When Did Nickelodeon Start Corrupting America's Youth?

[nobleplatypus]

So while I was on break, partially (okay, entirely) on the recommendation of Kevin Smith, I decided to watch an episode of Degrassi. You see, in the afternoon, Nickelodeon starts calling itself "The N" and pretty much gets sexy. This show is about high schoolers (who look about thirteen to me, but this is probably because Hollywood has no problem casting 25-year-olds as high school seniors, so people who are actually 16 or 17 look way younger to me) doing what high schoolers do... namely, have lots of sex in hotel rooms and throw out the occasional marriage proposal.

Now, I only saw part of one episode, because I was too horrified by my beloved Nickelodeon's loss of innocense to watch more, so I am quite probably misjudging the series and all that... but man. Remember "Hey, Dude," when someone would maybe occasionally get kissed, and that was, like, third base? Or better yet, remember cartoons like "Rocko's Modern Life," where sex was never even an issue?

...What happened?

I'm not trying to sound prudish; it's the fact that this is on Nickelodeon that shocks me the most. If it were on MTV, I wouldn't bat an eye. But Nick was my childhood, man! "Salute Your Shorts" didn't have ill-conceived marriage proposals! It had a dance. ONCE.

I feel old.

Comments

[shannonsequitur.livejournal.com]

I've never actually seen the show before, but from what I've heard about it, the creators are trying to be Hip and Relevant and Deal With The Issues Surrounding Today's Youth (yes, this merits capitalization). And then people like you and me sit around wondering what happened to good old-fashioned escapism.

[mencc1701.livejournal.com]

That's generally the point I believe, yes... and it seem s to generally get good reviews for it, too. I never watched it or the original, though.

[nobleplatypus]

What did happen to escapism?! Because that is still my coping mechanism of choice, and I'd rather not see it lost entirely to gritty realism.

[artfuldodger.livejournal.com]

.....my childhood is being raped yet again.

Man, I remember the days when Boy Meets World was dealing with Issues of Today's Youth, and Salute Your Shorts was just there making everything in the world okay.

What happened? No wonder all these kids have so many issues these days.

[nobleplatypus]

Yep. I wonder if they'd have so many issues if they thought kissing was third base...

[artfuldodger.livejournal.com]

These days if a show depicted kissing as such, it'd have to be 100% comedy.

[nobleplatypus]

Yyyyyep. Heh heh. Let's write a kid's show!

[ravensorea.livejournal.com]

I love your icon! I've seen it before and laughed myself silly. Honestly, I think the whole series was one messed up acid trip. ^_^

~B

[nobleplatypus]

Thanks! ^_^ I loff it as well. Yay TBC!

And oh, if only past tense was appropriate.

[archeok.livejournal.com]

Isn't it Noggin, not Nickelodeon? Or is Noggin a subsidiary of Nickelodeon? Anyway, yeah, it's crazy and Canadian, and has gotten really racy in the past few years. I think their main audience is actually american college students, because I know Mel and Katie are big fans.

[nobleplatypus]

They're connected... I'm not sure if it's only on Noggin or not.

*pause*

Only on Noggin or not only on Noggin or not only on Noggin or not! Whee!

Hmmm, yesh... like "Ren and Stimpy." But at least R&S was just potty humor. :P

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just a matter of perspective. I remember when "21 Jump Street" was hot stuff because its view of high school wasn't all dances and proms and cheating on papers in class - there were drugs, knifings, shootings, gangs, boosting stereos in shop class, and always, the obligatory Cocaine Hotline Phone Number at the end of about every third or fourth show, complete with voiceovers from Peter DeLuise and Johnny Depp! :-P

[nobleplatypus]

Yeah, I suppose. Still, man. Nickelodeon. *shell-shocked*

[megansleevwillo.livejournal.com]

A.
FRICKING.
MEN!
I HATE DEGRASSI! HOLY CRAP! Margo watches that all the time, and I always point out the shortcomings and impossibilities and crap to her, to which she tells me to shut up. THAT SHOW SUCKS TESTICLES!
~Megan~

[nobleplatypus]

Oh, good. I'm glad I didn't just catch the lone bad episode. :P

[avalonauggie.livejournal.com]

I am filled with firey, nougat-filled hatred for the destrcution of my childhood. I mean, I expect crap like this from Disney, because they hold nothing sacred, but Nickelodeon! it's NOT FAIR!

I miss "Hey Dude" And "Salute Your Shorts." those were the best. what happened?

[nobleplatypus]

I don't know, but I don't like it.

Dude, have you seen the commercial with Pete and Pete? It's for Wendy's or something! And younger Pete looks THE EXACT SAME.

[avalonauggie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I MISS that show! I wonder if it's out on DVD.

[nobleplatypus]

I think it has been released, just recently!

*prays for Hey, Dude and Salute Your Shorts*