Today, the first broadcasted episode of #KappaMikey aired in 2006! This was only several months prior to my graduating college, where I would eventually join the crew for the end of Season 1, and all of Season 2, as my first post-graduate job! I have strong memories of the time working on this, and of course have good memories of the show itself!

Sure just about all of you reading this are familiar with Nickelodeon.

Out of the big three kids networks (alongside Cartoon Network and Disney Channel), it was perhaps the biggest of them.

Hell, it's most famous slogan was "the first network made for kids, by kids!"

And while the big three kids networks have been rapidly floundering in recent years (with the unfortunate rise of streaming), Nickelodeon has undoubtedly been floundering the hardest.

In fact, they've been washed up for the better of 15 years!

And for a variety of reasons.

-The somewhat pathetic line-up of sitcoms and Nicktoons since 2009......

-The fact that damn near all of them were hardly even given a chance to shine before Nickelodeon just decided smothered them in broad daylight......

-Their rapidly declining relevancy (once again, largely thanks to their laughable output of shows and the fact that they hardly got to even leave an impact on the network).......

-The behind-the-scenes drama and horror stories about some the biggest names working there not being able to control themselves around women, and more specifically, children.....

And most importantly of all.....

-Their over-reliance on SpongeBob SquarePants......

As a result of this, I've been thinking to myself on how this network could even be saved.

And I think I have a couple ideas on how it could.

So without further ado, let's get right into it!

CUT THE DAMN SPONGEBOB AND GIVE THE OTHER SHOWS SPOTS ON THE SCHEDULE!:

This one honestly goes without saying.

While SpongeBob shouldn't be cut from the schedule entirely (that's going too far), it does seriously need to be cut down a bit.

Same also applies to The Loud House, though not as much.

Along with that, actually have your new shows air on the goddamn network instead of just dumping them onto Paramount+.

Actually promote your programming and new shows:

Once again, this really goes without saying.

Like seriously, why would you create a new show and then not bother to even promote the damn thing?

And then when it ends up failing, you're looking dumbfounded, wondering what went wrong!

Stop doing the live-action:

Now this point seems rather ludicrous given how much it has played a major part in the channel's history.

But may I remind you that just last year, we got this....

The impact of this documentary cannot be understated.

This was the first time that the much wider general public were informed about the dark side of Nickelodeon, especially when it came to the treatment of their child actors.

And as a result of this, I highly doubt Nickelodeon will EVER be trusted again when it comes to live-action.

I don't think they'll ever be willing do to any live-action again, given how much they've been getting rightfully cooked for their recently-exposed dark history.

Greenlight any potentially interesting Nicktoons:

The Nicktoons line-up during the 1990s and the 2000s was renowned for how diverse it was.

But when the 2010s rolled around, that all kinda fell off a cliff.

While not all of their line-up was this (the TMNT shows, The Legend of Korra, Harvey Beaks, etc.), a good chunk of the 2010s line-up were incredibly zany and hyperactive comedies.

And as a result of this, a lot of these tended to blend together, even if they did have unique art-styles from each other.

Not helped with the fact that these shows, in all honesty, we're not really good.

Even the comedies that weren't as zany or hyperactive still fell into the blending together problem since just like those ones, they were not really all that good.

In fact, some of them were just straight up horrible.

One must wonder why Nickelodeon had most of their Nicktoons of the 2010s consist of zany comedies.

Well, many people have theorized that this was done in an attempt to create the next SpongeBob.

And while that most likely is the case, I think there's a much deeper reason for it.

If you know Nickelodeon, you'd know that the company has a pretty impressive track record of passing up shows that would go on to become big (or at least decent) hits elsewhere.

Among these shows include VeggieTales, The Proud Family, Super Why!, Phineas and Ferb, Ed, Edd n' Eddy, Pepper Ann, and most famously of all.....

If you know the history of Adventure Time, then you'd know how much Nickelodeon has played a massive part of it.

The original pilot premiered on Nicktoons Network back in January 2007, and most famously of all, was pitched to Nickelodeon in 2008.......twice!

Unfortunately, it got rejected both times, with the main reason being that they considered it "too weird"......

Put apparently this wasn't?!

