You’ve probably heard his name before since I used a few references from his posts from splitsider.com. The book covers the origins of Nickelodeon and has many interviews from the former presidents, vice presidents, creative consultants, writers, producers, directors, actors, and creators of Nickelodeon shows and the network itself. Joining us today is the author himself Mathew Klickstein. Enjoy!
Patricia- What made you decide to write the articles on the little-to-know behind the scenes stories on shows from Nickelodeon?
Mathew- I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO A BOOK ABOUT NICKELODEON FOR
SOME TIME NOW. AFTER LEAVING LA IN 2008, I MOVED TO PORTLAND FOR A WHILE WITH
AN OLD FRIEND AND MET REGULARLY WITH A WRITER'S GROUP IN THE AREA, NAMELY FOR
SOME GOOD BEER, BAR FOOD, AND NICE FOLKS TALKING ABOUT WRITING. ONE OF THE GALS
WHO WAS PRETTY COOL HAD A BOYFRIEND WHO HAD JUST WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT STARBUCKS
BASED OFF OF AN ARTICLE HE WROTE, AND I THOUGHT, "I COULD DO THAT." I
STARTED TELLING FOLKS I WAS GOING TO DO THE "NICKELODEON BOOK" AND
EVEN BEGAN READING TOM WOLFE VOLUMINOUSLY TO PREPARE, SEEKING OUT THE BEST WAY
TO WRITE ENGAGING, NARRATIVE-BASED CREATIVE NON-FICTION ABOUT NOSTALGIC
AMERICANA. BUT THEN LIFE TOOK OVER AND I DIDN'T THINK I WAS READY TO DELVE INTO
DOING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AN
AGENT YET BACK THEN, SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME NOBODY LIKE
ME TO WRITE A BOOK OF THIS NATURE ABOUT SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT. WHY WOULD
MELISSA JOAN HART TALK TO SOME IDIOT WITH THIS CRAZY IDEA AND NO CREDENTIALS ASIDE
FROM SOME LIGHT FILM AND FREELANCE JOURNALISM WORK? I'LL TRY TO SPEED IT UP
HERE WITH A FOUR YEAR OR SO FAST-FORWARD...
I DECIDED TO HIT UP A FRIEND OF A FRIEND OF MINE WHO
HAPPENED TO RUN THE SOUND STUDIO WHERE "DOUG" WAS RECORDED. I ASKED
THE GUY IF HE COULD HOOK ME UP WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH JIM JINKINS, JUST TO SEE
IF I COULD WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT "DOUG" AND HIM. I DID THE
INTERVIEW, DID NOTHING WITH THE RECORDING FOR A FEW INTERMINABLE MONTHS, AND
THEN WAS LAID OFF FROM MY JOB AS THE ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER FOR THE DAILY
NEWSPAPER WHERE I'VE BEEN LIVING IN BOULDER THE LAST THREE YEARS. I SUDDENLY
HAD SOME TIME ON MY HANDS AND SOME QUICK MONEY FROM AN OPTION ON A SCRIPT AND
PROFESSIONAL THEATER PROJECT -- A PERFECT STORM OF OPPORTUNITY -- AND DECIDED TO
ACTUALLY GIVE THE "DOUG" STORY A CHANCE. I WROTE IT, LIKED IT, AND
SUBMITTED IT TO A FEW PLACES -- A FEW OF WHOM WANTED TO RUN IT. I DECIDED TO GO
WITH SPLITSIDER BECAUSE I LIKED THE EDITOR, ADAM FRUCCI, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD
NO INTEREST IN WEB PUBLISHING AT THE TIME, IT WAS A BIG ENOUGH SITE TO GET THE
ARTICLES OUT THERE BUT NOT SOME HUGE CONGLOMERATE THING THAT WOULD BULLDOZE
OVER MY STORIES OR NEVER EMAIL ME BACK IF I HAD ISSUES WITH EDITING. I STARTED
CONTACTING OTHER NICK FOLKS, AND IT STARTED WORKING. AND NOW, 100 SOME-ODD
INTERVIEWS AND SIX MONTHS LATER, HERE WE ARE. MORE TO COME, TOO.
Kevin- What were your favorite Nickelodeon shows? What were
your least favorite?
