Best Nickelodeon Shows of All Time, Ranked
The Paramount+ release of Good Burger 2 has us feeling all sorts of nostalgic, so we’re celebrating our childhoods and revisiting the best Nickelodeon series of all time.
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Our Top 25 list includes shows from 1989 through last year, satisfying the most nostalgia-hungry Gen Xers, millennials and more. Yes, we wouldn’t dare forget All That (which gave life to Kenan Thompson’s Dexter Reed and Kel Mitchell’s Ed), but the popular kids sketch series only scratches the surface of the series we’re looking back on.
From long-running series like Are You Afraid of the Dark? and SpongeBob SquarePants to shorter run (but still dearly loved) fare like Taina, The Legend of Korra, The Amanda Show and more, we had a blast remembering all of our favorite Nick (and SNICK!) shows and debating which ones were just a cut above the rest.
But first, a couple quick notes: Yes, You Can’t Do That on Television was discussed, but we took it off the table given its Canadian origin. (It first aired on CTV in 1979 and later re-aired on Nickelodeon.)
And sorry Double Dare, GUTS and Legends of the Hidden Temple fans. Since Nickelodeon was a vast playground of kid-friendly awesomeness, we kept our list to scripted series only! We hope Olmec will understand.
So scroll down and view our list of Nickelodeon’s best, then let us know how we did. If your favorites didn’t make our ranking, let it be known by dropping some comments below!
25. Cousin Skeeter (1998-2001)
A young Meagan Good starred in this heart-felt (see what we did there?) family sitcom about a wise-cracking ladies’ man puppet whose outlandish behavior usually ended in a teachable moment. The show never directly addressed the fact that Skeeter was a puppet among humans, but some scientific mysteries are better left unsolved. (It’s like CatDog. You don’t want to know how they go to the bathroom.)
24. Taina (2001-2002)
Madonna. Beyoncé. Taina. Some legends need only one name, and this sitcom’s titular superstar-in-the-making (played by Christina Vidal) was no exception. The first of several Nickelodeon shows set at a performing arts high school, Taina stayed with us far longer than its criminally short two-season run might suggest — and not just because it blessed us with one of the network’s catchiest theme songs of all time.
23. Rocket Power (1999-2004)
These “action kids in play position” were the raddest ‘tweens on TV. We aspired to be even half as cool as extreme sports enthusiasts Otto and Reggie, aspiring videographer Twister and techno whiz kid Squid, who spent their days catching waves and mastering sick flips on the halfpipe. Heck, we would’ve been happy splitting a burger down at the Shore Shack, if only to hear self-proclaimed philosopher Tito wax poetic about what the ancient Hawaiians used to say.
22. Salute Your Shorts (1991-1992)
What ’90s kid didn’t want to attend camp every week from the comfort of his or her own living room? Camp Anawanna was the perfect year-round staycation for those of us stuck indoors and bogged down with homework. This motley crew of campers — from prim princess Dina to camp bully Budnick and his sidekick Donkey Lips — kept us glued to our screens and yearning for fun in the sun. We vicariously lived our best summer lives through the Anawanna campers’ tales of friendship, rowing trips, pesky pranks and more. Plus, the show’s infectious theme song will forever play on a loop inside our brains.
21. Hey Dude (1989-1991)
Working during summer vacation was not so bad in Hey Dude, a Western comedy following the owner of a dude ranch and his seasonal teenage employees, who balanced duties like taking care of the horses and cleaning rooms with their personal lives. The setting made for a nice change of pace, but perhaps most memorably, the series introduced us to actress Christine Taylor (The Brady Bunch Movie, Zoolander) and David Lascher (who would go on to co-star in the shows Blossom, Clueless and Sabrina the Teenage Witch).
20. As Told By Ginger (2000-2006)
Though Ginger didn’t quite have the cultural impact of a Rugrats or SpongeBob, this heartfelt coming-of-age series was the sweet and sincere show that every preteen girl needed — and it couldn’t have come at a better time, with many millennial kiddos aging into more mature programming when Ginger came around. Centered on Ginger Foutley, her besties Dodie and Macie, and their efforts to climb the middle-school social ladder, As Told By Ginger gave us the crucial knowledge that everyone is carrying around some fears and insecurities — even the popular girls!
19. Victorious (2010-2013)
Of the many educational institutions Nickelodeon enrolled us in over the years, was any cooler than Hollywood Arts High School? Fully unfamiliar with the phrase “too big,” this over-the-top screwball comedy starred Victoria Justice as an aspiring pop star whose friends (and frenemies) included the likes of Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies. Wacky shenanigans, romantic drama and new power-pop ear worms on a weekly basis? Tweens in the 2010s didn’t know how good they had it.
