Avaitor Presents- Nickelodeon's Top 20 Series of All Time

[Darklordavaitor]

Hey guys, I'm the Dark Lord! I rant about random crap so you don't have to!

Nick-na-Nick-Nick-Nick-Nick-Nick, Nickelodeon!

Ah, Nickelodeon. That takes me back to when I was a kid and loved my TV. Although I'll admit that I was more of a Cartoon Network person all things considered, especially when they started crafting their own brilliant originals, the world's first channel for kids arguably has a richer history and a more consistent library. The channel original started off as a showcase for Canadian preschool Pinwheel, followed by fellow Canadian classic You Can't Do That on Television, which is where the slime came from along with other imports and repeats of older children's classics such as Lassie and the Looney Tunes. During the late 80's, Nick started working on their own original programming, and about a decade later, became the most popular cable channel on TV, period.

Of all of their original programs, which stand out head and toes above the rest? Taking in my own criteria, I've compiled a list of my own 20 shows that may just solve that question.

To make the list, the series must have appeal both in and outside of the demographic. Kids are definitely an important part of the appeal of Nickelodeon, that's a given, but the adult network runners should be able to pick up and support shows that they can sit down and enjoy, right? If I grew up watching it as a child, I should find something that appeals to me now. If it's a more recent show, I should be able to look at a show and decipher if I'd like it when I was younger and in the demographic. Some shows will appeal to one audience more than others, but that's fine, and each series will be rated and decided upon justly. I will say that Nick Jr. shows won't make it on here, since I think they skewer too young for me or most people outside of the demographic in general, but I don't intend to demean any fans of these series.

Obviously, only Nickelodeon originals qualify, so no imports or syndicated programs. Personal bias does counter in here a little (every list does, whether you'd like to admit it or not), but I'm doing this as fairly as I can. Importance and impact does factor in, but not as highly as overall quality. If you have any disagreements, feel free to post here and tell me. Or if you agree or just want to comment, more power to you! My first five will be up in my next post.

[Darklordavaitor]

20- Doug (1991-1994 (original Nickelodeon run))




Of the original 3 Nicktoons, each of which got to hold a unique distinction as being the network's most popular for a while, Doug caught on second, after Ren & Stimpy's decline but before Rugrats' massive rise. Between the insanity of R&S and the crazy adventures the babies got in, Doug was a much more down-to-earth show, relying more on school day traditions and silly daydreaming to get its entertainment across.

The show is very easy to get the gist of. Fifth grader Doug Funnie is the new kid in town, but quickly fits into the town of Bluffington. He has a blue best friend, named Mosquito Valentine, a tanish crush with the alias of Patti Mayonnaise, and a big-nosed green bully who goes by Roger Klotz. Doug and his quasi-anthropomorphic pet pooch Porkchop go through every day life together, along with the help of Doug's imaginary idols like Quailman and Smash Adams. Okay, maybe it's not too easy, but if you've ever seen the show, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I'll admit that Doug is a little dry for older audiences when watching it now- if you're older than Doug, you won't find much to relate to him with, the little quirks that make the show memorable get stale fast, and honestly, pre-adolescent kid shows have been outclassed since its release. But Doug was one of the first series to take place in school with school children on Nick, and a lot of shows since have taken its template. Even then, while it may be too safe and non-assuming for older viewers, I believe that kids need safe and non-assuming to filter in between harsher realities, and Doug does a good job of filling that quota.

The show was so popular that after Nickelodeon ended its run, Disney bought both the show and the studio behind it, Jumbo, outright and made new episodes with Doug and the gang in middle school. It ran for 65 episodes, 13 more than the original run, and a movie, as it lasted into the start of the aughts. But believe me when I say that the original is where it's at.

Essential Eps:

"Doug's Doodle"- Worth watching if only to see Doug try and fail -miserably- to flirt with Mrs. Wingo.
"Doug Battles the Rulemeister"- One of the more memorable, and certainly among the most silly, Quailman adventures. Mr. Bone's Don Knotts callbacks are at their most charming here, and you get some fun site gags. Although I do wish Funday did exist.
"Doug's Sister Act"- Did you know that there's a bomb in the lasagna? Well, you do now. Besides this memorable scene, this is a fun take on the standard "date meets their embarrassing family for the first time" storyline, and gives the Funnie patriarchs some more stuff to do than usual.

19- Kenan & Kel (1996-2000)



The comic stylings and chemistry of Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell from All That caught on so well, that Dan Schneider and Nickelodeon decided to buy a sitcom starring the two of them. Miraculously, not only did the show catch on, as did the All That spin-off movie starring the two of them, Good Burger, but they stayed on both shows at once for a respectable period of time.

For good cause, Kenan & Kel is one of the most well-remembered of the 90's shows, but it isn't that high for one big reason, and that would be Kel. Mitchell was a fine child actor, but Kel Kimble is one of the most psychologically damaging moron characters written for television in a long time. Nearly every incident that happens between the two buddies is his fault, as it goes beyond the point of comedic sabotage and occasionally borders into terrifying and even sadistic stupidity.

It also doesn't help that you can guess the plot and outcome of an episode before even turning it on- Kenan has a not-so-hot idea, usually a get rich quick scheme or a prank, as he forces Kel along with him to join. Eventually, Kel's complete lack of common sense will cause the two's fool-proof plans to go haywire, and you see them try to resolve their dilemmas before the curtain call.

