12 TV Shows You Might've Forgotten About from Your Childhood
Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottMaybe it's just the nostalgia talking but millennials almost undoubtedly grew up with some of the best shows on TV. Babies born between 1981 and 1996 helped pioneer the rise of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Double Dare etching themselves into broadcast history—and our memories. But what happened to the more niche children's shows that were on television when millennials were kids—you know, the ones we woke up every Saturday morning to watch, even if it was a re-run we’ve seen a thousand times? Most of these shows can’t be found on streaming services, but they were once beloved by kids everywhere—and will probably be instantly recognizable to millennials who have kids of their own by now. Below, we rounded up 12 nostalgic TV shows that make us feel like kids again. How many do you remember?
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Animated Shows From Your Childhood You Might Have ForgottenThundercatsChannel: SyndicationYears on TV: 1985-1989Fun Fact: The show was finished in 1983 but didn’t premiere until two years later.Animated superhero shows were all the rage in the mid-to-late eighties. Thundercats was perhaps one of the most underrated, following a group of humanoid cats who fought evil on so-called Third Earth, after feeling their home world of Thundera. The heroes—Lion-O, Tygra, Cheetara, and Panthro among others—keep the inhabitants of their new home safe from a sorcerer known as Mumm-Ra. Yup, it was as wild as it sounds.Aaahh!!! Real MonstersChannel: NickelodeonYears on TV: 1994-1997Fun Fact: The monsters live in a New York City garbage dump, and use toenails as currency.There is a whole category of animated kids shows in the nineties that have most definitely given you nightmares—The Ren & Stimpy Show is one example. Another one, which is decidedly more funny and kid-friendly is Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. A predecessor to Monsters, Inc, this quirky animated series from Nickelodeon follows the exploits of Ickis, Oblina and Krumm, adolescent monsters who are learning how to scare kids at Monsters Academy.The Adventures of SpotChannel: Disney Channel and Playhouse DisneyYears on TV: 1987-1993Fun Fact: Each episode of Spot is only 5 minutes long.Millennials, this was our Bluey. This adorable animated show ran for five seasons and took us along as Spot, the iconic yellow puppy, went on a series of adventures. Spot meets a bear, flies a kite, and goes to school—and he became so popular that there’s a book series based on Spot’s hijinks, too. It was originally a British show but was later adapted and released in the U.S. with a U.S.-based cast, including Home Improvement’s Jonathan Taylor Thomas as the voice of Spot.EwoksChannel: ABCYears on TV: 1985-1987Fun Fact: Wicket the Ewok makes an appearance in the original Star Wars movies as a rebellion fighter on Endor.The cutest characters in Star Wars got their own animated show that followed Wicket W. Warrick and his fellow Ewok friends on their adventures in the forests of Endor. The show takes place prior to the events in the Star Wars movies.Live-Action Shows From Your Childhood You Might Have ForgottenThe Secret World of Alex MackChannel: NickelodeonYears on TV: 1994-1998Fun Fact: Jessica Alba plays a recurring character in the shower, one of her first roles.Junior high school student Alex Mack’s life turns upside down after she’s doused in a chemical that gives her new powers. She can morph into a blob of goo (yes, this still grosses me out) and shoot electricity from her fingers, but she’s forced to keep her new life a secret or risk getting captured by the chemical company. Thankfully, her friend Ray and sister Annie help her hide her superpowers—even when she starts glowing. Lamb Chop’s Play-AlongChannel: PBSYears on TV: 1992-1995Fun Fact: Lamb Chop was first introduced on Captain Kangaroo in 1956 by puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis who plays Charlie Horse on the show.This award-winning children’s show is hosted by puppeteer Shari Lewis, who takes us along on adventures with puppets Lamb Chop and her siblings Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy. It’s in the same vein as Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, but with a lot more singing.Clarissa Explains It AllChannel: NickelodeonYears on TV: 1991-1994Fun Fact: Clarissa was played by Melissa Joan Hart, who would later star in the iconic live-action reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Because she didn’t attend a normal high school, when she graduated, the cast and crew held a ceremony for her and gave her a “Nickelodeon High School” diploma.One of Nickelodeon's first iconic live-action shows, Clarissa Explains It All follows teenager Clarissa Darling as she navigates young adulthood and tries to understand why people do what they do. You might remember Clarissa sitting in her room speaking directly to the audience as we watched. I’m curious: How would Clarissa explain life as an adult? Here’s my official petition to bring this show back, but from her perspective as a 30-something year old woman.GhostwriterChannel: PBSYears on TV: 1992-1995Fun Fact: Originally, the ghost was only able to communicate in cursive, but this changed after focus groups noted that kids might not be able to read it.In this spooky show, teens solve mysteries around their New York neighborhood with the help of a ghost. Said ghost can only speak to crime-solving kids by manipulating the written word, which helped the show gain a reputation for teaching kids reading and writing skills. Educational Shows From Your Childhood You Might Have ForgottenOut of the BoxChannel: Disney ChannelYears on TV: 1998-2004Fun Fact: Before being released on Disney+, many people thought this show was lost forever due to a lack of home video releases.Tony and Vivian let our imaginations run wild, encouraging us to see their cardboard clubhouse as a world full of endless possibilities. This educational show specifically focused on helping kids express themselves through song, arts and crafts, and storytelling.ZoomChannel: PBS KidsYears on TV: 1999-2005Fun Fact: The show won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming in 2006.No, we’re not talking about the online conference program. This live-action educational children’s show is a remake of the 1972 show of the same name where a group of young cast members play a series of activities based on audience-submitted ideas. Often the cast made recipes and science experiments, all suggested by the kids watching at home.WishboneChannel: PBSYears on TV: 1995-1998Fun Fact: The dog actor who played Wishbone on screen’s real name was Soccer.This PBS show was as exciting as it was educational. Each episode, we would join Wishbone—a Jack Russell Terrier—and his family in a different situation (for instance, there’s a crime wave where he lives, or a developer tries to destroy a nearby park). Wishbone then imagines himself as a character in a classic novel related to the situation at home, going on epic adventures and taking the audience along with him. Wishbone introduced some kids to the joys of reading, and a lifelong love of literature.Gullah, Gullah IslandChannel: NickelodeonYears on TV: 1994-1999Fun Fact: Did you know this was the first Nick Jr. show to have a live-action character?Inspired by the Gullah culture of Ron Daise’s home on St. Helena Island in South Carolina, this musical children’s TV Show was as educational as it was fun. Following the lives of the fictional Alston family, Gullah Gullah Island taught viewers all about confidence and cooperation as young kids. One of the main characters is a giant yellow tadpole named Binyah Binyah Poliiwog. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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