Mathew- THAT'S A TOUGHIE BECAUSE NOW I'VE BECOME RATHER
FRIENDLY WITH A LOT OF THE CREATORS OF THE SHOWS ON NICK AND IT'S HONESTLY
AFFECTED MY FEELINGS ABOUT A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. I'M GETTING TO KNOW THEM
BETTER AS PEOPLE -- THEY'VE ALL BEEN VERY OPEN WITH ME -- AND IT'S MADE ME SEE
THEIR SHOWS IN WHOLE NEW WAYS. THAT MAY SOUND TRITE, BUT IT'S JUST THE WAY IT
IS (HOW DOES A CLICHE BECOME A CLICHE?). AS CLICHE AS SAYING, "I REALLY
LIKED 'EM ALL FOR DIFFERENT REASONS." I DON'T THINK I COULD DO THIS
OTHERWISE. IT'S OVERTAKEN MY ENTIRE LIFE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. IF MASTERS
DEGREES WERE GIVEN FOR EXPERIENCE AND DIRECT PRODUCTION RATHER THAN ROTE
MEMORIZATION, MEANINGLESS TESTS, AND COSTLY SEMESTERS, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE
EARNING AT LEAST TWO RIGHT NOW -- ONE ON NICK AND ONE ON CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN
TELEVISION/CABLE HISTORY. WHAT JOB I COULD GET WITH TWO SUCH MASTERS DEGREES,
YOU GOT ME. TEACHING AT SOME LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE IN UPSTATE NY? ACTUALLY, THAT
MIGHT BE KINDA FUN. I COULD HANG WITH WHOEVER MIGHT BE TEACHING THE GAMEBOY
CLASS OR THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CLASS.
Patricia- There are currently two other books about
Nickelodeon: What makes your book different from the others? What do you hope
to accomplish with your book?
Mathew- I'M ACTUALLY WELL AWARE OF THE TWO OTHER BOOKS OUT
ON NICK, AND HAVE BEEN FRIENDLY FOR A FEW YEARS WITH THE EDITOR OF THE FIRST,
WHICH IS A COLLECTION OF ACADEMIC ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT NICK (ONE SUCH ARTICLE
SAID EDITOR, HEATHER HENDERSHOT, WROTE). I CONTACTED HER WAY BACK IN 2008 WHEN
I FIRST STARTED HAVING AN IDEA I MIGHT DO THIS SOME DAY. WE TALKED ABOUT TALKING
CATS AND THE LIKE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THE SECOND BOOK IS ANOTHER ACADEMIC
TEXT WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE WOMEN WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIRST. I HAVE THAT ONE
NOW, TOO. HER NAME IS SARAH BANET-WEISER. I'M TRYING TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT NICK
THAT IS FOR MORE OF A MAINSTREAM AUDIENCE -- FANS OF THE SHOWS AND CHARACTERS
AND ACTORS -- WITH A KIND OF NARRATIVE THROUGHOUT; SIMPLE BUT THE STORY OF
NICKELODEON AS A CHARACTER ITSELF. IT WILL ALSO BE AN ORAL HISTORY, SO THE
STORY WILL BE TOLD BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO CREATED IT AND ITS SHOWS. SOME OF
THESE FOLKS HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THESE SERIES SINCE THEIR FIRST RUN DECADES
AGO.
Patricia- Can you briefly explain what can we expect from
this upcoming book on Nickelodeon without spoiling it? How many shows are you
going to cover?
Mathew- YOU CAN EXPECT TO READ ABOUT AND LEARN ABOUT JUST
ABOUT EVERYTHING I WOULD HOPE ANYONE WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE
SHOWS. I'M 30. I'M FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I'M A NICK KID. I GREW UP ON THESE
SHOWS. I WATCHED THEM AGAIN WHEN THEY WERE RE-RELEASED ON DVD. I CHECK THEM OUT
TO THIS DAY. I KNOW THEM PRETTY WELL IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND NOW I HAVE THE
CHANCE TO FIND OUT WHAT MADE THEM SO INDELIBLE AND SINGULAR. AS MUCH OF WHAT I
JUST SAID THAT WILL FIT IN A BOOK WILL BE THERE ON THE PAGES.
Patricia- In your opinion, what shows put Nickelodeon on the
map as the network to see? What shows do you think started the downhill point
to the "Nickelodeon Golden Era"?