But that, at the same time is where Kenan & Kel's appeal comes from. It's set in the vain of classic sitcoms that used to air on TV Land, as well as the buddy comedy shorts and films of Abbott & Costello and Laurel & Hardy. For the odd times that Kel's bumbling seems unfunny, there's a stronger amount of times where there's some great slapstick laughs to be had, no matter how old you are, and the dialogue contains some solid stuff. The supporting actors are all individually good, even if there is room for more (where are Kel's parents, for one?). It's just a funny show that at the end of the day is too hard to crack on.

Essential Eps:

"The Tainting of the Screw"- If you don't know why this episode is a classic, you owe it to yourself to watch it. Now. I won't even reference the beloved climax in hopes that I don't have to.
"Pair-Rental Guidance"- A preposterous idea- Kenan hiring two random actors to impersonate his parents to meet with his principal- elevated to comedic heights by a "dad" that tries to give Sydney Poitier a run for his money and a "mom" that nearly makes Kel look like a genius at times. Mighty funny stuff.
"Freezer Burned"- This is around the time that Kel's stupidity was starting to take a serious turn to the unbearable, but this is still a good one. Classic sitcom stuff, and it's funny to see Chris all by himself.

18- Invader Zim (2001-2002)



I'm sure you're all familiar with Zim at this point. The little alien invasion cartoon made by indie comic legend Jhonen Vasquez which died an early death due to numerous, unofficially confirmed reasons, but has lived an incredible afterlife thanks to a strong cult following outside of the demographic and a never-ending presence in Hot Topic.

It's funny, sure, but it isn't any higher for the simple reason that it's easy to see why the show didn't catch on with kids during its original run. Although I myself was in the minority of children who enjoyed the show while it was on, the comedy is ultimately far too black and depressive for kids to really get. Gir works as a divisor between the bleaker humor for kids, but you still have a woman having a heart attack due to shear happiness set as a joke in the Christmas episode.

But hey, Invader Zim is a mighty funny show regardless, I say this as the 10-year-old that was in love with it before discovering the internet and Hot Topic, and the 20-year-old who still pops in his DVDs. Although I'd be a little hesitant to show my kids the show while still in single digits, I think they'd get a knack out of its care-free attitude and discontempt for everything in general.

Essential Eps:
"The Wettening"- Zim vs. Dib in a water balloon fight. The catch? Zim is allergic to water, but he's not afraid to retaliate. There we go.
"Game Slave 2"- Maybe it's just me, a huge Gaz fan, but I find this one to be a nice change of pace and a blast. The final scenes get downright spooky, using only tension instead of the show's typical lust for macabre.
"Mysterious Mysteries"- Great lines and classic scenes from beginning to end. This is always the episode I show to Zim newbies, and it always leaves them wanting more. It also contains Gir's finest moment, with him and his friend, the squirrel.

17- Victorious (2010-present)



In terms of commercial success, Dan Schneider was 7 for 7 when he created his latest hit, a teenage comedy starring art school students in LA. Schneider had interest in giving Victoria Justice her own show while discovering how versatile she was during her run in his previous hit Zoey 101, and found the right formula to not only utilize her talents, but those of 6 other teens her age.

For all the problems you can fault with the show, like its disregard towards humanity, obvious music selling promotion, and bits of needless running jokes, the show does a lot right. Combining child actors from stage and screen, most of which have also been studying singing and dancing for most of their lives, Schneider has created a truly ensemble show with a talented cast that promotes creativity and achieving your dreams more successfully than just about everything else the competition has been throwing at us over the years, including the massively successful High School Musical franchise.

Plus, it's just plain funny. There's a surprising amount of jokes that the show gets away with that others in the demographic wouldn't dream of, including Schneider's own work, and the main seven characters at this point each have well-defined personalities that have honed over the years. I think the show deserves a little more credit than it gets.

Essential Eps:
"Survival of the Hottest"- This is the one that got me to believe that there's potential in the show. Trapping six of the seven main characters in a hot RV for an episode, we get to see shades of the characters that we haven't before and proof that their actors have the chops to pull them off. Meanwhile, Cat... dances around getting hosed by water guns in a bra. Yeah...
"Sleepover at Sikowitz's"- Another ensemble piece, this has the six young students trying their hand at method acting, each one playing a totally different character in a challenge. The final line is totally forced, but it gives the kids even more of a chance to shine.
"The Breakfast Bunch"- A surprisingly effective tribute of the John Hughes classic, this replaces some of the edgier references with odder alternatives ("admit it... you're a vegan") but doesn't really lose an edge here at all. It also confirms why I love the character of Jade West so much, as she nails Emilio Estevez's character.

16- Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1992-2000)



You know, we haven't had a good horror/thriller/suspense/sci-fi anthology series in a while. The last one that comes to mind was Masters of Horror. I do miss series like that, the original Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Outer Limits, Tales From the Crypt...

And this. I'm pretty sure that if you had Nick in the 90's, even if you didn't like this show, you had a favorite episode from it. Me, personally, I like "The Tale of the Crimson Clown", if only for my love of comic books.

The show was originally going to be a little higher, but I knocked it down a little since at the end of the day, it isn't that scary or well-acted, despite some notable guest actors, like Melissa Joan Hart, Will Friedle, Danny Cooksey, and a young Neve Campbell. AYAOTD gets a lot of credit, however, for effort and creativity. Making an anthology series for kids was a very original idea back in the day, and the setting was perfect- a bunch of kids sitting around a camp fire, telling ghost stories. Or aliens. Or demons. Or whatever came to mind that week. And like all other good anthology shows, every tale came with a good moral you can take with you on life, this time set around the teenage and younger crowd.

