'91

Television exploded in year two of the decade. And by explode, I mean literally defined the 90s. There were smash hits coming from every angle. Some of us watched Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor electrocute himself for the first time or maybe JT Lambert fail a chemistry test on Step By Step. But hands down, no one did it better in the 90s than the home for cartoons, Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon might as well have written all of our parents a letter saying "hey we are going to take over your television set now and we aren't taking no for an answer." The station was hitting on all cylinders when they came out with these gems. 

I'm not even kidding when I say this, I used to define people in high school based off what Doug character they resembled most. Don't act like you didn't either. I mean how could you not find a Beebe Bluff or Roger Klotz in the lunchroom. Rugrats was just a staple in my household as well. You knew the gang was going to get in trouble but you watched to see how they got out no matter what. Ren and Stimpy was kind of the show Nickelodeon got away with, and inevitably the show our parents let us get away with as well. These shows just had that much of an impact on my young mind. These were real Saturday morning cartoons. You know the ones kids actually got up for. However I would argue that Are You Afraid of the Dark? is head above the rest. I mean just watch the intro.

If you were anything like me, you used to watch the crew put the fire out with sand because you made it to the end of the episode. I always loved how I could get scared to death at 2pm. I was always fond of this program as well because it was the only show my older sister would let me watch with her. It became our half hour of bonding time and then she would continue to pummel me with random toys scattered around the house. Nickelodeon will forever hold a special place in the heart of a true 90s kid. And no matter what anyone else says or thinks, we will always have the best Saturday morning lineup.