Is Nickelodeon Overhated?

[J21697]

Adults not liking shows that broadcast on "the first kids' network" that's a shocker. In all seriousness, Nickelodeon used to have more variety but all I can really fault them on right now is over-use of SpongeBob but that's right in line with how any network over-uses their breadwinners. That and I think it's lousy they don't play Ninja Turtles more often. Not even premiere encores at the moment and that's ridiculous for a show that does rather well for them and makes them mucho bucks in merchandising. If there's anything I miss from when I was a kid watching Nickelodeon it has to be game shows that involved physical elements. I'd like to see them do more of those or even revive one of their old ones. I mean shoot Dee Bradly Baker could come back to voice for Legends of the Hidden Temple if they revived that. Watching the old episodes is just a time capsule. I think kids would really enjoy doing shows like Double Dare and just imagine how cool they could make the "inside the game" part of Nick Arcade now with modern technology. I really meant it. Nick occasionally does quiz shows still and they keep making sitcoms and cartoons and have even delved into action animation now. But for whatever reason they don't do game shows with physical elements to them... maybe too much legal trouble in modern society? I wouldn't doubt it but it does seem a bit silly that such things prevent us from seeing a new version of GUTS, Legends, Double Dare, Wild and Crazy Kids or something new entirely. I think as animation and television fans we get hung up on the idea that all shows should have a broad appeal even though most of us wont fault a niche show for lacking broad appeal if it's something we particularly like. It's swell when kids cartoons are appealing to a broad audience but it's not essential for making a good children's cartoon or sitcom. We have to remember that despite our nostalgia for certain shows we liked a lot of stuff because it was intended for kids. That said, I don't like to see more childlrens' shows that talk down to their audience. For the most part I don't think Nick shows are guilty of that lately but maybe a few are. I'd argue a great many over the years did exactly that. TLDR: Nickelodeon relies a bit too much on a few shows and lacks variety but that's kind of how it always has been and likely how it always will be. CN and Disney are not so different and they all get hate from adults who don't like how those networks have changed. It's best not to think much of the complaints.

Sketch, you hit the right notes, once again. I agree with everything you said in this post.

 

[Zanneck]

Adults not liking shows that broadcast on "the first kids' network" that's a shocker.

In all seriousness, Nickelodeon used to have more variety but all I can really fault them on right now is over-use of SpongeBob but that's right in line with how any network over-uses their breadwinners. That and I think it's lousy they don't play Ninja Turtles more often. Not even premiere encores at the moment and that's ridiculous for a show that does rather well for them and makes them mucho bucks in merchandising.

If there's anything I miss from when I was a kid watching Nickelodeon it has to be game shows that involved physical elements. I'd like to see them do more of those or even revive one of their old ones. I mean shoot Dee Bradly Baker could come back to voice for Legends of the Hidden Temple if they revived that. Watching the old episodes is just a time capsule. I think kids would really enjoy doing shows like Double Dare and just imagine how cool they could make the "inside the game" part of Nick Arcade now with modern technology. I really meant it. Nick occasionally does quiz shows still and they keep making sitcoms and cartoons and have even delved into action animation now. But for whatever reason they don't do game shows with physical elements to them... maybe too much legal trouble in modern society? I wouldn't doubt it but it does seem a bit silly that such things prevent us from seeing a new version of GUTS, Legends, Double Dare, Wild and Crazy Kids or something new entirely.

I think as animation and television fans we get hung up on the idea that all shows should have a broad appeal even though most of us wont fault a niche show for lacking broad appeal if it's something we particularly like. It's swell when kids cartoons are appealing to a broad audience but it's not essential for making a good children's cartoon or sitcom. We have to remember that despite our nostalgia for certain shows we liked a lot of stuff because it was intended for kids. That said, I don't like to see more childlrens' shows that talk down to their audience. For the most part I don't think Nick shows are guilty of that lately but maybe a few are. I'd argue a great many over the years did exactly that.

