1. All That
Series Run: 1994-2005 (178 episodes) It would be downright irresponsible to have a list about the best live-action Nickelodeon shows and not have All That in the top spot. Was it basically a rip-off of Saturday Night Live for kids? Of course it was, but just because something is a rip-off doesn't necessarily make it bad. Only Kenan Thompson made it to the big leagues after starring on All That, but that doesn't mean that the show had a dearth of talent. Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Gabriel Iglesias, and obviously Kel Mitchell starred in the show and current SNL regular Taran Killam wrote for All That as well. Although All That was created by Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin, it really took off in season three after (you guessed it) Dan Schneider took over. With the catchiest theme song by TLC, the show didn't even need a bag of potato chips to stake its claim as the best kids sketch show of all-time. Some unforgettable sketches: the movie-spawning Good Burger, Vital Information, The Spice Boys, Ask Ashley, and Everyday French with Pierre Escargot (which seems to be parodied in SNL when Thompson performs as a Def Jam Paris performer). All That was that rare live-action kids show with longevity, with 178 episodes over the course of ten seasons. The show was cancelled, resuscitated, and then cancelled again, but it left a lasting impression on the kids who watched it. Fun, ridiculous, and a little strange, it captured the essence of Nickelodeon television. After its cancellation in 2005 it remains to be the best live-action television show Nickelodeon has had to offer.
Any shows I missed out on? Any problems with the list? Let us know in the comments.