21 years ago today ‘All That’ was born, and we’ve been cry-laughing ever since
Remember All That? Of course you do. And 21 years ago today the show that delighted our kid-hearts premiered on Nickelodeon. So yes, that means that All That is now legally old enough to drink, and that Kenan Thompson has been making us laugh for 21 years. Sorry if you now feel horribly old, but it’s a good kind of old, since All That was really all that.
The show premiered April 16th 1994, and it was like the teen version of SNL. It ran for 10 seasons on Nick and gave us amazing recurring sketches like “Good Burger,” “Vital Information,” and “Ask Ashley.” It had cast members like Thompson, Amanda Bynes, Danny Tamberelli, and Nick Cannon. And we can go on and on talking about how great All That was, or we can re-live it with some amazing clips. Let’s go with the latter. Thank goodness this all lives on via YouTube (and, you know, in our hearts).
Vita Information
Lori Beth Denberg did a sort of one-woman Weekend Update sketch (YA style), where she gave us very important information to remember. (BTW, most of that information was totally not real.)
Good Burger
All That gave us the hilarious best friend duo of Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchel, who would then go on to Kenan and Kel, and later to an actual Good Burger movie. But things started small with LOL Good Burger sketches, wherein it was almost impossible for Kenan not to laugh.
USS Spaceship
Think, Star Trek. But a totally insane Star Trek parody. I mean, I’d honestly watch an entire hour of this show every week. Also: tiny Amanda Bynes.
Ear Boy
The premise of Ear Boy was that he had really big ears. Also, his best friend had a pizza face. His name was Pizzaface. The ’90s were a weird time.
The Spice Boys
A simple parody of the Spice Girls, that included such notable members as Hairy Spice, Sweaty Spice, Mumbly Spice, Spice Cube, and Dead Spice. Dead Spice was a skeleton.
Okrah
Oprah? No, Okrah. And in case you forgot, Okrah was played by Mitchell in a wig and a red dress.
Everyday French with Pierre Escargot
Thompson sat in a bathtub filled with bubbles, dressed in a yellow ran slicker, and tried to teach us insane phrases in French. Word from the wise: Don’t try repeating these at home or around anyone who speaks actual French.
Repair Man (man man man man)
If you’re able to say the word “repairman” without then following it up with a forever-echo of the word “man,” then you didn’t watch enough All That as a kid.
Ask Ashley
A tiny Bynes answered reader’s questions as the sweet and innocent Ashley, whose kid stature din’t stop her from dropping major truth bombs.
Loud Librarian
The concept is simple: a librarian who shushes everyone else, but is EXTREMELY LOUD herself. It’s amazing that they can sustain the sketch for more than like, 30 seconds. Yet it just keeps getting funnier.
And of course, the All That theme song
Never forget that TLC sang the intro and yep we’ve got it right here for you.