TLDR: Nickelodeon relies a bit too much on a few shows and lacks variety but that's kind of how it always has been and likely how it always will be. CN and Disney are not so different and they all get hate from adults who don't like how those networks have changed. It's best not to think much of the complaints.

Now THIS is something I couldn't have said better myself, if I actually had more time on my hands, that is...

 

[TheMusicdewd]

It is very understandable why current Nickelodeon gets a lot of hate and criticism. The channel has changed greatly from what it used to be and not exactly for the better.

For me, Nick went downhill in the Mid-2000's when Cyma Zarghomi replaced Herb Scannell as the President of the channel. This was when they started getting rid of their last batch of good shows for more and more crappy shows. This was also when SpongeBob started going downhill Paul Tibbitt took over the show. The show was brought back after the huge success of the movie. They also started showing constant reruns of SpongeBob 8 times a day. They started doing the same for the Fairy Odd Parents.

As the 2000's rolled in, Nick started becoming more and more teenybopper-oriented. The channel just became more about teens, texting, and pop music, because they wanted to copy Disney Channel's success. This was when they started showing clips of pop music videos after the end of every show.

Nickelodeon basically became more of a channel that appealed to kids ONLY instead of a channel that appealed to BOTH kids and adults.

 

[ABrown]

By no means do I "hate" Nickelodeon. However, I've never really gotten into Nickelodeon cartoons. I'll come accross one here and there that I like, but that's about it.

Ah okay, Of course we all new SaC would be successful with its target audience, if not an even larger one (though I still prefer Victorious)!

Man that was a good show. S&C is no where near as good.

 

[Dynamite Soldier]

As the 2000's rolled in, Nick started becoming more and more teenybopper-oriented. The channel just became more about teens, texting, and pop music, because they wanted to copy Disney Channel's success. This was when they started showing clips of pop music videos after the end of every show. Nickelodeon became more of a channel that appealed to kids ONLY instead of a channel that appealed to BOTH kids and adults.

I believe Nick has moved on from pop star/music themed sitcoms, hence why it cancelled Victorious in the first place.

The part I bolded in your initial response is a false statement. Nickelodeon was never intended to aim at adults, just kids aged 2 to 17. There's nothing wrong with adults watching the channel, but anyone over the age of 18 can now be considered Nick at Nite's audience, not Nick's. Nick's plan was to attract a certain number of children, which is why it was intended to be "The First KIDS Network" as it originally was.

 

[Goldstar!]

The part I bolded in your initial response is a false statement. Nickelodeon was never intended to aim at adults, just kids aged 2 to 17. There's nothing wrong with adults watching the channel, but anyone over the age of 18 can now be considered Nick at Nite's audience, not Nick's. Nick's plan was to attract a certain number of children, which is why it was intended to be "The First KIDS Network" as it originally was.

And honestly, I think even age 17 is a tad high. I'd say that the cut off age for Nickelodeon's target audience is about 13 or 14. But it's true that while adults viewers were never discouraged from watching Nick (and still aren't today), the channel and it's programming has always been tailored for children. It even says so in the channel's slogan, "Nick is KIDS". Therefore, if you're over the age of 13, you're considered to be either the audience for TeeNick or for Nick at Nite.

 

[Dynamite Soldier]

And honestly, I think even age 17 is a tad high. I'd say that the cut off age for Nickelodeon's target audience is about 13 or 14.

It depends on which show(s) you watch. Some of the Nick series like Drake & Josh, Sam & Cat and Zoey 101 are aimed at a more teen audience yet they run on Nick. I happen to know a lot of 14-17 year olds who watch these shows. Heck, even Ren & Stimpy could count.

 

[ILDC]

Forget what the target demographics say, making sure Mom and Dad won't want to turn off the TV tends to be important. A lot of Nick's shows have adult fanbases for a reason.

