Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | "YOCO" Sneak Peek | Nickelodeon USA

To celebrate Nickelodeon USA premiering the brand-new Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn season three episode "YOCO" on Saturday 29th July 2017 at 8:00pm ET/PT, Nick USA has unveiled a quad-tastic sneak peek preview from the all-new NRDD episode, which you can watch in the fantastic video clip here on nick.com!


In the brand-new Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn episode "YOCO" (#324), the Harpers get a new gadget that runs their entire household, but the quads take things a little too far when they are left alone with it! In Nick's super sneak-peek, "More Shampoo", Nicky's (Aidan Gallagher) cool new robot will do anything you tell it to do! Even in an argument about ordering shampoo, the robot will do so!

More Nick: Wonderful Wizard of Quads ‘I'm Dorothy’ Music Video (ft. Lizzy Greene & Jade Pettyjohn) | NRDD | Nickelodeon!

Additional source: Zap2it TV Listings.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn News and Highlights!

"Beat the Heat, Game Night" Sneak Peek | The Dude Perfect Show S2 | Nickelodeon USA

To celebrate Nickelodeon USA premiering the brand-new The Dude Perfect Show season two episode "Beat the Heat, Game Night" on Sunday 29th July 2017 at 9:00pm ET/PT, Nick USA has unveiled a super first-look from the all-new episode, which you can watch in the fantastic video clip here on Nick.com/Dude!


In the brand-new The Dude Perfect Show episode "Beat the Heat, Game Night" (#216), the Dudes create wet and wild games for a hot, Texas summer; Later, rather than playing regular board games, the Dudes decide to amp it up and play fun, life-sized games! In Nick's super sneak-peek, "Mega Slide", the dudes are ready for a mega challenge with a mega slide and sweet costumes!

More Nick: Jace Norman, JoJo Siwa and Daniella Perkins to Star in New Nickelodeon TV Movie "Inside Voice"!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and The Dude Perfect Show News and Highlights!

School Of Rock | "Leader Of The Band" Sneak Peek | Nickelodeon USA

To celebrate Nickelodeon USA premiering the brand-new School of Rock season three episode "Leader of the Band" on Saturday 29th July 2017 at 8:30pm ET/PT, Nick USA has unveiled a rockin' sneak peek preview from the all-new episode of School of Rock, which you can watch in the fantastic video clip here on nick.com!


In the brand-new School of Rock episode "Leader of the Band" (#305), an online review of the band labels Tomika (Breanna Yde) as the leader, sparking a competition between the children to seize the spotlight in the group! In Nick's super sneak-peek, "Hot Dog Song", the band has a new gig! It's not what they expected, but at least they are getting their voices heard by singing jingles!

More Nick: Jade Pettyjohn To Guest Star In Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn Season 3 Finale!

Additional source: Zap2it TV Listings.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and School of Rock News and Highlights!

NickSplat To Celebrate SNICK's 25th Anniversary In August 2017 | #SNICK25

Grab a bottle of Orange Soda and take your place on Nickelodeon's Orange Couch, as this August, NickSplat will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon's iconic programming block, SNICK!



SNICK with Nick and tune into NickSplat's 25th anniversary celebration of SNICK every Saturday night during August 2017!

SNICK (short for Saturday Night Nickelodeon) was a two-hour programming block on Nickelodeon USA, geared toward older (preteen to teen) audiences. The block launched on August 15, 1992 and ran until August 28, 2004. It was aired on Saturdays starting at 8 p.m and ending at 10 p.m. ET. In 2004, SNICK was revamped as the Saturday night edition of TEENick.

The block debuted on Saturday, August 15, 1992, with a pair of Sunday favorites - the teen sitcom Clarissa Explains It All and the Nicktoon The Ren & Stimpy Show - and the network premieres of Roundhouse (a musical comedy variety series) and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (a horror fantasy drama anthology series).


In 1999, Snick was revamped as Snick House. With this came a number of changes. The block was hosted by Nick Cannon, and each week, a celebrity or music group made an appearance. The format was very similar to the former TEENick block, but was more of a party. Each week, kids could go online and vote for their favorite Snick House Video Picks. The winning music video was then played during Snick. Starting in September 2002, SNICK also featured a series of On-Air Dare segments featuring members of the All That cast.