The show was a combined effort of YTV and Nickelodeon. A pilot aired on YTV around Halloween 1990, then the following year on Nick, and a full season followed suit in 1992 as a part of the original Snick lineup. Even though the show originally only lasted 5 seasons, 2 more followed suit around the end of the decade with a new cast to share stories, even including a made-for-TV movie featuring members of the original Midnight Society. Nick's sister channels occasionally still pull it out around Halloween every year, since it's the perfect compliment for the season.

Essential Eps:

Eh, I still want to hear some favorites from you guys. It can't be too hard to think of one, is it?

[Darklordavaitor]

15- SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present)



You know, I still find it surprising that SpongeBob is still running today. It's the last piece of 90's Nick still on in a regular basis. While so many other shows have come and gone since it premiered, the show has only really began to lose popularity in the past year or so.

I'll admit that I was never a big fan of the sponge, for a plethora of reasons, but I'd be incredibly biased if I didn't put it on the list. The show appeals to such a huge following, from millions of kids to a fair amount of adults who others would consider them 'too old" for cartoons, to a high number of people my age who grew up watching the show and still watch it almost every day on Nick. And I'll admit that the first 3 seasons have some rather clever lines and jokes, as well as bright animation.

The first 3, that is. I'd put it higher if it didn't become such a progressively weaker show as it came along, at least since after the movie was released in theaters. It still has its moments, but the bad has already outweighed the good, which is why I can't put it any higher than 15. But hey, at this point in its run, Rugrats had to bring in new characters and gimmicks out the wazoo to try to keep the sponge from stealing its thunder but still ended after Klasky Csupo called it a day (spin-off series All Grown Up was made by Nickelodeon's own animation company), while SpongeBob hasn't had a change in its formula at all since day one and has still maintained its spark of popularity for over a decade. That deserves some credit.

Essential Eps:
"Pizza Delivery"- I'm pretty sure everyone knows SpongeBob's jingle to the Krusty Krab's short-lived delivery line. It's fun to see him and Squidward team up as employees outside of the restaurant for a change, and there's some clever turns here.
"Prehibernation Week"- Worth a watch just to hear Pantera's contribution to the soundtrack. Even if the majority of their discography is a load of barnacles...
"Graveyard Shift"- One of those episodes that was hard to believe they got away with, it gets downright shocking at times, especially for first-time viewers.


14- As Told by Ginger (2000-2004)



You know, if any Nick show from the aughts could get away with airing on The 90's Are All That, I think this could be it. If Rocket Power, which only constitutes as a 90's show by about 6 months qualifies, I think Ginger, which I always held together with it, should too.

Although Ginger is a much better show. It's also the closest thing to an animated drama series we'll ever get. It's a very simple idea, the life of a middle schooler through an average teenage girl, done with far more honesty than most shows like it would normally go for. There's some cute moments, but also a lot of dramatic scenes and episodes, some of which actually work, like the one where Ginger's friend Macie feels isolated by her psychiatrist parents who spend more time with her patients than herself on her own birthday, or the entire arc of rich girl Courtney Gripling, who, unlike most girls of her status in other shows, isn't intentionally snobbish, but rather curious about how the world of middle and lower classes work as opposed to her own lifestyles.

Granted, ATBY oftentimes felt a little silly and overdramatic, and Klasky-Csupo's character designs double on the hideous foreheads, but I still say that middle school itself is silly and overdramatic, and Ginger does a good job of portraying the highs and lows of early pubescent life more often than not.

Essential Eps:
"Hello Stranger"- As a fellow child of divorce, I relate to Ginger's feelings towards her isolated father and have written similar pieces of work as her poem. One of the things that I most appreciated about the show was that it held no punches towards the feelings of estranged parents and referred frequently to Ginger and Carl's dad.
"No Hope for Courtney"- Another topic this show wasn't afraid to tackle was death. When Kathleen Freeman, the real-life voice of Carl and Hoodsey's teacher Mrs. Gordon died in real life, they decided to echo and dedicate the loss in the show by having her retire and give Carl a chance to make amends for his actions, only for her to pass on shortly after. It's only a b-plot to Courtney Gripling's main story, but it gave a fitting farewell to the character yet somehow didn't feel forced or contrived at all.
"And she Was Gone"- I went much more in depth here, but yeah, this is arguably the greatest proof of just how strong the show could be when it wanted to.

13- Salute Your Shorts (1991-1992)



Man, this was such a good show. It only lasted 26 episodes, but it contained more clever one-liners and sharp character moments than plenty of Nick shows since its cancellation have in much longer runs.

Salute Your Shorts had such a brief run due to budget reasons- the show was doing well, but Nick found it impractical to shoot at an actual summer camp when they could easily shoot other shows at their newly-minted Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando. Although you could say that it was silly of them to make the show and shoot it on location when they had recently ended Hey Dude's run for the same reason.

But those 26 episodes had a very strong afterlife, running for 6 years of repeats on the main channel after ending, and still remains a nostalgic favorite to this day. It's easy to see why, considering the strong replay value and how well-rounded the cast is. The acting with the kids is surprisingly more authentic than you'd expect, and each of them have plenty of unique funny moments throughout. It also, beyond all known logic, didn't have a drop in quality when switching out main everyman Michael for the somewhat crooked Pinsky in season 2; in fact, it gave the rest of a kids more time to shine without there being an official main character for the writers to focus on, and also gave fan-favorite sleezeball Budnick an equal.

Essential Eps:
"Zeke the Plumber"- 'nuff said.
"Budnick and Michael Fake Being Sick"- Budnick was the most fun character on the show, bar none, and this one gave everyman Michael more of time to fully realize just why everyone seems to stick around with Bobby B. than dump him.
"Capture the Flag"- Easily the most fun game of capture the flag ever played.


