Documentaries Wish List

 I recently stumbled on a documentary on Hulu about the golden years of Nickelodeon called The Orange Years. Watching how Nickelodeon was formed and classic shows such as All That, Guts, Secret World of Alex Mack, Doug, and Salute Your Shorts came to be. Made me remember just how awesome and big of a deal Nickelodeon was during the 90s.

After watching the documentary, I started thinking about other topics I wouldn't mind seeing documentaries about. I love a good documentary so here's my top 5 wish list.

5. Cartoon Network

Depending on who you talk to Cartoon Network may have the edge over Nickelodeon, in which one was the top kids channel of the 90's. Debuting in the mid-90s Cartoon Network utilized the Warner Bros and Hanna Barbera library owned by Ted Turner to build it's network. It introduced kids of the 90s to older cartoons from the 70's like Jonny Quest and The Jackson five cartoon, it also introduced us to Space Ghost with his coast to coast series.

It wasn't until the network started developing it's own cartoons it really took off. Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, and Courage The Cowardly Dog made the network. It would be interesting to hear from the power players of that era about the network as a whole and the respective shows that put it on the map.  

4. Sega Channel

The Sega Channel was so ahead of its time. A monthly subscription service through certain cable providers, there was a cartridge to insert into the Sega Genesis console. That cartridge afforded subscribers access to video games and the game library rotated every month. Sound familiar? 

The Sega Channel debuted in 1994 long before Cable TV On Demand features and streaming services. One of my closest friends had it when we were kids, man he was the coolest kid around and at the time rich in our eyes. I would love a in depth documentary on how the Sega Channel was born and why it didn't catch on like it should have. Was it cost for consumers? Was it the infrastructure? or was it just Sega was losing popularity in the console wars? Questions that need answers.

3. BET

Cable network BET was founded January 25, 1980 a full year before MTV hit the airwaves. Starting out in the new wave of Cable TV as a two hour program block on another feed, it eventually became it's own full-fledge 24 hour network in 1983. Over time giving the culture programs such as Video Soul with Donnie Simpson, Rap City, Teen Summit, Planet Groove, 106 and Park, and BET Uncut (some wild videos including Tip Drill played on Uncut). The network also gave several comedians of the 90's exposure with the hilarious Comic View.

BET was sold to Viacom in 2001 for $3 Billion, it'd be interesting and educational to hear how Robert Johnsons vision came about. The growth of BET through the years to include substations and even BET restaurants. It'd also be interesting to hear some of the resistance BET faced for many years when it often tried to change programming methods and move away from playing music videos all day.

2. ABC TGIF

During the early to mid 90's especially you were likely doing one of three things on Friday nights going out for a good time, going to Blockbuster to pick up a movie, or sitting in front of the TV for two hours of ABC's TGIF TV block. It was must watch TV and a cultural phenomenon which even included it's own jingle to kick the night off. TGIF gave us Family Matters, Full House, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step. It also gave us some eh type shows and duds like Baby Talk, Clueless, You Wish, Teen Angel, Two Of A Kind, and Aliens In The Family. 

I'll admit many of those shows have not aged well, but it was a wonderful moment in time. 90's nostalgia is still going strong it's time someone tells the story of how TGIF came together, reached massive heights and came crashing down as staples ended or moved to other networks (CBS stole a few shows and tried to emulate the success towards the end of the 90's). Somebody, anybody make this happen. 

1. New Jack Swing

If you know me you know I love the New Jack Swing era of music, I always felt like I was born 10 years too late and was actually suppose to be an young adult living life during the height of the era in the early 90's. Anyway it's about time this genre of music which was an fusion of hip hop and r&b to get it's well deserved recognition and it's story be told.

New Jack Swing was founded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle in the late 80's and soon other producers such as Babyface and L.A. Reid and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis utilized this sound. Soon entire labels like Uptown and Laface were built on the New Jack Swing sound. Legendary artist Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, TLC, Boyz II Men, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Guy and so so many more built their careers off of this genre. From it's beginnings to the influence it still holds on music today, it's time the New Jack Swing story gets told.