Mathew- AGAIN, I THINK WHAT MADE AND IN FACT STILL MAKES
NICKELODEON SUCH A SUCCESSFUL FORCE IN BOTH COMMERCIAL AND CRITICAL REALMS IS
HOW PROTEAN ITS PROGRAMMING IS. IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN SUCH AN IMPORTANT
BRAND -- "THE FIRST KIDS NETWORK" -- WHILE OFFERING SUCH DIVERSE
MATERIAL, FROM LIVE ACTION TO ANIMATION, FROM SITCOMS TO SOAP OPERA DRAMAS
(MANY MAY NOT REMEMBER "FIFTEEN," BUT IT WAS NICK'S OWN
"DEGRASSI" FOR A SHORT STINT). THEY ALL BROUGHT SOMETHING DIFFERENT
TO THE TABLE. ONE THING I'M LEARNING: ESPECIALLY IN THOSE EARLY YEARS AND THEN
THROUGHOUT THE NINETIES, HAD ANY ONE OF THOSE SHOWS NOT BEEN AIRED, THE CHANNEL
WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT TODAY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAGIC INGREDIENTS:
CONSISTENCY OF BRAND, VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING.
Patricia- A few months ago, Kevin and I interviewed Caseen Gaines, who
is the author of Inside Pee-wee's Playhouse. The book covered some fascinating
and shocking stories about the entire phenomenon of Pee-wee Herman from the stage shows, the movies, and the TV
show. What were some of the most shocking stories that you heard when interviewing
former actors, creators, and behind-the-scenes crew of the Nickelodeon shows
and movies?
Mathew- NICE TRY, PATTI! YOU'LL HAVE TO READ THE BOOK!
Kevin- Who were the people that you were the most excited to
interview? Who were your favorite people that you interviewed?
Mathew- I KNOW THIS MUST BE GETTING ANNOYING AND SEEM LIKE
I'M TRYING TO SELL BOOKS HERE (PS: I AM), BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT CHANGES SO
OFTEN THAT I CAN'T SAY ANYMORE. IT HAS BEEN WEIRD, STRANGE, INTOXICATING, AND A
LITTLE VERTIGINOUS TO RELIVE SO MANY MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD THROUGH THE TV I
WATCHED AT A VERY DIFFERENT TIME IN MY LIFE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH I'VE KIND OF
REACHED THROUGH NOT ONLY WHAT HARLAN ELLISON HAS REFERRED TO AS "THE GLASS
TEAT," BUT ALSO THROUGH TIME IN THIS QUIXOTIC QUEST TO TRACK DOWN AND TALK
TO THESE FOLKS. I'LL TELL YOU THIS, I'VE BEEN SURPRISED MORE TIMES THAN I WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT AS REGARDS WHO MAKES FOR A BETTER AND MORE ENGAGING INTERVIEW. SOME
OF MY BEST STUFF HAS BEEN COMING FROM FOLKS I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED.
Kevin- Which people that you wished that you would have had
the chance to interview, but couldn't get a hold of for whatever reason? What questions
would you have asked them?
Mathew- I DON'T THINK
I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS BOOK IF I WASN'T ABLE TO GET EVERYONE I WANT AND
FEEL IS NEEDED TO MAKE IT WORK. IF I WERE DOING A WEBSITE OR COMPOSING A SONG,
IT WOULD BE THE SAME CONCEPT. I'M DOING THE ORAL HISTORY OF NICKELODEON
BECAUSE, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I'M GOOD AT GETTING IN TOUCH WITH AND
INTERVIEWING SUCH PEOPLE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I DO AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
GOOD AT. I'VE GOTTEN MOST OF THE FOLKS I WANT ALREADY AND AM STILL MOVING
SWIFTLY TO GET THE REST.
Kevin- Do you own any Nickelodeon memorabilia?
Mathew- I THINK THAT'S RELATIVE.
Kevin If you could be any Nicktoon character, who would you
be and why?
Mathew- I ALWAYS LIKED THAT DOUG FUNNIE COULD PLAY THE
BANJO. I WISH I COULD DO THAT. MAYBE I WILL SOME DAY.
Kevin- How you do feel about Shout! Factory releasing the
Nickelodeon shows on DVD?
