Nick in the Afternoon

From 1993 to 1998, there was one name that kids recognized as the leading children's television host of the era. He wasn't particularly handsome or suave. He wasn't even human.

He was a popsicle stick.



Stick Stickly, the iconic host of Nickelodeon's summertime "Nick in the Afternoon" programming block, was emblematic of a generation of latchkey kids whose parents left them to be raised by hypnotically engaging television personalities. Not only were our favorite shows on all afternoon, but we could actually write to celebrated TV personality Stick Stickly himself with feedback. Stick's jingle is forever burned in the 8-year-old region of my cerebral cortex:

"Write to me, Stick Stickly, PO Box 963. New York City, New York state, 10108!"

Sure, he was just a popsicle stick, but he provided us with endless hours of inter-show programming that was at least as entertaining as the programs themselves. Stick Stickly brought with him a cast of lovable anthropomorphic popsicle stick peers: love interest Holly B. Wood, high-flying alter-ego SuperStick, bizarro-esque aptly named Evil Stick, and long-lost identical twin stick Woodknot Stickly. The best part about using unconventional forms (i.e. popsicle sticks) was that these characters needed not be believable or relatable. They were pure, noneducational entertainment, which we blindly consumed with gusto.

Stick Stickly lived in his own popsicle stick universe, "Stickopolis", a miniature neighboring subsidiary of the legendary Nickelodeon studios. In their Stickopolis-based studio, Stick and his gang participated in a variety of segments. Holly B. Wood became a celebrity interviewer and news presenter. Stick was frequently shamed for his lack of obscure trivial knowledge and/or riddle answers and was subsequently forced to wear a miniature dunce cap. Then of course, there was "Dip Stick", a mildly terrifying segment where Stick Stickly was blindfolded and required to guess the disgusting substance in which the puppeteers chose to submerge him.

I so clearly remember watching the segments where Stick was strapped to a giant wheel-of-fortune type contraption and spun to determine which show was up next. Of course, it rarely ever landed on my top picks, but I did occasionally get to watch as-of-then already retired classic episodes of "You Can't Do that on Television." And thanks to that catchy address jingle, I could write Stick Stickly letters letting him know what I'd like to see on Nick in the Afternoon.

This was the height of democratic television for children of the era. Not only did we get to write in our requests (hey, they could get our shows on in 2-3 business days standard US mail!) but we also got to see a sturdy mix of live action and cartoon programming. Hey Dude strikes your fancy? Love watching Clarissa explain it all? Nick in the Afternoon had it. Enjoy the talking babies of Rugrats? Able to endure the frightening claymation stylings of Gumby and his pals? All in an afternoon's time.

Stick Stickly represented everything quirky and fun about the 90s. He would ask us to mail his rubber bands for his birthday, to complete his giant rubber band ball. His catchphrase "Simmer Down," though a bit ironic for a popsicle remnant, was instantly recognizable. And of course, he always gave us invaluable little pieces of Stickly wisdom like "You can pick your friends. You can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friends' nose."

If this isn't enough to jog your memories, the band Lemon Demon has an amazing song devoted to Mr. Stickly himself. I present to you an unauthorized video of Lemon Demon's "Stick Stickly:"






Link to "Bring Back Stick Stickly" Petition