Like with many people my age, I hold firm to the idea that Nickelodeon in the 1990’s is still the greatest television of all time. Shows like Doug, All That, Double Dare, and Clarissa Explains It All–shows that were really hitting their stride in the 90’s were a source of comedy and genuine entertainment for kids born around that time. I can remember sitting down in front of the television at night to watch new episodes of Rugrats, and shows like that were wholesome entertainment for children. However, even before these monsters of television were thought of, the idea of Nickelodeon had to be born. The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story explores the roots of the first channel geared toward children by way of testimonials of Nickelodeon bigwigs and behind-the-scenes footage. Strap in, because this is one wild journey.
That wholesome, yet norm-breaking television that existed from morning until night on Nickelodeon was a quintessential part of growing up in the 90’s and 2000’s. So, how do you capture the true essence of the channel by way of a documentary? Well, you have to get down to the nitty-gritty nature of the production of these loveable shows. The former executives, creators of the aforementioned (and other) shows, and the child stars that took the world by storm take the stage once more to explain what life was like. The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story brings to light these interesting stories, and presents to the world the sentiment that Nickelodeon was just as magical behind the scenes as it was on our television sets.
I’ve seen documentaries about the production of films and television shows in which the cast and crew express that their time filming and developing content was troublesome, difficult, and even unhappy. The image in the minds of each and every person who has watched a Nickelodeon show is that the production is just as fun as the final product, and The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story confirms all that we believed the shows to be.
In all honesty, the only thing I wanted out of The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story was a little bit of nostalgia to perk me up and remind me of the wonderful times I had as a child. However, in addition to all that I had hoped for, viewers are able to hear these testimonials that bring our childhood memories even more to life. I was nervous, because my childhood was on the line with The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story. Though, throughout the course of this documentary childhood crushes were re-realized, some of the best times of my life were re-lived, and the innocence of childhood crept back into my being–and I sat in front of the television, viewing these shows once more, with a smile on my face from beginning to end.
I wasn’t expecting much going into The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story, not because I thought the production crew would fail, but because I didn’t need much from the film. Writers-directors Scott Barber and Adam Sweeney truly capture the essence of the 1990’s and exceed all expectations that viewers may have. The heads of production gear the documentary toward viewers that would have grown up with the programming, and they fill their viewers full of nostalgia and refuse to let those viewers avert their eyes. The documentary is brilliant, and Barber and Sweeney play to their audience and The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story is successful as a result.
Written & Directed by Scott Barber & Adam Sweeney.
Starring Drake Bell, Michael Bower, Danny Cooksey, Lori Beth Denberg, Melissa Joan Hart, Kel Mitchell, Larisa Oleynik, Alisa Reyes, Josh Server, Danny Tamberelli, Kenan Thompson, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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