Watch All That, Retro Essentials
- 1995
- 1 Season
All That was a sketch comedy show that aired on Nickelodeon from 1994 until 2005. The show was geared towards a young audience and featured a cast of child and teen actors who performed various comedic sketches, songs, and parodies. The program was considered one of the most successful for the network, and it was responsible for launching the careers of numerous actors, such as Kenan Thompson, Amanda Bynes, and Jamie Lynn Spears.
The show's format was similar to that of a variety show, and each episode consisted of several different sketches and segments. Some of the most popular characters from the show included Ed Goodburger, a fast-food worker with a catchphrase of "Welcome to Goodburger, home of the Goodburger, can I take your order?"; Repairman-man-man, a superhero who would come and "fix" things that weren't broken; and Coach Kreeton, a wacky gym teacher who would always get injured during his classes.
One of the most famous sketches from All That was "Vital Information," in which a character named Lori Beth Denberg would deliver quick one-liners that were supposedly important for kids to know. For example, "If you lie down with dogs, you might wake up with fleas" or "It's better to burp and taste it than to fart and waste it." The popularity of the sketch led to Denberg becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the show.
Another popular segment was "Loud Librarian," in which Josh Server played a librarian who would demand that everyone in the library be silent â but he himself spoke at a deafening volume. The segment would often end with a twist, such as the librarian revealing that he was actually doing a puppet show under his desk or that he was secretly a rock star.
Music was also a significant part of the show, with musical guests ranging from pop sensations such as Britney Spears and NSYNC to lesser-known bands such as De La Soul and 98 Degrees. The musical guests would usually perform two songs during the episode, and they would also appear in various comedy sketches throughout the show.
All That was not only influential in launching the careers of its cast members but also in terms of diversity and representation on children's television. The show featured a diverse cast, and through its sketches explored issues such as racial profiling and bullying.
In 2019, Nickelodeon announced that they would be rebooting All That, with a new cast of young actors and some of the original cast members returning as executive producers. The reboot retained much of the original format and cast members, and it was praised for continuing to promote diversity and inclusion on children's television.
Overall, All That is a classic of 90s and early 2000s children's television, with its quirky characters and catchy catchphrases still relevant today. The show's success proved that children's television could be both funny and thought-provoking, and it continues to be a beloved part of many people's childhoods.