Growing Up Nickelodeon

I admit that my love of Nick faded as I grew older, but it wasn't until I went to college that I stopped watching completely. I didn’t stop watching because of some notion that I was too old for the channel, either; it was equal parts lack of time and not caring much for the newer programming. Still, there were few programmes I made sure to tune in to when I was in high school and after college. Some were mentioned in part one of this article; here are a few more ...

Ren and Stimpy (running from '91-'96 — yes, it should have been included last month) was a work of genius from the mind of John Kricfalusi about the lives of an extremely stupid, gullible cat and an ill-tempered, conniving dog (voiced by Kricfalusi himself). I have to confess, I absolutely hated John K's prior show, The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse, so I was skeptical about Ren and Stimpy. Still, my curiosity overwhelmed me: I wanted to know what all my friends were gushing about, so I gave it a shot. And, despite the show being full of very gross humour and violence, I was entirely charmed. Maybe because it was such a groundbreaker, pushing the envelope of good taste. Maybe because, for a teen, I seriously needed to lighten up, and the show enticed me to do just that.

During the show's original run on Nick, it wasn't long before it suffered an unfortunate number of copycats who seemed to miss that it was the show's originality that made it special. In fact, it seems to me like a great number of Nick's own shows after that point, as well as much of The Cartoon Network's "original" programming, were imitations, some of them decent enough, others very poor, but none even approaching Ren and Stimpy's greatness.

To this day, the original show still pushes all the right funny buttons for me. Well, the Kricfalusi-produced episodes do; the ones made after he was fired were so-so, but not nearly the same caliber — maybe because the actor who replaced his voice for Ren (Billy West, who was already doing Stimpy) just couldn’t pull off the character as well. I haven't yet seen any of the later eps — the one's which marked Kricfalusi's return to producing the series — that aired on Spike TV under the name Ren and Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon in 2003.

I still like to sing the "Log" song. "Log rolls down stairs / Rolls over in Pairs/ Rolls over your neighbor's dog ...." And I notice that another song from the show, "Happy Happy Joy Joy", is now being used in a commercial — though I'll be darned if I can remember what the commercial is for ....

I didn’t watch this next show with any regularity, but if I happened to be flipping through channels and it was on, I would watch Clarissa Explains it All ('91-'94 — okay, so I forgot to include this one last edition too, probably because I didn’t start watching it right away), a sitcom which featured Melissa Joan Hart as teen Clarissa Darling, who would break the "fourth wall" and tell the audience about her life. Obviously being a teen girl myself at the time made it easy to relate to. And when Hart starred in Sabrina the Teenage Witch later, I watched that, too.

I never watched Doug ('91-'94), a show about the life and misadventures of a young schoolboy and his dog, but I did watch its spin-off, Brand-Spankin' New Doug ('96-'99) on ABC on Saturday mornings, so I thought it deserved a mention. I thought it was funny and cute, but it was one of those shows where everyone I knew seemed to hate it, probably because it was extremely popular among kids and parents but nothing about it was aimed at adults (it had no subversive undertones).

As I mentioned last issue, I was a big fan of The Tomorrow People backing the eighties. The series was re-made in the nineties (1992-'95 in the UK, I'm not sure when exactly it aired on Nick), with the premise mildly altered: the kids' powers were apparently alien-derived; and TIM the supercomputer was gone, replaced by an alien ship. I was both excited and annoyed: glad to see the franchise back in action, but irritated with Nick's constantly advertising it as their "first original sci-fi series". I mean, a) it wasn't even produced for them in the first place, and b) there was no nod to the actual original series it was based on — it was being billed as if it was this new, original concept! But that aside, I loved the show itself: it was well-produced, had good stories, and, well, the lead, Adam (Aussie actor Kristian Schmid), was hot. And Megabyte (Canadian Christian Tessier, Lt Tucker "Duck" Clellan on the new Battlestar Galactica) was funny! I was really sorry to see this show go.

I loved the book series Animorphs, about a small group of kids who are granted shapeshifting powers by a dying alien in order to fight an invasion of body-snatching, parasitic, slug-like beings (think Stargate's Goa'uld). So you can imagine I was pretty psyched when I heard it was being made into a TV series (1998-200). Alas, I wasn't in a situation where I could either watch or record the show, so I didn’t get to see very much of it. And I have to admit, what I did see of it didn’t impress me all that much (though I did buy a video of it when I found it on clearance). Like so many adaptations, it was altered a little too much for my liking, and most of the actors did not resemble my mind's eye's vision the characters, not in image (the fault of the book's covers, really), or in personality. Still, I’d like to note that this was the break-out role for Shawn Ashmore (Bobby Drake, AKA Ice Man, in the X-Men movies), who played Jake. His twin brother appeared on the show as well; Aaron now plays Jimmy Olsen on Smallville.

