From Adam Sandler to Katy Perry, 4 Unforgettable Moments from the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

Adam Sandler gets slimed on the 15th Annual Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, at The Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Ca., 4/20/02. — Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images

If you grew up watching Nickelodeon, you know the channel ruled Saturday mornings, weekday afternoons, and one special evening: its annual Kids’ Choice Awards. While celebrities attended most awards shows in tailored suits and silk gowns, this particular event asked them to leave their dignity at the door.

Offered in chronological order, here are four very odd celebrity moments (two of them involving slime) from those various broadcasts that still stick out after all these years.

1 Adam Sandler tests out Nickelodeon’s new “transportation device”

For years, Adam Sandler always seemed to attend this event, often as an award winner. However, in 2002, “very special surprise guest” Sandler walked onto the stage in a suit and bow tie, saying he couldn’t stick around long because he needed to be in Brooklyn for a bat mitzvah.

Host Rosie O’Donnell told the comedian that he is in luck because Nickelodeon has a “transporter” that they have been working on for years that will get him to his destination lickety-split. Of course, what ensues is a green, gooey mess. Seeing one of film’s biggest stars covered in green muck is exactly why we all love Sandler. He has always been willing to be silly and, yes, even a bit stupid, when the moment calls for it.

2 Justin Timberlake defends his burp champion belt

While our first entry was simply slimetastic, this one is different. In 2007, Justin Timberlake served as the host. At that point in his career, he was the epitome of cool with a bunch of hits and a polished reputation as a musical artist. However, Timberlake decided to toss all of that out the window by claiming to be the undisputed Burp Champion of the World. Standing right over the microphone, Timberlake belted out a very impressive burp to defend his title.

Sadly, an arena full of kids, led by Kenan Thompson, burping simultaneously dethroned the champ.

3 Katy Perry takes a slime blast to the face

Way back in 2010, Katy Perry walked out with Jonah Hill to hand out the trophy for Favorite Movie Actress. Before announcing the winner, Perry walked over to open a small mystery box sitting on a podium. When Perry lifted the lid, a geyser of slime shot straight out, hitting her directly in the face. The sheer force knocked Perry flat onto her back. Looking truly shocked, Perry struggled to maintain her composure.

Truthfully, this particular slime moment didn’t look fun at all. It looked like a legitimate accident. Perry’s response afterward said it all when she asked, “Why does it taste like boogers?”

4 Michelle Obama presents an award to Taylor Swift

Let’s end this little list with a dash of class. In 2012, then First Lady Michelle Obama walked out onto the stage to give Taylor Swift the Big Help Award for her charity work. What makes this moment so odd? Well, picture the scene. The arena is filled with 10,000 screaming children. During an evening that has been filled with a record-breaking amount of green slime, the First Lady of the United States comes elegantly walking out.

A moment like this one, which was a surreal contrast between Obama’s formal White House dignity and the ever-present chaos that has always been the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, made for an extremely odd and very wonderful few minutes of television. And then, of course, right after that was the event’s first-ever slime world wrestling championship.