Why Slime Became Part of Nickelodeon’s Identity — and the Forgotten Show That Started It All

Erin Maxwell August 14, 2:27 pm

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION, series ran 1979-1990 — Paramount/Carleton Productions/Courtesy Everett Collection

If you grew up watching Nickelodeon, especially the Kids’ Choice Awards, you probably remember watching your favorite teen stars getting their red carpet looks ruined by a cascade of green slime. The ooze — a signature of the kid-friendly kudocast — was a risk stars took when stepping onto that stage, and for fans, it has become one of the show’s most anticipated moments, always met with cheers.

But why? Why does slime pour from above, ruining outfits, rattling designers, and splattering fans in the front rows?

@justice4jc Who remembers nsync getting slimed?🤣 i loved nsync & rosie odonnell together! jc chasez 🥰 nickelodeon kids choice awards #jcchasez #nsync #justiceforjcchasez #justintimberlake #nickelodeon #rosie #rosieodonnell #nsynctiktok @*NSYNC @Rosie ODonnell ♬ original sound – Justice4jc

The answer predates the Kids’ Choice Awards and even Nickelodeon itself. It all began in 1979 on a Canadian kids’ show called You Can’t Do That on Television, which debuted in Ottawa and set the stage for one of TV’s messiest traditions.

Birth of a slimy tradition

A sketch-based comedy show aimed at kids, You Can’t Do That on Television premiered in February 1979, with a cast of teens and children who performed skits built around a central theme each week. Topics ranged from serious issues, such as drugs, bullying, and divorce, to lighter fare, like Christmas, pets, and music. One teen from the show’s ensemble cast served as the show’s host, while the rest appeared in the sketches. Aside from two adult performers, Les Lye and Abby Hagyard, who played multiple recurring characters, the series was largely presented as a show made for kids and by kids, or at least, that was the impression it wanted to create.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION, (from left): Christine 'Moose' McGlade, Lisa Ruddy, 1979-90. © Carleton Productions / courtesy Everett Collection

Carleton Productions / Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

Nickelodeon launched in the United States in April 1979, with flagship programs aimed at preschoolers, including Pinwheel and Dusty’s Treehouse. By the early 1980s, the network set its sights on older kids, debuting You Can’t Do That on Television in 1981 alongside its first talk show for kids, Livewire.

The impact was immediate. You Can’t Do That on Television became a breakout hit, helping define Nickelodeon’s kid-first identity with its absurd humor, irreverent sketches, and signature gross-out gags — including the now-iconic green slime.

Part of You Can’t Do That on Television’s charm was its commitment to nonsensical, self-imposed rules that governed its wacky universe. Certain phrases triggered inevitable consequences. If someone said “water,” a bucketful would be dumped on them without warning, whether they were in the middle of a skit or not. And if they uttered the words “I don’t know,” they would be doused in the show’s infamous green slime.

Though the show continued to grow and became known for other things (most notably its young star Alanis Morissette), You Can’t Do That on Television left an indelible green mark on the network with its slime, not just in the memories of Gen-Xers and millennials, but on the network itself as it established itself as a premiere cable channel.

When the Kids’ Choice Awards debuted on April 18, 1987 — originally called The Big Ballot in 1986 — it took a year or two to find its footing. Once it did, the show had a loyal audience thanks to a quirky format, unusual awards, and, of course, green slime for anyone brave enough to accept or present a prize. In fact, the very first person ever slimed at the ceremony was none other than Les Lye from You Can’t Do That on Television fame, who got the iconic treatment at the 1988 show.

Since then, slime has become much more than just a gimmick at a once-a-year show. It’s part of the logo and, really, the brand of the network. During the Super Bowl, Nickelodeon offers an alternative for kids called NFL Slimetime. A book about the network’s storied history is titled SLIMED! An Oral History of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age. Even the iconic splat in the logo is meant to represent slime. What started as a messy prank and a slapstick joke is now one of the most enduring and recognizable symbols in children’s television and pop culture. It’s also edible.