Do you remember when you were younger and all you wanted to watch on television was cartoons? They had all of your favorite shows on there like Blues Clues, Allegra’s Window, Gullah Gullah Island, Rupert, Little Bear, Franklin, and many more. You knew all the words to the introduction to those shows and those shows always had a valuable lesson to be learned at the end of it.
I grew up in Hawaii so in elementary was really fun, but I would fake sick sometimes just to watch those shows I loved. I don’t know if any one remembers but that channel never had outside commercials either. That channel had a narrator that introduces every show called “Face” and he would be different colors each time he came on the screen. It was never a boring show when you were watching Nick Jr.
Then growing up there were shows on the Nickelodeon that I know everyone remembers. Shows such as Hey Dude, Camp Anawana, All that, Figure it Out, Double Dare, Guts, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Clarissa Explains it All, and many more. Watching those shows as a child made me want to be a pre-teen so bad because they had interesting lives. The drama they went through that always had a happy ending gave me a false sense of what life at that age was really about, but it was still all the more entertaining.
Walking back down this part of memory lane may remind you of some shows that you used to watch also. Reply to this blog with some of the shows you used to watch and what you liked about them.
Below are a few youtube clips of some of my favorite shows of the 90's.http://youtu.be/D4eUfmJedOo
http://youtu.be/6ACYM0QRRl8
Ahh! I seriously used (and I guess still do) old Nickelodeon shows! I can hardly even remember what Clarissa Explains it All was even about, but Are You Afraid of the Dark? gave me nightmares. Do you remember the show that was about the ghost who came on their computer and used to type them clues? There was some kind of slime or something that morphed into a monster or something along those lines. I can never remember the name of that show but would absolutely love to watch it on YouTube. These kind of shows remind me of that old computer game, too. You know, the one that you would ski down the mountain and try to avoid hitting all of the trees/bushes but then, no matter what, you were always eaten by the evil snow monster. I’ve tried to find the name of the game and how to download it but to no avail...just like that Nickelodeon show. Would about the shows that weren’t on Nick, like Big Comfy Couch? I used to love those shows! I worked last year as a nanny and tried to watch Spongebob but thought it was incredibly boring compared to the ones that I grew up with.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little kid, I was in love with Blue's Clues. That show was the highlight of my day. I had a handy dandy notebook, now that I think about it. I remember responding to Steve whenever he would ask "us" a question, and I felt like I was part of Blue's adventures around the house. Whenever Steve left, I was so upset. I asked my mother why he had to leave (at the time, I did not know that "Steve" was actually an actor). She said Steve went away to college (which was the reason Blue's Clues gave viewers). It is strange now seeing how this silly little show could mean so much to me as a child. I learned how to be kind and considerate of others, how to share, and how to brainstorm different ideas!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a few years older out of the realm of Nick Jr. and into more pre-teen entertainment, I remember how excited I would get whenever Rocket Power or As Told By Ginger came on. I loved seeing the characters interact with each other, the comedy, the complex story-lines (you notice these things a lot more when you're older, I have found out). I could relate to Ginger--she was the outcast who always got herself into embarrassing situations. I would also watch The Amanda Show. I thought Amanda Bynes was hilarious! Her little skits and stand-up were always so different and crazy. I would quote Amanda whenever she would read her "Dear Amanda" letters on the show. "Dear Amanda--That's meee!!" It was good fun while the show lasted.
Most of those programs I have gone back and watched. So many memories! It's odd how a memory can be connected with an episode or what the character may be doing. Sometimes I'll roll my eyes. Why did I ever watch this? How ridiculous! I am glad Nickelodeon brought back shows from the 90s (now available on Nick at Night). I can relive my childhood as well as find new meaning in these shows from back when!
Oh my goodness, I can totally relate! I used to watch Nickelodeon all the time.
ReplyDeleteBut I have realized that sometimes missing them has more to do with missing my childhood than the actual shows themselves. Some shows always annoyed me and I never really liked them when they came on in the 90s. Like Rocko’s Modern Life, for example. But last year, Hot Topic came out with all these shirts of old Nick shows, and I shrieked in delight when I saw them, even Rocko’s Modern Life. You would have thought I was the biggest fan of that show when I was a kid, but I actually used to change the channel when it was on. But I couldn’t fight the nostalgia.
And I agree about these shows giving me a false sense of reality. When I finally got to high school, it was nothing like the shows portrayed. And the characters always seemed so much older than me, even when I surpassed them in age! Even now when I watch youtube clips of shows like Kenan and Kel or Clarissa Explains it All, I feel like they’re older than I am, even though I’m 21 and they’re in their teens.
A lot of the shows are now on Netlfix! I have been watching Hey Arnold (one of my favorites!) and Angry Beavers lately.
To let you into a little secret of mine I’ve held for a long time, Danny Phantom was my favorite Nickelodeon cartoon. I was kind of obsessed with it. When it was still airing, I would park myself on the couch with a sandwich and a sweet tea and watch it with my two younger sisters.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to say why I liked it. The plot wasn’t always that great. Jack Fenton was far too ridiculous. I didn’t quite like how the parents never found out when it was so easy for everyone else.
I guess I just had a slight crush. I don’t like to admit that, because I think it’s kinda dumb to have a crush on a cartoon character. But there you go. I liked Danny’s voice and his snarky comebacks.
I was also a huge fan of the ghostly powers and the relationship between the trio (Danny, Sam, and Tucker) usually had me laughing out loud.
It was disappointing that it went off the air. When I searched to see if there was a website that had the episodes, I started finding people who tried to campaign to “Save Danny Phantom.” I finally found it again on Netflix and finished the story. It’s not the greatest story ever told, but it made me happy.
Wow! What kind of nostalgia game are you playing missy? You've got three of us over here just reminiscing about the shows we just to watch. I’m humming the theme song to Doug while my boy beside me mouths the “chick-up-bup-bah” transition effects.
ReplyDelete“Legends of the Hidden Temple” was one of my favorites. Even in high school some friends and I watched the old videos of the show just for laughs and kicks.
Imagine…running around through that set, jumping and dodging over obstacles, exploring misty rooms, collecting hidden treasures and placing them into totems. The scenes on that show birthed material in my mind that was used to compose my greatest and most splendid dreams as well as my darkest and most horrific nightmares.
Have you seen the new Nick Jr. ? Most of our shows like Little Bear and Franklin are still being aired and I think this just proves how timelessly enjoyable this programs are for children of a certain age as well as their care-taking siblings, parents, and cousins. However, face has changed and is now less funny and more 3D-ish. No more talking with a mouth full of peanut-butter and banana sandwiches. You know that’s actually how I learned about that sandwich and it’s something that I’m actually craving right now.
The more things change the more things stay the same and while we hope that these things don’t disappear on us they may just be locked in our memories forever.
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I miss Doug. Oh my God though, the GREATEST was Disney's Sunday morning cartoons on ABC. Pepper Ann was awesome, especially since as far as female protagonists went, she was pretty much it. Recess! And they made a sequel to the show Doug, with all of them in high school. I guess I know why the shows had to end, because their target audience had outgrown them, but still. Total sad.
ReplyDeleteTry looking up the Pepper Ann episode about buying your first bra. Sounds REALLY awkward, but really funny. Especially when she flashes her class. On a Disney show. On Sunday morning during church services.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? used to TERRIFY my younger brother... so of course I turned it on every chance I got. I loved the show and it meant I got the tv all to myself haha! All of these shows you guys are commenting about brings back SO many memories of summer days at home building forts, eating homemade lunches and watching awesome shows. Nickolodeon and Disney used to be so much cooler back in the day.
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