Cox's career continued its upward climb as she racked up television credits including a featured role in the 1992 NBC TV-movie "Danger Island". Guest shots in episodes of "Boy Meets World" (ABC), "The Nanny (CBS) and "The Second Half" (NBC) put her on the small screen in 1993, the same year that she began a two-year recurring role on the ABC daytime drama "General Hospital" playing Gina Cates, the long-lost younger sister of Antonio Sabato Jr's popular heartthrob Jagger. In 1994 Cox played the older sister of Gaby Hoffman's central character in the NBC sitcom "Someone Like Me", and was also featured with a recurring role on the network's Saturday morning teen series "California Dreams".
A cute and energetic teen performer, Cox made the most of these smaller early roles, but would come into her own with a more adult role as a regular on The WB's quirky family sitcom "Unhappily Ever After" (1995-99). Starring opposite a talking stuffed bunny (voiced by her real-life love interest Bobcat Goldthwait) and a family of droll pessimists, Cox often stole scenes as Tiffany Malloy, an opportunistic and self-centered young woman out to make the most of her brains and good looks. The "Married... With Children"-reminiscent sitcom cast Cox in the Kelly Bundy sex symbol role but instead of Kelly's good natured dimness, Tiffany was armed with ambition and attitude. Outfitted in low-cut shirts, short skirts and high heels, the outspoken Tiffany became a viewer favorite and won the series a devoted male audience while offering Cox the opportunity to hone her acting skills and amass a fan following. When the series ended in 1999, she joined the cast of ABC's Norm Macdonald sitcom vehicle "Norm" for one season (1999-2000) playing Taylor, a prostitute-turned-receptionist with a sunny disposition at Norm's New York City social work office. Cox next returned to The WB to star in her own sitcom "Nikki" (2000-2002), playing a small town girl adjusting to a new life in Las Vegas with her aspiring professional wrestler husband (Nick Von Esmarch). As the title character, Cox portrayed a Las Vegas showgirl, a profession with costumes that cause the series to be celebrated in the ranks of the actress' fans--if not with a ratings-rich demographic. Cox found a more receptive audience with her next series venture, as part of the insanely attractive ensemble of NBC's popular, lighthearted drama "Las Vegas" (2003-), in which she played the gold-hearted girl-next-door Mary Connell, the childhood friend (and hopeful love interest) of lead Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel).