The 90s were a decade filled with entertainment that was ironic and cynical. After the hollow optimism of the 80s, it’s only logical that things would take a dramatic turn in the opposite direction. Goodbye Family Ties and Bananarama, hello Seinfeld and Nirvana. I think that in a lot of ways, children’s television programming reflects that change in mood. If you grew up in the 90s, you watched some weird shows for kids.
So really, is it any wonder that as adults, a lot of us have an offbeat, eccentric sense of humor? If you were exposed to Ren & Stimpy as a child, that’s going to affect how you see the world. Maybe it’s even why we have so many “hipster” type people in our generation. We used to watch a popsicle stick named Stick Stickley — if that’s not hipster entertainment, I don’t know what is.
But anyway, 90s television was awesome, and Nickelodeon really cornered the market in the US on kids programming. It didn’t talk down to us, and somehow found a way to come up with storylines that entertained both us and our parents.
The List:
10. Clarissa Explains It All
9. All That
8. Legends of the Hidden Temple
7. The Adventures of Pete and Pete
6. The Angry Beavers
5. Salute Your Shorts
4. The Ren & Stimpy Show
3. Hey Arnold!
2. Rocko’s Modern Life
1. Are You Afraid of the Dark?
The fact that Rugrats is not here completely negates its relevance.
The REAL top 10:
1. Rugrats
2. Hey Arnold!
3. Wild Thornberrys
4. Ren & Stimpy
5. Rocko's Modern Life
6. Doug
7. Kenan And Kel
8. The Angry Beavers
9. All That
10. Legends Of The Hidden Temple
Flawless top 10!!!! I used to watch everyone of these shows!!!! Are you afraid of the dark? was amazingggg. I wish
Legends of the hidden temple charted higher, but i can't complain. Alex Mack was a great show, but it kind of come late in the game, after Nickelodeons peak. Anyway I'm 27 years old, which is why i know all these shows.
