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A blast from the past

Many of us lament over the fact that the ‘90s are over, particularly the television shows we all grew up with. Who doesn’t wish shows like “Rugrats,” “The Wild Thornberrys” and “Hey Arnold!” were still around? In the very near future, those wishes will finally come true.

Similar to what Cartoon Network did with Boomerang, Nickelodeon will be launching a daily eight-hour TV block with a rotating lineup called “The Splat.” “All That,” “Ren & Stimpy” and “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” as well as the previously mentioned shows are all slated to run during this time.

The Splat debuts Monday, October 5 and airs on TeenNick from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

On top of the return of the shows, there will also be themed weeks for holidays or dates selected by fans in order to garner more television viewers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, television has taken a nosedive in ratings recently.

More and more people flock to Hulu and Netflix to get their fix every year. Despite some decent shows like “Steven Universe” and “Arrow,” the majority of entertainment available on TV has not been able to maintain consumer interest. Similar to the movie industry, it could be time to reboot rather than continue to try again.

“We have been listening closely to our first generation of Nick kids that are craving the great characters and shows they grew up with watching Nickelodeon in the ‘90s,” Cyma Zarghami, president of Viacom Kids and Family Group, said in a statement. “We designed ‘The Splat’ with fans and their requests in mind, which means we’re bringing together these beloved series and a high level of digital engagement to give fans a retro media experience they can’t get anywhere else.”

As a child of the ‘90s, I find myself having mixed feelings about this. Like many of my generation, I believe the majority of television has been lackluster compared to what I was raised with. I find myself perusing the ranks of Hulu and Netflix more often than I turn on the TV.

With the return of some of those old favorites, I’m glad my voice is heard. While that doesn’t make me want to come back to TV, I do hope they succeed in their endeavor.

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