Nickelodeon used to be the best channel on the planet. If there was a Nick channel that never did anything but completely repeat that half decade or so and just cycle that over and over again - no complaints from me. I could cycle those years repeatedly and never question it.
A lot of people look back on their favorite shows or those 'golden ages' and they are like, "wow, I can't believe I liked that crap." Or maybe they have this syndrome that happens with every generation where they think the things going on in their prime decade of youth was the best ever... but it just wasn't.
Nickelodeon is different.
That combination of thorough entertainment and high level of quality was unprecedented and has been unmatched henceforth.
This is not to say that it wasn't hit or miss... Of course there were tons of horrible programs on during this period, and not to offend anyone's favorites but a lot of them just weren't living up to the standards that had been set out, or were misguided in their approach. These shows were, in my mind, the signaling of the demise of my favorite channel:
Figure it Out - way too chaotic and disjointed to even work. The guests and contestants had no idea what was going on at any point. Lame attempt at holding on to the fun things you were killing off.
All That - Too limited in appeal and turned a whole generation onto horrible music by forcing musical guests into view that had no business being there. Da Brat, for instance. Can you think of more? I think you can.
Roundhouse - this show belonged on Disney.
Snick House - Just stop doing that thing that you are trying to do!
Nickelodeon felt like a subculture (but still mainstream, obviously) and then it did a 180 and became way more mainstream than it should have ever been allowed to be. If you're going to do something so absolutely stupid - make a new channel for it instead of dulling the youth of the world.
The death of Nickelodeon completely eliminated the brand of entertainment I was in tune to. You can't even imagine how devastated I was. It marked the point in my life where I actually stopped being a kid. I don't know who was responsible for those changes, but I credit them with tearing out what could have been extremely formative years for creativity. Thanks a lot, Jerk Executives. The next generation that takes over these channels is going to have this memory of how things should be, and hopefully it will all be set straight once again.
People that watched strictly Disney are going to lose out on this because that channel has always been crap. No one that watched that and didn't watch Nickelodeon has grown up with a proper frame of reference for anything and I'm certain of it. That channel is watched by the brainless idiots that need constant reassurance of how special they are. The whole extreme self-confidence building trend that started in the 80's has been proven to actually do more harm than good, so please abandon that as a meaningful structure.
The Disney kids of my generation are now the entire generation of today's youth who are forced to suffer mindwarping hogwash that is on every single channel. Have you seen what kids are watching? It's destroying them. There's no thought behind any of it and there's no value in watching it. Nickelodeon in our time reminded you that TV rots your brain and you know, maybe it did. Of course it did. But it rotted in a very keen way much like mold on grapes. I'm not saying we are fancy wine for watching Nickelodeon, but I am saying that today's kids are just an orchard of moldy apples with bees crawling through their gaping, soulless bodies.
Executives today don't understand the sheerly incredible nature of what was on then and why it clicked so well with us. Or maybe they don't want to because Nickelodeon didn't raise sheep, and sheep are ideal for business.
Working in the entertainment industry, it is my lifegoal to make this switch back to programming of pure genius and worthwhileness a reality. Businesses set out to make profit, sure, but at what point do you really need so MUCH profit? Who cares if you alienate 50% of your former audience if you're going to make sure that the remaining 50% don't turn into raging buttheads when they grow up? The future matters more than the present.
But all is not lost for all you suits that just want bigger bank accounts.
Executives: Think about brand loyalty. Think about all of these people posting here remembering the amazing shows that they loved, and can STILL watch and enjoy and maybe even appreciate more. Do you want your former audience to pass on that brand loyalty to their kids or do you want them to realize what trite crap is on now and make the switch to something else? Is it that difficult or pressing upon your wallets to at least have some thought and substance supporting the millions in merchandise you sell each year or does it really have to be mindless drivel inside and out? Think about it. Solid backbone or spineless jellyfish - the choice is yours.
End rant.
PS
What was that show with those British (Australian?) kids in some weird castle or old schoolhouse or something? I think that possibly they time traveled? It is agonizing to try and recall the title!
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devscythe
17 years ago
I think your're talking about the tommorrow people
Invader Zim and Avatar our the only shows that are good on nick
my list (born 81)
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (
Salute Your Shorts
Legends of the Hidden Temple
Guts
Ren and steimpy
Get The Picture
Inside Out Boy
Roccos Modern Life
You Cant Do That On Television
Mr. Wizard
I can't belive no one has mentioned !!!!!!Mysterious Cities of Gold!!!!!!
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xyoursuchasuckerx
17 years ago
Was the show with the time traveler kids Strange Days at Blake Holsey High? It's a newer show (2002) but they went to a school with a castle and paranormal stuff happened.
I miss all the shows the posters on here keep mentioning.
A few I miss from other channels are:
Big Wolf on Campus
So Weird
Daria
Darkwing Duck
and some others I can't think of right now.
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