18. The Legend of Korra (2012-2014)
A worthy successor to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this hugely popular spinoff told the story of Korra, a reincarnation of the original series’ titular Avatar, as she developed her powers in an ever-changing world. It also blessed us with the (confirmed) ‘ship of Korra and Asami, true pioneers in the realm of animated LGBT romances.
17. The Fairly OddParents (2001-2017)
When it comes to aspirational kids’ shows, what could be sweeter than having a pair of literal fairy godparents eager to grant your every wish, even if those wishes occasionally result in magical mishaps? (Actually, especially if they result in magical mishaps.) And don’t even get us started on the nuanced political machinations and deep mythological lore of the Fairy World. Just thinking about Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda puts a big, shiny-toothed smile on our faces.
16. The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994-1998)
Junior high woes got a dose of weird in this sci-fi series about Alexandra “Alex” Mack (played by Larisa Oleynik), a seventh grader who develops powers after she’s accidentally doused with an experimental substance from a nearby chemical plant. Over four seasons, Alex’s abilities — being able to liquefy herself, shoot electricity from her hands and telekinesis — and the threat of what might happen if the factory CEO got wind of those superpowers lent an exciting thrill to Nickelodeon’s brand of teen drama.
15. The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1991-1996)
This charmingly lo-fi sitcom about a pair of brothers, both named Pete, was an alt-comedy trailblazer, combining relatable childhood problems with a distinct flair for the bizarre. (Two of the show’s most prominent characters were the tattoo on Little Pete’s arm and the metal plate in their mom’s head.) It was deadpan, world-weary humor pitched from a kid’s point of view, and future stars like Selma Blair, Michelle Trachtenberg and Heather Matarazzo got in on the fun, too.
14. Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1991-1996, 1999-2000, 2019-2022)
Telling spooky stories by a campfire every weekend? Yep, we totally wanted to be an honorary member of the Midnight Society. These kid-friendly “Goosebumps”-style stories were exactly what our Saturday nights needed, and to this day evoke memories of popcorn, sleepovers and plenty of jump-scares. Plus, the show was a stepping stone for both up-and-coming talent and then-stars like Ryan Gosling, Neve Campbell, Tia and Tamera Mowry, and Melissa Joan Hart. The formula worked so well that the series was revived on more than one occasion, most recently with 2022’s four-episode Ghost Island tale.
13. The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
One of Nick’s first ever original cartoons, Ren & Stimpy quickly rocketed to icon status with mind-bendingly surreal animation and gleefully juvenile gross-out humor. Creator John Kricfalusi used the simple concept of a pair of cat and dog friends to tell wild tales of space exploration, talking horses and superheroes made of powdered toast, creating a fiendishly funny pop culture sensation that flamed out too soon — but is still fondly remembered to this day.
12. The Wild Thornberrys (1998-2004)
The Klasky Csupo cartoon isn’t spoken about much these days, but it ran longer than a number of fellow Nicktoons on our list (five seasons, 91 episodes) and spawned two motion pictures (2002’s The Wild Thornberrys Movie, followed by 2003’s epic crossover in Rugrats Go Wild). The series about a wildlife family and the teenage girl who could communicate with animals also boasted a stellar voice cast, including Lacey Chabert as the above-mentioned Eliza, Tim Curry as ever-eccentric patriarch Nigel and — how’s this for random? — Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea as feral boy Donnie.
11. Drake & Josh (2004-2007)
Fresh off The Amanda Show, executive producer Dan Schneider cast Drake Bell and Josh Peck as a modern-day odd couple — only they weren’t middle-aged divorcés sharing a New York City apartment; they were teenage stepbrothers sharing a San Diego bedroom. Drake was the dumb one, Josh was the funny one, but they were both — as little sister Megan often put it — gigantic boobs. Speaking of Megan, can we take a second and talk about the stellar supporting cast? Not only did the series employ future iCarly stars Miranda Cosgrove and Jerry Trainor, but it also introduced many of us to Yvette Nicole Brown, whose recurring role as movie theater manager Helen predated her stellar run on NBC’s Community.
10. iCarly (2007-2012)
A precursor to the age of “influencers,” iCarly followed a trio of childhood besties — basic queen Carly, her dry BFF Sam and their awkward guy friend Freddie — as they produced a surprisingly popular web show. And once you threw Jerry Trainor’s Spencer into the mix, you had a recipe for pure comedy chaos. Thankfully, the members of iCarly’s nation remain awakened to this very day, courtesy of Paramount+’s genuinely excellent revival (which was sadly cancelled back in October.)