Programming featured as part of the SNICK line-up included: The Adventures of Pete & Pete, All That, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Space Cases, Kenan & Kel, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, KaBlam!, The Journey of Allen Strange, Rugrats, CatDog, The Angry Beavers, Animorphs, The Amanda Show, 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, Double Dare 2000, Noah Knows Best, Caitlin's Way, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, Invader Zim, The Nick Cannon Show, Cousin Skeeter, All Grown Up!, Romeo! and The Brothers García.

Nickelodeon UK launched a localised version of SNICK in 1999. Airing Saturday and Sunday nights from 7-10pm, SNICK UK featured programming such as The Muppet Show, Deepwater Black and Guys Like Us.

Watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on NickSplat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 10pm ET/PT, only on TeenNick USA! #NickSplat!

Additional sources: Wikipedia, Nickelodeon Wiki; ToonZone Forums member PinkiePie97.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and NickSplat News and Highlights!

"Paw Patrol" Toymaker Spin Master Sues Alleged Counterfeit Network

Toymaker Spin Master Ltd. sued unidentified companies in Illinois federal court on Friday 21st July 2017, alleging infringement of numerous trademarks for toys tied to Nickelodeon's popular CG-animated preschool series PAW Patrol.


The Toronto-based company and its U.S. arm, Spin Master Inc., filed suit against an undisclosed number of defendants; their identities are sealed in a separate document. But Spin Master says the defendants are violating multiple trademarks for the phrase "Paw Patrol," as well as trademarks for dog characters Tracker, Everest, Chase, Zuma, Skye, Rocky, Marshall and Rubble.

Full details about the lawsuit can be found here on Law360.

Produced by Spin Master Entertainment, PAW Patrol is a CG-animated, action-adventure preschool series starring a pack of eight heroic puppies led by a tech-savvy 10-year-old boy named Ryder. The series' unique blend of problem-solving skills, cool vehicles and cute doggy humor has propelled it to become TV's number-one preschool series. PAW Patrol made its U.S. debut on Nickelodeon in August 2013 and has been picked up for a fifth season during which the heroic pack of pups – Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker – will take to the high seas for Sea Patrol adventures where they'll meet a scallywag of a pirate and his dachshund pup pal. PAW Patrol airs on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels worldwide.

More Nick: Spin Master Announces Expanded North American PAW Patrol Roll Patrol Road Tour for 2017!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and PAW Patrol News and Highlights!

"The Legend of Korra" Is Introducing Younger Fans to Same-Sex Relationships

Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh discuss adapting the series into a book, and why children of color need queer representation.

UK: "Puffin Rock" Flocks To Channel 5’s Milkshake!

Award-winning animated preschool series Puffin Rock will be feathering a new nest when it migrates this month to Channel 5′s Milkshake! in the UK later this month, as part of the refresh of the popular preschool programming block! Narrated by Chris O’Dowd (Moone Boy, The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids), the 2D series is co-produced by Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon, Penguin Random House, and kids’ media company Dog Ears.


Puffin Rock features an adorable family of puffins, and their laughter-filled adventures on a beautiful Irish island. Oona, and her cute little brother, Baba, explore, play and learn with their friends, and always make it home in time for a fish supper with Mama and Papa. O’Dowd adds an extra twinkle of comedy – sharing funny observations and interesting facts about the natural world.

Puffin Rock is co-produced by Oscar-nominated studio Cartoon Saloon, Penguin Random House, and children’s media company, Dog Ears, and receives funding support from Northern Ireland Screen.


Maurice Joyce (The Selfish Giant) directs with writing from Lily Bernard, Tomm Moore and Paul Young, and the vocal talents of Kate McCafferty (Oona), Sally McDaid (Baba), Geraldine Cole (Mama) and Brian McMonagle (Papa). McCafferty also sings the theme song for the series.

“We were completely charmed by the sweet characters that occupy Puffin Rock and the artistry of the series,” said Sarah Muller, Head of Children’s Channel 5. “The show will be a fantastic addition to the new-look Milkshake! lineup. Also, I just really love puffins.”

Richard Haines, Head of Acquisitions & T.V. Development, Penguin Random House Children’s, said:

‘I am delighted that our little puffins are flying on to Milkshake!’

