Overview of Nickelodeon: The Best of Slimes
This Stuff You Should Know episode traces the rise of Nickelodeon from an experimental cable channel into a pop-culture juggernaut, then doesn’t shy away from the network’s dark history of abuse scandals and mismanagement. The hosts mix nostalgia for classic Nick programming with a business-and-brands history lesson, showing how the network’s identity was built around kid-first entertainment, slime, and a distinctive orange aesthetic.
How Nickelodeon Began
Nickelodeon grew out of an early Warner Cable experiment in Columbus, Ohio in the late 1970s, originally known as QUBE. One channel from that system, Pinwheel, survived and evolved into Nickelodeon.
Key early details:
- Vivian Horner created Pinwheel, a commercial-free preschool block/show.
- The channel initially skewed younger, then gradually broadened its audience.
- The name Nickelodeon was chosen mostly because people in the room liked how it sounded, not because of the old movie-theater meaning.
The Rebrand That Made Nick “Nick”
A major turning point came when Geraldine Laybourne took over and pushed the network toward a more authentic kid-centered approach.
Branding and Identity
- Nick ditched its earlier, more childlike logo for the now-famous orange identity.
- The team deliberately claimed an ugly, underused color—Nickelodeon orange—and turned it into a signature brand asset.
- Animated logos and bumpers reinforced the playful, energetic feel.
The “Kids First” Philosophy
Laybourne’s team focused on:
- Listening to what kids actually wanted
- Avoiding patronizing content
- Hiring people committed to children’s programming, not just people treating Nick as a stepping stone
The Shows That Built Nickelodeon
The episode highlights the mix of imported and original programming that made Nick special.
Early and Imported Favorites
- You Can’t Do That on Television — a Canadian sketch show that became a cornerstone of Nick’s identity
- Livewire — a teen-oriented current events show
- Other early oddball programming that gave Nick a different vibe from broadcast TV
The Slime Connection
- You Can’t Do That on Television is where slime became a Nickelodeon trademark.
- The “green slime” legend apparently began as an accident.
- Slime evolved from novelty gag to core network symbol.
Game Shows and Live-Action Hits
Nick hit a sweet spot with energetic, physical game shows:
- Double Dare
- Finders Keepers
- Guts
- Legends of the Hidden Temple
The hosts emphasize how these shows worked because they were:
- Visually chaotic and fun
- Completely sincere
- Perfectly tuned to kids’ sense of humor
Nick also had live-action sitcom success with shows like:
- Clarissa Explains It All
- The Adventures of Pete & Pete
- Hey Dude
- Salute Your Shorts
Nick at Nite and the Network’s Expansion
When Nick gained nighttime hours, it filled them with classic reruns under Nick at Nite.
That move:
- Expanded Nickelodeon’s audience
- Turned the network into an all-day destination
- Helped cement it as a cultural institution
The episode also notes Nick’s partnership with Universal Studios, which helped boost its visibility and made the brand feel even bigger.
The Cartoon Era and Nickelodeon’s Peak
By the early 1990s, Nickelodeon became a powerhouse for animation.
Major Cartoons
- Ren & Stimpy
- Doug
- Rugrats
- Hey Arnold!
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
- The Legend of Korra
- Rocco’s Modern Life
The Biggest Hit: SpongeBob SquarePants
The episode makes clear that SpongeBob became Nickelodeon’s defining hit:
- Created by Stephen Hillenburg, a former marine biologist
- Still one of the most successful cartoons ever made
- Generated enormous merchandising revenue for the network
The Dark Side: Abuse Scandals and Mismanagement
The episode includes a significant warning and shifts into the network’s disturbing history of child exploitation and sexual abuse.
Ren & Stimpy and John Kricfalusi
- Creator John Kricfalusi was later accused by former underage collaborators of sexual abuse.
- The hosts note his later non-apology and the tragic way this tainted the show’s legacy.
The Dan Schneider Era
A major portion of the discussion focuses on Dan Schneider, the creator behind many Nickelodeon live-action hits:
- All That
- The Amanda Show
- Drake & Josh
- Zoey 101
- iCarly
- Henry Danger
The episode describes long-running criticism that Schneider’s shows often featured:
- Inappropriate sexual humor
- Exploitative behavior toward young performers
- A toxic production culture
Broader Abuse Allegations
The hosts also mention abuse by other Nickelodeon-affiliated adults, including:
- Brian Peck (voice/dialogue coach)
- Jason Handy (production assistant)
- Other workers tied to the network’s productions
The Documentary Fallout
They reference the documentary Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which exposed how widespread the problem was and how little protection child actors had.
Leadership Criticism
The episode is especially critical of Sima Zargami, who is blamed by many fans for:
- Undervaluing creator compensation
- Turning down promising projects like Adventure Time
- Failing to protect child actors and address abuse effectively
Nickelodeon Today
The hosts close by noting that Nickelodeon is no longer the dominant force it once was:
- Cable TV has declined overall
- Kids have moved toward streaming and digital platforms
- Nickelodeon’s daily viewership is far below its peak
Even so, the brand remains recognizable and influential, especially through its classic catalog and legacy characters.
Listener Mail Note
The episode ends with a quick listener correction:
- On a ship, rope becomes line once it is cut and used for a specific purpose
It’s a small, fun coda after a big episode about nostalgia, branding, and the complicated legacy of Nickelodeon.