Clarissa Darling. Tommy Pickles. Donkeylips. Big Pete. Kel. Oswald ‘Sam’ Rocket. Ug. Little Pete. Kenan. Lori Beth Denberg. Lil’ and Phil. Amanda Bynes.
Sound familiar? Do those names bring back a hint of nostalgia? If so, then you’ll be happy to know that Nickelodeon has announced they will be bringing back the ’90s this fall.
In a new segment on the TeenNick block fittingly titled “’90s Are All That!”, old-school shows such as “All That”; “Clarissa Explains It All”; “The Adventures of Pete and Pete”; “Rugrats”; “Rocket Power”; “Salute Your Shorts”; “The Amanda Show”; and “Kenan & Kel” will be added to the roster for all of us early-20-somethings to enjoy, along with a new batch of kids to discover what real cartoons and kids shows are all about — none of this Hannah Montana junk.
These classic shows will air in a midnight to 2 a.m. block every night of the week, perfect for us night owls. Nickelodeon also said related films will be added to the roster down the line…so get ready to hear ‘Welcome to the Good Burger. Home of the Good Burger. Can I take your orrrrdeerrr?’ at some point soon.
According to Entertainment Weekly magazine, Nickelodeon came up with the idea after seeing the love for the ’90s era of sitcoms and cartoons on Facebook. Currently, a page dedicated to the the topic has 9 million fans.
In case the kid in you hasn’t come to life lately or you’re a little fuzzy on some of the shows coming back to life this fall, here’s a rundown of what made these shows leave such a special place in our hearts.
“All That”: Running for 10 seasons overall, first airing in 1994, “All That” was a live-action comedy sketch show that featured such skits as ‘Vital Information’ with Lori Beth Denberg, ‘Good Burger’ with Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, and ‘Lemonade Stand’ with Katrina Johnson. It also featured live musical acts during each show, including performances from such artists as TLC, Coolio, Brandy and Naughty By Nature.
“All That” spawned three spin-offs, two of which will also air in the ’90s Are All That!’ programming this fall. “Kenan and Kel,” was a sitcom series featuring “All That” players Kenan & Kel getting into sticky situations and “The Amanda Show” was a variety show featuring breakout “All That” star Amanda Bynes.
“Rugrats”: Who can forget “Rugrats”? Perhaps the most commercially successful of the shows returning this fall, “Rugrats” is the longest running NickToon, spanning 13 years (although “SpongeBob SquarePants” is breathing down their neck.) It revolved around babies Tommy, Chuckie, twins Phil and Lil’ and Tommy’s cousin, toddler Angelica, and their wild imaginations and play-dates. Three movies following this troop of babies were also brought to the big screen, with the first grossing more than $140 million. I guess babies really do rule.
“Clarissa Explains It All”: First airing in 1991, Clarissa, played by Melissa John Hart (later of “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” fame), is a teen who vents her concerns about her family, especially her annoying little brother, Ferguson; boys; driving tests — any topic blown out of proportion by teens, really — by talking to the audience and breaking the fourth wall. It was one of the few Nickelodeon shows to confront teen issues such as sex and partying, and Clarissa was able to appeal to both a girl and boy fanbase.
“The Adventures of Pete and Pete”: “Pete and Pete” revolves around two brothers, Big Pete, the voice of reason, and Little Pete, the trouble-maker. It aired for 34 episodes from 1993-1996 and had many celebrity guest stars including Blondie’s Debbie Harry, L.L. Cool J, Selma Blair, J.K. Simmons and Janeane Garofalo. And who can forget Little’s Pete’s personal superhero and fan-favorite character, Artie, the Strongest Man in the World, and Petunia, Little Pete’s tattoo.
“Rocket Power”: One of the later NickToon favorites, it ran from 1999 to 2004. “Rocket Power” revolved around a group of California kids and the antics that ensued while skateboarding, biking, roller skating and what have you. It reminds me of the real-life Z-Boys, who were skateboarding pioneers, in a way — only in cartoon form. Pretty fun and hipper to watch if you’re a teen, than say, ‘Rugrats.’
“Salute Your Shorts”: It may have only run for a year — a mere 26 episodes — but it might be one of the most popular and memorable Nick shows. Taking place at Camp Anawanna, the show revolves around a bunch of kids at camp, obviously. They spend most of their time harrassing Camp Counselor Ug.
Now if we can just get “The Secret World of Alex Mack” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” added to that schedule, we’d be in business. Maybe some “Double Dare” and “Wild & Crazy Kids” too, for good measure.
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