How this list works is that only the exclusive Nickelodeon shows count on this list. To do a quick recap on what makes it exclusive of our tribute is this: If a show was released exclusively on Nickelodeon: then it counts. If a show was shown in another country such as Canada or the U.K. and it was acquired by Nickelodeon first, then it counts. If a show was acquired by a country and shown of a different network like CBS, then shown on Nickelodeon second, that doesn't count. Other than that, let's get started!
20. Jeff Sutphen
For many kids who grew up in the 2000's, he was Pick Boy in U Pick Live and the biggest highlight in that program. Brett and Candice, the hosts of U Pick Live, were beyond forgettable! Everyone remembered Pick Boy! But I'm not going to talk about him as Pick Boy, I'm going to talk about him as a game show host. He currently hosts two Nickelodeon game shows: Brainsurge and the reboot of Figure it Out!
In my opinion, he is truly one of the best game show hosts that Nickelodeon has ever had in a very long time. During the 2000's, the only game shows that came out were reboots of old ones such as Double Dare 2000 and Wild & Crazy Kids. Then afterwards Scaredy Camp and Robot Wars came out to capture the popularity of shows and fads such as reality shows that scared the shit out of you like Scare Tactics and failed miserably. Afterwards, no Nickelodeon game shows for 6 years. Then Brainsurge comes along and brought game shows for kids back! For some reason or another, no one talks aboutBrainsurge as fondly as say Double Dare or Legends of the Hidden Temple. Let me be the first to say it: Brainsurge is the best Nickelodeon game show that came out in the last decade, hands down. In fact, it's really underrated. Why? Well, besides doing something completely new and original besides being a reboot of a game show that we grew up with, Jeff is a huge part of it. Unlike most of the Nickelodeon game show hosts before him, Jeff actually has had experiences being around with kids and interacting with them as Pick Boy. The only person who can also say that advantage of being around with kids before becoming a game show host is...well, Marc Summers. Now I'm not saying that he is the next Marc Summers, but he sure is very close. He's funny, interactive, and not dull, boring, or incredibly goofy or forgettable like the majority of the game show hosts that Nickelodeon had in years. Truly someone I can appreciate.
19. Carl Foutley from As Told by Ginger
Call him what you want: annoying, gross, a smart ass. But that's who he is and he's not going to change it for anyone. Carl is extremely smart, articulate, and sneaky for a boy his age dispite having a secret clubhouse in his former dog's house, having a petrified eyeball, trying to start a lice circus, befriending and falling in love with a very old woman, and scamming the rich kid Blake Gripling. However, he isn't your stereotypical troubled kid. He has some trust issues: he only gives his deepest, darkest secrets to very few people like his best friend Hoodsey, the old woman Maude, and his on-and-off again girlfriend Noelle Sussman. When it comes to his estranged relationship with his father, there's times in which you feel sorry for him. He's had a tough life without a father and he doesn't want to be around him anymore because he felt abandoned after he left the family.
He knows who he is and is proud to show it to everyone!
18. Noel MacNeal
Talk about a very talented puppeteer. In Eureeka's Castle, he was Magellan the lovable dragon. Magellan was one of my favorite characters in that show and one of the highlights when I would watch it. He was sort of like Big Bird in the way he was curious, happy, optimistic, curious, and lovable. He took those same elements and performed them well when he did Bear in Bear in the Big Blue House. Also, he was one of the many people that Kevin and I interviewed for our tribute. You can't beat that!
17. Marc Weiner
The man responsible for creating one of the most unique, original, and kooky variety shows ever on Nickelodeon has to be on this list. Marc Weiner's talents of puppeteering date back to the 70's and 80's before he would host the show Weinerville. In that show, Marc and his half-human half-puppets Dottie, Socko, Boney, and more would entertain many children with their jokes, skits, cartoons, and taking two kids from the audience to have them Weinerized. Also, he's the voice of Swiper and Map on Dora the Explorer for some of you younger kids. Marc is another man we interviewed for our tribute and we couldn't have been more excited. Kevin and I grew up on Weinerville so having him take the time to interview us was amazing!
