When Ally McBeal, starring Calista Flockhart in the titular role, premiered on television on September 8, 1997, it was the age of cable television and some of us were in our late teens and early twenties. A quirky, clumsy, funny lawyer who is single, prone to fantasising and obsessed with her sexual and romantic life — or lack there off, and apologetically so — was absolutely refreshing.

Twenty-five years later, some of her antics and those of the people around her — the scene-stealing and eccentric John Cage, Richard Fish with his wattle obsession and face-bra champion Elaine Vassal, among others — may not seem as funny and some might even feel cringeworthy, but it is still downright entertaining.

With the buzz of an Ally McBeal sequel with a young Black woman in the works, which will hopefully be upgraded to fit the taste of viewers who are now in their late teens and early twenties, we look back on some of the best moments from the show, from Dancing Babies to Fishisms to sing-alongs.

The Dancing Baby debut

In the 12th episode of the first season, Ally, in one the show’s most WTF moments, dreams of a ghostly baby dancing to the tune of Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede. A metaphor for Ally’s ticking biological clock, the dancing baby, which was one of the first viral videos of the late 1990s, made several more appearances through the show.

The Barry White Unisex Bathroom Dance

Well, there were two very memorable ones, one with Robert Downey Jr’s Larry busting out some moves, but it is the Richard Fish and John Cage one that remains our favourite. Especially when Elaine pops out of a bathroom stall to join in, followed by Ling Woo. They had the perfect routine going till Nellie Porter’s appearance sends them crashing down.

John’s Mariachi Band

John pulled an Alpha (that Power Ranger’s call back) as he got stuck singing Ai ai ai ai ai, when he realised that after being absent for most of season five he had been discovered by Richard and Nelle who were eating at the restaurant. A very, very Biscuit moment.

John’s courtroom scream

John’s high-pitched squeals when surprised were no surprise to viewers and they never failed to make us laugh. But one of the best is during the trial in episode two of season four where John gets so worked up with the description from a witness in a sexual discrimination case that when the defendant brushes his arm, he screams and almost jumps out of his skin. We bet you to watch it and not laugh, even without context.

Ally sniffs Victor’s butt

Oh ya, that happened. We can’t find a clip for you to see, but Ally did sniff Jon Bon Jovi’s butt, and it came out of nowhere. There was Ally walking with Elaine and coming up on a group of construction workers, one of whom is Jovi’s Victor. Ally admonishes Elaine to behave herself when she mentions how hot he is, but when they are actually passing him instead of walking past with Elaine, she bends down and sniffs Jovi’s butt as he leans over.

Robert Downey Jr and Sting sing for Ally

It’s Ally’s birthday and as the restaurant lights go out, we can hear the first beats of Police’s Every Breath You Take, only it is RDJ, who plays Larry Paul, singing. But wait! Sting shows up too and the two sing a few lines together before Sting takes over and Larry cajoles a dance out of Ally saying he got her Sting.

Ally slays in court

In season two, Ally fights a sexual harassment case winning it simply by demonstrating to the judge different kinds of looks as the defendant’s lawyer insists that a thought cannot be construed as harassment. Badass never looked better!