Monday, April 27, 2015

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited

I may be a little biased, but the 1990s was the best time ever in history to be a kid. Mainly because of Nickelodeon.

Recently I decided to watch some of my old favorite shows (I don't know why, but I hope it wasn't a mid-life crisis because that means I'll only live to be 64).

So get comfortable, have a Ring Pop, play a game of MASH, and relive the '90s with me as we review a few of our favorite Nickelodeon programs. It'll be awesome.


Clarissa Explains It All

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Show me a 1990s tween girl who didn't want to be Clarissa Darling. You can't.
photo courtesy of The Gloss

Why I liked it in the 90s:
Clarissa was cool personified. She knew everything.  Her clothes? She was too sophisticated to even care. Her annoying little brother Ferguson? Yeah, we all had one. Did I say how cool she was?

What I thought about it now:
She was really mean to poor Ferg Face. And her parents never said anything about it. The episode I watched was about Clarissa going on a blind date, but she looked like she was about 12. Where was her date taking her? Chuck E. Cheese?

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
Umm... what parent on the face of the planet, now or ever, would be okay with the arrangement of the teenage neighbor boy crawling into Clarissa's room with a ladder whenever he felt like it?

The verdict: If the Darlings were a real family, CPS should've probably gotten involved. C-.


Salute Your Shorts

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
I know the words to "Camp Anawana" better than the lyrics to the National Anthem.
photo courtesy of IMDb

Why I liked it in the 90s:
Loved Donkey Lips' lisp and I was always secretly rooting for Budnick. I thought the little romance between Ug and Mona the mail lady was funny. It goes without saying that I loved the theme song. Get it right or pay the price, Budnick!

What I thought about it now:
My childhood assessment of this one was right on. I pretty much went to sleep when anyone besides Donkey Lips and Budnick were on screen, so maybe they should have gotten a spin-off show of their own. I also enjoyed the fact that there were boomboxes in practically every episode.

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
The tree hugger, the jock (ette), and the spoiled rich girl would not have actually been friends. Come to think about it, this show was great at teaching kids how to stereotype each other.

The verdict: Meh. Give it a C.

The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Possibly the best show ever written.
photo courtesy of Hello Giggles 

Why I liked it in the 90s:
What wasn't to like? Little Pete was funny and big Pete was cute.

What I thought about it now:
This was my favorite out of all the '90s shows I reviewed for this post. In fact, it might be my favorite show, period. I like it even better than I did as a kid. I also never noticed that the opening sequence was not annoying for parents because was a real song by a real band.

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
It was so goofy! Arnie the superhero? Petunia the tattoo? Metal plate that picks up radio stations in mom's head? And yet, it managed to tie all that goofiness together with a Wonder Years sort of feel. Brilliant.

The verdict: I'd be hard-pressed to find another show I'd like to watch with my kids more than this. A+.


Animaniacs

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Sketch comedy for goofy little kids.
photo courtesy of Game Fabrique
Why I liked it in the 90s:
The theme song was so catchy I can still sing it today. It was a silly cartoon and kids like silly cartoons.

What I thought about it now:
The 3 main characters went around stirring up semi-innocent mayhem and watching the results with amused interest — kind of like at our house, except there are more of them.

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
I'm a little puzzled as to why Yakko and Dot are obviously American but their brother Wakko sounds like Ringo Starr.

The verdict: Not my favorite, but fine. B.


Hey Dude

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
photo courtesy of rivr
Why I liked it in the 90s:
It was a sitcom about teenagers, and kids like anything about people a few years older than them. I thought Christina Applegate was pretty.

What I thought about it now:
How did I not notice the terrible dialogue and acting? It was like watching a dress rehearsal for a middle school play, only everyone was wearing mom jeans.

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
These kids were supposed to be running a dude ranch but they never did any work. And not once did I see a horse poop. On a ranch full of horses.

The verdict: Painful to watch, but harmless. C.

Ren & Stimpy

Your Favorite '90s TV Shows Revisited -- What happens when a 1990s kid grows up and re-watches favorite Nickelodeon shows as an adult?  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
photo courtesy of Old School Jabronies
Why I liked the show:
It was bizarre. You never knew what was going to happen next.

What I thought about it now: 
What. The. Heck. Why did my parents let me watch this? This show was not for children. It ranged from mildly creepy to completely disturbing.

What I never noticed as a kid that is glaringly obvious:
Drugs were obviously involved in the entire creative process of this show.

The verdict: Wow. F.



My Nickelodeon-soaked childhood looks nothing like that of my children, given the fact that we don't even have a television in our house, but that's okay. (They'll be writing nostalgic blog posts about the Harry Potter books in 20 years, just you wait.)

I hope you all enjoyed your stroll down memory lane. I know I had more fun watching reruns of my old 1990s favorites than is probably allowed.

What were your favorite shows from your childhood?

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6 comments:

Emma T said...

Being in the UK, Clarissa is the only one I know. I loved it when I was younger too. I might have to go back and watch some of my favourites now. Could be funny.

Jenny Evans said...

I would heartily recommend it. At the very least, it makes you feel that sitting on your behind watching TV isn't wasting time, it's research.

Rachel said...

Wow...I can tell that my family didn't have a lot of channels, or something, because I can't say I've ever heard of any of these before. Either that, or they're from the early 90s?

Jenny Evans said...

Early 1990s, and all on Nickelodeon. (Sorry you missed out.)

Ashley Beolens said...

I only recognise a couple of those (UK) but I loved animaniacs and Ren and Stimpy in my younger days :)

Mia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.