I suppose I should have gotten into Rocko's Modern Life ('93-'97), a toon about the life of a wombat who works at a comic book store, but in the few instances where I'd caught a snippet, it just didn’t grab me. I count it as a lackluster Ren and Stimpy-imitation as well, though I'll probably get lynched for saying so. Frankly, I'm getting tired of that genre of animation, which I like to call "hideously-ugly-character comedy" .... I haven't seen a lot of Rugrats, about the misadventures of a grup of toddlers, but I've rather liked what I have seen of it. I've seen part of The Wild Thornberries Movie, about the life of a family of wildlife documentary-makers, one of whom can talk to animals, and liked that. Still, haven't seen the rest of the movie, nor any of the TV series. I have heard a lot of great things about Invader Zim (2001-'02), but never managed to catch it; I wonder if I would have similarly found it to not live up to the hype. I can't see the appeal of SpongeBob Squarepants ('99-present), but so many people I know adore it .... Fairly Oddparents is another "hideously-ugly-character comedy" that I only find mildly entertaining. I have caught Danny Phantom (2004-'07), about a boy who becomes a ghost superhero, a few times and liked it, but I'm terrible about keeping up with shows that are on stations that I don’t watch huge blocks of programming on (as I do on Sci Fi or The Cartoon Network), or watch with others .... And no, I haven't seen Avatar: The Last Airbender, partially for the above reason, and partially because I've been told that those with fire-oriented power are usually the bad guys. I take my status as a fire sign very seriously *wink* ....

In 1989, the world was introduced to the unusual world of two brothers with the same name. Starring Mike Maronna and Danny Tambernelli, The Adventures of Pete & Pete was created by Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi as a series of minute-long shorts. Five half-hour specials followed, and then in 1993, Pete & Pete premiered on Nickelodeon as a regular series.

Praised for its quirkiness and originality, Pete & Pete is regarded as a classic in children's programming. Presented as little more than a peek into the lives of two brothers living in an ordinary American suburb, Pete & Pete was so much more than that. Their seemingly average world was the setting for what were oftentimes surreal adventures, such as a family roadtrip that turns into a race for honor, or a gym class that turns into a battlefield. Episodes were narrated by the older Pete, whose dry humor and wry outlook on life would set the stage for some of the show's more absurd moments. The younger Pete, with his tattoo named Petunia, bulleted through life with a hard-edged cynicism, tempered only by his age and his best friend, the superhero Artie. An assortment of characters completed the world of the Petes, including their parents — Dad was a typical sitcom father, Mom had a metal plate in her head that picked up radio waves. Celebrites often made appearances as various townspeople, such Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi, Debbie Harry, Patty Hearst, and many others one might not expect to see on a children's program.

The Adventures of Pete & Pete only lasted for three seasons, but it was an important part of my youth. I often tell people that unless they've seen the show, they can't really understand where my sense of humor comes from. If nothing else, the brothers Pete taught me that no matter how ordinary the surroundings, there's something extraordinary that can be found in everyday life, if you just know how to look.

Animaniacs
Years Aired on Nick: 1993-1995
Yakko Warner: Rob Paulsen
Wakko Warner: Jess Harnell
Dot Warner: Tress MacNeille

Plot: The three Warner siblings escape from their 'home' of the water tower on the Warner Bros movie lot and wreak havoc everywhere they go.

My Thoughts: This was one of my favorite animations as a teenager. My friends and I would constantly make new lyrics for the theme song. Many inside jokes came from the hilarity and double entendres of Animaniacs. Being as the show was set on the Warner Brothers lot there were often little cameo/spoofs on actors, which highly amused me. Of course cross overs and cross references are one of those little things that bring me pleasure.

Inspector Gadget
Years Aired on Nick: 1993-1995
Country of Origin: Canada, France, and United States
Inspector Gadget: Don Adams
Penny: Cree Summer (later Holly Berger)
Brain, Dr. Claw, and Mad Cat: Frank Welker
chief Quimby: Hadley Kay, (later Maurice LaMarche)

Plot: Inspector Gadget was a police agent that had been 'changed' to have special abilities. These abilities ranged from spring feet, to an umbrella from his hat/head. He enacted these 'gadgets' by saying, "Go go gadget .... " Now Gadget somehow became this super secret awesome agent, but he happened to be a bumbling fool. The only reason he didn't kill himself and everyone around him was because his niece, Penny, and her dog, Brain, would follow him whereever he went and do what he was supposed to be doing, which always seemed to lead back to Dr.Claw the evil super genius of MAD.

My Thoughts: I had two things that I looked forward to seeing during Inspector Gadget: the Mad Cat and what crazy things would come out of Gadget himself. Overall it was the same show every time, with variations on location and what receptacle chief Quimby happened to be in when Gadget accidentally blows him up. I liked the show as a child, but in retrospect, I'm not really sure why.

