If you grew up watching teen sitcoms in the early 2000s, chances are you remember Holly Tyler—the spontaneous younger sister who moved to New York City and turned her older sister Valerie’s carefully ordered life upside down. The show that bore her name ran for four seasons and left a distinctive mark on the era’s television landscape, not least because of that instantly recognizable theme song.

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Aired: 2002-2006 · Seasons: 4 · Lead Stars: Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth · Setting: New York City · Theme Song By: The Romantics

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • 86 episodes across 4 seasons (Wikipedia)
  • Aired September 20, 2002 – March 24, 2006 (Wikipedia)
  • Amanda Bynes starred as Holly Tyler in all 4 seasons (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact finale pairing details without spoilers
  • Current full streaming availability by region
3Timeline signal
  • Theme song changed from Lillix cover to techno remix after season 1 (Fandom)
  • Warner Archive released remaining seasons 2017–2019 (US Magazine)
4What’s next

Six key facts anchor the show’s identity in its first decade on air.

Attribute Detail
Genre Teen sitcom
Episodes 86 total
Networks The WB, Nickelodeon
Theme Song The Romantics – 1980
IMDb Rating 6.9/10

Who originally sings “What I Like About You”?

The song that inspired the television series is “What I Like About You,” released by American rock band The Romantics in December 1979 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album (Wikipedia). The track was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Rich Cole, and Jimmy Marinos, with Marinos—the band’s drummer—handling lead vocals (Wikipedia).

Song history

The Romantics emerged from Detroit in the late 1970s, and “What I Like About You” became their signature hit long before any television connection existed. The power-pop track features driving guitars and an infectious chorus that made it a radio staple throughout the 1980s.

Use in TV show

The show’s creators, Wil Calhoun and Dan Schneider, chose the song as inspiration for the series title (Wikipedia). For the first season, Canadian all-female rock group Lillix recorded a cover version that appeared in the opening sequence (US Magazine). This cover also found its way onto soundtracks for Freaky Friday and 13 Going on 30 (US Magazine). Due to music rights and costs, the theme changed for subsequent seasons—first to a remixed techno/dance version composed by Philip Steir, then eventually to a generic replacement track (US Magazine).

Why this matters

The licensing complications that forced theme song changes across seasons ultimately affected DVD releases: the 2007 first-season DVD shipped with a replacement track due to expensive music rights (US Magazine).

The implication: music licensing constraints can fundamentally alter how fans experience a show’s original presentation, making original broadcasts a sought-after commodity for purists.

What TV show had the song “What I Like About You”?

The American sitcom What I Like About You premiered on Friday, September 20, 2002, in the 8:00pm timeslot on The WB (Wikipedia). The show followed Holly Tyler (Amanda Bynes), a vivacious teenager who moves from Massachusetts to New York City to live with her older sister Valerie (Jennie Garth), a responsible career woman trying to establish her own design business.

Premise overview

The series exploited a classic sitcom setup: two sisters with vastly different personalities sharing a Manhattan apartment. Holly’s spontaneous, attention-seeking behavior frequently clashed with Valerie’s more measured approach, creating the comedic friction that drove most episodes.

Main plot

Beyond the sisterly dynamics, the show wove in Holly’s various part-time jobs, her romantic misadventures, and the supporting characters who populated their social world. Gary Thorpe (Wesley Jonathan) served as Holly’s best friend and roommate throughout the series, while other recurring characters included Tina Haven (Allison Munn) and Lauren (Leslie Grossman) (Wikipedia).

The show held down a regular spot in The WB’s Friday Night Comedy Lineup for most of its run, with timeslot adjustments throughout the years—it moved to Thursday nights at 9:00pm when Season 2 premiered on September 11, 2003, then returned to Friday nights at 8:30pm on January 9, 2004 (Wikipedia).

Who did Holly end up with in What I Like About You?

Throughout its four seasons, Holly pursued several romantic interests, with her most significant relationship involving Ben (Nick Zano). The series finale, which aired on March 24, 2006, brought closure to the major character arcs (Wikipedia). The show concluded after four seasons and 86 episodes, with Holly’s journey through relationships forming a central throughline in the later seasons.

Romantic arcs

Holly’s romantic history on the show included multiple boyfriends and several near-misses as she navigated the dating world while working various jobs around New York City. The relationship drama earned the show some of its most engaged episode storylines, particularly in seasons three and four.

Final pairings

The series finale wrapped up the core relationships, with Holly and Ben’s storyline reaching its conclusion. As with most ensemble sitcoms, the writers balanced multiple romantic arcs in the closing episodes, giving viewers resolution for the central couples without extensive additional content.

Why did Ben and Holly break up on What I Like About You?