Mathew- I LIKE SHOUT! THEY RELEASED A GUY I KNOW'S MOVIE
CALLED "HOW'S YOUR NEWS?" HE WENT ON TO ALSO DIRECT THE RECENT
"SOUTH PARK" DOCUMENTARY. I ONCE APPLIED FOR A JOB THERE DOING THEIR
LINER NOTES. I DIDN'T GET IT, BUT I WAS YOUNG AT THE TIME. YOUNGER THAN NOW.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD NAME FOR A BAND: "YOUNGER THAN NOW."
Kevin- If you can spend time with two voice actors known for
voicing iconic characters on Nickelodeon, who would it be and why?
Mathew- I'VE ALREADY SPENT TIME WITH A BUNCH OF THEM.
THEY'RE ALL GREAT. MANY OF THEM ARE LIKE CARTOON CHARACTERS THEMSELVES. TALKING
WITH THEM ON THE PHONE IS FANTASTIC AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET A FEW OF THEM IN
PERSON WHEN I MOVE TO NYC IN JUNE.
Kevin- What advice and steps would you give to someone who
wants to write a book based on a particular topic?
Mathew- I ALWAYS GIVE THE SAME ADVICE WHENEVER PEOPLE ASK ME
HOW TO WRITE BOOKS OR SCREENPLAYS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE: DON'T. UNLESS YOU'RE
DOING IT FOR YOURSELF AND FOR FUN AND BECAUSE YOU LIKE DOING IT. MAYBE BECAUSE
YOU NEED TO DO IT. UNLESS YOU'RE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR HAVE A LAST NAME THAT
WE ALL RECOGNIZE, THE REALMS OF FILM, MUSIC, PUBLISHING, AND COMMERCIAL ART IN
GENERAL IS IN A REALLY SHITTY PLACE RIGHT NOW, ON EVERY LEVEL. I FIND GAMBLING
INCREDIBLY BORING (EVEN CARD GAMES, ETC.), BUT SPENDING TIME, ENERGY, AND
OFTENTIMES YOUR OWN MONEY IN DEVELOPING A PROJECT LIKE WHAT I'M DOING NOW IS
THE BIGGEST GAMBLE OF ALL (ASIDE FROM RUSSIAN ROULETTE) BECAUSE YOU'RE BETTING
WITH YOUR LIFE. I GOT LUCKY WITH A GREAT IDEA, I HAVE AN AMAZING AGENT I EARNED
THROUGH A PREVIOUS FAILED ATTEMPT AT ANOTHER PROJECT, AND I'VE LEARNED BY BEING
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DOOR HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A BOOK LIKE THIS THAT MADE IT
CLEAR TO PUBLISHERS I WAS THE GUY FOR THE JOB. BUT IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS JUST
SOME KID WHO WANTED TO ONE DAY TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT NICKELODEON.
THEN A FEW YEARS LATER THOUGHT TO PUT SOME TIME AND EFFORT INTO SOME ARTICLES THAT MIGHT REAWAKEN THAT DREAM. AND IT WORKED. IT MIGHT NOT HAVE, THOUGH. BUT THOSE FUCKING THINGS STILL TOOK A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND -- YES -- MY OWN MONEY TO COMPLETE WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEED COMPENSATION OR REFUND FOR SAID TIME, MONEY, ETC.. MORAL: IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, KNOW IT MIGHT NOT MAKE YOU ANY MONEY AND THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE SOME IN THE PROCESS, THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SACRIFICE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO IT. AND THAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO "NOTHING." WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE TO JUST DO IT BECAUSE YOU SEE EVEN THE PROCESS OF MAKING IT AS SOMETHING FAR BETTER THAN "NOTHING."
THEN A FEW YEARS LATER THOUGHT TO PUT SOME TIME AND EFFORT INTO SOME ARTICLES THAT MIGHT REAWAKEN THAT DREAM. AND IT WORKED. IT MIGHT NOT HAVE, THOUGH. BUT THOSE FUCKING THINGS STILL TOOK A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND -- YES -- MY OWN MONEY TO COMPLETE WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEED COMPENSATION OR REFUND FOR SAID TIME, MONEY, ETC.. MORAL: IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, KNOW IT MIGHT NOT MAKE YOU ANY MONEY AND THAT YOU MIGHT LOSE SOME IN THE PROCESS, THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SACRIFICE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO IT. AND THAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO "NOTHING." WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE TO JUST DO IT BECAUSE YOU SEE EVEN THE PROCESS OF MAKING IT AS SOMETHING FAR BETTER THAN "NOTHING."
