Sherilyn Fenn, will be back, and they'll be joined by Michael Cera, Eddie Vedder and others.

3. Lisa Frank is as vibrant as ever

In our book, we describe Lisa Frank's designs as looking like "an animated unicorn ate a rainbow and barfed all over America's junior-high lockers." The colorful designs are making a comeback — in addition to stickers and folders, you can now get everything from phone cases to bedding.

Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper
Lisa Frank Trapper KeeperLisa Frank

4. Find your way to 'Fargo'

Minnesota's Coen brothers delivered a gem of a movie in 1996, and forever gave woodchippers a bad name. Nearly 20 years later, the brothers now serve as executive producers on an equally quirky and well-reviewed FX TV series of the same name. Ya, you betcha dere.

5. Slam a Surge

Coca-Cola's citrusy soft drink was invented as a Mountain Dew competitor. Despite devoted fans, the Surge stopped surging in 2003, leading to social-media campaigns begging for its return. In 2014, Coke finally listened, and now you can guzzle the taste of the '90s in the familiar neon-green cans.

Surge soda
Surge sodaamazon.com

6. Crystal Pepsi's path isn't clear

The fad for clear beverages (Zima!) and other products (clear trash bags, why?) was a natively '90s craze, leading to the classic "Saturday Night Live" fake ad for Crystal Gravy. But at Christmas 2015, Pepsi gave in to nostalgia and brought back Crystal Pepsi, although only as part of a limited-time giveaway. In April, a fan shared a photo of a can and 20-ounce bottle, and rumor has it the see-through drink may be back in summer of 2016.

7. 'Joy of Painting' draws a new generation

Gentle-voiced Bob Ross and his "Joy of Painting" art-instruction show was a hit in the '90s, and his "happy little trees" are still growing. Streaming service Twitch.tv streamed all the "Joy of Painting" episodes beginning on what would've been Ross' 73rd birthday in November, and it was such a hit that the show was added to Twitch.tv's rotation.

Fuller House
The cast of 'Fuller House' on set.Michael Yarish / Netflix

8. Filling up the house

"Full House" actually started in the 1980s, but it ran till 1995, and we consider it a '90s icon. In February 2016, the show was reborn as the spinoff "Fuller House," including much of the original cast, minus the Olsen twins.

RELATED: 11 'Fuller House' moments that will give you nostalgia

"Girl Meets World"
GIRL MEETS WORLD - Disney Channel's \"Girl Meets World\" stars Peyton Meyer as Lucas Friar, August Maturo as Auggie Matthews, Ben Savage as Cory Matthews, Rowan Blanchard as Riley Matthews, Danielle Fishel as Topanga Matthews, Sabrina Carpenter as Maya Hart and Corey Fogelmanis as Farkle.DISNEY CHANNEL

9. A whole new 'World'

"Boy Meets World," which introduced '90s kids to Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence, was a staple of the TGIF block on ABC. Starting in 2014, Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprised their roles on Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World," where they're now parents to teen Riley. Will the next revival be Steve Urkel and "Family Matters"?

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is the co-author of "The Totally Sweet '90s" and "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?"

Grunge bands of the '90s

Slideshow  10 photos

Grunge bands of the '90s

From Alice in Chains to Temple of the Dog, grunge bands rocked the Northwest and beyond during the 1990s.