Nickelodeon Studios in Universal Studios:CLOSED

[J.E.Smith]

Yep, sad but true. The studio closed its doors for good yesterday. From what I heard, Nick's contract with Universal was not renewed, and that Universal will be moving its production offices into the building. A similar verison of the the Nick Live show that used to play there will move to the new Nick Hotel nearby.


Nickelodeon Studios:1990-2005

[Yash]

I shall be the first to say "Yay!".

[Matt-a-Tastic]

Was this this the studio for the cartoons, the live action sereis or both

[RD!]

I shall be the first to say "Yay!".
Your childhood must have sucked if you can say "Yay!" at the ghost of Clarissa and All That.

[J.E.Smith]

I believe most of the live action shows in the 90s used to be shot there. The Burbank studio is where they do animation I believe.

However, they weren't taping anything there anymore anyways(All That moved over to LA for example) , which was part of the reason they didn't renew the contract. The only things going on were the studio tour and the NickLive! show which was an exclusive show for the park guests.

[Spongebrain2.0]

Sad day....I thought Nick stopped producing their own animation, I thought all their animation was from other studios. (Frederator, KC, United Plankton)

[Fan of Sponge]

I remember going to Universal Studios in Califrornia in 1998. There were alot of Nickelodeon characters around the park and there were Nick themes too.

However, Nick has become more independent and doesn't need help anymore from a large studio anymore.

[J. B. Warner]

Well, there goes the story I was writing that involved me and my sister going to Universal Studios to petition that more Nicktoons get released on DVD...

But it certainly explains how dilapidated they've let the studio become in recent years. From photos I've seen, the big orange "Nickelodeon" sign on top of the studio has parts broken off of it, rainwater streaks all over it, and the glass has fallen out of half of the letters.

[EightOh]

Wow. That's kind of sad.

"This show was filmed in front of a live studio audience at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios, Florida."

[ThePeterNetwork]

I toured the Nick studios in USF when I made my first trip to USF back in the early 90's. I got more insight at the Disney-MGM Studios than I did there. I didn't care for it much in retrospect, and neither did my sister. Especially my sister.

Then again, the only Nick we got were the syndicated Double Dare and that "search for clues in a house" game show that I can't think of the name to.

Oh yeah, and Danger Mouse and Inspector Gadget.

[Brettfern]

Was this this the studio for the cartoons, the live action sereis or both
This was where they taped game/variety shows in the early-mid 1990s such as Nick Arcade, Family Double Dare, Legends Of The Hidden Temple, Get The Picture, Nickelodeon/Global Guts, What Would You Do?, Make The Grade, Think Fast as well as sitcoms such as Clarissa Explains It All. What a shame. I had met one of the personalities from Nick GaS back in 2001 and it was such a pleasure...

[J.E.Smith]

But it certainly explains how dilapidated they've let the studio become in recent years. From photos I've seen, the big orange "Nickelodeon" sign on top of the studio has parts broken off of it, rainwater streaks all over it, and the glass has fallen out of half of the letters. Actually, most of the sign's damage came from Hurricance Charley, not from neglect. The letters at least were repaired though:

The sign before Charley:

http://www.universal-excitement.com/images/USF/Nick/NS7.jpg

The sign AFTER(But before the letters were fixed)

http://www.universal-excitement.com/images/USF/Nick/DSCF1960.JPG

Also, while the studio is shutting down, Nick isn't leaving Universal completly. The Jimmy Neutron ride next door will still remain, as will the Nickelodeon costume characters. Apperantly, it was just the contract for the Studio that wasn't renewed.

[NozeNuggets]

I also went there in 1992 when the place was young (my mom was attending an Amvets Auxiliary Convention) and I got free tickets when we went to a time-share presentation. It was nice.

Also, Universal is now owned by GE as NBC Universal, and Nick is owned by Viacom. I wouldn't be surprised if any new stuff that NBC has planned (like "Fear Factor Live") goes there.

[J. B. Warner]

Actually, most of the sign's damage came from Hurricance Charley, not from neglect. The letters at least were repaired though:

The sign before Charley:

http://www.universal-excitement.com/images/USF/Nick/NS7.jpg

The sign AFTER(But before the letters were fixed)

http://www.universal-excitement.com/images/USF/Nick/DSCF1960.JPG

Ah, thank you for clearing that up. I suppose it does make more sense that a hurricane did the damage (since part of the sign appears to be twisted out of shape in the second photo).

[Elven Moon]

I guess I'm lucky I went for the first and last time in 2002. Kinda sucks, since so many olden shows came from there :(

[Djm912]

A part of the childhood I had just went away forever.

It is kinda sad.