Just this year the series was nominated for three Annie awards, for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children, Best Production Design (Lily Bernard) and Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Davey Moore).

Hoho Rights manages the UK and international licensing rights for Puffin Rock, excluding China.

Puffin Rock also airs regularly on Nick Jr. UK & Ireland.



About Milkshake!
Channel 5’s Milkshake is home to some of the world’s favourite preschool characters. There is a range of stimulating and engaging programmes that include strong story led animation, genuine documentaries for pre-schoolers and presenter led high quality musical entertainment. 2016 saw Milkshake! achieve its strongest year to date amongst Children, 4-9s, HWKs and HWKs 0-3. Milkshake! was the number one breakfast destination (6-9am) for Children and 4-9s in 2016. Channel 5 broadcasts 24 hours of children's programmes every week. Milkshake is on air from 0600 - 0915 every weekday and 0600 - 10.00 on Saturday and Sunday. For further information visit www.milkshake.tv

About Channel 5
Channel 5 launched as Britain's fifth public service channel in March 1997 and has been owned by Viacom International Media Networks since September 2014. Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA and Spike reach 4 in 5 of the UK viewing public each month with a broad mix of popular content for all the family across entertainment, documentaries, sport, drama from the UK and US, films, reality, comedy, children’s and news. My5 is a new service allowing viewers to watch content online for free from Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, and Spike.

More Milkshake!: UK: WDRmg brings Nordic kids’ programme "Gigglebug" to Channel 5’s Milkshake!

Sources: Northern Ireland Screen, Animation Magazine, ToonBarn, The Irish Film & Television Network, TVKIDS.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK, Nick Jr. UK, Milkshake! and Puffin Rock News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon & Paramount Announce "SpongeBob SquarePants" Season 9 DVD Date, Artwork

Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution have announced that on Tuesday 10th October 2017 they will release SpongeBob SquarePants - Season 9 on DVD! According to the press release, below, the 4-DVD title will include the SpongeBob SquarePants episodes "SpongeBob You're Fired", "It Came from Goo Lagoon", "SpongeBob vs. the Goo", "Squid Defense" and "License to Milkshake". Full details, pricing, content and extras are expected to be announced soon. Check out a first-look at package art for SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Ninth Season below!:


Get ready for endless hours of nautical nonsense with the complete 9th season of SpongeBob SquarePants! Soak up over 20 tales and three double-length episodes, including the latest food craze to sweep Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob's search for a new job, and a mysterious goo bubble battle! Plus, teach Squidward the art of kah-rah-tay and shake things up with SpongeBob at Bikini Bottom's milkshake academy!

Then, witness the wedding of the century as Mr. Krabs joins in krabby matri-money with the one thing he loves most - cold hard cash! Dive in for more under-the-sea shenanigans in 5 bonus Krabby Patty Shorts. This 4-disc set is packed to the gills with F.U.N. and is guaranteed to bring you a tidal wave of laughs!

More Nick: Nickelodeon & Paramount To Release "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Tales Of The Turtles V2: Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady" On DVD On 9/12!

Original source: TVShowsOnDVD.com; H/T: ToonZone Forums member PinkiePie97; Additional sources: Wikipedia, Encyclopedia SpongeBobia.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Summer on Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!

The Oral History of Nickelodeon's "Good Burger" | NickSplat

The '90s Nickelodeon favorite, starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, has stood the test of time. Twenty years later, the cast and writers reunited to share with Complex UK secrets from the set and reveal if anyone really had beef. Check it out below!:

More Nick: Good Burger: A Movie Well Done - Ooze News - June/July (Summer) 1997!


Image via Complex Original

Craig Bartlett Joins The #HeyArnoldSearchParty | SDCC | Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie | #NickSDCC

Craig Bartlett, the creator of Hey Arnold!, joined the "Hey Arnold! Search Party" to unlock Helga's big secret at SDCC 2017! Now let's see what she's been hiding...



Hmm, why does Helga's locket have a torn up picture of Arnold in it? And why would see need the blueprint to Arnold's room? So many questions...

More Nick: SDCC 'Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie' Sneak Peek | The Legend of Arnold | Nickelodeon!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie News and Highlights!

