Thirty years ago this week, a rising, but not-yet-ubiquitous kids network by the name of Nickelodeon launched its first original animated series. Introduced on August 11, 1991, under the brand of “Nicktoons,” Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren & Stimpy Show would quickly become hits and change the course of animation, television, and popular culture at large. To mark the anniversary, The Ringer is looking back at Nick’s many iconic characters and the legacy of the network as a whole with the Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket. Follow along with all our coverage below.
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August 14, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket Winner: Chaos in the Final
The championship round contained suspicious voter activity, but that wasn’t enough to deny the greatest Nickelodeon character of all time
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August 13, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket Final: SpongeBob vs. Tommy
At last, it all comes down to this: an original Nicktoon against the contemporary face of the network. Who will prevail?
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August 13, 2021
Our Hopes and Predictions for the ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Movie
With the formation of Avatar Studios, a new animated theatrical movie will start production this year. We place our bets on what to expect from the film and the beloved Nick franchise at large.
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August 13, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket: The Final Four
In the end, it’s come down to the absolute best of the best: the 1-seeds
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August 13, 2021
The Ringer’s Definitive Nickelodeon Theme Song Ranking
From certified slaps like TLC’s ‘All That’ theme to whatever is going on with the ‘CatDog’ song, we’re counting down the 20 best intro songs in the Nick universe
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August 12, 2021
What’s in a Nicktoon? How Nickelodeon Developed Its Eclectic Animation
Throughout the ’90s, Nick showcased a wide variety of animation styles, yet everyone recognizes the network’s common signatures. Why?
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August 12, 2021
A Complete Statistical Breakdown of the ‘Zoey 101’ Basketball Game
In the mid-2000s, the Jamie Lynn Spears–starring show became a minor phenomenon for Nickelodeon. And it all started with a hoops showdown.
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August 12, 2021
Clarissa Is Here to Explain It All
In conversation, Melissa Joan Hart looks back on the beloved SNICK sitcom, what it was like to be the first female lead on Nickelodeon, and how she feels about rebooting ‘Sabrina: The Teenage Witch’
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August 12, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket: The Elite Eight
With just two rounds remaining until the championship, a clear picture of Nick’s top talent has emerged
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August 11, 2021
Recapping ‘The Suicide Squad’ and Nick Favorites
Justin Charity and Micah Peters begin by discussing their favorite Nickelodeon shows in honor of The Ringer’s #NickCharacterBracket and then follow with a breakdown of ‘The Suicide Squad’
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August 11, 2021
The Malevolent Madness of ‘The Ren & Stimpy Show,’ 30 Years Later
Three decades ago, a neurotic chihuahua and his dopey partner burst onto TV sets alongside ‘Doug’ and ‘Rugrats.’ It would prove to be a lot more chaotic than its compatriots—and, for a variety of reasons, tougher to keep going.
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August 11, 2021
An Oral History of ‘Nickelodeon GUTS’
How a crack creative team dreamed up the wildest kids’ game show of the ’90s, invented the Aggro Crag, and helped make Mike and Mo famous
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August 11, 2021
Between Two Petes
In conversation, Michael C. Maronna and Danny Tamberelli remember making ‘The Adventures of Pete & Pete’ and talk about their odd brotherhood … as well as blowing out an amp with Iggy Pop
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August 11, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket: The Sweet 16
As the ‘Avatar’ kingdom falls, juggernauts from shows like ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and ‘Rugrats’ start to take over
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August 10, 2021
‘Watch the Throne 2’? Plus: ‘Hey Arnold!’ Turns 25, Feat. Jim Lang
Charles Holmes and Justin Charity discuss the possibility of a ‘Watch the Throne 2’ before Lani Renaldo sits down with ‘Hey Arnold!’ composer Jim Lang to talk about the lasting impact of the show’s soundtrack
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August 10, 2021
How ‘Hey Arnold!’ and Its Iconic Score Introduced a Generation to Jazz
A conversation with composer Jim Lang, whose music challenged kids but also hooked them in
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August 10, 2021
An Interview With Mrs. Hushbaum, One of Nick’s Most Memorable Characters
In an interview, Lori Beth Denberg explains her "motherly role" among the cast of ‘All That’ and why playing the Loud Librarian felt cathartic
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August 10, 2021
How Nickelodeon Created Its Slime-Drenched ’90s Style
Thanks to its bright colors, clashing patterns, and a whole mess of green stuff, identifying with Nickelodeon was so easy because kids could so easily identify Nickelodeon shows
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August 10, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket: Round 2
Now the competition really begins ...
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August 9, 2021
Nickelodeon’s Generational Divide
At the height of its power, Nickelodeon helped shape pop culture for almost two decades. While the network was ubiquitous for anyone who lived through the era, the way it was experienced was far from universal.
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August 9, 2021
A Salute to Budnick, One of Nickelodeon’s Most Memorable Characters
In conversation, Danny Cooksey explains what it was like to play the king of camp on ‘Salute Your Shorts’ and how the character still gets him recognized today
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August 9, 2021
Our Favorite Characters Who Didn’t Make the Nickelodeon Bracket
Fitting in all of Nick’s iconic figures proved to be an impossible task. Here are the best of the rest who couldn’t compete in our tournament.
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August 9, 2021
The Best Nickelodeon Character Bracket
As Nicktoons’ 30th anniversary approaches, it’s time to celebrate the heroes, villains, sponges and starfish, and cats and dogs who redefined children’s programming in the 1990s and beyond