Made in the 90's

By: Kayla Gilbert '21
Attention all Salem State students! Has the semester been weighing you down? Deadlines to meet, and not enough time to meet them. Can’t even take the time to stop at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks? Need some R&R?. Let’s be honest, college can be a trip. mind. Perhaps a bit of both; depending on who you ask around campus. Downtown Salem just becoming far to hectic to navigate due to the “Haunted Happenings?”
Instead of boring you with the classic phrases, “you should be getting eight hours of sleep,” or “that third cup of coffee does not count as a meal!” Fear not for as a fellow student at Salem State, trust me, it’s easy to fall victim to the mid-semester blues. For all you nineties babies perhaps returning to a simpler time, before you acquired crushing debt and an unhealthy habit of procrastination. Time to escape the 21st century and travel back in time with Netflix.
Since we’ve got cable; let’s flip to channel 25 Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon originally launched December 1, 1977 and aired shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Danny Phantom, Fairy Odd Parents, Angry Beavers and Invader Zim. Nickelodeon rivaled with Cartoon Network, although Cartoon Network was a late arrival about fifteen years late still managed to tango with Nickelodeon studios.
Therefore, Cartoon Network was launched on October 1, 1992. Airing mainly animated programming ranging from action to comedy. Famous shows such as, Ed, Edd and Eddy, Dexters Laboratory, PowerPuff Girls, Johnny Bravo and Rockos Modern Life. Both broadcasting shows have built a reputation especially in the 90s being the greatest of all time. Even many of these famous titles like SpongeBob SquarePants is still airing today!
Nonetheless, it’s difficult to build a reputation but simple to destroy one. Many of these shows, Nickelodeon included, were cancelled by the early 2000’s. Putting an end to the 90s cartoons as we know it.
But why would Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon cancel shows; especially if ratings are at their peak? Simply put: money. It was beneficial cancel the cartoons, to cut the costs of animators and hires. Some shows were cancelled too soon, while others were just getting good. An abrupt ending to a cartoon, without getting any closure can lead to less viewers.
Nickelodeon has tried to rescue some shows. Going as far as creating a movie such as Invade Zim: Enter the Florpus. Not saying the reboot turned movie wasn’t worth the time. You can even try the movie for yourself on Netflix. But most rebooted cartoons like Teen Titans Go and the new PowerPuff Girls make a mockery out of the original. Animation quality becoming poor, even with greater technology and funding. In fact, older fans find these copycat cartoons extremely offensive.
However, I believe Nickelodeon deserves a pat on the back. For not only giving us 90s babies back Invader Zim, but dropping a trailer for the reboot of the ’90s animated TV series Rocko’s Modern Life. The main character a wallaby Rocko finds himself a little behind the times. Literally telling his friends Heffer and Filburt, “I don’t think we’re in the ’90s anymore.” Addressing the fact that over 20 years of culture and technology have passed since the show was on the air.
In fact, the trailer is full of biting satire aimed at our obsession with newer versions of iPhones, hazardous energy drinks, the ubiquity of Starbucks, and 3-D printers. Needless to say, Rocko finds it hard to adjust to all these new changes, and correctly comes to the conclusion that this “21st century is a very dangerous century.
So SSU students, if you're procrastinating writing the research paper or studying for that midterm exam. Kick back, relax and watch these amazing reboots.
Attention all Salem State students! Has the semester been weighing you down? Deadlines to meet, and not enough time to meet them. Can’t even take the time to stop at Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks? Need some R&R?. Let’s be honest, college can be a trip. A trip that could either break your wallet or your mind. Perhaps a bit of both; depending on who you ask around campus. Downtown Salem just becoming far to hectic to navigate due to the “Haunted Happenings?”
Instead of boring you with the classic phrases, “you should be getting eight hours of sleep,” or “that third cup of coffee does not count as a meal!” Fear not for as a fellow student at Salem State, trust me, it’s easy to fall victim to the mid-semester blues. For all you nineties babies perhaps returning to a simpler time, before you acquired crushing debt and an unhealthy habit of procrastination. Time to escape the 21st century and travel back in time with Netflix.
Since we’ve got cable; let’s flip to channel 25 Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon originally launched December 1, 1977 and aired shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Danny Phantom, Fairy Odd Parents, Angry Beavers and Invader Zim. Nickelodeon rivaled with Cartoon Network, although Cartoon Network was a late arrival about fifteen years late still managed to tango with Nickelodeon studios.
Therefore, Cartoon Network was launched on October 1, 1992. Airing mainly animated programming ranging from action to comedy. Famous shows such as, Ed, Edd and Eddy, Dexters Laboratory, PowerPuff Girls, Johnny Bravo and Rockos Modern Life. Both broadcasting shows have built a reputation especially in the 90s being the greatest of all time. Even many of these famous titles like SpongeBob SquarePants is still airing today!
Nonetheless, it’s difficult to build a reputation but simple to destroy one. Many of these shows, Nickelodeon included, were cancelled by the early 2000’s. Putting an end to the 90s cartoons as we know it.
But why would Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon cancel shows; especially if ratings are at their peak? Simply put: money. It was beneficial to have cancellation of the cartoons. To cut the costs of animators and hires. Some shows were cancelled too soon, while others were just getting good. An abruptly ending -- without the cartoon without getting any closure can lead to less viewers.
Nickelodeon has tried to rescue some shows. Going as far as creating a movie such as Invade Zim: Enter the Florpus. Not saying the reboot turned movie wasn’t worth the time. You can even try the movie for yourself on Netflix. But most rebooted cartoons like Teen Titans Go and the new PowerPuff Girls make a mockery out of the original. Animation quality becoming poor, even with greater technology and funding. In fact, older fans find these copycat cartoons extremely offensive.
However, I believe Nickelodeon deserves a pat on the back. For not only giving us 90s babies back Invader Zim, but dropping a trailer for the reboot of the ’90s animated TV series Rocko’s Modern Life. The main character a wallaby Rocko finds himself a little behind the times. Literally telling his friends Heffer and Filburt, “I don’t think we’re in the ’90s anymore.” Addressing the fact that over 20 years of culture and technology have passed since the show was on the air.
In fact, the trailer is full of biting satire aimed at our obsession with newer versions of iPhones, hazardous energy drinks, the ubiquity of Starbucks, and 3-D printers. Needless to say, Rocko finds it hard to adjust to all these new changes, and correctly comes to the conclusion that this “21st century is a very dangerous century. So SSU student, if your procrastinating writing studying for that midterm exam. Kick back, relax and watch these amazing reboots.