This Classic Nickelodeon Show Is Almost Impossible to Watch

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Despite the prevalence of streaming services today, finding complete episodes of the 1993 Nickelodeon sitcom “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” can be challenging. While snippets and highlights from the series can be found online, full episodes and specials are not legally available for streaming, even on PVOD stores. The DVD release covers two out of three seasons, but these are now out-of-print, making second-hand copies expensive among collectors online. If this trend continues, it appears that the show may eventually disappear as “lost media” unless Nickelodeon and Paramount find a way to re-release it.

Originally, “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” began as a collection of brief interstitial sketches on Nickelodeon. Over time, it evolved into a series of half-hour TV specials. Eventually, it was transformed into a sitcom with three abridged seasons that aired from 1993 to 1996. During its run, the show appeared in various time slots on Nickelodeon, and Nickelodeon put out VHS tapes containing selected skits and episodes.

In the year 2008, both Pete and their partner found themselves heading to DVD, however, during that period, Paramount Pictures was managing Nickelodeon’s distribution of home media and was in the midst of a merger with DreamWorks. Consequently, the initial two seasons of Pete and their companion became available for purchase, but somehow, Season 3 got misplaced amidst the confusion. The season had been in production at one point, but it was suddenly taken off the release schedule during the merger process, and ultimately, it never made it to store shelves.

As a devoted fan, I’ve been thrilled to see so many Nickelodeon classics making their way onto streaming platforms, such as Paramount+. However, one of my favorites, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, remains elusive, missing from the lineup and unavailable for digital rental or purchase on PVOD stores. Fortunately, Prime Video and Vudu offer a glimmer of hope with one title up for sale – a 14-minute compilation of the shorts that ignited it all. For $1.99, I can enjoy this digital content, but unfortunately, the full show remains out of reach.

What Are We Missing?

In its day, the TV series titled The Adventures of Pete & Pete was adored by both critics and audiences, often symbolizing the Nickelodeon era before Dan Sneider. The story centered around two siblings, both named Pete Wrigley, with Michael Maronna portraying “Big Pete” and Danny Tamberelli as “Little Pete.” Despite the similar names, the show doesn’t provide an explanation, but it harmoniously fits into the eccentric, peculiar universe they live in.

The series centers around these siblings growing up and experiencing various escapades in the fictitious suburban town of Wellsville they call home. Their circle of acquaintances, relatives, neighbors, and adversaries is quite diverse, giving the show a flavor reminiscent of stories such as “The Sandlot” and “A Christmas Story.” Critics appreciated its witty dialogue and daring exploration of unconventional ideas, while fans lamented its termination for many years.

Home Media Releases

24 short videos initially presented the audience to “Pete & Pete“, with each one lasting either 30 seconds or a minute. Later on, two additional shorts were exclusively distributed via VHS tapes. However, not all of these shorts were found in every VHS release; some were only available in five different ones. Eight of the shorts can now be found in the compilation sold at PVOD stores.

After the initial run of five half-hour TV specials, more can be found on DVD for those ready to make a purchase. Four of these are part of Season 1, while “Space, Geeks and Johnny Unitas” is associated with Season 2. Regarding the sitcom, it consists of 8 episodes in Season 1, followed by 13 episodes each in Seasons 2 and 3, making a total of 34 episodes. The complete DVD sets for Seasons 1 and 2 are available, leaving 13 episodes from subsequent seasons that have not been released since their initial airing.

Reunions

It’s quite peculiar that despite the high interest in Pete & Pete reunions since 2011, which haven’t resulted in any rereleases, Tamberelli and Maronna have still managed to captivate audiences. They teamed up for a podcast called The Adventures of Danny and Mike for several years, and their live stage shows have been well-attended. They’ve even shared the spotlight with series creators Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb, as well as many of their fellow cast members.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve been yearning for more adventures with the Petes, but alas, neither Paramount nor Nickelodeon have seen fit to unleash the third season or make the show available for streaming yet. However, they did grant us a “Pete & Pete Takeover” on the NickRewind YouTube channel, which is a small consolation. At present, this playlist appears to be the most promising online source for clips from the series. Unfortunately, it’s mostly filled with reunion content, leaving the original show somewhat scarce.

Supporters keep clamoring for this television show, and it’s hoped that Nickelodeon will eventually heed their calls. For now, enthusiasts who wish to rewatch The Adventures of Pete & Pete need to scour the second-hand market and make do with only two out of the three seasons available.

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2025-04-01 18:11