Stacy Conradt
The Quick 10: 10 Stars Who Started on Nickelodeon
by Stacy Conradt - March 9, 2010 - 5:10 PM

q10

We all know that Amanda Bynes and Nick Cannon had self-titled shows on Nickelodeon, and SNL’s Kenan Thompson got his big break on the network as well (thanks so much for Good Burger, Kenan. But a few other stars started honing their skills on the network that brought you green slime and Stick Stickley…

christine1. Christine Taylor. I think Hey Dude was my favorite show on Nick – or at least right up there (Are You Afraid of the Dark was definitely in the running as well). Long before she met Ben Stiller, Christine was hanging out on the set of a dude ranch in Arizona. She took the role of Bar None lifeguard Melody Hanson at the age of 18, which was her big break until she landed the part of Marcia in The Brady Bunch Movie.

2. Alanis Morissette. You Can’t Do That on Television was a Canadian show, but when Nickelodeon picked up the show for their then-fledgling network in 1981, it took off stateside as well. Alanis was a regular on the show. It’s also where Nickelodeon picked up their obsession with green slime – the cast of YCDTOT got hosed with the stuff whenever they uttered the phrase “I Don’t Know.”

3. Julie Benz. Most recently known as Rita on Dexter and Robin on Desperate Housewives, Julie’s first big role was on Nick’s Hi Honey, I’m Home! It was a show about a family from a 1950s sitcom whose show got canceled, booting them into the “real world.” Julie played Babs Nielsen, the teenage daughter of the family.

4. Blake Sennett/Soper. Before Blake was rocking in the band Rilo Kiley, he appeared as Ronnie Pinsky in the hilarious (at least, I thought it was) sitcom about summer camp, Salute Your Shorts. He went by Blake Soper by then, and followed up his stint on Nickelodeon with a supporting role on Boy Meets World as Joey “The Rat” Epstein.

nona5. Michelle Trachtenberg. Yes, she was Harriet the Spy, which was a Nickelodeon movie – but before that, she had her first-ever role on T.V. as Little Pete’s best friend on The Adventures of Pete and Pete. Her character liked to wear a cast on her arm because she liked the itchy feeling, not because her arm was actually broken.

6. Rachel Blanchard. Rachel took over for Alicia Silverstone as Cher when Clueless was adapted for the small screen; she also played Sally from the Flight of the Conchords song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room” (the whole wide room). Prior to those roles, she was scaring the crap out of me as part of the Midnight Society on Are You Afraid of the Dark from 1991-1993.

7. Elisha Cuthbert. When Are You Afraid of the Dark was revived in the late ‘90s, Elisha Cuthbert took up the mantle of creeping kids out just before they headed off to bed on Saturday nights. She’s had lots of roles in movies since then, but I bet most people now know her best as Jack Bauer’s daughter on 24.

8. Ryan Reynolds. ScarJo’s husband has always starred as the dreamy hunk – his first show was on the Canadian teen soap opera Hillside, which Nickelodeon bought and repackaged as Fifteen.

9. Mike O’Malley. Even some adults started out on kids’ shows. O’Malley’s big break came at the age of 25 when he was cast to host the game show Get the Picture in 1991, and then GUTS the following year. I loved GUTS. It was like American Gladiators for kids. How could you not enjoy that? O’Malley has had no shortage of projects since then, including Yes Dear and My Name is Earl, but I like him best as Kurt’s dad on Glee.

10. R.L. Stine. Well, you can’t say this was his “big break,” since Stine had already published several teen horror novels by this time, but from 1989-1995 he served as the head writer for the kids’ puppet show Eureeka’s Castle. Not only that, Stine actually co-created the series.

Do you have an old Nickelodeon favorite? Let’s reminisce in the comments.

