For generations, Nickelodeon has been a go-to channel for kids and teens. Over the years, they’ve experimented with different lineups of shows, with some becoming hugely popular and memorable, while others didn’t quite catch on. But 21 years ago today, on January 29, 2005, Nickelodeon ended a very successful programming block, leaving many fans disappointed to lose what many considered some of the network’s best shows.
If you grew up in the 90s, you might remember SNICK – that Saturday night block of shows on Nickelodeon. It was aimed at kids who were starting to become teenagers, the kind who were still likely to be hanging out at home on a Saturday night, maybe having a sleepover with friends.
SNICK’s Golden Era Begins
SNICK originally premiered on August 15, 1992, airing live from 8 to 10 pm Eastern Time. For those who couldn’t watch that late, it also aired reruns on Sunday evenings from 5 to 7 pm Eastern Time, giving viewers another chance to tune in before the days of recording shows or streaming online.
Back in the day, this was one of the first TV blocks specifically designed for teenagers. Everyone thought only adults watched TV on Saturday nights, believing kids were out having fun. But Geraldine Laybourne, who was running Nickelodeon at the time, disagreed. She believed there was a large group of middle and high school students who weren’t being catered to and were eager for something to watch.
As she suspected, SNICK quickly became a huge success. By 1993, it was the top-rated program on Saturday nights for kids ages 6-11, even outperforming popular networks like Fox, NBC, and CBS. Its popularity exceeded all expectations, with viewership more than doubling what was initially predicted for a single show.
SNICK Introduced Iconic Shows to the World
SNICK began as a revamped Saturday night lineup on Nickelodeon, featuring two existing shows: Clarissa Explains It All and The Ren & Stimpy Show. Moving these shows to Saturday nights proved incredibly successful, making them both popular with young adults. Ren & Stimpy alone attracted over a million viewers, including a valuable audience aged 18-35 who didn’t usually watch Nickelodeon. The block was completed with two new shows: Roundhouse (a teen version of Saturday Night Live) and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (an innovative horror anthology series for teens). While Roundhouse had some success, the other three shows became 90s icons, pushing boundaries in areas like feminist themes, diverse representation, animation styles for all ages, and the growing popularity of teen horror, which expanded from books like Goosebumps to shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark?
SNICK continued to be a huge success throughout the 1990s. Between 1994 and 1995, the programming block got a refresh, replacing shows like Roundhouse, Clarissa Explains It All, and Ren & Stimpy with new series. These included the sibling comedy The Adventures of Pete & Pete, the sci-fi/superhero show The Secret World of Alex Mack, and the sketch comedy show All That. All That became another major hit, running for over ten years and launching the careers of stars like Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Gabriel Iglesias, and Jamie Lynn Spears, among others. Later programming changes helped boost shows like Kenan & Kel, Rugrats, Animorphs, Kablam!, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, and The Angry Beavers. Overall, the original SNICK concept remains one of Nickelodeon’s most successful ideas. However, as time passed and viewers’ preferences evolved, entertainment trends naturally shifted.
SNICK Tries to Rebrand for the 2000s
The original SNICK programming block ran until 2000, when Nickelodeon attempted a makeover for the new millennium. It was relaunched as “SNICK House” on October 14, 2000, with Nick Cannon as the host. Inspired by MTV, SNICK House featured a different celebrity or musical artist each week, and viewers could vote for their favorite music videos, similar to the style of TRL. This version of SNICK helped popular shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Amanda Show, and The Brothers Garcia become huge hits, along with other series like Noah Knows Best.
The branding initiative didn’t last long, ending in the summer of 2001 and returning SNICK to simply showing programs. After a short period of airing movies and specials, a revamped SNICK lineup launched in January 2002, spearheaded by a new version of All That. The promotional campaign for the relaunch, which used still images and elevator music, became known as SNICK’s “Elevator Music Era.” This transitioned into the “On-Air Dare” era, where cast members from All That performed challenges on television between shows. New shows included The Nick Cannon Show, Romeo’s series Romeo!, and the Rugrats sequel All Grown Up!, among others.
The original SNICK block ran until around September 2004, when Nickelodeon began replacing the SNICK name with “Saturday Night on Nickelodeon.” SNICK officially ended on January 29, 2005, with the TEENick block taking its place on Saturday nights. Its lasting popularity was clear in 2011 when Nickelodeon revived classic SNICK shows with The ’90s Are All That, airing them late at night. SNICK continued to make comebacks, first as “The Splat” and later as “NickSplat” throughout the 2010s (in 2015 and 2017). In August 2017, the original SNICK lineup returned for a temporary takeover of TeenNick, celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Throughout Nickelodeon’s history, SNICK is remembered as a particularly special and beloved era. While every ’90s kid has a favorite show, most agree that no other teen generation has experienced such enjoyable, wholesome entertainment simply by staying home on a Saturday night.
Watch classic SNICK shows on streaming services such as Paramount+, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, and BET Plus. Share your best SNICK memories with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-30 04:11