7 Best Nickelodeon Shows from the 2000s

We all know that Nickelodeon had some of the best cartoon TV shows of all time, but we can’t forget that the Orange Channel also produced some of the most entertaining live-action TV shows. These series were zany and fun, while incorporating the perfect amount of conflict that could easily be resolved in 22 minutes. Now, let’s take a look back at the 7 best Nickelodeon shows of the 2000s.

All That (1994-2005)

Like a Saturday Night Live for kids, All That features original short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. Notable sketches include Good Burger, Vital Information, and Everyday French with Pierre Escargot, while the Quickie Mart Sketch remains a personal favorite. I’d like to think of All That as the show that started all other Nick shows with spin offs including The Nick Cannon Show, Kenan and Kel, The Amanda Show, and Zoey 101. From the Amanda Show, we were introduced to Drake and Josh who got their own show, and from that we discovered the talented Miranda Cosgrove who starred in iCarly. Zoey 101 also launched the career of Victoria Justice, star of Victorious, a show that catapulted Jeanette McCurdy and Ariana Grande into further fame in their spin off Sam and Cat.

The Amanda Show (1999-2002)

Amanda Bynes starred as the host of her very own sketch comedy and variety show. The sketches were often parodies, including "Judge Trudy”, a spoof of Judge Judy; "So You Want to Win Five Dollars?" a spoof of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?; and “Moody’s Point, a spoof of Dawson’s Creek. The series also featured humorous commercials that advertised Popper Pants, pants that make popcorn, and Snap, Crackle, Kaboom!, cereal that exploded in your face. The eccentric and dimwitted characters like Amanda’s number one fan Penelope Taynte and Crazy Courtney, who always shouted “MAH-HA,” elevated this classic show to the next level. Now, let’s bring in the Dancing Lobsters!

Unfabulous (2004-2007)

Emma Roberts stars as Addie Singer, a teenage girl who writes songs about her life in middle school. We watch Addie balance school with her relationships with family and friends including fashionista Geena Fabiano and environmental activist and basketball player Zack Carter-Schwartz.  There’s also the additional bonus of revisiting the middle school dating scene as Addie recaps her crushes and blossoming love life with angsty song lyrics while strumming her guitar.

Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide (2004-2007)

Ned’s Declassified focused on Ned Bigby, Jennifer "Moze" Mosely, and Simon "Cookie" Nelson-Cook, three friends trying to find their way through the socially awkward middle school years. Throughout the series, Ned shares the tips in his survival guide with viewers and classmates to help them survive the standard middle school struggles, such as popularity, grades, and sports. Not only was the show helpful, but it also featured fast-paced comedy that made it enjoyable to watch, and I watched it a lot considering Nickelodeon played it non-stop during my childhood.  

Drake and Josh (2004-2008)

This series follows the lives of Drake Parker (Drake Bell) and Josh Nichols (Josh Peck), two teenage boys with opposite personalities who become stepbrothers. Drake is a popular, but immature aspiring musician, whereas Josh is more kind and sensitive soul. They live in San Diego with Josh's father Walter, Drake's mother Audrey, and their manipulative younger sister Megan. This show not only follows their hilarious misadventures, but also opens with “I Found a Way,” the theme song by Drake Bell himself, and includes fun catch phrases that make me want to shout, “Hug me brotha!” at the top of my lungs and “repeat things for emphasis. EMPHASIS!”

Zoey 101 (2005-2008)

This series focuses on the lives of teenager Zoey Brooks (Jamie Lynn Spears) and her friends as they attend a fictional Southern California boarding school, Pacific Coast Academy (PCA). The show made boarding school life look like the ultimate dream, where you got to ride to class in your Jet-X, grab Sushi-Rox with friends, and lead a carefree, independent life devoid of parental supervision. Also, the theme song “Follow Me,” sung by Jamie Lynn, was composed by her famous older sister Britney Spears.

iCarly (2007-2012)

When Carly and her best friend Sam act funny at a school talent show audition, tech-savvy Freddie tapes and posts it online without telling them. An online audience soon demands more of the duo’s hilarity, so the iCarly webcast is born. While grappling with typical teenage issues, Carly, Sam, and Freddie also deal with their online celebrity of their hit show. Not only does the cast have great chemistry, but also guest stars such as Michelle Obama and One Direction add a special element to the show.