It was nice seeing some of the old shows I used to watch and how they started, but after watching this documentary about nickelodeon it's easy to see where they lost sight of what they started out as, way before sponge bob and Dora as stated in the show. When your breakout show is about kids being kids and just having fun and making fun of everything (You can't do that on television) in fact most of what the kids did in that show would not be allowed now, which is why they will never release the series. They also a few great shows after that. But once you start to guide kids thinking you will lose them. I think it started with nick news, they kind of mention it in the show that they had this huge audience now what do we do with them? Once you start manipulating kids into seeing what YOU want them to see and care about and inject political correctness into their shows, you start to lose some of them and before they knew it they were just another corporation that lost touch with its customers. Don't get me wrong they had some good shows in the later years, Josh & Drake, I-Carly and a few others but even those were best in the early episodes because they were much rawer and a little less P.C. but I suppose that happens to every show.
15 Reviews
Fond Memories for Any Child of the 1990s
drqshadow-reviews21 September 2021
I came of age in the late '80s and early '90s, and in retrospect, I'm not sure there was a single more powerful influence on those formative years than Nickelodeon. Pinwheel and Danger Mouse colored my earliest memories, Double Dare and Mr. Wizard arrived a bit later, Salute Your Shorts and Ren & Stimpy spoke to me as a pre-teen... it seemed that as I grew and matured, so did the network, catering its programming to meet what I wanted or needed at that specific point in my life.
Looking back at it here, through a wide-angled lens, I was startled by how much of this material has lingered in my long-term memory banks and still, subtly, feeds my personality today. That's where The Orange Years makes its hay: coasting through a laundry list of beloved short-run TV shows and catchy pre-commercial bumpers, refreshing fond recollections in its audience while serving a dash of backstage skinny to better humanize the men and women behind this little network that could. And that's really what it was, at least in the early days: a boutique cable channel, catering to a very specific market, in an era before that was a proven formula.
The peeks behind the curtain are wonderful and inspiring - happy conversations with stars, creators and executives who are still jazzed about the product, twenty years after moving on - but the greater urge to service nearly every original property with some degree of inspection grows tiresome after nearly two hours. Should've been twenty minutes shorter.
Looking back at it here, through a wide-angled lens, I was startled by how much of this material has lingered in my long-term memory banks and still, subtly, feeds my personality today. That's where The Orange Years makes its hay: coasting through a laundry list of beloved short-run TV shows and catchy pre-commercial bumpers, refreshing fond recollections in its audience while serving a dash of backstage skinny to better humanize the men and women behind this little network that could. And that's really what it was, at least in the early days: a boutique cable channel, catering to a very specific market, in an era before that was a proven formula.
The peeks behind the curtain are wonderful and inspiring - happy conversations with stars, creators and executives who are still jazzed about the product, twenty years after moving on - but the greater urge to service nearly every original property with some degree of inspection grows tiresome after nearly two hours. Should've been twenty minutes shorter.
Informative Documentary Involving an Important Part of my Childhood
Reviews_of_the_Dead14 August 2023
This was a documentary that Jaime and I watched together. We started it on a Friday night, I had to leave to catch a movie at the theater so we finished this the next day. We were intrigued to see this since to different degrees, we grew up with the shows that were on the channel, Nickelodeon.
We learn here about the history of this channel. From its humble beginnings in Columbus, Ohio to Geraldine Laybourne taking over and how her approach helped it grow. This also helps to explain why it did so well and the trend that it started with being the first channel dedicated to children. Looking back on it, it makes a lot of sense. During that time, not so much. There were children and teens along with adults who hadn't made it, taking on different shows with producers who were learning on the fly. If that doesn't sound like growing up, I'm not sure what else would.
This was fun to see the likes of Danny Cooksey, Lori Beth Denberg, Melissa Joan Hart, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson and Marc Summers get interviewed. I remembered these people from my childhood years. What I didn't know was that Christine Taylor, Larisa Oleynik and others also got their start on Nickelodeon. Coupling with them are people behind the scenes and hearing their perspective adds another layer as well.
What I'll say is that this is a well-made documentary. I like that it hooked me. It then gives the history and going through the different years/era. It was informative. They edit scenes and clips that helped to showcase what they're conveying. There is a bit about each of the different shows and what their contribution was to the growth. The ending was sad, since my daughter won't know the world before this channel or how it changed what she will watch in her formative years. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I'd recommend it to people my age or those interested in how Nickelodeon changed children's television.