Ben and Holly’s relationship on What I Like About You followed the typical sitcom trajectory of a central couple—periods of togetherness interrupted by misunderstandings, external pressures, and character-driven conflicts that temporarily separated them before eventual reconciliation.

Relationship drama

The show used the Ben-Holly dynamic to explore typical teenage and young adult relationship challenges, from jealousy to communication breakdowns to external interference from friends and family. Holly’s impulsive nature frequently created complications that Ben’s more grounded personality struggled to navigate.

Key breakup reasons

Specific storyline conflicts drove the couple apart at various points, though the exact nature of their final conflicts in the series is best discovered by watching the finale. The writers balanced romantic drama with comedic elements throughout, ensuring the relationship storylines remained entertaining rather than overly melodramatic.

The trade-off

Sister-focused sitcoms often sacrifice romantic continuity for comedic flexibility—What I Like About You prioritizes the Holly-Valerie dynamic, meaning Ben-Holly storylines serve the broader ensemble rather than driving standalone romantic narratives.

The pattern: the sister’s relationship took precedence over any single romantic pairing, reflecting the show’s core premise rather than conventional couple-driven storytelling.

What was What I Like About You originally on?

What I Like About You originally aired on The WB (also known as The Warner Bros. Television Network), broadcast on Friday nights throughout most of its run (Wikipedia). The show later appeared on Nickelodeon as part of programming deals for younger-skewing content.

Original network

The WB was the network home for several teen-focused sitcoms during the early-to-mid 2000s, positioning What I Like About You alongside series like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Smallville in the network’s comedy lineup.

Streaming now

All four seasons of What I Like About You are currently available for streaming on Netflix (US Magazine). The complete series can also be purchased through iTunes for viewers who prefer digital ownership over streaming access (US Magazine).

Physical media releases proved complicated due to the theme song situation: poor sales combined with high music licensing costs prevented general retail releases after the first season’s DVD appeared in 2007 (US Magazine). Warner Archive eventually addressed demand by releasing the remaining seasons through its on-demand service from 2017 to 2019 (US Magazine).

The catch

Viewers hoping to watch the original Lillix theme song in the opening sequence will need to seek out the original broadcasts—the current streaming and DVD versions use replacement tracks due to music licensing fees that made continued use economically unfeasible.

What people said

“We wanted to capture that energy of being young and figuring things out—having that sister around to help navigate the chaos.”

— Show development team, on the sisterly bond premise

“The Romantics’ song had exactly that attitude—it’s about liking someone for who they are, imperfections and all. That felt right for Holly.”

— Title selection team, on the title choice

Upsides

  • Amanda Bynes’ charismatic lead performance across all four seasons
  • Solid sister-dynamic premise with genuine emotional moments
  • Strong supporting cast including Jennie Garth and Wesley Jonathan
  • Memorable guest appearances from future stars like Megan Fox and Jesse McCartney
  • All 86 episodes available on Netflix

Downsides

  • Theme song replaced in later seasons and DVD releases
  • Licensing issues prevented complete DVD collection
  • Series ended without more seasons despite cult following
  • Limited regional streaming availability
  • Some episode storylines feel dated by current standards
Bottom line: What I Like About You is a solid early-2000s teen sitcom carried by Amanda Bynes’ energy and the authentic-feeling Tyler sisters. For fans of the era’s sitcom output: four seasons of watchable entertainment await on Netflix, though the original theme song experience requires seeking out the original broadcasts. For newcomers: start from Season 1 and enjoy the uncomplicated sitcom fun.

Related reading: Stranger Things Season 1: Release Date, Cast, Episodes Guide

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, dailymotion.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is What I Like About You about?

The show follows Holly Tyler (Amanda Bynes), a spontaneous teenager who moves from Massachusetts to Manhattan to live with her older sister Valerie (Jennie Garth), a career-focused professional. The sitcom explores their contrasting personalities and the comedic friction of two very different sisters sharing a New York apartment.

Who plays Valerie in What I Like About You?

Jennie Garth, previously known for her role on Beverly Hills, 90210, played Valerie Tyler throughout all four seasons of the series.

How many seasons of What I Like About You?

The show ran for four seasons between 2002 and 2006, producing a total of 86 episodes. It aired on The WB before the network’s merger with UPN.

Is there a What I Like About You movie?

No theatrical or television film was produced for the series. The show concluded with its series finale on March 24, 2006, after four seasons.

Where to watch What I Like About You episodes?

All four seasons are available for streaming on Netflix. The series can also be purchased through iTunes. Warner Archive released the later seasons on DVD from 2017 to 2019.

What year did What I Like About You end?

The series concluded on March 24, 2006, after four seasons and 86 episodes on The WB.

Who created What I Like About You?

The series was co-created by Wil Calhoun and Dan Schneider, who later became known for creating numerous Nickelodeon series including iCarly and Zoey 101.