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Comments (81)

  1. What great memories I have from those shows. Julie Benz was also on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, if I remember correctly.

    posted by Christina on 3-9-2010 at 5:11 pm

  2. I liked Mo from GUTS when I was little, but I think it’s only because she had an English accent like my parents.

    posted by Tim on 3-9-2010 at 5:12 pm

  3. I remember Melissa Joan Hart on Clarissa Explains It All. And Amanda Brynes on The Amanda Show.

    posted by Kari on 3-9-2010 at 5:13 pm

  4. Are you f-ing with me?!? Out of allll the classic shows Hey Dude was your favorite??? Salute Your Shorts, Pete and Pete, Alex Mack, Clarissa, etc, etc, etc, etc. Hey Dude???????

    posted by Nick on 3-9-2010 at 5:17 pm

  5. I loved You Can’t Do That On Television, especially Alasdair. Ladies about my age (37) know what I’m talkin’ ’bout.

    posted by TeacherPatti on 3-9-2010 at 5:21 pm

  6. Kevin Ilyanovich Rasputin Kubecheski?

    posted by Whatever happened to... on 3-9-2010 at 5:32 pm

  7. salute to your shorts was awsome, I am now remembering a lot of different episodes… but why think when there is youtube….. AWFUL WAFFLE!!!

    posted by jeremiah on 3-9-2010 at 5:32 pm

  8. I loved the Adventures of Pete and Pete! And of course Clarissa Explains It All. I was always amazed and the kits she would have under her bed (babysitting kits is what I remember). I would make my own and they were never as cool or helpful as her’s. And she had Elvis the Alligator which was pretty awesome.

    posted by K on 3-9-2010 at 5:33 pm

  9. Kari, speaking of Amanda Bynes, didnt she get her start along with Kenan and Kel, on the show “ALL THAT” it was mildly entertaining show that was a kids saturday night live. fun to watch at that age, doubt it is now though

    posted by jeremiah on 3-9-2010 at 5:34 pm

  10. “Are You Afraid of the Dark” was definitely my favorite! My friends and I back in my old ‘hood formed our own Midnight Society and met in this creepy greenhouse to tell ghost stories. Good time!

    posted by BorgQueen on 3-9-2010 at 5:39 pm

  11. @jeremiah:
    All That got a make over with a whole new cast once our crew grew up. It blows now. No doubt about it. My fav part of All That was Vital Information For Your Everyday Life. “If you’re a girl and your bra is on too tight, you’re uncomfortable. If you’re a boy and your bra is on too tight, I’m uncomfortable.” – Lori Beth Denberg

    posted by Nykkya on 3-9-2010 at 6:05 pm

  12. INVADER ZIM
    REN and STIMPY
    ROCCO’S MODERN LIFE
    RUGRATS

    posted by hannah on 3-9-2010 at 6:08 pm

  13. Welcome, Freshman…call me crazy but I liked it.

    And of course, all the others aleady mentioned, EXCEPT The Secret World of Alex Mack. I hated that show with a passion, but I watched it because Larisa Oleynik is a stone cold fox.

    posted by holly on 3-9-2010 at 6:10 pm

  14. I grew up on Nickelodeon. From the ages of 5 to 12, Nickelodeon made up probably 70% of my TV viewing if not more. The cartoons were great too (Danger Mouse, Count Duckula The Mysterious Cities of Gold, etc.), but as far as live action shows go, You Can’t Do That on Television was definitely my favorite.

    Hey Dude was great. I can totally understand someone considering that their favorite. Like Jeremiah said, Salute Your Shorts was awesome, so you are not alone there, Stacy Conradt.

    As far as a show that hasn’t been mentioned yet, does anybody remember Welcome Freshmen? It didn’t last long, but I thought it was awesome. I’m pretty sure Fifteen aired right after it.

    It’s too bad most of these shows are not available on DVD. I read somewhere that Nickelodeon would have to pay royalties to every kid that appeared on You Can’t Do That on Television (most of the cast was new each year), so they will not release that show on DVD.

    I wish there was a Nick Classic channel that would show all these shows, but thank god for YouTube. When I first discovered YouTube, all I did was watch old Nick cartoons, shows, theme songs, commercials, bumpers, tributes, etc. It was like a magical time machine.

    posted by Kedar on 3-9-2010 at 6:10 pm

  15. When Rachel Blanchard (and the character of David) left Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Joanna Garcia filled their spot. I also remember when Neve Campbell appeared in The Tale of the Dangerous Soup. I thought she was so beautiful.

