Kenan & Kel!

I now realize that back in the 90's that we had the best shows. I loved this show, another show that I would come home and watch after school! Kenan & Kel's first episode was aired on July 16, 1996. It's so hard to believe that this show is now dated and isn't heard of anymore!

-Kevin

Rocko's Modern Life!

The good old days of rockos Modern Life. I miss this show and I believe I saw an episode a few years ago, but I think it's no longer being shown on TV. Rocko's Modern Life's first episode was shown on September 18, 1993. Some good laughs were shared while watching this show.-Kevin

All That!

I used to love this show, another one of the shows that I would come home to watch after school. I'm pretty sure almost everyone had heard of or watched this show when they were younger if you grew up in the 90's. All That's first episode premiered April 16, 1994.
-Kevin

Texas Roadhouse

While doing this Blog, it struck me that I hadn't thought to look at what restaurants opened in the 1990s. So I went to Google and searched. I found quite a few places, but I went with this one. Almost everyone knows this one. I have been to a Texas Roadhouse once in my lifetime. And frankly, I'll probably never go back. I only went because a friend / (now ex) co-worker wanted to go. So I went with my boyfriend, my co-worker, and her boyfriend (at the time; they are no longer together).

I don't even recall what I ordered, I think I ordered a pulled pork burger, with a salad which honestly wasn't even that good. The wait was really long, and the waitress was well....snotty? I'll use that word to put it politely. Honestly, I found that for what we got was totally NOT worth the price. And the music?....I wanted to put my knives in my ears...I really can't stand country music....SORRY for anyone who actually Likes it....

In any event here some history to go along with this restaurant chain; It was founded on February 17th, 1993 in Indiana by Kent Taylor. Former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown Jr. helped Taylor by backing him with $80,000. At the time it was named; Buckhead Hickorey Grill. Later on Taylor found new partners, and was forced to change the name of the restaurant; thus named Texas Roadhouse expanded rapidly in the 1990's. By 1999 there were 67 restaurants.

Personally I wouldn't recommend going back there, but to each their own. It might be as bad as it was that night I went years ago. Though being in a restaurant setting myself, I know that it only takes 1 bad time with a customer for them to never come back.




~Jen

X-Men the Animated Series

X-Men the Animated series started on October 31st, 1992. I recall seeing the show when I was 6.  My youngest sibling was only 2 at the time, the other was 5. We all used to watch the show when we were together. Similar to Batman the Animated series, I couldn't wait to reenact the show once it was done.

I fell in love with the concept that the good mutants; led by Professor Xavier were simply trying to fit in with the humans, but humans were afraid of them. Also having bad mutants running around such as those led by Magneto did not help their situation any. Many were just outcasts and misfits. Professor Xavier opened a school under the guise that it was for "gifted children" when in fact it was for children who were mutants. They needed his help and guidance to control whatever power(s) they had, also to be accepted by others like them.

I fell in love with two of the mutants. The X-men known as Wolverine and Gambit. Their real names were Logan and Remy Lebeu. Gambit could kinetically charge anything his hands touched, and he was a master thief. Logan was a loner, and his origin is mostly a dark mystery, as no one really knows much about him,  or how old he really is. His powers consisted of having adamantium claws, super hearing, ultra fast healing and super human strength.

The show was interesting because it also dealt with real issues such as divorce, Christianity, the Holocaust, AIDS hysteria, and even made fun of tv itself with certain episodes.

The series ended in 2001. I have actually started buying up the old X-men, and Batman tv series off of Amazon. It's a nice way to relive my childhood. Also Gambit has his own comic series which I've picked up and started reading.


 The one on the Left is Gambit / The one on the right is Wolverine.


~Jen

Furby: Now and Then

             Furbies were first distributed right before the Christmas of 1998 and was a huge hit in the market. It was considered one of the biggest toys of the 90s. Over 40 million Furbies were sold during the three years of its original production. A Furby looked like a fluffy bird that came in many different colors and patterns. Furby was a robot toy. His eyes, ears, and beak moved and were interactive talking back at you in “Furbish”. Furby talks in third person. Furby would tell you when it was hungry, tired or to play with them. The only way to turn him off was to put him in darkness where he would “fall asleep”.

My uncle got me a Furby the Christmas of 1998 even though I never asked for it because I had already thought they were weird from the way the commercials looked. He told me the thing talked the whole ride over to my place. I ended up fearing it ever since I received it so it was put in the dark closet to be turned off. My mother would sometimes think it would be funny to take it out and put it on my bed so that when I came in the room it would be talking and scare me. He talked way too much it annoyed me and creeped me out which shows in this video how the 1998 version operated:

There are newer Furbies just coming out and have LCD eyes to show a more animated look. Furbish an now be translated to English and makers have plans to make him speak in English. Furbys are much more interactive than they used to be and even connect to iPhones demonstrated in this video: 

Info on Furby’s 

-Kaitlynn

Full House

Full house was on TV during the years of 1987–1995 for 8 seasons. It showed a family named the Tanners that Lived in San Francisco. Danny (Bob Saget) was a single father of three girls: the youngest Michelle (Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin ), the oldest D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure). Danny’s brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and his friend Joey (Dave Coulier) all lived in the house and helped raise the kids. The family was very close. It was a good show that depicted such a great family, how all family’s should be. They went through a lot together but still all seemed to love each other no matter what. As a viewer, you watched the children develop and grow up into young women. Children could watch this and relate to the tough times that each girl had while they were growing up. In later episodes, Becky (Lori Loughlin) came into the house hold after Jesse and her got married and pregnant with two twin boys. Some audience who watched these episodes could relate to the new parents and their struggles. The episodes were realistic showing everyday life with good acting making it such a hit show for such a long time. Life lessons were taught to everyone in episodes which was something someone could take to heart and learn to improve themselves to thanks to the show. I remember watching the episodes with my family all the time and I have probably seen all of the episodes by now and still find myself watching the reruns. 