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
We learn here about the history of this channel. From its humble beginnings in Columbus, Ohio to Geraldine Laybourne taking over and how her approach helped it grow. This also helps to explain why it did so well and the trend that it started with being the first channel dedicated to children. Looking back on it, it makes a lot of sense. During that time, not so much. There were children and teens along with adults who hadn't made it, taking on different shows with producers who were learning on the fly. If that doesn't sound like growing up, I'm not sure what else would.
This was fun to see the likes of Danny Cooksey, Lori Beth Denberg, Melissa Joan Hart, Kel Mitchell, Kenan Thompson and Marc Summers get interviewed. I remembered these people from my childhood years. What I didn't know was that Christine Taylor, Larisa Oleynik and others also got their start on Nickelodeon. Coupling with them are people behind the scenes and hearing their perspective adds another layer as well.
What I'll say is that this is a well-made documentary. I like that it hooked me. It then gives the history and going through the different years/era. It was informative. They edit scenes and clips that helped to showcase what they're conveying. There is a bit about each of the different shows and what their contribution was to the growth. The ending was sad, since my daughter won't know the world before this channel or how it changed what she will watch in her formative years. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I'd recommend it to people my age or those interested in how Nickelodeon changed children's television.
My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
A love letter to the most nostalgic generation.
amlarios200330 November 2020
This documentary was fantastic. As someone who grew up watching and loving Golden Era Nickelodeon in the early 90's, and still holds onto that love to this day in my 30s, this was a fun and informative look into Nickelodeon. The Orange Years covered tons of different ground, and was jam packed with stars that made Nickelodeon what it was, such as Kenan Thompson, Danny Tamberelli, and Geraldine Laybourne. Watching this made me want to break out my old orange Nickelodeon VHS tapes and have my own SNICK night. Orange you glad you've got your Nickelodeon?
Must See!
robd-0225320 November 2020
The Orange years does a perfect job bringing back to my childhood through the stories of the kids (now adults) who built Nickelodeon. If you're a fan of anything Nickelodeon past or present this is without a doubt a must see.
Nick at Dawn
ferguson-68 January 2021
Greetings again from the darkness. Slime. Perhaps that word conjures images of the 1984 film GHOSTBUSTERS, but for many who were kids in the 1980's and 1990's, slime is synonymous with Nickelodeon, and specifically the network's game show, "Double Dare". This documentary from co-directors Scott Barber and Adam Sweeney traces the history of the still popular network, and visits with those who helped build the foundation.
The Nickelodeon network was officially launched in 1979, however the film teaches us how it was inspired by the TV show "Pinwheel", and tested on QUBE, the interactive cable network whose pushbutton controller allowing immediate feedback from viewers was revolutionary. It's difficult to imagine the days when there existed no network dedicated to entertainment for kids, yet the programming challenges faced in those early years are shocking. Nickelodeon was named after the original indoor moving picture theaters from the early 1900's (cost was 5 cents to watch), and the naming of Geraldine Laybourne as President in 1980 marked the beginning of explosive growth for the upstart "First Channel for Kids".
Ms. Laybourne is interviewed here, and is worshipped by those who describe her as a progressive thinker and exemplary teacher. Her role in those early years was clearly crucial to the network, although after 16 years, she left to join rival Disney. The founding days are so thoroughly discussed that we learn Pantone 21C is the color used for the familiar orange logo ... simply because orange is a "happy" color. With a goal to "Let kids be kids", it's quite obvious that those involved understood what kids liked and didn't like. NickToons was established in 1991 with three gems: "Rugrats", "Doug", and "Ren & Stimpy". Jim Jinkins was the creator of "Doug" and we learn much about him. In fact, interviews are included from numerous members of the talent roster. Marc Summers, host of "Double Dare", Melissa Joan Hart, star of "Clarissa Explains it All", and Kenan Thompson of "Kenan and Kel", who of course, has gone on to spend many years as a featured player on "Saturday Night Live". These folks reminisce about the early years and how they understood they were changing the landscape of TV for kids.
This isn't just about the stars. We learn about the opening of the Nickelodeon Studio in Orlando, and how it became a featured attraction on the Universal Studios tour. We also hear from the writers, producers, and creators, so that we get the full picture of how things came together and then developed. Some names we wouldn't expect to be associated with Nickelodeon include: Iggy Pop, Magic Johnson, Chris Farley, and Coolio. We see how each fit in. We learn about 'middle-age kids', the beginnings of SNICK (with "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"), as well as the initial resistance to merchandising - termed 'exploiting kids'. Of course, all of that changed with Nickelodeon Magazine, "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999) and "Dora the Explorer" (2000).