    Jewel Staite and Rebecca Herbst (General Hospital) were both on Space Cases.

    I’m sure I’ll think of more later.

    posted by Justine on 3-9-2010 at 6:13 pm

  16. Oh, yeah. Kenan Thompson.

    posted by Justine on 3-9-2010 at 6:14 pm

  17. @Holly

    We are kindred spirits. I loved Welcome Freshmen too and had a HUGE crush on Alex Mack, probably the only reason I watched it as well.

    posted by Kedar on 3-9-2010 at 6:14 pm

  18. Oops, didn’t see his name up there. :-P

    posted by Justine on 3-9-2010 at 6:15 pm

  19. @Justine

    Space Cases! I loved that show. IT is totally forgotten by most Nick devotees.

    I loved Hey Dude, I totally wanted to work at the ranch when I was 16. That was my life dream.

    posted by Liz on 3-9-2010 at 7:05 pm

  20. “When Are You Afraid of the Dark was revived in the late ‘90s, Elisha Cuthbert took up the mantle of creeping kids out just before they headed off to bed on Friday nights.”

    Are You Afraid of the Dark was actually in the 4 spot on SNICK, which was a contraction of Saturday Night Nickelodeon.

    posted by Curtis on 3-9-2010 at 7:12 pm

  21. Roundhouse was one of my favorites. I still know the theme song by heart. I wanted to be on that show when I grew up. I cried when it went off the air.
    Welcome Freshmen gave me unrealistic expectations about high school – I was so disappointed my freshman year.
    Loved Salute Your Shorts as well, and Hey Dude was great because I live in Arizona.

    posted by Jill on 3-9-2010 at 7:48 pm

  22. I remember Little Pete’s best friend for a different reason…her dad was played by Iggy Pop

    posted by David on 3-9-2010 at 8:09 pm

  23. Oh man, how I wish all those great shows were still on tv!! I grew up watching Nick at least 80% of the time the tv was on (disney cartoons the other 20%).

    Hey Dude (because i lived 15 minutes from where it was filmed!), Clarissa, Salute your shorts, Alex Mack, Pete & Pete, man those were great shows. They don’t make tv like that anymore.

    posted by Kate on 3-9-2010 at 8:47 pm

  24. How has no one yet mentioned Roundhouse??? Sketch comedy with songs!! And yes, of course, Clarissa, Hey Dude, Fifteen, Are you Afraid, Welcome, Freshmen, You Can’t do That, etc…

    posted by Deidre on 3-9-2010 at 9:04 pm

  25. @ jill
    I loved the Roundhouse! I totally still remember the theme song too! what would you do was effing awesome too… = )

    recaptcha: overacts in…

    posted by julia on 3-9-2010 at 9:06 pm

  26. Kind of ironic that both Alanis Morissette and Ryan Reynolds started on Nickelodeon, since they would end up dating a decade or so later.

    posted by The Revolutionary on 3-9-2010 at 10:36 pm

  27. as far as stars who started, melissa joan heart for sure as clarissa.
    mark summers on what would you do and double dare. he’s an old childhood friends uncle, and i thought i was the shit when i met him at her older brother’s bar mitzvah. haha.
    you can get a handful of the old shows on itunes and some of the cartoons on amazon.

    posted by Rachel on 3-9-2010 at 10:41 pm

  28. Pretty much I love all of Nickeldeon’s old cartoons like KA-BLAM!, Rocko’s Modern Life, Rugrats, etc. etc.

    Recently I watched All That and, now as a sixteen year old, it’s not funny at all. It was funny when it was on about ten(?) years ago as I was the targeted group. Not funny anymore.
    Kids in ten years will be saying the same thing when they rewatch ICarly, Drake and Josh, and such.