Kevin- What was it like working with Steven Seagal and
screenwriting one of his movies?
Mathew- I DIDN'T WORK WITH HIM. HE JUST APPEARED IN A MOVIE
I WROTE. I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE ELSEWHERE AND ALL I'LL SAY NOW IS I'M
GRATEFUL STEVEN WAS IN THE FILM BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE BECOME SUCH A
COMMERCIAL BLITZ FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITHOUT HIM ON THE DVD BOX'S COVER. IT WASN'T
THE FILM I ORIGINALLY WROTE, BUT I WROTE IT TO SELL AND NOT TO BE A DREAM
PROJECT FOR MYSELF. I SUCCEEDED. YAY.
Kevin- What are your favorite movies?
Mathew- THE TRUTH IS "BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ," "SALO," AND "IDIOTERNE." BUT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD OF THOSE FILMS AND I ALWAYS AM WORRIED ABOUT SEEMING LIKE A SNOBBY FILM DOUCHE IF I SAY THAT, I'LL GO WITH MORE STANDARD FARE: "NATURAL BORN KILLERS," "NASHVILLE," AND "BRAZIL." MAYBE THE MONKEES' "HEAD" SHOULD BE IN THERE; IT'S WAY BETTER THAN IT SOUNDS (DIRECTED BY BOB RAFELSON AND CO-WRITTEN BY JACK NICHOLSON -- IN 1968.)
Kevin- What books on screenwriting would you recommend?
Mathew- I DON'T RECOMMEND ANY BOOKS ON SCREENWRITING. I
HAVEN'T READ ANY. EVER. EVEN IN FILM SCHOOL, ACTUALLY, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT
IT. OR MAYBE I DID READ THEM FOR CLASS. I JUST DON'T REMEMBER. CHRIST, THAT WAS
10 YEARS AGO, ALMOST, AND I WASN'T PAYING MUCH ATTENTION IN CLASS. I WAS BUSY
READING OTHER BOOKS AND WATCHING MOVIES OUTSIDE OF CLASS, WORKING ON FILMS,
ETC. I WAS IMPATIENT (STILL AM). I WILL HIGHLY RECOMMEND TWO FILM BOOKS,
THOUGH: JANE HAMSHER'S "KILLER INSTINCT" ABOUT THE MAKING OF
"NATURAL BORN KILLERS" FROM START TO BEYOND FINISH (IS ACTUALLY ONE
OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME, AND READS LIKE A NOVEL: JANE IS NUTS). AND
THE OTHER IS SOMETHING OF AN OBVIOUS ONE: RAY CARNEY'S "CASSAVETES ON
CASSAVETES." ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT THE COVER. IT'S A FILM
SCHOOL IN ITSELF. 400 SOME ODD PAGES OF PURE, UNFILTERED IDEAS ABOUT MORE THAN
FILM. I DON'T THINK ANY BOOK I OWN IS MORE MARKED UP THAN MY COPY OF THAT ONE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY FUN READ, TOO. CASSAVETES WAS ALSO NUTS.
Kevin- What shows on Nickelodeon are you currently watching?
Mathew- THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY CURRENT. I LOOK
BACK ON A FEW OF THE OLD SHOWS JUST TO GET SOME IDEAS AND TO REMEMBER THINGS I
MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN, BUT NOT OFTEN. I DON'T REALLY WATCH TV ANYMORE AND HAVEN'T
SINCE JR. HIGH SCHOOL. MOST PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO DON'T OR HAVEN'T MUCH IN THE
PAST EITHER. I THINK THAT'S WHAT MADE NICK SO SPECIAL: IT WAS DONE BY PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOING SOMETHING SO NEW BECAUSE THEY WERE PRODUCING WHAT THEY WANTED TO
SEE AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THEY HAD SEEN BEFORE.
Patricia- What changes do you think would get Nickelodeon
back to its former glory that we experienced in the 80's and 90's?
