Hardly anything compares to the shows Nickelodeon ran in the 90s. Wouldn’t it be fulfilling to relax and watch a marathon of The Amanda Show, Doug, and As Told By Ginger? It is particularly surprising to learn how short the run for some of these shows were- despite the 3 season run of Rocket Power it seemed to have been in the background of my whole childhood. Here are the 9 most missed Nickelodeon shows from the 90s, because let’s face it: the 90’s really were all that.
1. As Told By Ginger
Remember Ginger Foutley? Who could forget the socially awkward red-hedded girl whose mom was her school’s nurse? Among other things, Ginger was a deep-thinker, a poet, and a loyal friend. The other characters in the show included her strange brother Carl, her best friends Dodie and Macie, the most popular girl in school Courtney, and Courtney’s best friend Miranda. You may also remember some of Carl’s friends like Hoodsie, who often had a sub plot in the show. As Told By Ginger incoporated the different personalities of students in middle school and gave applicable life lessons (and some unfortunate ones, remember Darren and his headgear?) to an audience of impressionable Nickelodeon viewers. As one of those viewers, I say, bring Ginger back! She’s probably at an Ivy League school now with all of her success in chemistry and maybe she could bring some perspectives to sororities…
Fun fact: Melissa Disney, the actress who did the voiceover for Ginger, was actually the first womanto do the voice over for a movie trailer.
2. All That
Although we may not have known it at the time, All That was the cultural and age equivalant to Saturday Night Live for Nickelodeon viewers. The show, which opened with TLC’s catchy theme song, ran for 10 seasons before being canceled in 2005. Cast members included Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Josh Server, Kenan Thompson, Kevin Koploew, Kel Mitchell, Lori Beth Denberg, Leon Fierson, Katrina Johnson, Josh Server, and Angelique Bates. Popular sketches that are the most memorable are Good Burger, Have a Nice Day with Leroy & Fuzz, The Island Girls, Ask Ashley, Cooking with Randy and Mandy, Whateverrrr!, Everyday French with Pierre Escargot, Mavis and Clavis, Know Your Stars, and many more.
Fun fact:The 100th episode of All That was live and in 1999.
3. Rocket Power
For those who watched and loved Rocket Power it may come as a surprise that the show was only on air for three seasons. Despite its short run, its relevance is still true today with characters who were invested in videography and publishing a zine. The main characters, Otto, Twister, The Squid, and Reggie, spent their time in Ocean Shores, California causing mischief on their skateboards and roller blades. Otto and Reggie’s father Ray and his business partner Tito appear throughout the episodes as the parental, but laidback, guardians to the group.
Fun fact: The soundtrack to Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand includes artists such as Bowling for Soup, Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, and The Wipeouters.
4. The Amanda Show
Amanda please! The Amanda Show was a live action sketch comedy show that starred Amanda Bynes from 1999-2002. The show’s main cast members were Drake Bell, Nancy Sullivan, Raquel Lee, Johnny Kassir, and Josh Peck. (Drake & Josh didn’t come out of thin air!) Some of the most memorable sketches on the show were So You Wanna Win Five Dollars?, The Klutzes, Totally Kyle, Judge Trudy, Penelope Tyant, Hillybilly Moment, The Girl’s Room, and of course, Moody’s Point. Amanda Bynes is in worse shape now, recently sentenced to three year’s probation. We’re betting she misses the good-ol’-days as much as we do!
Fun fact: Drake & Josh started two years after The Amanda Show went off air, and Nancy Sullivan also went to the new show.
5. Doug
A catchy theme song, a main character who wears the same outfit every day, and blue-skinned best friend, and a dog named Porkchop: what could be better? Doug focused on the main character, Doug Funnie’s life in the small fictional town of Bluffington, Virginia. Throughout the three year series, Doug tries desperately to gain the attraction of his love interest, Patti Mayonnaise. With help from his best friends Skeeter, Roger and Beebee, Doug finds himself in interesting situations, but always end up content in the town diner. Luckily, the show has been re-run during several sequences, but unfortunately it is no where to be found on television today.
Fun fact: Rugrats, Doug, and The Ren & Stimpy Show all premiered on August 11, 1991 and ended on January 2, 1994.
6. Figure It Out
If there is one thing Nickelodeon has always prided itself on, it is the power of kids’ choice. Figure It Out was a gameshow that not only was based on kid’s accomplishments, but also showcased their talents and focused on rewarding their quirks. A panel of celebrities, including Amanda Bynes, Tara Lipinski, Cedric Ceballos, and Aaron Carter, guess words to fill in the blanks on the big brain board. They get clues to help them guess, but if they guess the secret word than they get slime dumped on their heads in a purely Nickelodeon fashion. The contestants’ talents ranged from teaching their dog to walk on its hind legs to eating a whole container of mayonnaise. No matter what the contestant’s talent was, the kid participant definitely felt like the celebrity in the room. The show was hosted by Olympic swimming champion Summer Sanders from 1997-1999.
Fun fact: Summer Sanders, who is now a sports commentator, was running the Boston Marathon this spring. Her personal account of the bombing can be read here.
7. The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys may be the coolest family that ever traveled through the jungle making documentaries. In reality, they may be the only family that ever did such a thing, which is why they’re so awesome. The show focused on the youngest daughter, Eliza, and her ability to talk to animals. While this talent is not unique to the show, Eliza’s interactions with her snobby older sister Debbie add an element of normal family life to this obscure plot. In addition, Donnie is a ferral boy who was raised by orangutans and becomes part of the Thornberry family.
Fun fact: Red Hot Chili Peppers member Michael “Flea” Balzary was the voice of Donnie.
8. Hey Arnold!
The amazing news is that Hey Arnold is on Netflix, so you can get your fix of the football headed character instantly online. The show was on from 1996-2004. Arnold was a fourth grader (with the wits of a 10th grader) who lived with his grandparents in a city resembling NYC. Arnold’s best friend Gerald speaks as his voice of reason when Arnold gets himself in a pickle. Helga Petaki has a major crush on Arnold but chooses to mask her admiration with anger. Remember the shrine she made in her closet of his football shaped head? Helga had the obsessive relationship down before Facebook was invented.
Fun fact: Toran Caudell co-wrote “Sweet Sixteen” with Hilary Duff.
9. Clarissa Explains It All
Can you believe that Melissa Joan Hart is 37 years-old today? She was 18 years-old in her starring role as Clarissa, on Clarissa Explains It All. Her role as Clarissa is very similar to her role as Sabrina in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In Clarissa’s world, everything was very complicated and her issues with boys were the most poignant in the universe. Sam, Clarissa’s best friend, most known as asking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” helped her through her personal troubles, and Ferguson, her younger brother, usually just made things harder. Need a refresher of her advice? Check this link.
Fun fact: Melissa Joan Hart was honored with the Former Child-Star Lifetime Achievement Award for her roles as Clarissa and Sabrina.
All facts from IMDB and Wikipedia.