Other

Nickelodeon brings back the 90s

Nickelodeon brings back the 90s

For those who are products of the 1990s, Nickelodeon was home to some of the most entertaining and hilarious children shows on television and thanks to an insane amount of fan demand on the Internet, many of those childhood gems have a second chance at life.

On Monday July 25th, the TeenNick network unveiled its new late night lineup up shows that include All That, Kenan & Kel, Clarissa Explains It All, and the animated series Doug. These four shows are synonymous with Nickelodeon and pop culture of the 1990s children’s television era and served as a platform for many of its then-unknown stars. Many more familiar shows are expected to be rotated into the lineup, with many 90s cartoons such as CatDog, Rugrats, and Rocko’s Modern Life airing concurrently on the Nicktoons channel.

Kicking off the 90s Are All That block is the show the campaign is designed around, the sketch comedy All That. The show is best compared to a children’s version of the long-running NBC show Saturday Night Live. The show begins with a cold open and features many different cast members in roles that have gone on to be iconic Nickelodeon characters, such as Vital Information with Lori Beth Denberg, Everyday French with Pierre Escargot, and Good Burger. The show also featured many of music’s biggest stars as guest performers, including TLC and Usher. All That went onto make stars out of many of its cast members, including Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live) and Amanda Bynes (Hairspray, Easy A).

Kenan & Kel, a live-action sitcom that stared All That cast members Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, is another show resurrected in the 90s Are All That lineup. The show portrays the lives of best friends Kenan and Kel, who often times find themselves in unfortunate yet hilarious situations. Kenan typically is the more level-headed of the two while Kel’s offbeat personality is usually what finds the two friends in trouble. Kel’s antics not only manage to get Kenan in trouble in social situations, but also at home and at the convenience store where Kenan works. While Kenan is often frustrated with Kel, he can’t be without his orange-soda-loving best friend.

Clarissa Explains It All features a young Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Drive Me Crazy) as a teenager who is wise far beyond her years. Clarissa Darling breaks the fourth wall and narrates to the audience her feelings and her opinions about what is happening in a given episode. Each episode dealt with different topics relatable to children and teens, including a rampant sibling rivalry with her brother Ferguson, first crushes, and the daily challenges in the life of a teenager. Clarissa was Nickelodeon’s first female leading lady, with her male schoolmate Sam serving as her best friend and confidant throughout the series. The show originally ran for 65 episodes, making a household name out of Hart, who is currently on ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey with fellow child actor Joey Lawrence (Blossom, Brotherly Love).

The sole cartoon currently in the 90s Are All That lineup is Doug. The show follows Doug Funnie and his family as they move to the town of Bluffington, where Doug and his dog Porkchop have to adjust to a new life and a new school. Doug quickly befriends Mosquito "Skeeter" Valentine, who becomes his frequent confidant in trips to the Honker Burger and is the “Silver Skeeter” to Doug’s comic book alter-ego “Quailman”. Doug also develops a friendship with Patti Mayonnaise, a sporty girl who is the object of Doug’s affection. Every episode includes a journal entry from Doug, wrapping up the day’s events and the lessons learned in each episode. The cartoon was so successful that it’s characters went onto become the subject of their own movie.

Which show are you most excited for in the 90s Are All That lineup? For more information and for airtimes for your favorite 90s shows, visit http://90sareallthat.teennick.com/

Post A Comment

Remember my personal information
Notify me of follow-up comments?