16. Thomas W. Lynch
Yes, yes. I know that I pretty much ragged on him on my top 10 Nickelodeon shows that need to be remade, but hear me out. While most of the shows didn't live up to their full expectations, at least he tried to do something different and down-to-earth. His perspective views were really fantastic concepts and his relatable characters and realistic situations that his characters were going through were great.
While The Secret World of Alex Mack is a bit underwhelming, outdated, and didn't utilize of what it could've been, it was a fantastic idea to make a teen series out of as oppose to creating a Saved by the Bell ripoff. I'm looking at you, Welcome Freshmen. The Journey of Allen Strange would've have been stronger if they omitted the goofy humor and the alien concept and focused more on the The Stevensons struggling to stay as a family after the mother leaves. But I forgive Lynch for all that crap because of one show: Caitlin's Way.What a truly great show that show's Lynch's true colors and is fully realized of what he was trying to present. It's such a shame that not a lot of people remember it. It's really an underrated gem!
However, he's not higher on the list because the last show he created on Nickelodeon was Romeo! Ugh! We'll talk about that another time.
15. Fred Newman
Most people only know him as the "sound effects" guy on A Prarie Home Companion, but 30 years ago, he was the host of Nickelodeon's talk show Livewire. Livewire was one of the most popular shows that aired on Nickelodeon during the early 80's and Fred Newman was responsible for that. He brought a show that was originally hosted by Michael Cordray, a very boring host, and bursted life into it. Fun celebrity guests, games, relatable topics, and his iconic funny noises made Livewire last for 5 years. In the 90's, he provided the voices of Skeeter Valentine and Mr. Dink in Doug. So you know how amazingly talented he still is to this day!
14. Butch Hartman
He's been the most consistent as of now when it comes to creating good Nicktoons. The Fairly Oddparents, Danny Phantom, and T.U.F.F. Puppy have had high ratings, funny humor, memorable characters, and very unique concepts. He's very passionate about his animated shows and it shows. His shows are witty, quick, smartly written, and hilarious. I really appreciate the hard work he does to craft every single shows he's done.
13. Jhonen Vasquez
Whether you love or hate Invader Zim, you cannot deny on how ahead of the time he was when that Nicktoon aired in 2001. A show that dark and creepy would've easily been shown on Adult Swim and MTV, but it showed on Nickelodeon. Called The Ren & Stimpy Show of the 2000's, Invader Zim changed everything! It showcased that a show filled with strange animation and adult themed humor can be presented in the media. At the time, it wasn't revered by the Nickelodeon executives and was eventually cancelled. Invader Zimis a huge cult classic and one of the many shows I've seen on top 10 lists on wanting to be brought back on TV with new episodes with the same characters. Unfortunately, Vasquez has the reputation of starting really good graphic novels and never finishing them. So seeing a reboot of Invader Zim will most likely not happen. However, unlike John Callahan when he created Pelswick, when you see Invader Zim, that is Jhonen's style. And I love it!
12. Prince Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender
Around the first season, he was a real asshole! His whole purpose was to capture the Avatar and restore his proper place on the throne as the future Fire Lord of the Fire Nation. But then around seasons two and three, he became a much more developed and interesting character. He was overshadowed by his perfect prodigy of a sister Azula, his lovable mother became banished in order for him to stay alive, half of his face was burned off by his own father, and all he wants is Fire Lord Ozai's love and approval. That is very sad and we feel compassion for this character. He's one of my favorite characters of the show and I'm hoping that Mako will develop into a more better character in Legend of Korra.
11. Don Herbert
One of the most innovated kids' host of all time, Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert had created two timeless science programs: Watch Mr. Wizard and Mr. Wizard's World. The latter was one of the most popular programs that aired on Nickelodeon during the early 80's and has stood the test of time as an iconic, groundbreaking kids' show that influenced many other shows such as Beakman's World and Bill Nye: The Science Guy. He was such a great man who raised two generations of kids with a love for science: something that you wouldn't see in today's time. He passed away a few years ago, but he's truly a man that will never be forgotten.
Those are my top 20-11 Nickelodeon male role models. Tune in next time as we talk about my top 10 role models. Who are your male role models in Nickelodeon? Post it in the comments below.
Hope to see you around Old School Lane soon. Take care.
-Patricia
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