[J. B. Warner]

Oh my God, I just realized what else this means - if Nickelodeon Studios is gone, then that means that they're gonna have to tear down the Gak Geyser. NOW I'm depressed.

And to think, I was all set to ask my dad if we could go back to Universal this summer so I could take the tour again (I haven't been there since 1995). Oh well, at least I've always got the vacation photos...

[RD!]

What will happen to the TIME CAPSULE!?

[J. B. Warner]

What will happen to the TIME CAPSULE!?
Holy moley, you're right! They'd better leave it there...

[maximumzero]

What will happen to the TIME CAPSULE!?

Explain.

[J. B. Warner]

Explain.
There's a time capsule in the ground in front of the studio building that was put there in 1992. They were supposed to open it again in 2042 or something to see how kids lived in the 1990s.

[J.E.Smith]

Either:

A.They'll just cover the spot where they buried it or replace the Nick logos on the Do Not Open sign with Universal ones

B.They'll leave it as is(As I said, they're keeping the Jimmy Neutron ride because its part of a different contract)

C.Worse case scenario, they dig it up and open it early

[Swordfish_II]

Aw, this is sad.

I was only like six when went to Universal so my only memories of it are King Kong being closed and being scared on Earthquake. And maybe some vauge recollection of the Gak kitchen.

But still... :sad:

[candy17]

Then again, the only Nick we got were the syndicated Double Dare and that "search for clues in a house" game show that I can't think of the name to.

Oh yeah, and Danger Mouse and Inspector Gadget.
The "search for clues" in a house game was "Finders Keepers" (although I remember a game show called "Fun House" that was more or less similar to it).

And I loved Inspector Gadget (never heard of Danger Mouse, except from the many people who loved the show). The only Nick cartoons I remember are: Cartoon Kablewie, which had UPA/Filmation cartoons, Looney Tunes on Nickelodeon, the Nicktoons (both good and bad), and those cutsie cartoons from Nick Jr. (i.e., Maya The Bee, David The Gnome, and Special Delivery)

[Metroid_spy]

Dang... I never had the chance to go to the Nickelodeon Studios. From what I heard from my cousins and friends, they said it was a cool trip. I still remember all those old shows shot there. :(

[Adam Tyner]

This was where they taped game/variety shows in the early-mid 1990s such as Nick Arcade, Family Double Dare, Legends Of The Hidden Temple, Get The Picture, Nickelodeon/Global Guts, What Would You Do?, Make The Grade, Think Fast as well as sitcoms such as Clarissa Explains It All.I was actually a contestant on an episode of Make the Grade taped in Universal Studios Orlando a long, long time ago. :)

[Saelphronarf]

I'm no longer a fan of Nick, but I thought was really good when I was younger. I can't help but to be sad over this. *sigh* a Bittersweat victory.

... :sad: ...


-Saelphronarf

[Ishtar]

This is pretty sad. The best age of Nick came from that building ! Legends Of The Hidden Temple, Kenan & Kel, Figure It Out, Double Dare,The first 2 seasons of All That, and many more great shows were filmed there! Ahh... memories!

[J.E.Smith]

Well, photos aren't available yet, but I've heard that there is now a hole where the Slime Geyser used to stand.

(It must have been removed this week, because the main Universal fan site that I check for photos for just updated two days ago with pictures taken before the geyser was removed. Up until then nothing else had been removed besides the smaller Nickelodeon Studios wait time sign at the enterance)

[Artimus Gigan]

Olmec weeps at the shrine of the silver monkey
if only his cold stone face could shead tears...

[J.E.Smith]

And now, ladies and gentleman, here are pics of the spot where the Slime Gesyer once stood. Also, several Nick banners around the area have been removed. Nothing has been done to the Time Capsule or the large Nick sign though. As I said before, the Nick costumed charcters still go around the park and Neutron will stay open. Also, the second gate to the park next to Nick is no longer in use.(Shame, that was a great shortcut if you were planning on eating at the Hard Rock, or going between both parks in one day)


http://www.ioacentral.com/news/features/may_23_2005_universal_orlando_resort_update/may_23_2005_universal_orlando_resort_update_page_four.htm

http://www.ioacentral.com/news/features/may_23_2005_universal_orlando_resort_update/may_23_2005_universal_orlando_resort_update_page_five.htm

And here's one pic from April of the Gesyer in all its glory...

http://www.universal-excitement.com/41105/DSCF0105.JPG

However, there is a little bit of good news. There could be a possibilty that the Gesyer and Time Capsule might move to the Nick Hotel. In fact, the Hotel was probably a main factor in closing the Studios. From what I hear the spirit of Nick Studios still lives on at the Hotel. Here's a link to a review of the Hotel:

http://www.ioacentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7050