 

[slicknickshady]

It doesn't help that Nickelodeon didn't give some shows the same treatment they are giving newer shows. I agree that Nickelodeon did the right think by renewing TT and HH. But they should have gave the same treatment to How to Rock and Marvin Marvin. Bravo to Nick for learning there lesson and given shows longer to gain an audience, but that doesn't make the cast, crews, and fans or the previously named shows feel any better about getting the short end of the stick. When How to Rock was cancelled...they just came off an episode that did 2.8 million viewers. David Israel DM'd me on twitter a few days after How to Rock a Love Song aired and told me How to Rock was cancelled. I still have the DM's saved. We had a long conversation on the state of Nickelodeon at the time. It wasn't a pretty conversation.

This is how David broke it to me HtR was cancelled. "Nick. U are clearly one of our greatest fans. And a non-psycho. Wanted u to hear directly from me that HTR is not getting a 2nd season. It sucks, it's a mistake and i'm hugely disappointed. As most people are at Nick. Will go public shortly. I know it blows"

Ill never forget what David told me "Nickelodeon will sink lower before they rise up again. Shame."

David said some things I will continue to keep to myself tho. I don't want to cost him a job in the future. But it's been long enough where i think i can make public the stuff above.

My main point of this whole post tho is just that, Nickelodeon hasn't exactly helped their cause.

 

[J21697]

It doesn't help that Nickelodeon didn't give some shows the same treatment they are giving newer shows. I agree that Nickelodeon did the right think by renewing TT and HH. But they should have gave the same treatment to How to Rock and Marvin Marvin. Bravo to Nick for learning there lesson and given shows longer to gain an audience, but that doesn't make the cast, crews, and fans or the previously named shows feel any better about getting the short end of the stick. When How to Rock was cancelled...they just came off an episode that did 2.8 million viewers. David Israel DM'd me on twitter a few days after How to Rock a Love Song aired and told me How to Rock was cancelled. I still have the DM's saved. We had a long conversation on the state of Nickelodeon at the time. It wasn't a pretty conversation.

This is how David broke it to me HtR was cancelled. "Nick. U are clearly one of our greatest fans. And a non-psycho. Wanted u to hear directly from me that HTR is not getting a 2nd season. It sucks, it's a mistake and i'm hugely disappointed. As most people are at Nick. Will go public shortly. I know it blows"

Ill never forget what David told me "Nickelodeon will sink lower before they rise up again. Shame."

David said some things I will continue to keep to myself tho. I don't want to cost him a job in the future. But it's been long enough where i think i can make public the stuff above.

My main point of this whole post tho is just that, Nickelodeon hasn't exactly helped their cause.

I think management wasn't happy with the ratings they were getting at the time (which I don't blame them for.) Shows on Disney were pulling in 4M+ a week, compared to the weakened iCarly, Victorious, and BTR which were struggling to pull in 3M.

Plus (no offense) but I highly doubt How to Rock would grown even if Nick decided to keep it. The music TV genre is pretty dead. Look at what happened to Victorious, Big Time Rush (the ratings, not the group) and even Glee on FOX. The only music kid TV show that's still around is Austin & Ally, which is down from the ratings the show was pulling in last year.

 

[Goldstar!]

It depends on which show(s) you watch. Some of the Nick series like Drake & Josh, Sam & Cat and Zoey 101 are aimed at a more teen audience yet they run on Nick. I happen to know a lot of 14-17 year olds who watch these shows. Heck, even Ren & Stimpy could count.

Like I said, older viewers were never discouraged from watching Nick, but most of the live action kidocms were/are basically live action cartoons. they feature teenagers but are aimed primarily at pre-teens, hence the characters acting more like more big kids than young adults. Kenan & Kel, Drake & Josh, Sam & Cat, Zoey 101, etc. aren't teen shows; they're kids' shows based what kids think teenagers are like.

