For seven weeks, What We’re Watching is being taken over by the Paley Center’s Teen Transmitters internship cohort! Each week a different pair of students will share their thoughts on the 2021 media landscape along with personalized recommendations. This week we hear from Aliza Sayed, a rising junior at The Beacon School, and Miles Cuffie Archer, a rising senior at Talent Unlimited High School. We hope you enjoy this unique opportunity to hear directly from young voices.

As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at eduny@paleycenter.org.

It’s a sunny Saturday morning in 2006. You’ve just made yourself a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. You turn on the television and change the channel to Cartoon Network. Ed, Edd n Eddy is playing on cable. Life is good. Well, you can bring those memories back! Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the golden era of cartoons.

In 1990, a law came into place that changed children’s television forever. The Children’s Television Act declared that shows aimed at children must serve “the educational and informational needs of children through the licensee's overall programming, including programming specifically designed to serve such needs.” This led to an increase in quality children’s programming in the '90s to 2000s, as showrunners needed to keep their shows engaging and entertaining for their kid audience, while also meeting the educational requirements set by the government. As a result, this caused viewers to gain an everlasting love for these children’s shows. These shows did not only touch on fundamental intellectual skills, such as reading, writing, and math, but also gave children life lessons and the gift of imagination.

The recent rise in streaming in the past decade has caused the decline of cable TV, which is where these shows originated, leaving them to be forgotten as new shows are being specifically designed for a new generation of viewers. However, several of these old shows can now be found on streaming services as well! Today, we are going to remind you of those old shows that you dearly loved, which you can rewatch for nostalgia or even recommend to the younger people you know.

Two of the top cable networks for kids shows of the '90s were Cartoon Network and Nick Jr./Nickelodeon. Here are our recommendations:

Five animal friends use their big imaginations to play pretend and go on adventures in their backyard. Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, Austin, and Uniqua teach kids how to be creative and imaginative, while also teaching them about different time periods, cultures, careers, and places all around the world. The show also teaches manners and life lessons, and has great music (just ask TikTok!)

Kiki, Marina, Twist, and Shout are four best friends in a band called The Fresh Beat Band. The perfect show for music lovers, join them as they journey through music school and learn about different types of music and instruments. This show also teaches problem solving and the importance of friendship and teamwork. The songs will have you on your feet and dancing regardless of age!

Max and Ruby (2002–2019) Make sure to catch the newer episodes!

iCarly (2007–2012)

Carly, Sam, and Freddie, along with help from Carly’s older brother Spencer, host iCarly, a web show which quickly gets very popular and earns them newfound fame. Follow Carly and her friends as they navigate their teenage lives full of banter, comedy, romance, and adventure. And you can catch the 2021 iCarly reboot on Paramount+!

If you liked The Fresh Beat Band, you’ll love Big Time Rush! Four teenage boys find themselves becoming the next big boy band as they move to LA to kickstart their careers in the band Big Time Rush. Kendall, Logan, James, and Carlos learn the importance of teamwork and friendship, along with the hard work that comes with being musicians, but also always have time for mischief, adventure, and romance (and creating big messes). The songs rock, too!

Avatar the Last Airbender (2005–2008)

Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2004–2007)

Victorious (2010–2013)

Zoey 101 (2005–2008)

Four friends Freddy, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their cowardly pet dog Scooby-Doo travel in a large van called the Mystery Machine, going on trips all across the country trying to solve paranormal activity cases. This cartoon is so timeless and has been around for over fifty years. It touches children and adults' hearts alike with nostalgia and goofiness, and gives lessons of bravery and teamwork, teaching adolescents to problem solve and unravel mysteries.

Ben 10 is about a ten-year-old boy named Ben that lives and hangs out with his grandfather Max and cousin Gwen. One day they go on a summer camping trip in the forest, and he sees a shooting star crash into the ground and runs towards it. An alien-like watch device attaches to his wrist and he can’t take it off! The watch is called the Omnitrix and it allows him to transform into all types of aliens across the universe. Ben is inherently a cocky, arrogant, and childish boy but throughout the series he learns how to be selfless, heroic, and brave. While this show is aimed for young boys, it can be a show that all kids can watch and learn from seeing Ben 10’s character develop throughout the years.

Codename Kids Next Door (2002–2008)

Dexter’s Laboratory (1996–2003)

Ed, Edd N Eddy (1999–2009)

Powerpuff Girls (1998–2005)

Samurai Jack (2001–2004)

Finn and Jake are in a world of imagination and fairy tale. Finn is a courageous and impulsive warrior with strong morals who acts like a medieval knight in a preteen body. Jake is man's best friend and adopted brother, a yellow shapeshifting dog who can turn into any shape at will. In the land of Ooo, most of the obstacles that Finn and Jake face come from the Ice King, who is in search of his wife. Finn has a crush on the Ice King’s daughter, Princess Bubblegum. So Finn, Jake, and Lady Rainicorn do their best to protect Princess Bubblegum from the Ice King. I personally enjoy this show now as much as I did in the past. On the outside, Adventure Time is perceived as colorfully quirky, but there are many subliminal messages that are above the surface of just friendship and adventure.

The Amazing World of Gumball takes place in a city called Elmore. Gumball lives in a family of five with a talking bunny as a dad, a talking cat as a mom, his sister Anais, and his pet goldfish Darwin (who recently grew legs). This show is probably the most random yet creative in the animation department, with the main characters being 2D animations while everyone else is in 3D. Gumball is a twelve-year-old trouble maker, which results in him and his friends coming up with schemes to avoid the consequences of their actions. The Amazing World of Gumball tackles many hardships that are presented to Gumball like his parents divorcing and adoption. Because of this, Gumball is forced to adapt to these circumstances and he uses adventure as a coping mechanism.

Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999–2002)

The Marvelous Misadventures of FlapJack (2008–2010)

Regular Show (2009–2017)

Steven Universe (2013–2019)

Teen Titans (2003–2006)

Total Drama Island (2007–2014)

That’s all for now!

Happy viewing,

Photos—Cartoon Network collage and Adventure Time: Cartoon Network; Nick Shows: Nickelodeon; Scooby-Doo: Hanna-Barbera

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