Nickelodeon Proves Why the 90s are All That

The demands of 90s Nickelodeon fans were finally answered this past summer when TeenNick introduced their 90s Are All That block. The line-up of Nickelodeon throwbacks were a part of the programming block that sent Twitter and Facebook into a frenzy as former viewers who consider these shows childhood classics reminisced online.

“I was super excited when I heard they were bringing them back because you just can’t get quality TV like that anymore,” said Erin Crawford, 20-year-old George Washington University student.

The network began playing the audience’s favorites at midnight with All That (1995) and concluded with Doug (1991) at 3:30 a.m. They were also able to catch classics such as Kenan & Kel (1996) as well as Clarissa Explains It All (1992).

The majority of  former viewers, now young adults, found themselves racing to their television sets to catch their favorite Nick programs, just as they did years ago. Many crooned along to TLC’s soulful theme song for All That or bobbed their heads to the beat of Coolio’s rhymes, signaling the start of another crazy adventure with Kenan and Kel.

While this trip down memory lane may have made some of us feel happy and nostalgic, it caused others to become conscious of how old they’ve become.

“It makes me feel old…I sometimes remember how great it felt to watch these shows, feel carefree, and just enjoy the funny moments,” said Sara Harris, a 20-year-old student at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Watching the shows didn’t make me feel old.” said A’talah Foster, a 20-year-old student at California State University, Sacramento. “Age didn’t even cross my mind.”

What about that awkward moment when someone younger than you can’t relate to your enthusiasm over your favorite 90s shows?

“I spoke to my 10-year-old sister about the shows. She had no idea what I was talking about,” said Foster. “But she had the audacity to tell me iCarly was better!”

The idea of aging brings others a sense of pride instead of horror.

“I feel proud. We have our own distinct group. Something that belongs to ‘90s kids,” said Ariel Young a 19-year-old who attends George Washington University.

That sense of pride and ownership of the original Nicktoons and sitcoms, may have been part of the reason TeenNick’s ratings skyrocketed when they flashed back to the 90s. According to Entertainment Weekly, the block averaged 550, 000 viewers which is a 114 percent increase from last year. Whether you were apart of the 90s brigade glued to their televisions or not even the slightest bit interested, numbers don’t lie.  

These shows have taken aback many to days that were less complicated. No matter how old people get, they never seem to forget the blissfulness of childhood.