The magazine and merchandising became a physical manifestation of the network's programming, and of course, a substantial addition to the revenue stream. What's most impressive with the backstory is how those behind the programming were so energized and committed to changing the world of children's TV. There may have been game shows, slime, and Gak, but the real impact resulted from their understanding of kids ... kids that are now adults and admit to growing up watching Nickelodeon. It's a legacy that continues today. Available On Demand beginning November 17, 2020
The Nickelodeon network was officially launched in 1979, however the film teaches us how it was inspired by the TV show "Pinwheel", and tested on QUBE, the interactive cable network whose pushbutton controller allowing immediate feedback from viewers was revolutionary. It's difficult to imagine the days when there existed no network dedicated to entertainment for kids, yet the programming challenges faced in those early years are shocking. Nickelodeon was named after the original indoor moving picture theaters from the early 1900's (cost was 5 cents to watch), and the naming of Geraldine Laybourne as President in 1980 marked the beginning of explosive growth for the upstart "First Channel for Kids".
Ms. Laybourne is interviewed here, and is worshipped by those who describe her as a progressive thinker and exemplary teacher. Her role in those early years was clearly crucial to the network, although after 16 years, she left to join rival Disney. The founding days are so thoroughly discussed that we learn Pantone 21C is the color used for the familiar orange logo ... simply because orange is a "happy" color. With a goal to "Let kids be kids", it's quite obvious that those involved understood what kids liked and didn't like. NickToons was established in 1991 with three gems: "Rugrats", "Doug", and "Ren & Stimpy". Jim Jinkins was the creator of "Doug" and we learn much about him. In fact, interviews are included from numerous members of the talent roster. Marc Summers, host of "Double Dare", Melissa Joan Hart, star of "Clarissa Explains it All", and Kenan Thompson of "Kenan and Kel", who of course, has gone on to spend many years as a featured player on "Saturday Night Live". These folks reminisce about the early years and how they understood they were changing the landscape of TV for kids.
This isn't just about the stars. We learn about the opening of the Nickelodeon Studio in Orlando, and how it became a featured attraction on the Universal Studios tour. We also hear from the writers, producers, and creators, so that we get the full picture of how things came together and then developed. Some names we wouldn't expect to be associated with Nickelodeon include: Iggy Pop, Magic Johnson, Chris Farley, and Coolio. We see how each fit in. We learn about 'middle-age kids', the beginnings of SNICK (with "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"), as well as the initial resistance to merchandising - termed 'exploiting kids'. Of course, all of that changed with Nickelodeon Magazine, "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999) and "Dora the Explorer" (2000).
The magazine and merchandising became a physical manifestation of the network's programming, and of course, a substantial addition to the revenue stream. What's most impressive with the backstory is how those behind the programming were so energized and committed to changing the world of children's TV. There may have been game shows, slime, and Gak, but the real impact resulted from their understanding of kids ... kids that are now adults and admit to growing up watching Nickelodeon. It's a legacy that continues today. Available On Demand beginning November 17, 2020
Took me back..
awfczjh22 November 2020
What a fun ride back through my childhood!
roofdown-3904422 November 2020
filled with nostalgia and great memories
andreaaguinada23 November 2020
With key characters like Melissa Joan Hart, Keenan and Kel this film is a total blast from the past and in a league of its own. I caught myself saying "I used to love that show" so much. It also takes you back to the very very beginning of Nickelodeon and gives you a fun little history lesson. I would recommend this to everyone who is a fan of the children's network. 10 out of 10 for sure!!!
A walk down memory lane!
nhoffmann-9484130 November 2020
Did not disappoint!
mrjlmills18 November 2020
I was so excited when I heard about this movie, as a kid growing up in the late 80's and early 90's Nickelodeon was everything so my expectations were pretty high going in. I am happy to report that this movie did not let me down at all! My wife and I made a date night out of it and man did it take us on a journey. We even stayed up reminiscing about all the stuff we had forgotten for hours after the movie was over. It's all there. The shows and stars you remember. The shows and stars you forgot. The history. The production value. The flow. I was just sad when it was over. I highly recommend this film, I'm going to watch it again with my kids!
Great nostalgic look at Nick History
fischer_patrick29 March 2022
This is a really well done film. It does a great job in telling the history of Nickelodeon. It does so with great archival footage and modern day interviews with the biggest stars of Nickelodeon's past. A super fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane if you grew up in the 80's or 90's.