Wonderful Wizard of Quads ‘I'm Dorothy’ Music Video (ft. Lizzy Greene & Jade Pettyjohn) | NRDD | Nickelodeon

There are two girls, but there can only be one Dorothy. Which one will sing their way to the top? Find out in the one hour special!:



It’s time to break it down with Nicky (Aidan Gallagher), Ricky (Casey Simpson), Dicky (Mace Coronel), and Dawn (Lizzy Greene) joined by special guest stars School of Rock’s Jade Pettyjohn and Gabby Douglas! There are two girls, but there can only be one Dorothy! Which one will sing their way to the top? Find out in the one hour special of Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn on August 5th at 8 on Nickelodeon USA!

More Nick: Jace Norman, JoJo Siwa and Daniella Perkins to Star in New Nickelodeon TV Movie "Inside Voice"!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn News and Highlights!

"Drop Dat What" | "Game Shakers" Season Two Theme Song! | Dan Schneider

Kel Mitchell performs "Drop Dat What" for the Game Shakers season 2 opening credits!:



Dan Schneider is an American actor, screenwriter, and producer of films and television. He is the president of his own production company called Schneider's Bakery, Inc. On the internet, he and his production company often go by the nickname DanWarp.

Follow Dan:
Website: DanSchneider.com
Blog: danwarp.blogspot.com
Instagram: @DanWarp
Twitter: @DanWarp
Facebook: /DanWarp
Snapchat: DanWarp
YouTube: /DanWarp
Tumblr: danschneider.tumblr.com

More Nick: "Henry Danger" Season One Opening Credits! | Dan Schneider!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and iCarly News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon Sommerspiele on Tour - Folge 19: Geocaching | Nickelodeon Deutschland

Lisa, Marko, Fabian, Lisa und Anna nehmen euch heute mit auf Schatzsuche. Geocaching ist eine Schnitzeljagd mit GPS-Geräten. Also, schnappt euch euer Handy und macht euch auf die Suche nach dem nächsten Cache!:



Mehr Nick: Nickelodeon Launches Year-Long "Spongebob Goldig" Campaign In Germany, Switzerland And Austria!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nick Germany and Nickelodeon Sommerspiele News and Highlights!

Especial Bob Esponja e os Tesouros Perdidos | Nickelodeon Brasil

Não perca o especial Bob Esponja e os Tesouros Perdidos (SpongeBob's Lost Treasures) na telinha da Nick e em mundonick.com.br!:



More Nick: Nickelodeon Latin America & Nickelodeon Brazil Debuts "Talia In The Kitchen" On Online Platforms!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Brazil and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!

JoJo Siwa In The UK | London | JJ S'world

JoJo Siwa has arrived in the UK! Check out JoJo as she goes shopping in London and tries some of our sweet delicacies (including Cadbury chocolate and Jaffa Cakes)! Welcome to London, JoJo! :)

FINALLY!! | JJ S'world



TRYING CRAZY CANDY FROM LONDON! | JJ S'world



Meet JoJo this week at Claire's in the Intu Manchester Trafford Centre on Tuesday 25th July 2017 between 1.30-4pm, and at Claire's in the Birmingham Bullring shopping centre on Wednesday 26th July 2017 between 1-3.30pm! Click here for full information!

Buy Tickets For SLIMEFEST 2017!

More Nick: JoJo Siwa To Perform For The First-Ever Time In The UK Exclusively At Nickelodeon UK's SLIMEFEST 2017!

Additional source: Wikipedia.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Easter on Nickelodeon UK and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn News and Highlights!

Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | Epic Moment | Nickelodeon UK

Dawn (Lizzy Greene) tries to convince her brothers to stay up all night in preparation for their class sleepover in this quad-tastic video clip from Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn!:



Watch more Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn on Nickelodeon!





Buy Tickets For SLIMEFEST 2017!

More Nick: JoJo Siwa To Perform For The First-Ever Time In The UK Exclusively At Nickelodeon UK's SLIMEFEST 2017!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Easter on Nickelodeon UK and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn News and Highlights!

