"All That" is an American children's comedy variety show created by Brian Robbins and Mike Taulin. The series premiered on April 16, 1994 and ended on October 22, 2005. It included ten seasons and was produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Schneider's Bakery in its tenth season. The show is designed to provide young audiences with original humorous skits and weekly musical guests.
"All That is an executive cultural satire, performed by a cast of children and teenagers of all ages and backgrounds."
"All That" became a part of Nickelodeon and its impact on children's television is still hard to ignore. Early shows were filmed at Universal Studio in Florida, USA, and later moved to the Nickelodeon on Sunset Theater in Hollywood. Not only did the show become a success for many of the young actors who participated, they each went on to have their own independent Nickelodeon series. The success is not only due to its sense of humor, but also its tolerance and support for multiculturalism.
The show's creators met in 1986, when Robbins and Schneider co-starred on the ABC sitcom "Head of the Class." The two developed a friendship outside of their roles and shared a deep interest in creating. This interest led them to jointly write a script for an episode of the show, which they successfully persuaded the production unit to adopt. As their collaborations grew, it laid the foundation for them to later establish their own production company.
“We wanted to create a kid-friendly version of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ That idea eventually became ‘All That.’ We wanted to reflect the voices of younger audiences.”
The basic concept of "All That" is a half-hour show, including a cold open (the random behavior of the actors before the performance), various skits, and a final segment performed by a musical guest. Among them, Vital Information is a reserved item of the show, which must appear in every episode and is loved by the audience.
The show created a sense of humor performed by peers without heavy humor for adults, which was very novel in the television environment at the time. For example, many children can find resonance in different short plays, which attracts a large audience.
"Our goal is to create a space that is not restricted by age and where real stories can be told by real children."
Before "All That," most cast members on children's television shows were homogeneous, a situation that was also evident on "Saturday Night Live" at the time. The show's creators realize that the diversity of the audience should be reflected in the show. Therefore, not only is the selection of actors diverse, but the selection of musical guests also includes artists from many different backgrounds.
"It means a lot to many viewers that I became the first black actress on the show."
"All That" is not only a comedy show, it has also created a symbol of faith for many aspiring young people. When the show aired in 1994, for many young viewers it provided a real-life example of how you can find fulfillment in the media. Many teens come to learn from actors who have come out of the show and are inspired to pursue acting careers of their own.
In 2019, "All That" returns again, this time remade by the original team, showing the combination of classical charm and new era stories through a new series. The reboot of the show not only attracts young viewers who miss the old show, but also attracts a new generation of children to pay attention to this long-standing show.
As a unique TV show, "All That" has traveled a very difficult road. It's not only a lasting imprint on Nickelodeon, but it's also left its mark on a wide swath of American culture. How exactly did it shape today's children's entertainment culture?