As for Ren & Stimpy, well, R&S was advertised and treated by Nick as a kids' show, but in reality, it was anything but.

 

[Dynamite Soldier]

Like I said, older viewers were never discouraged from watching Nick, but most of the live action kidocms were/are basically live action cartoons. they feature teenagers but are aimed primarily at pre-teens,hence the characters acting more like more big kids than young adults. Kenan & Kel, Drake & Josh, Sam & Cat, Zoey 101, etc. aren't teen shows; they're kids shows based what kids think teenagers are like.

That's true, but this still confuses me a little because didn't Nick had a block aimed at teenagers (which was called TEENNick, before getting its own channel)?

 

[Goldstar!]

That's true, but this still confuses me a little because didn't Nick had a block aimed at teenagers (which was called TEENNick, before getting its own channel)?

Yes, TeeNick was a program block before it was a channel. Therefore, I suppose that it could be argued that Nick has/had a significant teenage audience.

 

[CowBobRanchPants]

Nick has a lot of problems a lot regarding their Nicktoons. Back in the day their Nicktoons were pretty great (even though some do loose replay value). I think some people overhyped the 90's shows when some of them aren't even that entertaining looking back. In fact some of them are like "look at me, look at me! I'm kinda weird and wacky, but meh" that's what I got from shows like Wild Thornberries, etc. But they can also strike home with goodies such as Hey Arnold, early Rugrats (their starting animation stage was my favorite era), etc. I totally get the people who liked Disney/CN more though, they mostly at times turned out better shows. Is it nostalgia based? To a degree. Well I've been raised on Nick more than any other channel in my life. I've watched it grow and watched it change to what it is today. Even though I'm past Disney Channel and some shows I still watch Nick/CN, Nick more frequently. I completely understand the hate for the channel though. Nick has a habit of barely replaying any other Nicktoon than the ones that just came out or SpongeBob. All their semi older cartoons get shipped back to Nicktoons Network to have all their episodes burned off as many know. I wasn't a big fan of most of the series (the DreamWorks ones especially), but it's probably frustrating to those who liked them. All the life action comedies look so current Disney carbon cut out, that they drive me away. I also feel like DanWarp is the only company working with Nick that hasn't completely lost it's touch. (I say "hasn't completely" because Sam & Cat isn't as strong as their previous companions imo.) The channel relies way too much on SpongeBob and it's sad to see such a cool channel fall.

 

[Jinbo71]

Some time ago, I fought against the leader of one of the many idiotic "New Nick Sucks" facebook groups, he said that he wants Nick to die horribly after learning that Breadwinners was supposed to increase ratings. And I told him that Nickelodeon is the highest rated kids network, he said:

I'm telling you what the article said, if they've recovered from that then fine, but in my opinion they still need a lot of help and this wont bring it to them, and they'll fall again. Great use of insult by the way. "Suck it nostalgia***", wonderful really, thank you for your insight. I think I have stated multiple times that I didn't like everything 90's and don't hate everything new, but hey, how can I argue with such a great insult such as Nostalgia***? You win sir, here is your diploma, you graduate from Troll school. Good day to you.

I told him that I wasn't a troll, just someone intelligent enough to know that Nick is for kids, not adults, and the show doesn't suck. He responded with:

"If you market just to kids, you might as well be dead" - Walt Disney

No network should ever market Solely to kids, if you were intelligent you would know that, and also wouldn't hurl the term Nostalgia*** as an insult. The fact of the matter is "Its a show aimed at kids" is absolutely no excuse for a poor quality stupid show. In fact its even WORSE in that aspect, because Children should be shown that shows that are "Aimed at their demographic" don't talk down to them. Hey Arnold didn't need to do that, Rugrats didn't, Avatar Disnt, Jimmy Neutron didn't, Old SpongeBob Didn't. Hate is justified, and it is never pointless. If no one ever complained, then we would just continue to get ****. Nick Studio 10 would still be airing, and more. Don't ever say its pointless, because it is not. And if you don't like what it said here, you can leave, no one will stop you.