12- Double Dare (original, 1986-1990; Family, 1990-1993; 2000, 2000)



In 1986, Nickelodeon had earned enough dough to start work on their own original programming, and they decided to go out on a whim and create a game show that kids would approve of. Some trivia questions ranging from the usual stuff you'd see on more "adult" game shows like Jeopardy, a likable host in Marc Summers.... oh, and some of the MESSIEST, MOST INTENSE physical challenges ever conceived.

Needless to say, it was a hit. So much so, that Viacom wanted a version for adults made, featuring woman in short shorts to help with maintaining things. The then-president of Nickelodeon not only refused, but then demanded that a syndicated version of the main show be made, which did happen and started off the groundworks for the Family spin-off.

To give you an idea of all the different versions of the show, here's a taste- there's the original, hosted by Marc Summers and taped in Philadelphia, featuring 2 kids in 2 teams going at it. There was Super Sloppy Double Dare, which aired in the weekends of 1987 and was shot in New York. It was pretty identical to the original, just in a different location and gave home viewers a chance to win prizes. There was Family Double Dare, which was originally syndicated and then remade as the replacement to the original on Nick, in which 2 sets of families competed against each other as opposed to just kids. This was shot at the Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, and after the last batch of episodes were made in 1992, remained the last version of the show made.

Until Double Dare 2000 was made in, shockingly enough, the year 2000. It retained the Family Double Dare set of rules and like FDD, was shot in Nickelodeon Studios, but due to the changed climate at Nick, only ran for a season. And now the Nick Hotel, also in Orlando, has created a new version of the game show exclusively for its guests, proving its timeless appeal and importance.

All that there's to really say about Double Dare is that it set up the groundwork for not just all of the game shows to follow on Nick, but helped pave the way and pay for its future original programming. The only reason it isn't higher on the list is that better game shows have been made since its inception.

No Essential Eps here, considering its content. Too many games to look for, and many are derivative. Doesn't make them any less fun though.

11- The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994-1998)



Alex Mack was a pretty unique show, all things considered. It's a sci-fi dramedy set in high school with some serious adventure elements. It's also one of the more entertaining programs in Nick's history.

Alex Mack was just your average girl, coming from a family of geniuses, getting ready for her first day of high school, when, by all logic, she gets soaked by a chemical spill, and gains some unique powers. She has telekinesis, she can morph into a ball of goo and hide from people and can transmit electricity through her fingers. After discovering that these dangerous chemicals spilled onto an innocent teenager, the Paradise Valley Chemical Plant, where it came from, continuously searches for Alex, hoping to find her and discover her powers.

It's a fugitive show with a serious emotional core, considering that Alex's dad has a high-ranking job at the plant, which means that sometimes, she has to go against her father's work. It also succeeds at developing Alex's character throughout, as we learn more and more later on that she's able to stand up to her chemist father, politically inclined mother, and A+ student sister, the last of which started off as one of the two only other people who knew about Alex's accident, the other being her best friend Ray. CG effects have come a long way since the show's inception in the mid-90's, but the show itself is very clever.

Essential Eps:

"The Accident"- A very effective premiere episode, you get the whole gist of the show and its themes here.
Uh... I haven't seen as much of the show lately as I wish I could say I have. Blame the 90's Are All That for not fixing that. I wish I could think of 2 more episodes for you guys, but I can't.

[Looney Tunes Fan]

Jhonen Vasquez isn't dead. Where did you read that?(Not trying to sound offensive)

[Darklordavaitor]

Jhonen Vasquez isn't dead. Where did you read that?(Not trying to sound offensive)

I didn't say Jhonen died an early death, I meant that Invader Zim did. I apologize if I didn't make that clear in my post. I'll edit it to make it sound more accurate to my original idea.

[Lord Dalek]

12. Double Dare

11. The Secret World of Alex Mack

[Storm Eagle]

13- Salute Your Shorts (1991-1992)

Man, this was such a good show. It only lasted 26 episodes, but it contained more clever one-liners and sharp character moments than plenty of Nick shows since its cancellation have in much longer runs.

Salute Your Shorts had such a brief run due to budget reasons- the show was doing well, but Nick found it impractical to shoot at an actual summer camp when they could easily shoot other shows at their newly-minted Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando. Although you could say that it was silly of them to make the show and shoot it on location when they had recently ended Hey Dude's run for the same reason.

At least Hey Dude got more episodes. Actually it met the standard 65 episode count for Nickelodeon shows back then.

12- Double Dare (original, 1986-1990; Family, 1990-1993; 2000, 2000)


In 1986, Nickelodeon had earned enough dough to start work on their own original programming, and they decided to go out on a whim and create a game show that kids would approve of. Some trivia questions ranging from the usual stuff you'd see on more "adult" game shows like Jeopardy, a likable host in Marc Summers.... oh, and some of the MESSIEST, MOST INTENSE physical challenges ever conceived.

Needless to say, it was a hit. So much so, that Viacom wanted a version for adults made, featuring woman ni short shorts to help with maintaining things. The then-president of Nickelodeon not only refused, but then demanded that a syndicated version of the main show be made, which did happen and started off the groundworks for the Family spin-off.

To give you an idea of all the different versions of the show, here's a taste- there's the original, hosted by Marc Summers and taped in Philadelphia, featuring 2 kids in 2 teams going at it. There was Super Sloppy Double Dare, which aired in the weekends of 1987 and was shot in New York. It was pretty identical to the original, just in a different location and gave home viewers a chance to win prizes. There was Family Double Dare, which was originally syndicated and then remade as the replacement to the original on Nick, in which 2 sets of families competed against each other as opposed to just kids. This was shot at the Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, and after the last batch of episodes were made in 1992, remained the last version of the show made.