While I do think that Adventure Time was definitely better off not being picked up by Nickelodeon, this was still a GENERATIONAL fumble on their part, given how massive the show was and how influential it was for television animation as a whole!

And given that Adventure Time would help kick-start Cartoon Network's renaissance of the early-to-mid 2010s, plus the fact that many of their most successful shows were comedies.

(Also I think the channel were doing the best in terms of ratings at that time)

It feels like Nickelodeon were desperately trying to play catch-up with Cartoon Network.

Plus trying to overcompensate for passing up on Adventure Time, given how zany and surreal the early seasons were.

Like, you'd know damn well that Nick were probably beating themselves up after seeing how huge Adventure Time became.

And that they choose Fanboy & Chum Chum over it!

Actually, you remembered that post I made around November, where I questioned why damn near none of the 2010s Nicktoons ever get any representation in crossovers or other Nickelodeon promotional stuff?

Well, in the case of Fanboy & Chum Chum, I believe they don't ever want to mention or acknowledge that show because it's essentially a reminder of one of the biggest mistakes in their entire history.

But anyway, Nickelodeon really needs to start greenlighting shows that stand out from each other again.

Because how could you expect to be successful if all the shows are essentially the same?

Especially in an age where people are getting sick of the same old routine and shows/movies playing it safe.

Fixing Nicktoons Network:

The story of this network is truly a tragic one.

Once being the place where the Nicktoons of the past could continue to live on, its now become the place where Nicktoons in general go to DIE!

Infamously, just about every Nicktoon in the last 18 years have been sent to Nicktoons during the latter halves of their runs to essentially burn out.

As if cancelling these shows after two seasons wasn't already a dick move.

Sending them to die onto a paid channel (i.e.: one that usually doesn't come with whatever television service you get and you have to buy it separately) is just a MEGA dick move.

And as for showing the Nicktoons of the past....

Yeah, slowly over the course of the 2010s, Nicktoons would start phasing out airing reruns of the past Nicktoons.

And now, it's just Nickelodeon 2.0.

Only airing whatever current programming they have and having SpongeBob and Loud House take up 97% of the damn schedule.

Nicktoons was also renowned for also for having tons of acquired and original programming to keep things fresh between the Nicktoon reruns.

But just like those, they would also get phased out as well.

So with all that being said, knowing how to fix this channel is quite easy.

-Bring back the reruns of past Nicktoons.

-Bring back the acquired and original programming.

-Keep the reruns of the current Nicktoons, but once again, scale back on the SpongeBob and Loud House.

Fixing TeenNick:

If you thought what happened to Nicktoons Network was depressing, then look at what happened to TeenNick!

TeenNick essentially served as the Nickelodeon for tweens and teenagers.

But just like Nicktoons, they've moved far past that original goal.

And now the only things there are reruns of two sitcoms from the 2010s (The Thundermans and Henry Danger), two of their current Nicktoons (Loud House and Max & the Midknights), and the two live news and sports shows that nobody cares about.

Just like with Nicktoons Network, bring back the programming TeenNick was known for, that being the reruns of live-action Nickelodeon shows, MTV shows, and acquired live-action programming like Degrassi.

Make the Channels Free on Live TV:

It's no surprise to just about all of you that cable is basically DEAD.

And streaming has practically become Satan for all forms of media entertainment.

However, one major way people have been watching shows now that hasn't really been getting any scrutiny is Live TV.

Largely thanks to the fact that it comes free with whatever streaming service your get.

However, there is a catch to this.

Channels like Nickelodeon, while on there, require subscriptions in order to watch.

And I must ask....

What sense does that make?!

You're literally just denying yourself any potential viewership!

And you're already not making any with cable is....

Like I said, cable is DEAD!

Your abysmal line-up of programming and scheduling.

But anyway, just add Nickelodeon, Nicktoons Network and TeenNick for free Live TV and you'll be golden!

Anyway, that's all I have to say.

This is something I've been thinking about ever since Cartoonshi made his The DEATH of Nickelodeon video.

And ever since watching that, it got me thinking on how the network could possibly be saved.

Anyway, let me know what you think about my ideas and if you could, send me some suggestions on what you think could save Nickelodeon.

And before I go, these are the logos Nick should be using from now on.

Which were done by ABFan21.

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