Orange Golden Era
hellraiser78 October 2023
This is one of my favorite documentaries of all time. I was a kid from the 80's and 90's, Nickelodeon was my jam ever since the very first time I saw it at my Aunt's place in Yakima, WA and the rest as they say is history. Of course, the best decade when the Network truly reigned was in the 90's and that's when it became an absolute phenomenon and easy to see why as there never a channel like it was, which was devoted to kids programming but most importantly was a prime exampling showing how TV can still be much more.
Watching this documentary gave me a good feeling as it just reminded me of one of the high points of my youth, helped me get though and make my gloomy days brighter, and how much the Nickelodeon channel in the orange years had to offer and still do. I really liked how consistent the doc is in telling some of the origin of the Network which was a rocky road up which is understandable, sometimes it takes a while for a new network and TV program to find its footing. For example, they had this strange logo that looks like the dreaded silver sphere from the horror film "Phantasm" as it's flying around to this montage of images, multicolored letters of Nickelodeon and there is that promo song that I thought was pretty good and a nice listen. If you're curious you can watch this on "Youtube" as it really is an interesting watch just to see what came before the logos, we know Nick for.
Anyway, it was a good idea they went with the orange color logo we know nick for. It really works when you think about it as it just feels like a color that just generates positive energy. I'll admit to this day every time I see that color I keep thinking of that Network. And of course, there were all those promo and bumper Nickelodeon commercials in the past which had sort of that doowop beat to them which you'll probably have a hard time getting out of your head. From those singing brontosaurs walking with snickers, a barbershop quartet that sings a rather calming tune, and just a lot of others which again you can see on "Youtube" if curious.
Even like that we have several of the original cast members years later that were involved with the network and all the programs that helped shape it into what it became. I'll just say a little on a few of the programs as there are a lot of them, and sidenote have done some reviews on several of the programs from Nickelodeon which you can check out if you want.
Double Dare: This of course was Nick's first game show let alone one of the first game shows for kids and family. Yeah, like a lot of kids that watched that show I wanted to be a contestant on that show; and I'm sure even Keanan Thompson and Larisa Olenik also wanted to as they both had positive things to say about it. I just loved those challenges, but my favorite is the obstacle course which is like the Eliminator from "American Gladiators" or even the "Warioware" video game series but live action as each of the obstacles were all a mini game by their nature. But I think what was really appealing was that it had this sense of freedom, to be messy and to simply have fun without restrictions.
All That: This is one of my favorite skit comedy shows as this was one for kids, and like a lot of skit comedies there were a lot of memorable skits and characters from Superdude a parody obviously on "Superman" but of course the fan favorite we remember the most "Good Burger". I always remember Kel with that surfer vocal tone, his character was such a dim bulb but has a good heart as he always wants to do a good job. It would be a dream if there was a "Good Burger" skit and Keanu Reeves walked in, wouldn't that be wild. But anyway, really liked what Keanan Thomson, Kel Mitchell, Alicia Reyes (who is still hot), Josh Server, and Lori Beth Denburg all had good things to say.
The Secret World of Alex Mack: Yeah, this was a pretty good show even though I saw this at a time when I was entering adolescence and steering away from Nick a little, which in a way makes the show ironically fitting and to me this was one of the orange years last hurrahs. It was like the sci-fi show "My Secret Identity" (show I reviewed). It was just cool seeing someone young inheriting superhuman powers/abilities which at the time wasn't seen much in the visual medium, but of course the show is a coming-of-age metaphor by its nature. Liked what actress Larisa Oleynik and what she had to say on her experience with the show, sidenote yeah, she's one of my celeb crushes as I thought see is cute (and still is) and on the list of under the radar actresses.
Overall if you're a Nick fan rookie and Veteran then watching this would be a good history lesson if you ever wanted to know more about the network or for the Veteran fan it would be like looking back at journal passages just to remind and take you back for a while. The orange golden era will never be forgotten as it has and always will be part of who I am and what I've became, along with other kids back then, now, and many more tomorrow.
Rating: 4 stars.
Watching this documentary gave me a good feeling as it just reminded me of one of the high points of my youth, helped me get though and make my gloomy days brighter, and how much the Nickelodeon channel in the orange years had to offer and still do. I really liked how consistent the doc is in telling some of the origin of the Network which was a rocky road up which is understandable, sometimes it takes a while for a new network and TV program to find its footing. For example, they had this strange logo that looks like the dreaded silver sphere from the horror film "Phantasm" as it's flying around to this montage of images, multicolored letters of Nickelodeon and there is that promo song that I thought was pretty good and a nice listen. If you're curious you can watch this on "Youtube" as it really is an interesting watch just to see what came before the logos, we know Nick for.