Talking Cartoon Crossover Comic Magic with Butch Hartman | SDCC 2017

Butch Hartman is a busy man. Even while show-running two animated television series on Nickelodeon right now (the fan favorite The Fairly OddParents and the recently debuted Bunsen is a Beast), co-creating the new 3 o’Clock Club comic for Lion Forge (along with Jordan B. Gorfinkel), and constantly developing new content for his Noog Network app and YouTube channel as side projects, Butch is never one to let his creative energy flag. While it would seem promoting those projects during the hectic days of Comic Con would be enough, there was an extra-special surprise for attendees here in San Diego: an exclusive mini-comic featuring Butch titled Fairly OddPhantom!


The comic, alternatively subtitled as Let’s Rescue Butch Hartman!, acts as both a response and spiritual successor to a short crossover video posted on YouTube earlier this year featuring all the protagonists from Butch’s Nick shows (besides the aforementioned OddParents and Beast, the clip also features the beloved Danny Phantom and TUFF Puppy), who all meet up for the first time on screen. That short (featured below) has been watched nearly 2 million times on YouTube alone and shared countless more times on Facebook and other streaming platforms.

“We wanted to do a special and unique comic just for Comic Con,” Hartman told The Beat during a brief conversation during last day of the convention. “The brain trust at Nickelodeon—meaning me and one of my writers [George Goodchild]—decided to do a comic book featuring me as a cartoon character.” And if that wasn’t enough, Butch also wrote the comic and did the pencils, while Benji Williams and Marcus Valazquez helped round out the creative team.

The hook of the story works in contrast to the previously released short. Whereas the video released earlier this year concerned itself with the respective shows’ respective main heroes meeting and teaming, the comic focuses around those shows’ villains, and their nefarious plot to kidnap their creator so that they can be the stars of their own cartoons.

And the best part is, everything lands. The comic contains all the trademarks of Hartman’s Nick oeuvre. It’s wacky, wild, extremely meta, and tons of fun.

And for being a Comic Con freebie, all the love and heart is there. “People think comics are easy to make, but it’s hard work, especially short ones. [NOTE: This comic is only five pages long]. Still, despite its brief length, Fairly OddPhantom manages to pack a dense amount of comic within its pages. Naturally, the in-jokes are plentiful and there are even cameos from some other Nickelodeon shows who turn up during the action (no spoilers here!). With Hartman working on so many projects old and new, are we entering the age of the Hartman Animated Universe (a la Marvel)? “I am my own Stan Lee,” Butch chuckles.

Can’t wait to see what’s next!

More: Butch Hartman Working On "Danny Phantom"-Like Series For YouTube!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Bunsen Is a Beast News and Highlights!

The "SpongeBob SquarePants" Writers Haven’t Lost Their Creative Touch & More in this SDCC 2017 Interview! | #NickSDCC

It’s pretty crazy when you stop and think about the fact that SpongeBob SquarePants has been on the air for over 17 years and is still going strong. Aside from being one of the most popular shows on the network and being a constant backdrop for memes, SpongeBob also has a brand new Halloween Stop-Motion Animation Special called SpongeBob SquarePants: The Legend of Boo-kini Bottom hitting the small screen this October (below).

Welcome To The Wayne | Ego Plum "Music Audition" Demo | ODDIO INC.

This is the original demo composed by Ego Plum as an audition to become composer on Nickelodeon's brand-new animated series, Welcome To The Wayne. Several themes and motifs from this 90-second piece of music will be heard throughout the series!



Catch Nickelodeon's brand-new 20-episode animated series Welcome to the Wayne weekdays at 5:30pm ET/PT through Friday 28th July 2017! Encore episodes will air Saturdays at 10:30am ET/PT before Welcome to the Wayne returns with all-new episodes in September 2017!

Visit Nick.com and the Nick App to learn more about Welcome to the Wayne, as well as watch exclusive video clips and play games based on the series. Fans can immerse themselves in the Wayne by following the official Instagram account to discover more about the show, characters, and mysteries within. A sneak peek, full-length episode is available to watch on Nick.com/Wayne and the Nick App, along with platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Google Play, Vudu, Playstation, and Nick On Demand.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Welcome to the Wayne News and Highlights!

