In part 1 of our discourse on Nickelodeon we talk about the founding of the network in the late 1970's as commercial free kids programming to the network's acquisition by Warner which led to & the so called "Orange Years" (1983-1996) while trying to gain a broader understanding of how Nickelodeon became what it is today 

While some people seemed to always have had the best intentions, the early years of Nickelodeon set the ground work for everything that would follow. From shows like You Can't Do That on Television and the introduction of slime and competition shows like Double Dare to scripted series like Salute Your Shorts, Pete & Pete, Clarissa Explains it All & Are You Afraid of the Dark? In the 1980's and early 90's Nickelodeon was a cornerstone for kids programming.

But how did a network which basically started as public broadcasting with the intent of making children feel seen become a safe haven for some of the most predatory people in the entertainment industry? It started with the Orange Years. 


(content warning: part 1 only covers up to 1995 so we won't be discussing Quiet on Set yet, abuse is still referenced in this episode & shows like Ren and Stimpy that are discussed in this episode will be talked about in greater detail for  part 2, Part 3 will start with the All That spin offs) 

Sources:

The Orange Years (documentary)

Slimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age
Book by Mathew Klickstein