Theme Song:

Link to Series Dates and Characters Info

-Kaitlynn

The Magic School Bus

Magic School bus was a very popular kids’ show in the 90’s. It ran from 1994–1998 of new episodes. It was very educational. Kids wouldn't realize this because it was just so entertaining to watch. This cartoon’s theme was a class of kids where Mrs. Frizzle, the teacher, would always want to go onto field trips to teach her lessons. Their field trips were not your usual kind of field trips which would make it so fun to watch. The bus that they used would turn into many different things so that the students could understand what happens in every day. The bus could form into examples such as a rocket ship, submarine, and an animal. This is so the kids could get up close and personal to things they were learning about. I enjoyed watching this show in my own time but when I was in elementary school and they would play clips that went along with our lessons. From my understanding, this show still can be seen but as re-runs. I remember an episode where the Water Cycle was demonstrated and the children were part of it. This You Tube Video shows a clip from this episode:

Info on dates and characters

-Kaitlynn 

90's Barbie vs. Present Barbie: Has Time Been an Influence on Her Change?

The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handle, co-founder of Mattel, whose own daughter was called Barbara. Ever since then Barbie dolls have been evolving their look a lot. Barbie has always been a very popular toy for young girls. In the 90's, reflecting the increase in diversity among the population, manufacturers created ethnically diverse Barbie’s creating other characters. Barbie had many different sets out that should her having many different jobs like a vet, teacher, doctor, and so on. This was to hopefully teach children to find their dream job and set goals for their future being successful just like Barbie. In the 90’s her arms and legs were made a little more posable. Barbie also had many ways of transportation such as a corvette, tour bus, and horses. 

(90s Makeup)   

(00’s Make up)

As you can see Barbie’s make up and facial features were more basic in the 90’s compared to recent Barbie’s who have more defined features.

Even body image has changed. Barbie appears much skinnier during the present day. 

Barbie seemed to be a women who has everything and was “perfectly” beautiful. Therefore the doll has been known to cause some controversy. The change in how “perfect” Barbie looks nowadays shows our concern of how important image is compared to the 90's. There wasn't such a big fuss about being skinny in the 90's as there is now. It is clear, seeing these kind of changes in Barbie, that media is having a big influence on us all.This news reports shows just one example of many controversies that have occurred due to Barbie’s image:

Info on Who Invented Barbie

-Kaitlynn

Batman the Animated Series

I watched this show religiously when I was younger. I loved Batman. The series was on from September 5th, 1992 to September 15h, 1995. I do not think I missed one episode when I was a kid. I remember coming home from school and waiting for (I THINK it was 4pm) the show to come on. It was also one of the few times me and my sisters were quiet.

Until the show was over, and then all hell practically broke loose. We had to reenact scenes from the show. Using such staging areas in my house as the rocking chair, the couch, and the recliner. Where me and my two younger sisters proceeded to leap from the couch to the chair, and vise versa. It was good times....Until dad woke up and sent us to our room for being too loud.

I bet Batman never got grounded...



~Jen

Mighty Morphen Power Rangers!

How could one go through the 90's without talking about the Power Rangers?! And I don't mean all of the odd ones they have now, such as the ones where apparently they go to Outer Space....Really? 

Anyways, the ORIGINAL Power Rangers started in 1993, and ran until 1995.  
"The series begins with five teenagers combating Rita and her seemingly endless array of monsters. However, consecutive failures lead Rita to adopt a new method for conquering Earth and destroying the Power Rangers: by attacking them with one of their own. Using her magic, Rita kidnaps and brainwashes a local teen whose fighting skills prove to equal that of Jason's in a martial-arts contest held in Angel Grove. The new teen, Tommy Oliver, passes Rita's tests, becoming the Green Power Ranger. Entrusted with Rita's Sword of Darkness, the source for the continuance of the evil spell he has fallen victim to, Tommy comes dangerously close to defeating the Power Rangers, especially when Rita causes a solar eclipse that temporarily drains the Megazord's power. However, the Green Ranger is ultimately defeated, and the Sword of Darkness is destroyed by Jason. Now free from Rita's spell, Tommy chooses to use his Green Ranger powers to assist the other Rangers in defeating the evil that gave them to him in the first place. His Zord, the Dragonzord, is reconfigured to enable it to help form more powerful Zord combinations alongside the other Dinozords<sup>." - Wikipedia
 People who are reading this for the first time might wonder what on Earth I am talking about. Well...The Zords are like Giant Transformers in a sense. I chose the DragonZord, because its my favorite.
 


For whatever reason when I was younger, I LOVED the Green Ranger. Although he started out bad...He ended up turning over to the Good Side and joining the Rangers.</sup>


This was the cast I grew up with; the Green Ranger ended up becoming the White Ranger








~Jen