Until Double Dare 2000 was made in, shockingly enough, the year 2000. It retained the Family Double Dare set of rules and like FDD, was shot in Nickelodeon Studios, but due to the changed climate at Nick, only ran for a season. And now the Nick Hotel, also in Orlando, has created a new version of the game show exclusively for its guests, proving its timeless appeal and importance.

All that there's to really say about Double Dare is that it set up the groundwork for not just all of the game shows to follow on Nick, but helped pave the way and pay for its future original programming. The only reason it isn't higher on the list is that better game shows have been made since its inception.

Better game shows? Like which ones? I definitely remember Fun House. The one cool thing about that one was that teams weren't made to split their winnings among each other. Whatever amount of money they won in the game, both teammates got it.

[Darklordavaitor]

10- All That (1994-2005)



And now everyone who reads this thread is required to name a favorite All That sketch. Let me refresh your memory a little.

"I'M REPAIRMAN-MAN-MAN-MAN-MAN-MAN"

"DEAR ASHLEY, THAT'SSSSSSSS ME!"

"QUIET! THIS IS A LIBRARY!"

"I'MMMMM SUPERDUDE! I FIGHT FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE... I also like puppies, long walks on the beach, and fruity little drinks with umbrellas on top." *eyes bulge*

That said, mine is probably little Katrina as H. Ross Perot.

All That wasn't Nick's first sketch comedy- You Can't Do That on Television predates it by a good decade, but eh, as much as I like it, YCDTOTV isn't a Nick original. Roundhouse premiered on the original Snick lineup, but... you remember that episode of South Park where the anti-smoking improv group came to the school? Yeah, Roundhouse was like that, except instead of making you want to go out and smoke behind your school, the show is what created hipsters today- people who tried as hard as they could to not end up like the actors on Roundhouse.

All That, at least during its original run, had a lot of creativity and funny segments. It felt exactly like it was meant to be- SNL for kids. The newer cast dumbed things down a considerable amount, and the last year or two with the originals wasn't too great itself, but we'll always have the first 4 seasons and memories of Kenan, Kel, Josh, Lori Beth, Amanda and so on to live on forever.

Essential Eps:

Eh, this is another hard one to classify particularly outstanding episodes of. But hey, 90's Are All That still shows seasons 2-5 of it, which are easily the best, so you might as well check those out if you want a good representation of the show.

9- Hey Arnold! (1996-2002)



What's there to say about this show? Arnold went through a couple of major changes during the course of its run. It started off with Arnold being a daydreaming kid, kind of like Doug, with the focus relying on him and his slanted view of reality. It later made Arnold a blander everyman hero, while shifting the focus less on him and more towards the show's eccentric cast of characters. And by the end, it started to rely on Helga's character more than anything, with Arnold and the others getting some attention as well.

Somehow, the show worked well with all of these shifts in tone, and there's highlights throughout. The middle stuff is probably where the best material comes from, though. It really feels like every character on the show has their story to tell, and over the course of 100 episodes, nearly every person with a voice credit has something done. Hey Arnold!'s development is out of this world, and that extra bit of depth gives it a high repeat value into eternity.

Essential Eps:
"Stoop Kid"- Danny Cooksey (aka Budnick) returns to Nick to play the infamous Stoop Kid, whom Arnold helps to leave his stoop. There's a surprisingly high amount of episodes where Arnold would meet up with an urban legend and help them exit their shell, but this is rightfully one of the most beloved of them all.
"Mr. Hyunh Goes Country"- If the novelty of a somewhat bitter Vietnamese curmudgeon singing country tunes doesn't sound like fun to you, I don't know what to say.
"Helga on the Couch"- Again, I wrote about this on here. They could have easily ended the show here and all would be well.


8- The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)



Say what you will about John K, but chances are very high that if Ren & Stimpy wasn't made, a lot of your favorite modern cartoons may not have been greenlit. Nickelodeon sure wouldn't have been the same without it.

I mean, all kids love Log, right?

And while there are some episodes of Ren & Stimpy that aren't exactly appropriate for children today, that didn't stop an innumerable amount of 90's kids from watching it, as well as people well outside of the demographic. Can you blame them, really? There's some true dynamite over the course of the show, even in the admittedly inferior Games run. It might be too high or too low to some, but I feel justified in putting R&S at its current slot.

Essential eps:
"Space Madness"- "OH NO! I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!" If space madness was really like this, I never want to go to space.
"Stimpy's Invention"- Quite literally the perfect animated episode. This isn't even hyperbole.
"Ren's Pec"- I've always enjoyed this one, especially to see how Ren use his pectoral muscles to kick ass. The ending is kinda cute too.

7- Legends of the Hidden Temple (1993-1995)



Yeah, whenever I hear people talk about Temple Run, I don't think about some iPhone game or whatever it is, I instantly come back to this, the mother of all kids game shows.

Legends is truly something else, combining Make the Grade's trivia questions with the energetic physical outings of GUTS, all set up to a theme involving important points of history in each episode, with an obstacle course made of Legends in the Temple Run. It was arguably the network's biggest game show since Double Dare's height, all for a good cause. The show combines history, physical attributes, and sheer, unadulterated energy in one neat package that still occasionally gets put back in repeats from time to time.

Why Nick hasn't tried to remake this or package classic episodes for grade schools is beyond me.

Another show I can't list Essential Eps for, but every one of them was a blast.

6- Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)



Nickelodeon wanted adventure, magic, mystery, and excitement. Avatar: The Last Airbender delivered.