The Kids Who Grew Up on Nickelodeon's Nicktoons Got a Dose of Nostalgia at Comic-Con 2017 | #NickSDCC

Nickelodeon rolled into Comic-Con International: San Diego 2017 with the most effective weapon they could possibly unleash on millennials: nostalgia. The network teased footage from a pair of new TV movies that revive two of its most popular '90s franchises, Hey Arnold! and Rocko’s Modern Life, and also hosted a panel on the evergreen series SpongeBob SquarePants. As always, Nick isn't just catering to kids — and now they're specifically targeting the generation of now-adult kids who grew up on Nick’s animated programming.


Nickelodeon's proprietary animated offerings, called Nicktoons, date back almost 26 years to August 1991, when Doug, Rugrats and The Ren & Stimpy Show debuted. All iconic in their own right, they were followed shortly thereafter by a litany of now-classic shows, including The Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power (which was many non-L.A. kids’ first introduction to Venice Beach), The Fairly OddParents, and Invader Zim. These are just some of Nickelodeon's iconic shows from late '90s and early '00s. Now, two decades later, with demand for nostalgic content being at an all-time high, the executives at Nickelodeon know the time is right to bring back some of their classic programs.

“Millennials, when they were kids, they were loving those Nickelodeon shows, and now they’re grown-up adults, but they still love those Nickelodeon shows,” Chris Viscardi, Senior Vice President of Animation Content Development for Nickelodeon, explained to L.A. Weekly. In 2016, Nickelodeon celebrated Nicktoons’ 25th anniversary, and revived some nostalgia shows, including Hey Arnold! and Rocko’s Modern Life, so by the time this year’s Comic-Con rolled around, they had something ready to show audiences.



For their part, the shows' casts and creative teams have enjoyed reuniting. “It’s like it was yesterday,” Anndi McAfee, the voice of Phoebe on Hey Arnold! says of returning to the show. “I was really not expecting how amazing it felt to get back in the groove,” Francesca Marie Smith, who voices Helga, adds. The show’s creator, Craig Bartlett, who’s been pitching this TV movie for 15 years, says, “Its time has come, because the super-motivated social media experts [who grew up watching the show] are out there, working in the business now, and they’re saying, ‘Why don’t we make shows like Hey Arnold! again?’” Smith adds, “For me it’s been really interesting watching things in Hey Arnold! become a part of pop culture. ‘Move it, football head!’ or even, ‘Stoop kid’s afraid to leave his stoop’ — things like that are normal, people say these things in normal conversations now.”


Clancy Brown, Tom Kenny, Mr. Lawrence and Rodger Bumpass from SpongeBob SquarePants. Photo: Katie Buenneke

And then there's SpongeBob SquarePants, which debuted in 1999, and has been airing regularly ever since. “Funny is funny, and the characters are so solid that you want to keep coming back to see what they’re up to,” Mr. Lawrence, who voices Plankton and is the show’s story editor, says. “And it’s not topical at all,” Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, adds. “SpongeBob doesn’t seem to have a generation gap.” Still, they find it strange how important the show is to the rest of the world. “We became part of pop culture, we are referenced in movies, War of the Worlds, countless comic strips in the newspapers mention us in there. We are iconic in that part of pop culture,” Lawrence says.

“The 90s Nicktoon thing is such a thing now; at this Comic-Con, Hey Arnold! came back, Rocko’s Modern Life did — we started out together. The weird thing is, of those NickToons, SpongeBob hasn’t gone away,” Kenny says. “SpongeBob has been ubiquitous for the whole time, and he’s a 90s Nicktoon, he started in ’99.” Clancy Brown, who voices Mr. Krabs, adds, “You don’t need to reinvent it, you don’t need to update it, it just works.”

The shows might not need updating but Butch Hartman, who created Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom, takes his other responsibilities seriously. “Being a parent is not an easy job, which is why we try to create cartoons parents know are safe for their kids. They can trust us, because you're really asking people to trust you with their kids, when you’re putting shows on the air,” Hartman says. “Which is why, on Fairly OddParents, we have jokes that kids understand, but then jokes that adults can laugh at as well. I get so many kids coming up to me now, saying, ‘Oh, Mr. Hartman, I love your show, I grew up with it; I understand all the jokes now!’”