Pinky and The Brain
Years Aired on Nick: 1993-1996
Country of Origin: United States
Pinky: Rob Paulsen
Brain: Maurice LaMarche

Plot: Why to take over the world! Both Pinky and Brain are lab mice. Every night they escape from their cages and attempt to take over the world. Yep, that's it.

My Thoughts: This was my favorite short from Animaniacs. The premise was simple and repetitive, but oh so very amusing. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Invader Zim
Years Aired on Nick: 2001-2002
Country of Origin: United States
Zim: Richard Steven Horvitz
GIR: Rosearik Rikki Simons
Dib: Andy Berman
Gaz: Melissa Fahn

Plot: Zim is an incompetent invader that was "assigned" the Earth for Irken invasion and total domination. He decided to do this by blending in at an Earth school and learning where the weakest parts of the human race are to better take them over with. His nemesis is Dib, a classmate that knows Zim is an alien, but no one will listen to him.

My Thoughts: This show has some of the best and most unique humor. I think to really appreciate Invader Zim you have to have a 'random' and quirky sort of humor. So, yes, I enjoy this show very much. :-)

Animaniacs was a variety show, providing a set of skits every episode featuring the cast of diverse and interesting characters.

Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Pinky and the Brain, Hello Nurse, Dr. Otto Scrachansniff, Slappy Squirrel, Skippy Squirell, Rita and Runt, the Goodfeathers, and a cast of others provided solid entertainment for all types.

Where the show really shined was a parody was the focus of a show. The Wizard of Oz, Apocalyse Now, Friends, Beauty and the Beast, Star Trek and a dozen others were artfully and comically mocked.

One other thing that few people realize about this show is that it was also educational. Songs sung on the show were good learning tools to help remember things like all the countries in the world, the capitals of states and the planets in the universe. The song "Yakko's World," with
lyrics by Randy Rogel, is perhaps their most famous. Other well-known songs
include "Wakko's America", "The Warners' Presidents", "Schnitzelbank", and "Yakko's
Universe" (Wikipedia.com).

My favorite? The Goodfeathers, a trio of pigeons based off the gangsters in Goodfellows, always good for a laugh.

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Season 1:

Avatar is an anime series on Nickelodeon. Avatar is also the title given to a young 12-year-old boy named Aang, who can save the world. The series has only aired for two seasons, but it has made quite an impact so far. Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

The first episode of Avatar starts with two siblings, Katara and Sokka, squabbling as usual. Katara and Sokka are members of the Southern Water tribe, in the arctic ice of the Southern pole. In the world of Avatar, civilization is divided up into four nations: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. As you would expect, the people and the land reflect the divisions by the Elements. In each Nation, there are individuals with a special ability to 'bend' or manipulate the elements. Katara is a beginning 'Waterbender' and it is her power that released Aang and his enormous water bison Appa from his 100 year old prison of ice.

Upon waking from his century long frozen state, Aang is horrified to discover that he is literally the last of his kind, an Airbender. Not too long after Aang was frozen, the Fire Nation attacked and destroyed Aang's people. Not only did the Fire Nation destroy Aang's people, they are also seeking to control or destroy the remaining nations: Water and Earth.

Kotara and Sokka learn that not only is Aang an Airbender, he is also the latest in a line of Avatars, super special individuals with the capability to bend all of the elements. Aang has learned only air and needs to learn to manipulate the other three elements in order to help defeat the Fire Nation. And he doesn't have much time, for by the end of the summer a comet will pass by the Fire Nation, which will give them vast powers to complete their domination of all the kingdoms. If the Fire Nation gains that power, not even the Avatar can stop them.

In their long journey to the realm of the Northern Water Tribe riding Aang's flying water bison Appa, Katara, Aang and Sokka run into many friends and foes, dodging the soldiers and generals of the Fire Nation, especially on young man, Zuko. Zuko is out of favor with his father, the Lord, and is particularly driven to capture the Avatar to restore his own name and honor in the Fire Nation.

Katara, Aang and Sokka, each experience personal challenges and grow and learn as individuals while forging a deep bond with each other. Even the 'villains' of Avatar are given their own personal set of challenges and growth. Which is what makes Avatar a great series, the wonderful characters.

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Season 2:

Season 1 left us with the gaping fascination of an awesome display of Avatar power and the defeat of General Zhao as well as the disturbing horror of finding out that Zuko actually has a sister. Shock! Gasp! Amazement! Early on in season 2, this new character, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, shows us her worth as a villainess; unlike her brother, Zuko, who is always unsure, shaky, and unsuccessful, Azula is arrogant, powerful, conniving and commanding — and she wins. Yes, a villain who almost always wins against just about everyone. Brownie points major. "The Drill," a later episode featuring one of the most impressively choreographed and animated battles of the series between Aang and Azula, earned Giancarlo Volpe an Annie Award (the animation industry equivalent of an Oscar) for Best Director of an Animated Television Production. She is also one of the only two known Benders who can produce lightning, which introduces the concept of interchangeability among the elements that is discussed in depth later in the season (particularly during the episode in which Aang learns how to control the "Avatar State").