    posted by Ellie on 3-9-2010 at 10:49 pm

  29. Hands down my fave was “Roundhouse” – I was soooo sad when that went off the air also! I also loved “Welcome Freshman” (Merv!), “Pete and Pete”, “You Can’t Do That On Television” …. Wow …. awesome memories :)

    posted by Christine on 3-9-2010 at 10:54 pm

  30. @Ellie – I still “LOL” when I watch All-That where Kenan is in the bathtub translating things into French (er, something like that). I’m almost 30 ;)

    posted by Christine on 3-9-2010 at 10:55 pm

  31. I think my favorite show was Mr. Wizard’s World. I also like Doug and Rugrats.

    posted by Dennis Marsh on 3-9-2010 at 11:39 pm

  32. i remember watching “Are You Afraid of Dark” and being in love with emmanuelle chriqui in one of the episodes … now she plays sloan on the series Entourage … but she’s still gorgeous. Nickelodeon should definitely have a TV Land of old nickelodeon cartoons and series.

    posted by JQ on 3-9-2010 at 11:39 pm

  33. I discovered Alex Max when I was watching a friends child after school. That show was great, and even after I stopped sitting, I still watched the show. Nick has some of the best kids shows on the air. And some how unlike the Mouse, the kids that come up through Nick don’t end up shaving their heads or becoming milkaholics. (sorry had to)

    posted by Jan D on 3-10-2010 at 12:04 am

  34. Legends of the Hidden Temple, anyone? My friend has a Red Jaguars shirt, and I’m always tempted to mug him for it whenever he wears it lol

    posted by Anon on 3-10-2010 at 12:26 am

  35. “Pete and Pete” may have been one of the best TV shows ever. I had technically aged out as a Nickelodeon audience member when it came out, but I remember a group of us would gather in our dorm’s common room to watch it my freshman year of college. Without “Pete and Pete,” I can’t imagine “The Drew Carey Show,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” or any of the glut of smart, self-referential TV shows that followed on its heels.

    posted by Kate B. on 3-10-2010 at 12:41 am

  36. I remember Michelle Trachtenberg from her role on “All My Children” where she played an autistic child.

    I was an adult when these shows aired, but I do have a 20 year old who watched them all so I’ve seen my fair share of episodes ;)

    posted by shirleyfeeney on 3-10-2010 at 1:18 am

  37. Ellie–re “Kids in ten years will be saying the same thing when they rewatch ICarly, Drake and Josh, and such.”

    As a mom of a 20 year old, as well as an 8 year old and a 6 year old, I’ve been watching most of these Nick shows for 20 years now. I have to admit that I enjoy, as does my 58 year old husband (I’m 41) Drake & Josh and iCarly much more than most of the “old school” or first-generation Nick shows. They are quite smart, well written, and laugh out loud funny. When a parent can watch and enjoy with their kids, instead of groaning through them as I did with my 20 year old back in the day, that’s fairly smart television.

    posted by shirleyfeeney on 3-10-2010 at 1:23 am

  38. Alanis, baby. I used to hate her. Then I heard “Under Rug Swept.” Now I’d clean her house.

    posted by Joe Maz on 3-10-2010 at 1:34 am

  39. I loved All That! I think Nickolodean has fallen off again. Watching it with my daughter the shows seem a little qierd.

    posted by Lydia on 3-10-2010 at 7:50 am

  40. anyone remember “Out of Control”? It’s the show that introduced us to Dave “Uncle Joey” Coulier, as well as Kathy “Mimi from the Drew Carey Show” Kinney!

    posted by Pete on 3-10-2010 at 8:09 am

  41. i have to thank stacy conradt for writing this, and all of the commenters for helping me remember my childhood, but mostly for remembering the name of welcome, freshmen!! i used to love that show, even if i was 9 or 10 when it aired, but could never for the life of me remember what it was called. such great shows you’ve all mentioned. i can only hope that someday any of these would be on DVD. i’m still holding my breath for daria.

    posted by jess on 3-10-2010 at 9:15 am

  42. I loved You Can’t Do That On Television! Slime, and the phrase “(sigh) Don’t encourage him”. Great show! I had a serious crush on Lisa. My kids watch Nickelodeon now, but the shows just do not compare.

    posted by Dave on 3-10-2010 at 9:19 am

  43. Are You Afraid of the Dark? is STILL one of my faves. You can watch the corny (and sometimes still creepy) episodes on Youtube. :)

    posted by Heather on 3-10-2010 at 9:51 am

  44. Does anyone remember Allen Strange or The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo? And if you do, do you know where I can see them again??

    posted by Ncik on 3-10-2010 at 10:08 am

  45. Just gotta give credit where credit’s due… You mentioned the other Canadian content on here but I don’t see the fact that Are You Afraid of the Dark is also Canadian. Ross Hull is now a meteorologist (sp?) on the Weather Network, which is kind of weird to see.

