About the Book:
There is an entire generation that grew up on Nickelodeon. The network started to get its footing in the 1980s and in the 1990s became the defining voice in entertainment for kids. For the first time ever, in this book, the entire expanse of 1990s Nickelodeon has been collected in one place. A mix of personal reflection and media criticism, it delves into the history of each show with humor and insight. It revisits shows such as Rugrats, Clarissa Explains It All, and Legends of the Hidden Temple, one by one. More than an act of nostalgia, this book looks critically at the 1990s Nick catalog, covering the good, the bad, and the weird.
About the Author:
Chris Morgan is a pop culture and comedy writer based in the Detroit area. His written works include pieces for websites, books of both fiction and nonfiction, television, video games, and sketch shows for the stage.
Review Fix: What inspired this book?
Chris Morgan: In essence, this is a book I felt like already should have existed. I am one of so many people who grew up on Nickelodeon in the ’90s and still maintain many foundational memories tied to it. I’m not necessarily a nostalgic person, though, so I wanted to write a book that was more than just, like, “Oh man I sure liked Rugrats when I was eight.” It’s designed to be like a conversation with a friend of yours that also has an affinity for ’90s Nickelodeon, but it’s also quasi-encyclopedic.
Review Fix: What was your research process like?
Morgan: A lot of watching old Nickelodeon, which was sometimes fun but sometimes a drag. I have no intention of ever watching Animorphs again, unless I am trying to find some outside-the-box way to punish myself. I also read up on these shows, their creation, and so on. There was time spent looking into the careers of some of the notable figures. All in all an enjoyable experience. I’d recommend writing a book about something you enjoy if you want the research process to be worthwhile.
Review Fix: What’s your favorite part of the book?
Morgan: I loved writing the chapter on The Adventures of Pete & Pete. That’s my favorite Nick show of all-time, so writing about it was particularly enjoyable.
Review Fix: Any challenges?
Morgan: Some of these shows have largely been forgotten, and watching them proved difficult. There were definitely some shows I could only watch via grainy YouTube videos. Nick did not seem to care that anybody was screening their intellectual property without their green light, which I understand. People aren’t exactly clamoring for Space Cases to get a special-edition DVD.
Review Fix: What was your favorite ’90s Nick moment?
Morgan: Well, the best episode of their best show is when Big Pete becomes a bus driver under the watchful eye of Stu Benedict. Damian Young’s deliver of the line, “Carrot top Judas, thou hast forsaken me” should have won several Emmys and also probably a Pulitzer.
Review Fix: Most underrated Nick show?
Morgan: I was not terribly familiar with the game show Think Fast! prior to writing this book. I now believe it to be the best game show in the history of the channel. In terms of other shows, is it possible Kenan & Kel is underrated? Or did I just personally forget how good it was? I will let history be the judge of that.
Review Fix: What did you learn that you weren’t expecting?
Morgan: Mike O’Malley was only 24 when he got his first hosting gig on Get the Picture. A true wunderkind.
Review Fix: How do you want the book to be remembered?
Morgan: I hope this is the book on Nickelodeon many people have been waiting for as I have. Hopefully it informative, but just as importantly hopefully it’s a fun read.
Review Fix: Why should a Nick fan read this?
Morgan: It covers every single ’90s Nickelodeon show, which is to say any show that aired original episodes in the ’90s. That means shows that started in the ’80s like Double Dare and Hey Dude are covered, and so are the shows that starred in 1999 like SpongeBob SquarePants. If you care about ’90s Nickelodeon in any way, shape, or form definitely check it out.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Morgan: I’m writing things all over the internet, I’m on Twitter at @ChrisXMorgan, and I am pondering what my next book will be. I’ve now written books about Mystery Science Theater 3000 and ’90s Nickelodeon. If you care about ’90s pop culture, I’ll probably have something that will be up your alley coming at some point.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Morgan: Garbage day can be a very dangerous day.
Leave a Reply