Established in the late 1970s, Nickelodeon was the first North American television channel to focus exclusively on programming intended for children. Taking its name from the coin-operated movie booths that rose to popularity in the early twentieth century, Nickelodeon started a revolution that would change the landscape of TV forever.
Featuring numerous well-known programs over its more than four decades in existence, there are millions of young-at-heart adults still fond of the old days of children's television. From SpongeBob to Doug, All That to Kenan and Kel, here are 10 old Nickelodeon shows that make us feel super nostalgic.
The Angry Beavers (1997 - 2001)
A staple of Nickelodeon's turn-of-the-century lineup, Angry Beavers was a hilarious series that featured the antics of two titular beavers living their lives in the fictional forest village of Wayouttatown, Oregon. It was one of the network's most popular offerings during its four-year run, but tensions between Nick and the show's co-creators, Mitch Shauer and Keith Kaczorek, led to its cancellation in 2001.
It was also one of many series at the time to employ the talents of famed voice actor Richard Steven Horvitz, a talent with whom many children of the late 90s and early 2000s should be familiar.
Rocket Power (1999 - 2004)
Rocket Power was a 1999 Nickelodeon series developed by Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo, the two minds behind another famous 90s Nick series, Rugrats.
Following the exploits and antics of a group of kids living in a fictional Californian seaside town, Rocket Power placed an emphasis on extreme sports, and many of the show's plotlines heavily featured activities like skateboarding, rollerblading, and surfing. It tapped into the radical zeitgeist of the era and feels very much like a product of its time—though that's not a bad thing.
Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1991 - 1995, 1999 - 2000, 2019 - )
Though its original run wasn't exclusive to Nickelodeon, plenty of 90s tweens will have fond and fright-filled memories of the children's horror show Are You Afraid Of The Dark?
An anthology series was built around the narrative framework of a group of kids telling scary stories around a campfire, and many of the tales were downright terrifying. From a zombie drowning unsuspecting swimmers to an evil basement-dwelling entity that eats kids, we're sure that Are You Afraid Of The Dark? left quite a few younger audience members sleeping with the lights on.
The Wild Thornberrys (1998 - 2004)
Debuted in 1998, Nickelodeon's The Wild Thornberrys told the tale of a family of eccentric wildlife documentary filmmakers, shining a spotlight on Eliza, a young girl blessed with the ability to communicate with animals.
Along with the family's pet chimpanzee Darwin, Eliza and her family would go on all sorts of adventures which often highlighted themes of wildlife conservation. A series that made fans laugh as often as it tugged on their heartstrings, The Wild Thornberrys was a series not easily forgotten by those growing up in the late 90s.
The Adventures Of Pete & Pete (1993 - 1996)
Originally a series of minute-long sketches which debuted as early as 1989, The Adventures of Pete & Pete evolved into a 1993 children's comedy series that marked a major turning point for Nickelodeon. One of the network's first live-action productions to divert from the variety show style much of the network's previous programming had adhered to, Pete & Pete was a hilarious series that set the stage for many beloved shows to come.
Focusing on the everyday suburban hijinks of two brothers, it's often considered one of Nickelodeon's most well-written early TV shows, and it works as something of a precursor to later hits like Drake & Josh and iCarly.
Clarissa Explains It All (1991 - 1994)
Clarissa Explains It All was another of Nickelodeon's earliest live-action comedy series. Adhering to a more traditional sitcom format from which Disney would heavily borrow for its original programming, Clarissa Explains It All focused on the formative years of the titular midwestern teen.
Chronicling her triumphs and hardships, the series offered a more realistic take on the modern American family, and its influence could be seen in ensuing series like Lizzy McGuire and Nickelodeon's own Unfabulous.
Kenan & Kel (1996 - 2000)
A duo perhaps most famously known for their roles in Nickelodeon's 1997 comedy special Good Burger, Kenan & Kel was a late-90s sitcom that featured actors from the network's Saturday Night Live approximation, All That.
Focusing on the misadventures of the titular duo, Keenen & Kel broke ground in that it was one of Nick's first series to feature a predominantly African American cast. Though it's sometimes lost in the shuffle of live-action series that were popular at the time, Kenan & Kel deserves credit for helping to solidify Nickelodeon's unique brand of child-friendly comedy.
Rugrats (1991 - 2002)
One of the most iconic Nickelodeon series of all time, Rugrats focused on a gaggle of toddlers and their misadventures, which mostly focused on imagined scenarios based on real-life situations and settings. Often dealing with the issues and hurdles young children face when growing up, it was a series with which almost all younger audiences could relate.
Rugrats grew and evolved as it went, eventually leading to a spin-off series that took place during the main characters' early teen years. Though the main series ended in 2002, it is still fondly remembered today, and a new incarnation of the show is set to premiere on Paramount+ in late May, 2021.
All That
Appearing in several different iterations and formats from 1994 to 2005, Nickelodeon's All That was the single most important variety show in the network's history. Launching the careers of multiple child actors and spawning a handful of beloved spin-off series, Nickelodeon simply wouldn't be what it is today without All That.
From Amanda Bynes to Kenan Thompson, any kid growing up in the mid-to-late 90s will have a soft spot for this series, and the launch of a reboot in 2019 is a testament to its cultural relevance.
SpongeBob SquarePants
Perhaps the most beloved child-friendly television series of all time, SpongeBob SquarePants cemented Nickelodeon as the be-all-end-all of North American animation, and it's so well-regarded that it's still in production more than two decades after its 1999 debut.
Made timeless thanks to its memorable characters and witty, endlessly quotable writing, SpongeBob SquarePants has become an undying cultural landmark. It's destined to go down as the most popular and longest-lasting cartoon production in network history, and, when it comes to animated series, only series like FOX's The Simpsons could rival it in terms of longevity.