If you grew up on 90s Nickelodeon, this news is for you. Not only do you have flawless taste, but if you’re in the New York City area, you can now be apart of a special event 25 years in the making. It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Nickelodeon began. The network changed the landscape of children’s television and helped mold a generation.
I am so grateful to be apart of that generation. It’s not the same nowadays.
Partly because the quality of television isn’t the same anymore. Things like iCarly, Hannah Montana, and One Direction are of no interest to me.
I loved growing up watching people like Marc Summers. Seriously, I love him. He’s my hero.
I’m so grateful that I was able to grow up during such a special and revolutionary time for kids. I would never trade in my memories of growing up wanting to stick my hand up that giant nose on Double Dare, wanting to get slimed or go down the pie slide on What Would You Do, pondering why Artie was the Strongest Man in the World on The Adventures of Pete and Pete, wanting Clarissa’s entire wardrobe on Clarissa Explains It All, being terrified of those damn clowns and that rickety boat on Are You Afraid of The Dark, singing my heart out to the Salute Your Shorts theme song, and waking up early on the weekend to enjoy all of the groundbreaking animated shows.
It was also a dream of mine, and I’m sure all of you as well, to compete on, and kick ass I might add, on every game show the network ever put out. If anything, I’m sure we would be able to master putting together that elusive silver monkey. The grand prize was always a trip to Universal Studios in Florida. Nickelodeon Studios (RIP) closed down in 2005 so I never got the chance to live out that particular dream. But the memories of what was created there will live on through the fans.
Mathew Klickstein shares these memories. As the author of Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age, he brought together over 250 of the creative forces that helped create Nickelodeon. Through a series of hundreds of interviews, he is able to detail just what made Nickelodeon’s Golden Age so golden.
Now, together with Nick legend Marc Summers, Mathew is bringing these people together for a one of a kind special event. On September 27th, creators, stars, writers, producers and musicians from classic Nick shows of the 80s and 90s, will appear for a once in a lifetime celebration.
We’re talking about shows like “You Can’t Do That on Television,” “Double Dare,” “Salute Your Shorts,” “The Ren & Stimpy Show,” “Doug,” “The Adventures of Pete and Pete,” “Clarissa Explains It All,” “Nick Arcade,” “Welcome Freshmen,” “Wild & Crazy Kids” and “Hey Dude.” That is one hell of a reunion.
The first round of names have been announced and it’s enough to get any fan excited. And let me just point out, this is just a taste of what’s to come. There are many names still being finalized, and big names that haven’t been announced yet. 
*Ross Hull (Gary, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)
*Jason Zimbler (Ferguson, Clarissa Explains It All)
*Christine McGlade (Christine/Moose, YCDTOTV)
*Mitchell Kriegman (Creator, Clarissa; Story Editor, Nicktoons)
*Sean O’Neal (Sam, Clarissa Explains It All)
*Marc Summers (Host, Double Dare/What Would You Do)
*Robin Russo (Double Dare/WWYD)
*Harvey (Announcer, Double Dare/WWYD)
*Phil Moore (Host, Nick Arcade)
*Edd Kalehoff (Music, Double Dare)
*Fred Newman (Skeeter/Mr. Dink/Porkchop/MouthSounds/Music, Doug)
*Dan Sawyer (Music, Doug)
*Melanie Chartoff (Didi/Grandma, Rugrats)
*Bob Camp (Director etc., Ren & Stimpy)
*Billy West (Doug/Roger/Et al, Doug; Ren/Stimpy et al, Ren & Stimpy)
*Dave Rhoden (Merv, Welcome Freshmen)
*Michael Maronna (Big Pete, Pete & Pete)
*Syd Straw (Ms. Fingerwood, Pete & Pete)
*Hardy Rawls (Dad, Pete & Pete)
*Judy Grafe (Mom, Pete & Pete)
*Jessica Gaynes (Co-host, Wild & Crazy Kids)
*Trevor Eyster (Sponge Harris, Salute Your Shorts)
*Kelly Brown (Brad, Hey Dude)
*Connie Shuman (Patti, Doug)
*James Bethea/Karim Miteff (Creators, Nick Arcade)
*Bob Mittenthal (Creator, Welcome Freshmen; Development, Double Dare, etc.)
*Geoffrey Darby (Co-creator, YCDTOTV; President of Production @ Nick)
*Fred Seibert (Branding)
*Alan Goodman (Branding; Writer: Hey Dude, Clarissa)
The event will be split up into panels, similar, I would assume, to things like Comic Con. There will be a final panel that will include audience participation. Okay, where can I sign up to have Marc Summers hit me in the face with a pie?
There will also be live music from composer Edd Kalehoff as well as performances by Syd Straw and The Beets.
Yes, you read that right. THE BEETS. The Beets will be playing live, for the first time ever. I don’t know about you, but I still jam to “Killer Tofu.”
For more information on Nickelodeon at 92nd Street, you should visit the event page here: http://www.92y.org/Event/Nickelodeon-on-92nd-Street.aspx. For just 20 dollars, you can buy yourself a ticket to what is sure to be an epic celebration. How can you pass up a memory like that?
Slimed: An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age will be released on September 24th. It’s fantastic, so be sure to pick that one up.
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