Mathew- AGAIN, THIS IS EXTREMELY RELATIVE. NICKELODEON AND
VIACOM BEHIND THEM IS DOING AMAZING THINGS NOW WITH THE CHANNEL. THINGS THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. NICKELODEON HAS ONLY BEEN GLOBAL FOR A RELATIVELY
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THAT'S INCREDIBLE! COMMERCIAL SUCCESS IS A TALENT IN
ITSELF. YOU MAY NOT HAVE RESPECT FOR BRITNEY SPEARS OR MILEY CYRUS OR WHOMEVER,
BUT YOU ALSO PROBABLY CAN'T SELL $10M COPIES OF SOMETHING IN A WEEK. THEY CAN
(SURE, THEY'RE PART OF A SYSTEM THAT SELLS IT WITH THEM, BUT THAT CAN BE SAID
ABOUT MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN "FINE" ARTISTS WHO HAVE GALLERIES
AND AGENTS AND MANAGERS AND PUBLICISTS AND DID EVEN BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE
IMPRESSIONISTS; MICHAELANGELO WAS COMMISSIONED TO DO THE CISTINE CHAPEL, LEST
WE FORGET; THAT WAS A COMMERCIAL JOB). AND I KNOW THERE ARE LITTLE BOYS AND
GIRLS OUT THERE WHO LOVE THE SHOWS THAT ARE ON THERE NOW.
MAYBE SOMEONE IN THE
FUTURE WILL WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THE "GOLDEN AGE" BEING NOW? I READ AN
ARTICLE WITH THE KID WHO WAS ONCE UPON A TIME THE AMPHIBIOUS INFANT ON THE
COVER OF "NEVERMIND" CIRCA NOW (HE'S 21) AND HE WAS SAYING HE WISHED
THERE WAS GOOD MUSIC NOW LIKE THE GREAT OL' DAYS OF THE NINETIES. AND, C'MON,
MOST OF US THINK THE MUSIC IN THE NINETIES SUCKED. SIMILARLY, I HUNG WITH A
MUCH OLDER GUY WHO RUNS THE CINEMA PROGRAM AT MY LOCAL LIBRARY LAST NIGHT IN
HIS CRUMB-ESQUE HOARDER HOUSE AND WE WATCHED SOME OLD "PINWHEEL" HE
HAD ON VHS. HE LOVES THAT OMNIBUS SHOW AND FEELS NICK WAS NEVER THE SAME AFTER
IT WAS PHASED OUT IN THE EARLY 80S, SO WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT CONCEPT OF
"GOLDEN AGE." NICK'S STILL ON THE AIR. STILL GOING STRONG. MAY SEEM
LIKE I'M BEING PATRONIZING OR SYCOPHANTIC, BUT IT'S WHAT I FEEL.
Patricia- What shows from Nickelodeon that you wish would
come back on TV?
Mathew- I WANT TO SEE MORE "THREE'S COMPANY" AND
THE ORIGINAL "WONDER YEARS" WITHOUT ALL OF THE CHANGES MADE TO THE
SONGS. PROBABLY WILL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE OF RIGHTS ISSUES. AND WALLY GEORGE'S
"HOT SEAT." MAYBE MORE BOB ROSS' "THE JOY OF PAINTING."
Patricia- Finally, after your book is released, what are
your upcoming projects?
Mathew- I WOULD SAY BUT THEN SOMEONE MIGHT STEAL MY IDEA(S).
I'VE ALWAYS GOT PLENTY ON THE BURNER. SOME SHIT WORKS OUT, MOST DOESN'T. THE
BIT THAT DOES KEEPS ME GOING ARTISTICALLY AND FINANCIALLY, THOUGH. FOR NOW.
"SOMETHING ALWAYS COMES ALONG TO SAVE THE TWO SIMPSONS CHILDREN." I'M
ALREADY WORKING ON A FEW THINGS, THOUGH. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE BEING A POP
CULTURE INTELLECTUAL. IT'S FUN AND KIND OF FUNNY. AN INTERESTING WAY TO MAKE A
LIVING.
For more information about Slimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age, check it out
on Facebook at facebook.com/NickOralHistory and Twitter @NickOralHistory. To
take a quick look on what to expect in the book, check out his Splitsider
account at http://splitsider.com/user/5531/matt-klickstein/.
Are you looking forward to Slimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age? What are your
favorite Nickelodeon shows from the 80’s and 90’s? Post it in the comments
below. That’s all for now. Hope to see you around Old School Lane soon. Thanks
for reading.
-Patricia and Kevin
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