    BTW: Does anyone know what they threw on the fire to make it *poof* like that?

    posted by fifty-percent on 3-10-2010 at 10:21 am

  46. My favorites were Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, Are you Afraid of the Dark, Clarissa Explains it All, and Salute your Shorts. Good Times – thanks for the trip down memory lane!

    posted by ashley.paige on 3-10-2010 at 10:35 am

  47. the best show on Nickelodeon was always “Double Dare”. You won’t find a kid in America that after watching that show didn’t immediately think “I wanna do that!!”

    posted by NukeGuy on 3-10-2010 at 11:09 am

  48. I cannot for the life of me understand how people liked You Can’t Do That on Television. The jokes, if you can call them that, were beyond lame and the acting was horrible at best. I challenge anyone to watch an old episode now and actually laugh at any of it. All the other Nick shows were great. Pete and Pete, Salute Your Shorts, Hey Dude? Good. You Can’t Do That On Television? I only wish they’d taken the name of the show more seriously and left it off TV!

    posted by JoeD on 3-10-2010 at 11:16 am

  49. We only had cable intermittently when I was growing up. I liked You Can’t Do that On Television and Hey Dude. All of the adult characters on You Can’t Do that On Television freaked me out though, especially the barf burger guy.

    I mostly watched cartoons on Nick like David the Gnome, Noozles and Little Koala.

    posted by vegebrarian on 3-10-2010 at 11:29 am

  50. @ Jess: “Daria” is supposedly being released on DVD this summer! :)

    Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I loved all these shows…anyone else remember “Wild and Crazy Kids”? I hadn’t seen that one mentioned yet.

    I had big crushes on the guy that played Sam on “Clarissa Explains It All” and Kirk Fogg, host of “Legends of the Hidden Temple”. :)

    posted by Krie on 3-10-2010 at 11:35 am

  51. How I miss my childhood shows!

    Legends of the Hidden Temple was freakin awesome! I loved Double Dare. One noone has mentioned: David the Knome. I remember it came on right after Eureka’s Castle and right before the fairy tales. That was definately one of my favorites.

    ReCaptcha: histori these

    fitting, no?

    posted by tinkerschnitzel on 3-10-2010 at 11:37 am

  52. Double Dare for sure! My sister and I would set up a whole obsticle course in our backyard (complete with the Sundae slide) Loved Salute your shorts and Are you afraid of the dark as well!

    posted by ~Geek Girl~ on 3-10-2010 at 11:42 am

  53. Also: According to Wikipedia, James Van der Beek had appeared on Clarissa Explains It All. I had no idea!

    Excerpt from the Wiki entry:

    Paulie Slicksinger (James Van Der Beek): Paulie is a handsome drummer who Clarissa meets at a party in episode “Alter-Ego”, while she is disguised as “Jade”, her punk rock-ish alter ego with a Jersey accent. Because he is so fascinated by Jade, Clarissa is reluctant to reveal herself due to fear of being rejected. At the end, Clarissa cracks under pressure and admits that Jade was an act but Paulie is dumbfounded but is flattered that she would go through all that.

    posted by Krie on 3-10-2010 at 11:48 am

  54. Just thought of another show not mentioned: “Weinerville”! I liked that show, too.

    posted by Krie on 3-10-2010 at 11:56 am

  55. Hey Dude, Roundhouse, Are you afraid of the dark,Wienerville, what would you do, Double Dare,David the gnome,Welcome Freshman, Wild and crazy kids(no one’s mentioned that, I believe)were my favorites. RIP Corey Haim.

    posted by Sara in AL on 3-10-2010 at 12:10 pm

  56. Also Clarissa Explains it all,(break the fourth wall much?)Doug, Rugrats, Salute your shorts.

    posted by Sara in AL on 3-10-2010 at 12:34 pm

  57. Awwwwwww man…this article makes me feel OLD. Let’s see….I recognize You Can’t Do That On Television…

    Erm. I remember watching this when the cable box sat on top of our console t.v. and we had to push the buttons on the box to change channels.

