The Best Nickelodeon Original Shows

Updated February 3, 2021 207.4k votes 11.0k voters 120.5k views114 items

List RulesTV shows that were created by and originally aired on Nickelodeon. Vote up the best original Nickelodeon series.

Nickelodeon, also sometimes referred to as “Nick” is an American paid cable and satellite TV network which specifically caters to kids and has produced a variety of well-known original programs including animated series, reality shows, and game shows. Nickelodeon is owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Entertainment and currently has over 98 million viewers! It’s no wonder that this popular TV channel is producing some of the best original kids shows in history! What are the best Nickelodeon original shows of all time?

Launched in 1977 Nickelodeon has been growing by leaps and bounds, and has only increased in popularity with each new show it’s cranked out. Nickelodeon is also responsible for discovering some of Hollywood’s youngest stars who have taken their careers to the next level after leaving the channel.

This list features the best Nickelodeon original shows, ranked as the best by voters, including, iCarly, Drake and Josh, Clarissa Explains it All, Salute Your Shorts, Welcome Freshmen, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and Zoey 101. Vote up the best Nickelodeon original shows below or add one you love that isn't already on the list.

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SpongeBob SquarePants
Tom Kenny, Rodger Bumpass
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Animation, Comedy, Family Film
SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon, 1999) is an American animated television series created by... more
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2
1,904
702
The Fairly OddParents
Tara Strong, Susanne Blakeslee
Premiered: 2001
Genres (Tv): Animation, Satire, Animated cartoon, Comedy, Fantasy television
The Fairly OddParents is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for... more
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3
4,330
1,689
Rugrats
Elizabeth Daily, Christine Cavanaugh
Premiered: 1991
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Animated series
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and... more
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4
3,994
1,796
Drake & Josh
Drake Bell, Josh Peck
Premiered: 2004-2007
Genres (Tv): Teen sitcom
Drake & Josh (Nickelodeon, 2004) is an American sitcom created by Dan Schneider. Despite... more
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5
3,537
1,822
Hey Arnold!
Francesca Marie Smith, Jamil Walker Smith
Premiered: 1996
Genres (Tv): Animation, Children's television series, Comedy-drama, Comedy, Animated series
Hey Arnold is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett for... more
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6
3,227
1,663
iCarly
Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy
Premiered: 2007-2012
Genres (Tv): Television comedy, Children's television series, Comedy, Family Film
iCarly is an American teen sitcom that ran on Nickelodeon from September 8, 2007 until... more
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7
2,716
1,414
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Debi Derryberry, Jeffrey Garcia
Premiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Computer Animation, Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Adventure film
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, often shortened to just Jimmy Neutron, is an... more
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8
2,891
1,647
Kenan & Kel
Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell
Premiered: 1996-2000
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Comedy
Kenan & Kel is an American teen comedy sitcom created by Kim Bass for Nickelodeon. It starred... more
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#131 of 297 The Best Duos of All Time#207 of 448 The Funniest TV Shows of All Time
9
3,049
1,782
All That
Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon
Premiered: 1994-2005
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Television comedy, Adolescence, Variety show, Children's television series
All That is an American sketch comedy television series created by Brian Robbins and Mike... more
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2,710
1,620
CatDog
Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny
Premiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Comedy
CatDog is an American animated television series created by Peter Hannan for Nickelodeon. The... more
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11
3,025
1,823
Doug
Billy West, Fred Newman
Premiered: 1991
Genres (Tv): Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Educational television
Doug is an American animated sitcom created by Jim Jinkins. The show focuses on the early... more
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2,152
1,349
Danny Phantom
David Kaufman, Grey Griffin
Premiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Romance Film, Supernatural, Animation, Action/Adventure, Animated cartoon
Danny Phantom is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for... more
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13
2,703
1,710
Rocko's Modern Life
Carlos Alazraqui, Tom Kenny
Premiered: 1993
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Animation, Sitcom, Satire, Animated cartoon
Rocko's Modern Life is an American animated television series created by Joe Murray for... more
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Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Ross Hull, Raine Pare-Coull
Premiered: 1991-2000
Genres (Tv): Anthology, Horror Film, Children's television series, Fantasy television, Science Fiction
Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a Canadian horror fantasy-themed anthology television series.... more
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2,435
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Rocket Power
Lauren Tom, Jennifer Hale
Premiered: 1999
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Adventure film, Comedy, Animated series
Rocket Power is an American animated television series. The series debuted on Nickelodeon on... more
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Rocket Power Was Actually About Bad Parenting And Out Of Control Children#12 of 40 The Best Nickelodeon Cartoons of All Time
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2,479
1,609
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Zach Tyler, Dee Bradley Baker
Premiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Animation, Action/Adventure, Steampunk, Romance TV, Children's television series
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon, 2005) is an American television series created by... more
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2,337
1,522
The Wild Thornberrys
Lacey Chabert, Jodi Carlisle
Premiered: 1998
Genres (Tv): Animation, Children's television series
The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It... more
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2,389
1,591
Double Dare
Lou Ferrigno, Jennifer Malone
Premiered: 2000-1992; 2000
Genres (Tv): Game show
Double Dare is a children's game show, originally hosted by Marc Summers, that aired on... more
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2,470
1,651
Legends of the Hidden Temple
Kirk Fogg, Dee Bradley Baker
Premiered: 1993-1995
Genres (Tv): Children's television series, Game show
Legends of the Hidden Temple is an action-adventure game show for children. The show centered... more
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#44 of 96 The Greatest Game Shows of All Time#2 of 28 The Best Nickelodeon Game Shows Ever Made
20
2,246
1,500
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
Devon Werkheiser, Lindsey Shaw
Premiered: 2004-2007
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Drama, Children's television series, Comedy-drama
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide is an American live action sitcom on Nickelodeon that... more
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2,197
1,558
Clarissa Explains It All
Melissa Joan Hart, Jason Zimbler
Premiered: 1991-1994
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Children's television series, Comedy
Clarissa Explains It All is an American teen sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon. Created by... more
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27 Things You Didn't Know About Clarissa Explains it All#352 of 508 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time
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2,248
1,603
Zoey 101
Jamie Lynn Spears, Paul Butcher
Premiered: 2005-2008
Genres (Tv): Teen drama, Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Drama, Children's television series
Zoey 101 is an American television series which originally aired on Nickelodeon from January... more
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2,079
1,535
The Amanda Show
Amanda Bynes, Drake Bell
Premiered: 1999-2002
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Variety show, Sketch
The Amanda Show is an American live action sketch comedy and variety show that aired on... more
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2,090
1,558
The Ren & Stimpy Show
John Kricfalusi, Billy West
Premiered: 1991
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Children's television series
The Ren & Stimpy Show, often simply referred to as Ren & Stimpy, is an American animated... more
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25
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1,592
Victorious
Victoria Justice, Leon Thomas III
Premiered: 2010-2013
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Teen situation comedy, Drama, Children's television series, Musical
Victorious (Nickelodeon, 2010) is an American sitcom created by Dan Schneider. The series... more
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