Her first act of total disregard for anything sacred in the world was forcing her brother Zuko into hiding by making him a wanted enemy of the Fire Nation — "insult to injury" considering he was already exiled to begin with. This is a very important premise, children! Thanks to his new fugitive/refugee status, our jaded prince is forced to live amongst the inhabitants of the very nations he and his brethren spent well over a century oppressing. He begins to relate with their troubles, their woes, their sufferings ... that's right. Zuko begins a major character transformation which, in my opinion, was one of the best displays of character development in animation history. Uncle Iroh plays the principle role in guiding his nephew's internal metamorphosis, taking on more of a fatherly role than that of an uncle.

At the mention of Uncle Iroh, my dear readers, we must all bow our heads for a moment of silence. The Nickelodeon staff made a point punctuating one of the segments of the episode "Tails of Ba Sing Se" (a five-part episode revolving around the major characters) with the concluding frame reading "In Honor of Mako." For the uninitiated, Mako (born Makoto Iwamatsu) was a notable Japanese-American Hollywood actor and voice actor who died on July 21st, 2006. He was the original voice of Uncle Iroh.

His voice is to be featured as the voice of Splinter in the current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, TMNT, whose release was announced the day before his death.

Meanwhile, Aang and his crew sally forth to Omashu to cash in on the earthbending lessons promised by King Bumi in season 1. Without divulging too much to those who wish to buy the box set, let's just say things get a little more than just "friendly" between Aang and Katara on the way there. No such luck for these crushers, though, since a tragedy in Omashu forces Aang to seek earth bending training elsewhere.

Enter Toph Bei Fong, also known as the "Blind Bandit."

This new character has taken the face of the series by storm and has garnered an insanely large fan-following in her very first season on Avatar: The Last Airbender. As her nickname would imply, Toph is blind; she uses earthbending to "see" using the vibrations given off by objects and persons in motion. The "bandit" part comes into play with the fact that she is the Avatar-universe equivalent to a pro wrestling champion. No, I'm not kidding. She first met Aang after, in an attempt to meet her and recruit her as his teacher, he defeated her in a "match" — earth vibrations don't exactly help when your opponent is as light as air — in the episode titled after her nickname. She is a strong, independent girl with a massive amount of pride which she carries well; it is shown, inarguably, by the end of the season that Toph is in fact the most powerful earthbender in the world, she being the only known Bender to have conquered metal. With this 12-year-old master's solid, sometimes harsh, guidance, Aang begins to master the earth element. This girl also earned her character designer, Yu Jae Myung, an Annie Award this past February.

Now a posse of four, Aang and the others set their sights on reaching the Earth Kingdom capital, Ba Sing Se, to reveal some newfound knowledge on how to defeat the Fire Nation to the Earth King. The group, upon arriving, manages to foil an in-progress attempt by Azula to drill through the city's outer wall and invade only to enter and find that something far more insiduous is already going on within the government itself. The emphases on racism, government conspiracy, and brainwashing are heavy in this latter part of the season, thus setting the tone for the grand finale (which you can guess by now isn't good).

Aang and the others succeed in making it through the vicious "red tape" of the administration to inform the King not only of the means through which the Fire Lord can be defeated, but even that does not secure a happy ending for our heroes. Preparing to militarize, the Earth King and his new military advisor, Katara, welcome the Kyoshi warriors from season past who show up at the palace gates to offer their aid. Unbeknownst to the King, these Kyoshi warriors are in fact Princess Azula and her cronies attempting to rally the King's enemies within the government and stage a massive coup over the kingdom.

Keep in mind what I said about Azula nearly always winning.

Readers, there is so much more to say and so much more to discuss and explain. But why shall I ruin it for those who thrive upon DVD box sets and reruns? The rest shall be left up to you to find and watch in the latest, most exciting season of TV's greatest animated show, Avatar: The Last Airbender — a show so marvelous and grand that M. Night Shymalan thinks (and did so aloud around January 8th, 2007) that it should be made into a live-action film ....

... that's a hint, people. Click the complimentary link at the bottom of the links below!

Growing Up Nickelodeon: 1981-1991 — The first part of this edition of Tart Time Machine ....
Nick @ Wikipedia — A list of most of the shows broadcast on the station over the years....
The Internet Movie Database — A fantastic resource for information about actors, producers, screenwriters, TV sows, and movies ....
Shyamalan's 'Avatar' also to bigscreen — Filmmaker to create his version of Nick series