TMC1982
05-14-2007, 11:00 PM
Nickelodeon's peak period I think existed from 1991 (when the original Nicktoons premiered) until 1999-2000 (when the "Golden Age" of "All That" ended). This was around the time that Geraldine Laybourne was running the network (1983-1996 to be exact).
However, I grew up watching stuff like "You Can't Do That on Television", "Mr. Wizard's World", "Don't Just Sit There", "Double Dare", "Out of Control", "Pinwheel", "Special Delivery" etc. as the network was building and building. That period (1979-1990) could be considered the true "classic" era of Nickelodoen. Also during this period, they had tons of shows different parts of the world like France, Germany, Canada (e.g. "You Can't Do That on Television"), England (e.g. "Danger Mouse", "Count Duckula", and "Bananaman"), Spain, etc. Nickelodeon back then, was more of an "educational" channel.
However, by 1999, it could be argued that Nick went excessive in airing their own original NickToons (instead of a mixture of game shows, live-action sitcoms, etc.). It in essence, became sort of a surrogate Cartoon Network. Half of the Nicktoons becoming dominated by Klasky-Csupo. This was right around the time that Herb Scandell took over for Geraldine Laybourne.
I think the problems with Nickelodeon today are several key factors:
*Live-action shows that lack originality or anything truly unique. Imagine something like "The Adventures of Pete & Pete", for example or "The Secret World of Alex Mack" and "Salute Your Shorts" being on Nick's schedule. I do like "Ned's Declassified..." but to me, that show kind of resembles the original format of "Welcome Freshmen" (an irreverent satire on high/junior high school life). "Unfabulous" with Julia Roberts' niece to me, comes across as a knock off of "Clarissa Explains it All" and/or "Lizzie Maguire." And why or how Britney Spears' little sister "earned" her own show (especially considering that her character on "Zoey 101" is so boring), I have no clue?
*Appealing too much to tween viewers (the same thing that's wrong with the Disney Channel today). Take for instance, "All That" post-Season 6. Also around 2000, it seemed like Nickelodeon was trying to hard to be like MTV. They start showing more music videos, we get "TeeNick", we get "Slime Time Live", we get "U-Pick Live", etc. It bugs the hell out of me that Nickelodeon would completely junk the "SNICK" concept (a Saturday night insitution, big Orange couch and all, since 1992) in favor of more "TeeNick." To put it in another way, the network tried to hard (and still is I feel) to be "trendy" and up to date.
However, I grew up watching stuff like "You Can't Do That on Television", "Mr. Wizard's World", "Don't Just Sit There", "Double Dare", "Out of Control", "Pinwheel", "Special Delivery" etc. as the network was building and building. That period (1979-1990) could be considered the true "classic" era of Nickelodoen. Also during this period, they had tons of shows different parts of the world like France, Germany, Canada (e.g. "You Can't Do That on Television"), England (e.g. "Danger Mouse", "Count Duckula", and "Bananaman"), Spain, etc. Nickelodeon back then, was more of an "educational" channel.
However, by 1999, it could be argued that Nick went excessive in airing their own original NickToons (instead of a mixture of game shows, live-action sitcoms, etc.). It in essence, became sort of a surrogate Cartoon Network. Half of the Nicktoons becoming dominated by Klasky-Csupo. This was right around the time that Herb Scandell took over for Geraldine Laybourne.
I think the problems with Nickelodeon today are several key factors:
*Live-action shows that lack originality or anything truly unique. Imagine something like "The Adventures of Pete & Pete", for example or "The Secret World of Alex Mack" and "Salute Your Shorts" being on Nick's schedule. I do like "Ned's Declassified..." but to me, that show kind of resembles the original format of "Welcome Freshmen" (an irreverent satire on high/junior high school life). "Unfabulous" with Julia Roberts' niece to me, comes across as a knock off of "Clarissa Explains it All" and/or "Lizzie Maguire." And why or how Britney Spears' little sister "earned" her own show (especially considering that her character on "Zoey 101" is so boring), I have no clue?
*Appealing too much to tween viewers (the same thing that's wrong with the Disney Channel today). Take for instance, "All That" post-Season 6. Also around 2000, it seemed like Nickelodeon was trying to hard to be like MTV. They start showing more music videos, we get "TeeNick", we get "Slime Time Live", we get "U-Pick Live", etc. It bugs the hell out of me that Nickelodeon would completely junk the "SNICK" concept (a Saturday night insitution, big Orange couch and all, since 1992) in favor of more "TeeNick." To put it in another way, the network tried to hard (and still is I feel) to be "trendy" and up to date.