Anyway, it was a good idea they went with the orange color logo we know nick for. It really works when you think about it as it just feels like a color that just generates positive energy. I'll admit to this day every time I see that color I keep thinking of that Network. And of course, there were all those promo and bumper Nickelodeon commercials in the past which had sort of that doowop beat to them which you'll probably have a hard time getting out of your head. From those singing brontosaurs walking with snickers, a barbershop quartet that sings a rather calming tune, and just a lot of others which again you can see on "Youtube" if curious.
Even like that we have several of the original cast members years later that were involved with the network and all the programs that helped shape it into what it became. I'll just say a little on a few of the programs as there are a lot of them, and sidenote have done some reviews on several of the programs from Nickelodeon which you can check out if you want.
Double Dare: This of course was Nick's first game show let alone one of the first game shows for kids and family. Yeah, like a lot of kids that watched that show I wanted to be a contestant on that show; and I'm sure even Keanan Thompson and Larisa Olenik also wanted to as they both had positive things to say about it. I just loved those challenges, but my favorite is the obstacle course which is like the Eliminator from "American Gladiators" or even the "Warioware" video game series but live action as each of the obstacles were all a mini game by their nature. But I think what was really appealing was that it had this sense of freedom, to be messy and to simply have fun without restrictions.
All That: This is one of my favorite skit comedy shows as this was one for kids, and like a lot of skit comedies there were a lot of memorable skits and characters from Superdude a parody obviously on "Superman" but of course the fan favorite we remember the most "Good Burger". I always remember Kel with that surfer vocal tone, his character was such a dim bulb but has a good heart as he always wants to do a good job. It would be a dream if there was a "Good Burger" skit and Keanu Reeves walked in, wouldn't that be wild. But anyway, really liked what Keanan Thomson, Kel Mitchell, Alicia Reyes (who is still hot), Josh Server, and Lori Beth Denburg all had good things to say.
The Secret World of Alex Mack: Yeah, this was a pretty good show even though I saw this at a time when I was entering adolescence and steering away from Nick a little, which in a way makes the show ironically fitting and to me this was one of the orange years last hurrahs. It was like the sci-fi show "My Secret Identity" (show I reviewed). It was just cool seeing someone young inheriting superhuman powers/abilities which at the time wasn't seen much in the visual medium, but of course the show is a coming-of-age metaphor by its nature. Liked what actress Larisa Oleynik and what she had to say on her experience with the show, sidenote yeah, she's one of my celeb crushes as I thought see is cute (and still is) and on the list of under the radar actresses.
Overall if you're a Nick fan rookie and Veteran then watching this would be a good history lesson if you ever wanted to know more about the network or for the Veteran fan it would be like looking back at journal passages just to remind and take you back for a while. The orange golden era will never be forgotten as it has and always will be part of who I am and what I've became, along with other kids back then, now, and many more tomorrow.
Rating: 4 stars.
Great but no Amanda show
nikolaskjames17 August 2022
Orange is cool.
HypnoticPoison722 September 2023
Nickelodeon was my life. I grew up watching it as a toddler, stuck with it as a child, a pre teen, a teenager and rewatched all of the old shows as an adult. I still watch them any chance I get. Rocko's Modern Life was my favorite to rewatch, but they were all great cartoons and live action shows. I started life watching today's special, noozles, David the gnome and the little bits, progressed into Rugrats and just gave my life to Nick after that. My dad says he hated me watching Ren & Stimpy and Aaah Real Monsters, but those shows gave me character. To be honest, Nickelodeon raised me. It was the only channel I watched 24/7 when Beavis & Butthead and Daria weren't on MTV. My parents fought and I ran to Nick. I was a lonely loser and Snick was my Saturday night. I'm more cultured a person because of the diversity of those shows. Weird is cool. I defended Nickelodeon to all the cool kids watching MTV or Adult Swim because they weren't learning empathy or humility. The shows for kids now are embarrassingly bad by comparison and there is no one channel that educates kids while making them laugh without simultaneously brainwashing them. The songs I learned from that channel are still sung to this day (even the Stick Stickley P. O. Box 963 song!). Everyone knows happy happy joy joy, even if you didn't watch the show. There isn't anything like those shows on TV now and it's really sad that kids have no way to learn a sense of humor or quirkiness. So I want to thank every writer, director and producer that did anything for Nickelodeon between 1985 and 1998, because it made my life better and got little me through some really dark times.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
