You Are What You Were. Celebrate Retro Pop Culture At Retroland.
The challenge of creating a teen-based serial with any longevity is a daunting task, for the simple reason that the audience eventually grows up. One show that beat the odds was Beverly Hills, 90210, which maintained a loyal following of fans for the entire decade that the series aired, thanks to a combination of compelling drama and a plethora of teen eye candy (although most of the stars weren’t actually teenagers) that kept viewers of all ages tuned in each week.
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After decades of teaching kids about the ways of science, the 90s saw the Bunsen-burner torch passed from Mr. Wizard to a new guy with his own quirky method for making learning fun, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Reminiscent of that high school science teacher that every kid hoped they would get, his off-kilter (and often high-speed) approach kept the attention of every tyke that ever tuned in.
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One of the more popular sitcoms among the youngsters of the early 90s, Blossom consistently delivered the laughs each week for five seasons on NBC. And if you were one of the many adolescents tuning in, there was a pretty good chance you learned a life lesson or two along the way.
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For a four-year-old, the world seems a mighty strange place. For a four-year-old who has Howie Mandel for a father, strange might be an understatement. Such was the case for the little animated star of the Saturday morning series, Bobby’s World.
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In the world of toys, simplicity often reigns supreme. Such is the case with a handheld electronic toy called Bop It. First released in 1996, this addictive game quickly rose in popularity, spawning an extensive line of sequels that continue to mesmerize and challenge kids to this day.
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Sitcoms based around a child are often faced with the daunting challenge of how to handle the inevitable aging of their star. Some absurdly try to hide the fact or even ignore it, but one particular show took a refreshingly new approach – let the kid grow up and follow him on his course into adulthood. As a result, Boy Meets World managed to remain both fresh and popular through its entire run.
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Five sticks not enough gum for you? A Big Pack too small for your Violet Beauregarde tendencies? Have we got the solution for you. Created by the makers of Hubba Bubba, Bubble Tape was the thing for kids and teens in the 1990s to be chewing. Bubble Tape in your pocket meant you had six full feet of chewing pleasure ready to be rolled out. According to the advertisements, “it’s six feet of bubble gum for you, not them.” Finally, something we were told to not share (although most of us were compelled to by nagging and begging friends).
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Prior to the 1970s, chewing gum was only available in a few incarnations, the vending machine gumball, the stick, and little hard individually-wrapped wads such as Bazooka and Dubble Bubble. But along with disco and CB radios, the 70s will also be remembered for another, and longer-lasting, contribution to the world - the advent of soft gum. And while Bubblicious wasn't the first on the market, its full spectrum of delicious flavors has kept it one of the biggest selling soft gum products of all time.
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Traditionally, when a film is only marginally successful at the box office, the likelihood of it ever spawning a television series is slim at best. Even more rare is when anyone associated with such a film decides to make the transition into television. But Buffy the Vampire Slayer apparently wasn’t concerned by these preconceptions, because it proceeded to render them null. Not only was this 90s series far more successful than the original film, it also had creator and screenwriter Joss Whedon at the helm. Traditions be damned.
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Bedroom-dwelling monsters, those things that go bump in the night, have suffered from some pretty bad PR over the years. It would take the popular 90s series, Bump in the Night, to shed some new light on the creatures who lurk in the shadows and show them to be the friendly companions they truly are.
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