Influenced by martial arts movies, shonen anime, comic books, and tons of different little things, the show takes place in a mythical kingdom where a large amount of its inhabitants are able to bend the four elements of earth together- earth, water, air and fire. We see Aang, an 12-year-old boy raised to be an Airbender, frozen and revived 100 years after an iceberg incident as he discovers that the rest of his Airbending tribe doesn't exist anymore. He also has to face the fact that he is the Avatar, the chosen one whose goal in life is to master the four elements and ensure the safety of the planet. As Aang is already well-versed in Airbending, we see him learn the other 3 elements over the course of the series before having to face the Firelord, whom plans to find and destroy the Avatar.

It's a high-class show, far unlike anything else Nick has attempted to make before hand. While there are some slower points in the show's run, the one that holds it back from a top 5 slot is that there are other series which portray the highlights of the network's beliefs and goals more traditionally. But Avatar deserves to be celebrated for its brilliantly choreographed action, rich mythology, and incredibly well-defined characters. Sister series The Legend of Korra also earns credit for telling a new, unique story after the original show, but is sadly too young in its life to rank on here.

Essential Eps:

"The storm"- A great sense of contrast here, as we learn how Aang discovered his destiny and fell into the iceberg, as well as how Zuko earned his scar and became banished from the Fire Nation. The next episode helps to actually develop a bit of a relationship based off of their past and future. This obviously becomes more prevalent as the show goes along, but it's a good start.
"Zuko Alone"- Another one I wrote about here. And we still don't know what happened to Zuko's mom, either.
"The Boiling Rock"- A two-parter that helped to form a bond between Sokka and Zuko, brought Suki back into the game, and served as a nice tribute to prison escape flicks. Tons of fun.

[Lord Dalek]

So... either Pete and Pete or Rocko for #1?

...which still doesn't excuse Double Dare not even cracking the top 10.

[Darklordavaitor]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the top 5.

5- Rocko's Modern Life (199301998)



Rocko was a truly subversive cartoon in an era where subversive cartoons were a very common thing. Like most of said cartoons, Rocko had tons of adult appeal beyond just the main child fanbase, an contained a lot of raunchy and satirical jokes. Unlike the majority of them, however, it just gets funnier with time, not dating itself at all.

Even though it's not exactly easy to relate to Rocko's adult problems as a kid, like getting a car towed, having a tough boss, or dealing with the very dangerous laundry and grocery days, there's plenty of great sight gags and oddball humor for children to laugh upon time and time again. Teens and adults however can make a scorecard of how many sly innuendos and jabs at culture are made each episode, since there's a lot of them to crack up on.

It also helps that the characters are uniformly likable. Rocko is a nice guy protagonist who isn't too much of a push-over. He's charming and negotiable, but ready to snap when he's given a bad deal. His best friends Heffer and Filburt are also great. They play the stereotypical fat imbecile and nerdy asthmatic supporting characters, respectably, but are portrayed and played well enough to forgive that. Then you have the Bigheads, Rocko's loony next-door-neighbors. The no-nonsense Ed and despondent Bev make for great comic moments just in case you get tired of the main 3 characters. Rocko is just a great show. It was in the 90's, and it still is to this day.

Essential Eps:
"Leap Frogs"- An entire episode dedicated to double entendres, and it completely works. So much so that Nick had to ban it for a while. Nicktoons and media/streaming opportunities have thankfully saved it, so we can have it for all of eternity to adore.
"Cruisin'"- Rocko and Heffer drop off Heffer's grandpa at an elderly's cruise, but the two young adults accidentally get stuck in the cruise and get to witness the senior citizens transform into their younger selves for one night. A more soothing episode, in lieu of the show's typically crazy shenanigans.
"Wacky Delly"- One more plug, I swear. Does anything more really need to be said, though?

4- The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1993-1996)



Want something funny? Pete & Pete, the ongoing tales of two brothers with the same name, delivers. The show creates an entire mythology based around the happenings of one town that feels so rich with dialogue that comes by you so smoothly you forget that you're watching a kids show.

Want something sad? Again, Pete & Pete hits the spot. The show excels in having its two main characters so far apart in age and giving both of them their own cast and set of rules, giving you the highs and lows of both elementary and high school life. So in between the laughs, you get some touching moments too.

Want something strange? Pete & Pete contains a supporting cast that includes Artie, the Strongest Man in the World (played by the future voice of Cotton Hill), the ever-lovable ice cream head Mr. Tastee, the metal plat in Mom's head, little Pete's tattoo Petunia, and Iggy Pop. Just, Iggy Pop.

Want something beautiful? This show is four for four. The Adventures of Pete & Pete was a brilliant kids show that didn't talk down or isolated children. Not only gave them something to relate and idolize to, but it was also a show about the joys of childhood and the perks of adolescence that adults can watch and pine nostalgic for. It featured two brothers so far in age that you'd expect them to not relate to each other at all, but they miraculously treated each other well, but still fought like real brothers. Showed nearly high and lowlight of life in the early double digits. This is a one of a kind show that could have only been made in the height of the network's creativity.

Essential Eps:
"What We Did on Our Summer Vacation"- Mr. Tastee all over the world, eating cheeseburgers in the pool (literally IN the pool), finding a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme buried into the sand, and cameos by Michael Stipe and Kate Pierson? Not a bad way to make a classic. Not to mention that the endless appeal of the blue tornado still calls to me now.
"The Nightcrawlers"- If any other show did this story, it'd either be entirely fair to Little Pete or Mom. This show was able to make us side with both and help to perfect the bond between the mother and son. It's a highly inventive, fun episode.
"X=Why?"- Pete's "girlfriend" Ellen dares to ask the ultimate question- Y do we need algebraic equations? This one little outburst set to destroy the entire school system of Wellsville in the balance, and made for one of the most memorable episodes of the series.


3- Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994)



You know, Clarissa was not only the first show starring a female lead on Nickelodeon, but also one of the first "girly" shows that got boys to watch as well. That deserves plenty of praise on its own, but the show wouldn't be anywhere near as memorable if it wasn't also quite good.

There's plenty to remember about the show. That ungodly catchy theme song. How Clarissa's best friend Sam would climb up to her room through the window instead of coming in through the door. Clarissa and Ferguson's nicknames to each other. The cheesy computer games from the earlier episodes. Clarissa's pet aligator, Elvis. The funky early 90's fashion. Oh, not to mention seeing Melissa Joan Hart before Sabrina and her new ABC Family show.

Clarissa is a classic because it features all of the typical struggles of teenage life, set to the mind of a clever, likable narrator. Dating and rejection? Check. Isolation from your loved ones? Yep. Embarrassment all over the place? You better believe it. Hart gets a lot of mileage out of her role as Clarissa, and even during the early episodes before Sam and Ferguson's actors really got the hang of their characters, shined brightly as the lead.

It also might just be the first taste of feminism most 90's kids got a hand of. The entire show consisted of Clarissa making her own choices, some not always the best, but always coming from her own will. You also got to see inside the mind of a regular teenage girl and have some factors explained that tend to confuse those who aren't one. Like, for example, why girls expect boys to ask them out- women, more often than not, are deeply afraid of rejection, which is why they hope that their crush makes the jump before they set their hopes too high. Or that fashion is so important as an expression of creativity and comfort, which also comes to bite women in the butt later on.

It's funny, the near-simultaneous ending of Clarissa, Doug and my #2 choice also happened to be what changed Nickelodeon's scheduling methods. Back in the day, Nick wouldn't air a show daily unless it reached 65 episodes or ended production, which often times meant one and the same thing. When these 3 shows finished their runs all within the course of a few months and starting airing on weekdays, Nick saw that they were doing better than ever in the ratings, and went on to change their system as such. Programs tend to do extraordinarily better when they air repeats on a semi-regular basis, giving people who didn't have a chance to watch new episodes consistently or weren't originally interested in watching the show more time to get invested.

Doug, of course, would be bought by Disney. Clarissa had a spin-off for CBS commissioned, in which we see Clarissa make it as a news anchor after leaving the house. A pilot was made but the series wasn't picked up, leaving it to air as a special on Nickelodeon. As for my runner-up choice for the list, well...

Essential Eps:
"Cool Dad"- Easily the most vintage 90's episode, you get to see Sam and Marshall dance in MC Hammer pants. Doesn't that just sound peachy keen? It's also an effective ode to the embarrassing parent, a trend the show wasn't afraid to exploit.
"She Drives Me Crazy"- Here, Clarissa and Ferguson have to pretend to be loving siblings, which of course ends disastrously. Their relationship was one of the biggest selling points of the show, due to how naturally their bond was sold, and the two actors have a lot of fun here.
"Life of Crime"- Clarissa steals a corset and fears her potential life of crime. This isn't a plot you'd expect the network to tackle again any time soon, or as well as they do here.


2- Rugrats (1991-2004)



I've got to say it, even though it wasn't my personal favorite, Rugrats was THE show of my generation. Pokemon was only a monster for a year or two, and fell out of its popularity shortly after the start of the new millenium (it caught back on a few years later and hasn't left the public eye ever since, but that's another story entirely). Power Rangers, the same thing, but earlier in the decade and for maybe a somewhat longer time. And while SpongeBob might be an ultimately bigger show, it didn't really start to catch on until I was growing outside of the target audience.

Rugrats was huge during the entirety of the mid 90's until about a year or two into the aughts, and even then, still remains a part of the network to this day, in one way or another. Watching those first 3 seasons, it's easy to see why it caught on so much. The show markets towards the one era in time it would be possible for children to get nostalgia about, infanthood, and makes for some larger than life adventures. It also was appealing to adults for its clever use of dialogue and sharp character interactions between the parents.

It's also a marketing genius, which i don't think was the intention. There's a Rugrat for everyone to relate to. Were you a Tommy, a brave kid with a heart of gold? Or a Chuckie, a scaredy cat whose heart is just as pure? Maybe you were Angelica, a manipulative spoiled brat, whether you'd like to admit it or not. Or you could be like Phil and Lil, who loved to mess with things and wouldn't separate from their siblings. There's also Susie, the baby sibling whose goal in life was to prove that they were more than just the little one. There's even Dil, who was a little like Susie, but content in being the baby.

There were plenty of lows alongside the highs, particularly later in its run (Rugrats Go Wild, anyone?), but watching the show again, I think it stands for a majority of what made the network so great. It's funny, it has authentically sweet moments, there's a surprising amount of character development in between Angelica's tyranny, and Stu and Drew's rivalry never gets old.

There's only one show that can top it in terms of children's entertainment. And this is when you cue the riff.

Essential Eps:
"Angelica Breaks a Leg"- Even besides that one scene, and you better know which one I'm talking about, this is a good one, highlighting Angelica's manipulative side and giving her some rightfully needed just desserts at the end.
"A Rugrats Passover"- As a Jewish fan, I love it when the show occasionally embraced Tommy and his mom's side of the family's faith in Judaism. This is a perfect celebration of the most important Jewish holiday out there, which only helped to cement the show's importance and legacy.
"Ghost Story"- Proof that not all post-movie episodes are bad, this one has some fun storytelling and a classic appearance of the main characters from AAAHH!!! Real Monsters.

1- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2004-2007)



This show started just as I started middle school. Perfect timing, right? I could easily say that I went through middle school the same time Ned and friends did, except they split seventh grade in 2 seasons, one per semester, so I ended up finishing a year ahead and watched it progress through freshman year of high school. I'm just glad that I was there for the ride.

I'm a 90's kid at heart, but I don't think that a more genuine, worthy adaptation of the perils of those two or three years (depending on how sixth grade is set up in your county) in between elementary and high school. You get to see the whole cast go through puberty together, which leads into some awkward moments for the cast, but rightfully so.

The show gets its high support due to the big supply of character development. There's no wish fulfillment here, at least, not at first. Almost everyone gets to meet their goals by the end of the series, but not in the way you'd expect, and they had to work to make it that far. Ned gets to be with his long-time crush Suzie Crabgrass, but things don't work out the way he or we were expecting. Cookie stops being a "robot" by the end of the show and gets the girl, but the one he initially disregarded for so long. And Moze gets to evolve beyond being the gawky best girl friend of Ned and Cookie and become her own woman, and also gets to be the rightful girlfriend of... well, I'm giving it away. The supporting characters get a fair amount of development too, but I'll save that for you to discover on your own.

Not to mention that it's just funny. The show is often written like a cartoon, full of slapstick and pratfalls. It also contains Daran Norris, a great voice actor, as Gordy, the hysterical janitor. There's even an episode where Marc Weiner appears, with the Weinerville get-up and all.

I can't praise the show enough, which is why I put it at #1.

Essential Eps:
"Guide to: Emergency Drills"- Maybe the pinnacle of the show's goofy, cartoony side. Gordy drugged up and attacking Mr. Monroe in his state? Priceless.
"Guide to: Upperclassmen"- "Boy, that was the hardest math exam I had to take." "But that's the English room." "...that's why it was so hard." Priceless.
"Guide to: New Grade"- There's nothing like seeing Ned take on half of the entire 8th grade body with his backpack... just to swat a bee. There's so much gold to find in the entire series though.

And that's my top 20! Comments?

[Peter Paltridge]

Well, if Avatar is #6 then what could possibly be better?

Edit: Oh, there's a second page already? I hate it when I don't notice the numbers at the bottom. You put Rugrats ahead of Avatar. That's sad, man. That's sad.

Gir works as a divisor between the bleaker humor for kids, but you still have a woman having a heart attack due to shear happiness set as a joke in the Christmas episode.

"MY HEART EXPLODES WITH JOY!!!" *splat*
Come on, kids love it.

No comments on "Ned," I've never seen that ever. You are too young to be making a list like this, no offense.

[Darklordavaitor]

You are too young to be making a list like this, no offense.

Really? What makes you say that?

[Peter Paltridge]

Really? What makes you say that?

Because it seems to me Rugrats is so high for nostalgia reasons alone. The post-1997 episodes should have kicked it down a few pegs. Also, the top show is a live-action show from the mid-00's.

You also can't judge any of the 1980's shows because you haven't seen them; they were before you were born.

[Darklordavaitor]

Because it seems to me Rugrats is so high for nostalgia reasons alone. The post-1997 episodes should have kicked it down a few pegs.

Well, like I said, I was never actually a huge fan of Rugrats as a kid. I watched it regularly, but more because I felt obligated to. Same with Pokemon, really. I wouldn't have put it so high up if I didn't watch a majority of it again on The 90's Are All That, and found how well a lot of it held up. And not all of the later episode are crap. There's some interesting stuff even after Dil and Kimi was born. But I do agree

You also can't judge any of the 1980's shows because you haven't seen them; they were before you were born.

Um, what 80's shows? I've seen plenty of Double Dare, Finders Keepers and Hey Dude, and bits of pieces of other 80's games shows thanks to GAS, but there really wasn't too much to consider besides Out of Control with Dave Coulier, and no one really seems to remember that.

[Storm Eagle]

Well, like I said, I was never actually a huge fan of Rugrats as a kid. I watched it regularly, but more because I felt obligated to. Same with Pokemon, really.

Why did you feel obligated to watch those shows?

[Darklordavaitor]

Why did you feel obligated to watch those shows?

Peer pressure?

Nah, I liked both shows, but sometimes I felt like I was forced to like them since everyone else did. Or at least, that's what I felt like sometimes. It's a silly thought, really.

[TnAdct1]

Um, what 80's shows? I've seen plenty of Double Dare, Finders Keepers and Hey Dude, and bits of pieces of other 80's games shows thanks to GAS, but there really wasn't too much to consider besides Out of Control with Dave Coulier, and no one really seems to remember that.

Looks like someone hasn't seen You Can't Do That on Television (one of the biggest Nickelodeon shows of the 1980's).

[Darklordavaitor]

Looks like someone hasn't seen You Can't Do That on Television (one of the biggest Nickelodeon shows of the 1980's).

Have you read my posts? I've referenced it plenty of times, and even acknowledged that the reason the show didn't make it on here is because Nick themselves didn't actually make it; it was a CTV original that Nick just aired.

[Lord Dalek]

Have you read my posts? I've referenced it plenty of times, and even acknowledged that the reason the show didn't make it on here is because Nick themselves didn't actually make it; it was a CTV original that Nick just aired.

Well yes and no. Its kind of a well known fact that Viacom was pouring more money into YCDTOTV than CTV was in its final years on the air. To the point that Roger Price was tailoring the show more for the Americans than the Canadians.

[King_of_doom]

Wow really.....Ned is number 1? Oh well i do have my choices myself.