Chris Morgan doesn’t merely watch TV. He studies it. Analyzes it. Critiques it. And writes about it — a lot. It’s a pastime, to be sure, but it’s also a living.

Morgan, a native of Sterling Heights and a resident of Ferndale, just produced his third book about television, and it’s a sweeping assessment of what he considers a “quality decade for television.”

The book — “99 Episodes That Defined the ‘90s: Television Milestones from Arsenio to Homer to Yada Yada Yada” — is a deep dive into the decade’s culture, impact and TV tastes. (Viewers familiar with television fare from the decade will recall late-night host Arsenio Hall, cartoon dad Homer Simpson and Jerry Seinfeld’s “Yada, Yada, Yada” shorthand for “blah, blah, blah.”)

To Morgan, the decade represents both a reason for reflection and an opportunity to remind us of a time distinguished by social change and long periods of peace and prosperity. Hip-hop grew, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Nasdaq exchange became the first U.S. stock market to trade online.

On television, popular programs ranged from “Beavis and Butt-Head” to “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Friends” and “Frasier.”

For Morgan, the decade was ripe for reviewing.

“It’s a decade that is very culturally interesting and had great television,” he said. “Plus, I had noticed there had been a lot of nostalgic attention and critical thought given to the ‘80s and I figured there was a niche for a book about the ‘90s and television.”

The result is a book that captures the decade through 99 TV episodes, one each from 99 shows across television’s broad range of offerings — from sitcoms and cartoons to game shows and police dramas.

The goal, said publisher McFarland Books: “Some of these episodes became iconic and helped define the ‘90s. Other episodes reflect what was going on in the world at the time.”

Pulling it all together was “by no means a chore,” said Morgan, 37, who developed an “affinity” for television as a youth, dividing his time between school, soccer, hockey and TV time.

“Back then, TV was not considered ‘evil’ the way some consider it today,” Morgan said.

He remembers growing up with his parents, a younger brother and a younger sister, and “a bunch of aunts, uncles and cousins.”

The TV diet in those days included the “Simpsons,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” quiz shows and — consistent with the decade — offerings available from then-growing Blockbuster video stores.

In a memory familiar to others from his generation, Morgan recalls watching TV late at night in his bedroom, with the sound low “so my parents didn’t know.”

These days, he often catches programs on his living room TV or while riding an exercise bike “to kill two birds with one stone.”

His viewing habits “are not super ritualized” and his interests cover a wide gamut. A favorite from the ‘90s? “The Simpsons,” including an episode remembered as “The Itchy, Scratchy and Poochie Show.”

“To me, ‘The Simpsons’ is one of television’s great achievements,” Morgan said.

Other favorites include “Frasier,” “Columbo,” and — in a tip of the hat to Michigan comedian-actor Tim Allen — “Home Improvement.”

A 2009 graduate of Wayne State University, where he majored in film studies, Morgan spent a few years in Los Angeles as a fledgling scriptwriter. He subsequently set his course as a freelance writer, specializing in sports, pop culture, fiction, nonfiction and television.

His previous books include “The Nickelodeon ‘90s: Cartoons, Game Shows and a Whole Bunch of Slime” and “The Comic Galaxy of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Twelve Classic Episodes and the Movies They Lampoon.”

His books are available through mcfarlandbooks.com.