    Channel surfing sounded like this: *clickclickclickclickclickclick*

    Yes. It had a sound.

    I’ll have to ask my kiddos about these other shows you talk about.

    posted by Jen on 3-10-2010 at 1:24 pm

  58. Loved all these shows! Esp. Hey Dude and You Can’t Do That On Television!

    Did anyone watch Pinwheel?? When I was really young I loved that one, along with Today’s Special. Remember the department store w/ Jeff & Jody, and that mouse, Muffy?
    Just realized I can still sing the Pinwheel theme song. Wow. Had no idea my brain was still storing that information. :)

    posted by Gwendolyn on 3-10-2010 at 1:50 pm

  59. I loved “Double Dare” and also “Finders Keepers”. That was the game show where the contestants had to search through messy rooms to find the prize. I was also addicted to “Pinwheel”. I miss my childhood now.

    posted by Fran on 3-10-2010 at 1:58 pm

  60. Someone mentioned Weinerville(which I LOVED) and it reminded me of the other Marc Sommers hosted “game show”–What would you do?

    I wanted to ride on the Pie Pod.

    posted by holly on 3-10-2010 at 2:25 pm

  61. Ah, the memories!! I loved Nick as a kid. My husband grew up without cable, and I enjoy making fun of him mercilessly because he’s never seen All That (I loved Lori Beth Denberg, and Kel’s bathtub French…totally forgot about that) or any of the other classic shows.

    I LOVED Roundhouse, though. Seems to be one that’s often forgotten.

    Also, Nerd Alert: Jewel Staite, who was on Space Cases, was also in Firefly. :)

    posted by Kate on 3-10-2010 at 2:30 pm

  62. Wow…this entire post (and the comments) are for people much younger than me. 40 didn’t seem that old when I got up this morning.

    posted by bre on 3-10-2010 at 2:44 pm

  63. Rocko’s Modern Life.

    That is all.

    posted by Sandy on 3-10-2010 at 2:46 pm

  64. I was a nanny in the mid to late nineties so I’m familiar with most of the shows from that time (The kids were definitely afraid of the dark!) I hated Hey Dude almost as much as Cat-Dog (truly a terrible show)

    When I was in high school I loved watching Fifteen. It was so cheesy, but I couldn’t wait for the next episode…I sometimes wonder what I’d think of it now.

    posted by Tanya on 3-10-2010 at 3:09 pm

  65. I forgot that Amanda Bynes was on All That I didn’t watch that show regularly maybe a couple of episodes.

    posted by Kari on 3-10-2010 at 3:22 pm

  66. I own Pete and Pete seasons 1 and 2 on dvd, and watched them just as recently as a year ago. Im 31 :)

    posted by don on 3-10-2010 at 7:28 pm

  67. I used to LOVE that show Can You Figure It Out? with all the crazy talents and weird clues. And they had the weird “tells” like licking your lips or something that would get you slime-d. And Are You Afraid of the Dark is still one of the scariest shows ever.

    posted by tess on 3-10-2010 at 10:35 pm

  68. oh man!
    No one has mentioned that random arcade video game show they had…where at the end of it, the kids are green screened into a video game!

    I can’t remember the title right now though.

    also? Salute your Shorts, Hey Dude, Pete and Pete were pretty much my favorite shows growing up.

    posted by Andrew on 3-11-2010 at 1:49 am

  69. @ the REvolutionary

    Brittney Spears and Justin TImberlake started out on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and they dated too. . . that’s probably kind of normal.

    RE: Kind of ironic that both Alanis Morissette and Ryan Reynolds started on Nickelodeon, since they would end up dating a decade or so later.

    posted by Alana on 3-11-2010 at 6:08 am

  70. “It’s ‘I hope we never part,’ now get it right or pay the price!”

