If you don't know who loves orange soda, this blog probably isn't for you.
"All That" was basically the junior version of "Saturday Night Live" — a bunch of corny yet lovable skits with a popular musical guest. Whenever it aired, I would jump up and down on the pullout couch in my grandma's cluttered guest room and laugh until my stomach hurt. Sometimes I even pretended to be a cast member on the show.
The original "All That" cast debuted in 1994, with frequent lineup changes happening in later years. After 2000, many of the originals, including Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell and Amanda Bynes (aka The Good Ones) had already left. Then there were a few weird years when these "other people" were on the show. And by the way, who would have ever predicted that Kenan would end up becoming a cast member on "SNL"?
All right, ’90s fans, it's time for one of my lists again! Here are a few of my favorite "All That" sketches:
Everyday French with Pierre Escargot: The original "n***a in Paris." His hilarious, dumb French phrases and translations always kept me laughing. It made me want to sit in a bathtub with a raincoat and flippers, too.
Vital Information: Hosted by Lori Beth Denberg and later Danny Tamberelli, this was information you needed to know "for your everyday life," including "Ice cream tastes good. Armpits taste bad."
Good Burger: No need to explain this one. And yes, I did see the 1997 movie. And yes, Mondo Burgers looked disgusting.
Repair Man (Man Man Man Man): He did "Repair Man everything and other stuff, too!" Played by Kel, he was our favorite repair man who didn't actually fix anything.
Ask Ashley: "Dear Ashley, thaaaaaaat's me!" Cute, little Amanda Bynes sweetly read letters from troubled kids who asked her really dumb questions. Her rage when she answered them is too memorable to forget.
Cooking with Randy and Mandy: Man, did these cats LOVE chocolate! When I was young, I definitely considered this to be Food Network-worthy.
I'm not sorry for getting TLC's catchy theme song stuck in your head as you read this. Nope.
I could mention almost every other "All That" character: Principal Pimpell, Miss Piddlin, Superdude ... but that would take up a whole ’nother blog entry!
Of course, we all remember that "All That" spawned two more great shows: "Kenan and Kel" in 1996 and "The Amanda Show" in 1999. Amanda Bynes' sketch show had even more ridiculous skits. "Totally Kyle" topped that list, for sure. And who could forget Tony Pajamas and his girlfriend, Candy Tulips?
In the end, "Kenan and Kel" ended up showing the world how much Kel loved orange soda (and that love didn't ever look platonic, either). And Coolio singing any theme song is a really good idea.
For everyone who's dying to know where Kel went, he actually co-hosted a late-night dance-off program called "Dance 360" for one season in 2004. The winner would usually win an Xbox or a cellphone. I just have one question: WHAT?
Maybe these kid sketch shows didn't necessarily teach us valuable lessons, but they were always good for a laugh. Actually, more than a laugh. More like fits of giggles that you couldn't stop from coming.
In the words of Judge Trudy, "Court dismissed. Bring in the dancing lobsters!"
Posts in Gator Golf appear on Tuesdays.
This guy taught me all the French I know. Which is why I don't speak it.