Because, you know, a simple, lighthearted, goofy show MUST mean that is sucks, right? /sarcasm.

Also, "Hate is Justified? It is Never Pointless?" Um... DmC: Devil May Cry would like to have a word with you, amoungst many other things. Nickelodeon included.

 

[slicknickshady]

I think management wasn't happy with the ratings they were getting at the time (which I don't blame them for.) Shows on Disney were pulling in 4M+ a week, compared to the weakened iCarly, Victorious, and BTR which were struggling to pull in 3M.

Plus (no offense) but I highly doubt How to Rock would grown even if Nick decided to keep it. The music TV genre is pretty dead. Look at what happened to Victorious, Big Time Rush (the ratings, not the group) and even Glee on FOX. The only music kid TV show that's still around is Austin & Ally, which is down from the ratings the show was pulling in last year.

Looking back tho, it's pretty funny they cancelled a show after a episode that did 2.8 million viewers. Yes the Victorious before it did 3.3 million. Even though I didn't like Victorious, i'm still of the thought they deserved another season, just as How to Rock did.

What David told me tho, was the LA Nickelodeon execs loved How to Rock and wanted it renewed. It was the NY Higher Ups that wanted to move in the direction of all new shows. As David told me "It was just a bad time to have a new developing show on Nickelodeon."

Looking at the ratings of HH and TT and how they both got 2nd seasons. David looks to have been correct. That was a bad time for a new developing show. Now looks like to be a good time for one. But it's water under the bridge now. David has moved on and is a writer and co executive producer on About A Boy (NBC). Halston and Max on Crisis (NBC). I think the point is, they have lost a lot of goodwill. With the WGA controversy and etc.

Does Nickelodeon deserve as much hate as they have got? Nope. But i think my only point is, they are not free from some blame. Disney now is likely going to face a lot of the backlash Nickelodeon did the last few years.

 

[CoolEric158]

Some time ago, I fought against the leader of one of the many idiotic "New Nick Sucks" facebook groups, he said that he wants Nick to die horribly after learning that Breadwinners was supposed to increase ratings. And I told him that Nickelodeon is the highest rated kids network, he said:



I told him that I wasn't a troll, just someone intelligent enough to know that Nick is for kids, not adults, and the show doesn't suck. He responded with:



Because, you know, a simple, lighthearted, goofy show MUST mean that is sucks, right? /sarcasm.

Also, "Hate is Justified? It is Never Pointless?" Um... DmC: Devil May Cry would like to have a word with you, amoungst many other things. Nickelodeon included.

Let me say this; no matter what you do, some people will still be stubborn. You just have to accept that others will still feel what they grew up with was the greatest, and everything today is awful. And again, people said this in 2004, and say it now in 2014. In all honesty, do what I do; ignore them, as they'll either grow out of it, or find something else to gripe about. Just saying.

 

[TheMusicdewd]

Let me say this; no matter what you do, some people will still be stubborn. You just have to accept that others will still feel what they grew up with was the greatest, and everything today is awful. And again, people said this in 2004, and say it now in 2014. In all honesty, do what I do; ignore them, as they'll either grow out of it, or find something else to gripe about. Just saying.

And continue to be delusional.

 

[Jinbo71]

And continue to be delusional.

This, sadly seems to be the truth.

 

[Goldstar!]

Let me say this; no matter what you do, some people will still be stubborn. You just have to accept that others will still feel what they grew up with was the greatest, and everything today is awful. And again, people said this in 2004, and say it now in 2014. In all honesty, do what I do; ignore them, as they'll either grow out of it, or find something else to gripe about. Just saying.

Yep. And 20 years from now, there will be Nick fans on the internet complaining that the Nickelodeon of 2034 sucks compared to the Nickelodeon of today. It's as predictable as the tide.