That kind of dual-purpose humor was something Nickelodeon encouraged all its early animated shows to use, and its something newer shows try to emulate. “When you can play on those two levels, I think they can be really profound to both [kid and adult audiences],” says Viscardi. “Those shows inspired so many other artists who grew up watching TV as kids, and then they went on and did their own versions of a lot of those early Nick shows." But ask a millennial — there's nothing like the originals.

Watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on NickSplat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 10pm ET/PT, only on TeenNick USA! #NickSplat!

More Nick: SDCC 'Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling' Sneak Peek | Rocko's Modern Life | Nickelodeon!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2017 News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon's Web Show "Welcome to the Wayne" Premieres as Full-Length Animated Series

Nickelodeon's popular 2014 animated web series Welcome to the Wayne is checking into the number-one kids network on Monday as a full-fledged series, debuting at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT.


Welcome to the Wayne was Nickelodeon’s first web-only short-form series, with six four to five-minute episodes telling the tale of 10-year-olds Ansi Molina and Olly Timbers, and Olly’s little sister Saraline, as they try to unlock the secrets of the mysterious New York building they live in, the Wayne.

The series was created by Emmy winner Billy Lopez (Peg+Cat, Wonder Pets!), who doubles as the voice of Olly, and is inspired by his childhood in New York’s Greenwich Village. “I especially remember Halloween, when my neighborhood friends and I would go through the buildings we’d lived in. We would just start from the penthouse and tear down the stairs and bang on everyone’s door. It was sort of like Where the Wild Things Are. We basically had control of the whole building for that one night,” he recollected to Variety. “I think a lot of Welcome to the Wayne comes from those memories.”


Welcome to the Wayne creator Billy Lopez | Jayne Wexler/Nickelodeon

Lopez says he was approached by colleagues on Nickelodeon’s digital team who were looking for short-form content to feature on Nick.com. He brought 15-20 short ideas to a blind pitch meeting, “and one of them was the germ of Welcome to the Wayne,” he explains.

Moving from short-form to full-length has been both exciting and challenging, says Lopez. “It’s sort of been a leveling up of every aspect,” he explains. “Not only the storytelling and the ambition for what we hope to make as a show, but also much harder things like production. We have a much larger team working on the animation side of things and on the writing side, so there’s been a lot of learning on the fly.”


But one important thing that Lopez wanted to make sure stayed the same was the feel of the quirky series. “One of the nice things that have stayed intact between the digital and the full-length series is the sort of scrappiness of the animation, the characters and the dialogue.”

Executive producer Michael Pecoriello agrees: “That was one of the things that was important. How do we turn this into a big machine that’s going to produce 20 episodes on budget, on schedule, but still maintain the sort of quirky, hand-drawn, homemade — for lack of a better word — feel of the digital series.”



Another challenge was, of course, the length. “What’s a 22-minute story in Welcome to the Wayne? And how do we service all the things we want to be in there: comedy, mystery, serialization, and also standalones?” says Pecoriello.

Because of its short-form entree on Nick.com, the series has a built-in audience that already has in idea what’s going on, so how do you draw in new viewers without repeating yourself to your die-hard fans?

“We decided that we’re going to keep [the digital series episodes] as a sort of official origin story of these characters and start the pilot episode [of the full-length series] some vague time after that,” explains Lopez. “So we ended up with a soft reintroduction of the premise and the themes.”

“It’s basically designed so that you don’t need to have seen the web series to enjoy the show,” agrees Pecoriello. “Episode one feels like a beginning and definitely introduces the characters and the world, but it does work consistently with the digital, so if you watch them both, you’ll see how this sort of follows the events of the digital series.”

In addition to Lopez, the voice cast includes Alanna Ubach (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce) as Ansi and Dana Steingold as Saraline.

The series will air at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT through Friday with encore episodes airing on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT. New episodes are slated to air in September 2017.

Visit Nick.com and the Nick App to learn more about Welcome to the Wayne, as well as watch exclusive video clips and play games based on the series. Fans can immerse themselves in the Wayne by following the official Instagram account to discover more about the show, characters, and mysteries within. A sneak peek, full-length episode is available to watch on Nick.com/Wayne and the Nick App, along with platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Google Play, Vudu, Playstation, and Nick On Demand.

Additional source: ToonZone.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Welcome to the Wayne News and Highlights!