9. Clarissa Explains It All (1991-1994)
Before My So-Called Life‘s Angela Chase entered the picture in 1994, teenage girls found their relatable teen heroine in this iconic early ’90s series starring Melissa Joan Hart. As Clarissa Darling navigated everything from crushes to her annoying younger brother to securing Pearl Jam tickets, she felt more like a friend than a TV character. (She even talked directly to the viewer.) And her male BFF Sam was climbing a ladder into her bedroom window way before Joey did on Dawson’s Creek!
8. Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)
With its laidback protagonist and jazzy soundtrack, Hey Arnold! was like the cool older sibling of Nickelodeon’s noisier, more brightly colored cartoons. And though it ostensibly focused on the football-headed title character, Hey Arnold! was just as much about Arnold’s fellow fourth graders, family and neighbors, nicely mixing elementary school humor with poignant lessons on friendship and compassion. Plus, in its very first season (out of five), the show gifted us with “Arnold’s Christmas,” an instant and tear-jerking holiday classic.
7. The Amanda Show (1999-2002)
From the moment she got her start on All That, you just knew that Amanda Bynes was going to be a star. Before leaving Nickelodeon behind to headline her own WB sitcom (the vastly underrated What I Like About You), she headlined this eponymous sketch comedy series that blessed us with recurring skits like Judge Trudy (a Judge Judy parody that always culminated in the arrival of dancing lobsters) and Moody’s Point (a parody of many a WB teen drama that co-starred future Saturday Night Live cast member Taran Killam).
6. Doug (1991-1999)
Who didn’t relate to Doug Funnie now and again? Doug gave us an inside line into the mind of tween anxieties, first crushes (in dreamboat Patti Mayonnaise), embarrassments and more. The show never shied away from examining the titular character’s feelings, letting his wild imagination run free as he worked through his problems. (Hooray for learning emotional maturity!) And the show was a hoot! Doug and BFF Skeeter were #FriendshipGoals, as they navigated school life and jammed out to The Beets’ “Killer Tofu” together (seriously, what a banger). For many kids growing up in the mid-’90s, the show was our entryway into difficult topics like self esteem, bullying and romantic relationships, and for that we are forever grateful.
5. Kenan & Kel (1996-2001)
Before Drake & Josh, there was Kenan & Kel! Having shown incredible chemistry on All That, it was no-brainer pairing Thompson and Mitchell in their own sitcom, which ran for four seasons and spawned a made-for-TV movie and a quasi-revival in 2022, courtesy of Keke Palmer and SNL. (To this day, we still think of Kel whenever we get a hankering for orange soda.)
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Epic in every sense of the word, this beautifully animated phenomenon immersed viewers in a fantasy world of war and magic, never once treating its viewers with kid gloves. While the show’s 2010 big-screen adaptation was an unmitigated flop — we’re fine pretending it never happened, to be honest — a far more promising live-action series is coming to Netflix in 2024.
3. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-Present)
He launched a billion-dollar merchandising empire, multiple spinoff movies and theme park rides, and even a Broadway musical — but underneath it all, SpongeBob is just a humble guy who lives in a pineapple under the sea. Silly enough for kids yet clever enough for adults, SpongeBob brilliantly mixes goofy slapstick with highbrow cultural nods to create a magical world of laughter led by an impossibly upbeat sponge and his underwater pals. Yes, it’s an inescapable mega success… but that’s only because it’s so darn fun to watch.
2. Rugrats (1991-2004)
Who knew we’d be so invested in the plights of babies and toddlers? While younger viewers loved riding shotgun on Tommy and co.’s adventure-of-the-week, parents were highly amused by the over-the-top depiction of parenthood, as seen through Stu, Didi and others. We loved watching the show’s portrayal of childhood through the lens of Tommy’s pint-sized l’il gang, and couldn’t resist the antics of memorable characters like the cute and clumsy Chuckie and the bratty Angelica. The show continues to shine to this day thanks to its incredible staying power. Not only has there been a handful of movies and crossovers throughout the years, but it also spawned a Paramount+ reboot in 2021 that’s still going strong.
1. All That (1994-2000; 2002-2005; 2019-2020)
If you were of a certain age in the mid-late ’90s, there was nothing cooler than the cast of All That. From Kenan Thompson’s Pierre Escargot to Kel Mitchell’s dimwitted Good Burger employee and Lori Beth Denberg’s “Vital Information,” we ate up this SNL-for-kids sketch series during its original run. Not only were its recurring sketches gold, but the series helped launch the careers of Thompson, Mitchell and Amanda Bynes, among others, and boasted a diverse cast long before networks were focusing on balanced representation. The cast’s go-for-broke physical comedy was reliably mesmerizing, and its musical performances were all the rage. No matter what era of the show you might’ve dropped in on, Nickelodeon just wouldn’t have been the same without All That‘s talented group of up-and-comers.
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