20 Unforgettable TV Proms

''Glee'' kids' big night aims to join the ranks of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer,'' ''Beverly Hills, 90210,'' ''Saved By the Bell'', ''Friends,'' and more in our H.S. dance Hall of Fame
By Sandra Gonzalez
Updated May 10, 2011 at 11:00 AM EDT

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10 Things I Hate About You

ABC Family

Prom, fall fling — it's all the same. And the best part about this episode? Kat and Bianca's dad's pre-prom inquisition of Kat's date with the disturbingly deep voice (Patrick). ''This is what placenta looks like.'' Classic. (Also, I miss you, 10 Things)
Slow-dance jam: ''Where I'm Supposed To Be,'' by Jamie Kimmett

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Parenthood

The look on the parents' faces when Amber and Haddie came down the stairs? Heartbreaking. But even more heartbreaking was Amber's Level 5 meltdown at prom when she was embarrassed after having to confess she didn't get into college.
Slow-dance jam: ''Darling I Do,'' Landon Pigg & Lucy Schwartz

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Boy Meets World

You know what tops being named King and Queen of the prom? Good moral decisions, kiddies. And since Cory and Topanga got top honors and kept their V-cards, this prom was a double success.
Prom theme: Um, bad hotel ballrooms?

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Saved By the Bell

After Kelly's dad lost his job, Zack came to the rescue with a budget-friendly picnic to remember. Is there anything Zack Morris couldn't do (besides keep the Fourth Wall intact)?
Prom theme: The economy

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Friends

So we never technically saw the prom, but instead we got lots of secrets (real noses, real body types, prom heartbreak). And we all know skeletons are better than stupid old proms.
Prom theme: Friends — the actual people, not the show.

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The kids at Sunnydale High School had a lot to celebrate this year: Foiling plans for a Hellhound-caused massacre, low mortality rates, and '90s fashion. But what we celebrated the most was when Class Protector Buffy got to slow dance with Angel. Swoon.
Slow-dance jam: ''Wild Horses,'' The Sundays

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Beverly Hills, 90210

Fox

Like a lot of teenagers out there, come prom night Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) was completely preoccupied with the idea of having sex. So much so that she nervously drank champagne to ease her fears and ended up fall-down drunk and facing the possibility of not getting to walk at graduation.
Prom theme: Name two things teens shouldn't do but they do?

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One Tree Hill

It's prom One Tree Hill style, meaning girlfights, sex tapes, games of ''duck, duck, b----,'' and dress vandalism. Truly a night to remember.
Prom theme: Hater High

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Grey's Anatomy

Scott Garfield/ABC

This is where we'd normally write a witty blurb, but the thought of this incomprehensibly upsetting prom-themed episode sucks the witty right out of us and replaces the wit-sized hole with a reservoir of salty tears.
Slow-dance jam: ''Grace,'' Kate Havnevik

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Dawson's Creek

The love triangle at its best! As it turned out, Dawson could have the creek — but not the girl.
Slow-dance jam: ''My Invitation,'' Sarah Slean

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Gossip Girl

Giovanni Rufino/The CW

Every episode has a lavish party, which makes prom no big deal, right? Wrong! Back when Chuck wasn't evil, he fixed prom and made Queen B queen of the prom. ''I just wanted to make sure she had the perfect night,'' he said. And we melted.
Slow-dance jam: ''Prom Theme,'' Fountains of Wayne

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Full House

If only the fashion was as timeless as John Stamos' good looks.
Slow-dance jam: ''I Will Always Love You,'' cover song

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Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

This episode was '90s television at its most efficient when the Fresh prom turned into a Very Special Episode after Carlton accidentally took speed. To be fair, Will probably didn't see the ''Keep out of reach of child-sized men'' warning label.
Prom theme: ''Just Say Yo''

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Smallville

Michael Courtney/The CW

Body-jumping spirits of would-be prom queens always try to ruin the fun for everyone. Thankfully, Clark — and a lot of Lifehouse music — wouldn't let that happen.
Slow-dance jam: ''You and Me,'' Lifehouse

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The O.C.

Greg Schwartz/Everett Collection

Drunk prom queen? Awesome. Drunk prom queen falling off of a giant ship after a huge public smooch with a Korean pop star? Unforgettable.
Prom theme: Pirates!

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How I Met Your Mother

Monty Brinton/CBS

Who says the stars on a show have to be prom-aged in order to make a prom episode work? People with no imagination, that's who. Thankfully, the writers on HIMYM have a lot of that — and know how to use it to make us all gooey inside.
Slow-dance jam: ''Good Feeling,'' The 88

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The Cosby Show

Before he played Shirley's baby-daddy on Community, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was in prom-going mode with buddy Adam Sandler during a time when the biggest drama on prom night was having enough money to pay for a limo. (Luckily Mom and Dad, who had their own celebration, were always there to bail them out.) Oh, the simple times.
Prom theme: Starlight memories

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Happy Days

Oh, those no-good kids and that broom closet.
Prom jam: ''Tequila,'' The Champs (with the word ''tequila'' edited out, of course)

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Veronica Mars

Logan was right about one thing, his and Veronica's story was ''epic.'' Almost as epic as his alterna-prom.
Prom jam: ''I Hear the Bells,'' Mike Doughty

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Everwood

Oh, Hannah. How you deserved a wonderful prom — too bad that ''Loafer'' kid was less than a thrilling date. Rather, he just wasn't as amazing as Bright would have been. Thankfully she got her chance for a ''real'' prom with Bright before leaving.
Slow-dance jam: ''Eveningland,'' Hem

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By Sandra Gonzalez