Top 10 Facts About Nickelodeon That Will Ruin Your Childhood
#10: Rocko’s Pulled Episodes
It’s amazing how many mature jokes this Nicktoon got away with, namely that one time Rocko was hired as a “specialty phone operator.” The censors didn’t always give the writers a free pass, however. After airing twice, the Season 1 episode, “Leap Frogs,” was banned from the network, but later resurfaced on DVD and Netflix. When Ed fails to satisfy Mrs. Bighead’s needs, Bev attempts to seduce Rocko. This culminates in a prostitution joke where Ed catches Bev giving Rocko money and a kiss. The Bigheads patch things up, though, by breaking out the plates. Another episode that got pulled was “Heff in a Handbasket,” in which Heffer sells his soul to the devil. Yet, Nick didn’t mind another episode where Heffer goes to “Heck.”
#9: Legend of the Impossible Temple
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“Legends of the Hidden Temple” made ‘90s kids feel like they were living out one of Indiana Jones’ adventures, and every episode built to the heat-racing Temple Run. Contestants were given three minutes to find the artifact, all while navigating through twelve rooms and avoiding temple guards. As cool and creative as it looked, how many times did somebody actually make it through the temple? Out of the show’s 120 episodes, there were only 32 victories. Looking back years later, a Red Jaguar named Keeli Garza recalled that the experience “sucked.” Host Kirk Fogg revealed that the game was purposely made difficult because “The producers were only allowed to give out eight championships a year. There was a budget, and that's the truth of that.”
#8: No Guts, No Glory, No Trophy
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Even if you weren’t the most athletic kid growing up, we all wanted to be a contestant on “Nickelodeon Guts.” Who didn’t dream about climbing the Aggro Crag, later renamed the Mega Crag? Anyone who dominated this monstrous mountain got to hold a piece of the Aggro Crag. It was an awesome trophy that glowed in the dark, putting the Commissioner’s Trophy and Stanley Cup to shame. In reality, though, winners didn’t get to take this “radical rock” home. Instead, they had to give it back once the episode was over. Winners would reportedly receive a miniature replica of the trophy, but we all know that’s not the same. If you really want an authentic Aggro Crag trophy, one sold on eBay for $1,499.
#7: Angelique Bates’ Time on “All That”
Best remembered for her dead-on Steve Urkel impression and starring alongside Kenan Thompson on “It’s Cooking with Randy and Mandy,” Angelique Bates was among the first “All That” cast members. Although Bates always brought the funny onscreen, her life behind the scenes was no laughing matter. Bates revealed in 2016 that she was physically and mentally tormented by her mother during her time on the sketch comedy series. This abuse was no secret to the show’s producers, who allegedly told the 12-year-old Bates to remain silent. Child Protective Services were alerted in 1996, but even then Bates was pressured not to rock the boat. Once her contract was up, Bates chose to bow out from “All That,” making her the first series regular to exit.
#6: Miriam Pataki’s “Smoothies”
It’s no wonder why Helga had such a bad attitude on “Hey Arnold!” Not only did she live in her older sister’s shadow, but her father was a blowhard and her mother was always moping around. When Miriam wasn’t completely out of it, she could usually be found preparing a blended drink. Most children probably didn’t pick up on it at the time, but Miriam’s “smoothies” weren’t the kind you’d find at Jamba Juice. While never directly mentioned on the show, it’s been confirmed that Miriam is an alcoholic who’s clearly suffering with emotional issues. In retrospect, Miriam’s forgetful nature, slow speech pattern, and strong attachment to that blender make so much sense.
#5: Wacky Gaky
Those uptight grownups may’ve found it disgusting and gross, but that’s precisely why every kid wanted Gak back in the ‘90s. With its gooey texture and ability to make fart noises, Gak naturally became one of Nickelodeon’s hottest items. If you asked somebody on the street where you could score some Gak, however, you might get an unexpected response. On the Nickelodeon game show “Double Dare,” host Marc Summers and various crew members would call the green slime “Gak.” Nickelodeon apparently liked the name so much that they used it for this slimy toy. What the higher-ups didn’t realize was that “Gak” is actually street slang for heroin. Suddenly, all of those seemingly innocent commercials seem more like something out of “Requiem for a Dream.”
#4: The Boris Kropotkin Controversy
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Many of us grew up watching Christmas and Easter specials, but Jewish holidays were rarely touched upon. “Rugrats” stood out as one of the few children’s shows that shined a spotlight on Judaism. The Nicktoon was generally praised for its representation of the Jewish faith, even receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination for its Passover episode. However, when Grandpa Boris appeared in a 1998 “Rugrats” print comic strip reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish, the Anti-Defamation League called it antisemitic. The Washington Post, which published the comic, addressed this in the Editor’s Note, writing, “the depiction of Jewish worshipers and use of the Kaddish were inappropriate.” Nickelodeon President Herb Scannell also apologized for the strip, although his predecessor, Albie Hecht, himself Jewish, felt the backlash was overblown.
#3: Dora Takes Nick to Court
Being directed at a preschool demographic, you wouldn’t expect “Dora the Explorer” to ignite so much controversy. On more than one occasion, though, the Nick Jr. icon has gone to some grownup places. Parents and psychologists weren’t pleased when Dora received a preteen beauty treatment, arguing that her redesign was too thin and “sexualized.” Even Caitlin Sanchez, who regularly voiced Dora from 2008 to 2012, has had a rocky history with Nickelodeon. Sanchez and her family felt that Nick cheated her out of millions in royalties, merchandise, and other services. Sanchez’s family was eventually driven to sue the company in 2010, although the lawsuit was ultimately dropped.
#2: A Very Loud Scandal
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Chris Savino was a Nickelodeon veteran, working on “Ren & Stimpy,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “Hey Arnold!,” “The Angry Beavers,” and “My Life as a Teenage Robot.” Savino most notably created “The Loud House,” which quickly took off as one of Nickelodeon’s biggest hits after premiering in 2016. In 2017, Savino was accused of sexual harassment and this behavior had allegedly been going on for “at least a decade.” Savino was subsequently terminated from Nick and received a one-year suspension at the Animation Guild. “The Loud House” is still going strong, with Michael Rubiner now acting as the showrunner. While Savino has said that he’s “deeply sorry” and “ashamed,” it’s unlikely he’ll ever be welcomed into the Loud House again.
#1: Dan Schneider’s Exit
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From “All That,” to “The Amanda Show,” to “Drake & Josh,” to “iCarly,” to “Victorious,” Dan Schneider created some of the most successful sitcoms in the history of Nickelodeon. After Schneider accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Kids’ Choice Awards, it appeared more great things awaited on the horizon for their partnership. This made it all the more shocking when Nickelodeon and Schneider cut ties in 2018. The split was due to Schneider’s alleged actions behind the scenes over the years. Schneider reportedly had a history of “well-documented temper issues” with “multiple complaints of abusive behavior.” Schneider also faced criticism for posting photos of young actress’ feet on Twitter. The Schneider’s Bakery logo was even removed from “Henry Danger,” which concluded in 2020.