    Yeah, Salute Your Shorts was my fave.

    posted by Jill on 3-11-2010 at 11:39 am

  71. @Andrew: Nick Arcade was the name of that show. It used to be on some Nick games channel up until a few years ago. I still loved watching “Mikey” when i was 27.

    posted by mike on 3-11-2010 at 1:17 pm

  72. When I was really young, I (sporatically, since we didn’t always have cable) watched David the Gnome and Eureka’s Castle.

    Later on, Rugrats, All That, Clarissa Explains it All, but my favorite was the game show Figure it Out.

    posted by KC on 3-13-2010 at 9:25 pm

  73. finders keepers!!! Loved that one! Also, not Nick, but the first few years that TV Land came out, it played nothing but vintage commercials to go with the vintage shows. I remember staying at home one summer, in Phoenix where it is too hot to play outside, watching Petticoat Junction and That Girl with vintage Slinky and Sergio Valente jeans commercials. My love of all things vintage started right there.

    posted by cinnamontoastgirl on 3-14-2010 at 3:44 pm

  74. fifty-percent-It was just sand.
    Gwendolyn- I remember “Today’s Special! I liked Muffy the best.

    posted by Sara in Al on 3-15-2010 at 3:02 pm

  75. Roundhouse, Clarissa, Hey Dude, Pete & Pete, Today’s Special, Double Dare, the original season of Ren and Stimpy…so much reminiscing. I’m with the person who was freaked out by Barth in YCDTOT.

    I actually wrote a fan letter to David Sidoni on Roundhouse and got the standard form letter answer. Then about two months later, I got an actual handwritten letter that answered pretty much every question I had asked (for some reason, I had it in my head that he and Micki were dating, and he answered something like “I wish!”). He even sent me the doubly-autographed photo I had asked for(by him and Ivan Dudynsky). When the show was in danger of going off the air, I got another handwritten note from him (because as a teen I had nothing better to do than compare the handwriting) and another, different autographed photo. That always stuck with me, obviously! I still have about a dozen VHS tapes of Roundhouse and used to be able to identify the episode just by the clothing the cast wore. Sad, I know.

    posted by SamanthaM on 3-17-2010 at 5:00 pm

  76. OMG Todays special!!!! I loved that show! I still remember bawling when Muffy’s butterfly died! What a weird premise for a show…hahah Love it. Anyone remember \the little prince\ and \noozles\

    posted by ~Geek Girl~ on 3-20-2010 at 1:51 pm

  77. This is so far down I’m not sure anyone will ever read this comment, but here goes.

    While this is in no way considered acting, AJ McLean [from Backstreet Boys fame] was on an episode of GUTS. I don’t think he won though…

    posted by Jess on 3-27-2010 at 11:29 am

  78. I remember we got Nick very early on. I loved Eureka’s Castle, Today’s Special, YCDTOT. But my favorite was a sketch show called Turkey TV. I haven’t seen anyone mention this. Later on I loved Roundhouse. <3

    posted by Erinn on 5-11-2010 at 6:27 pm

  79. How about some Tomorrow People love?! Both the 70′s and 90′s versions were shown on Nick… Naomie Harris from 28 Days Later and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies was on the 90′s version.

    posted by Betsy on 5-19-2010 at 12:16 pm

  80. Im 30 so yeah Im really, really old school when it comes to Nickelodean.
    Does anybody remember “Pinwheel”, Picture Page with Bill Cosby or Today’s Special.
    I was so little. One of the “Original” Nickelodean viewers. I also loved “Fifteen” and The Mistery Files of Shelby Woo and of course Double Dare.
    I watched David the Gnome too. There is an episode where David the Gnome dies. I swear. It’s on YouTube. My younger brother who is 25 now saw that and almost cried!!!

    posted by Jess on 5-27-2010 at 7:17 am

  81. “Are You Afraid of The Dark?” is the reason I can’t stand to be in a room at night with a monitor turned off, hurrah.

    posted by T. on 6-17-2010 at 5:33 pm

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