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| Network | Nickelodeon |
|---|---|
| Launched | May 16, 1994 (1994-05-16)[1] |
| Closed | August 28, 1998 (1998-08-28) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Format | Summer block Puppetry |
| Running time | Varies |
| Voices of | Paul Christie, Abby Pecoriello, Liz Fodor, Karen Kuflik |
Nick in the Afternoon was aprogramming block onNickelodeon that aired from 1994 to 1998 on weekday afternoons during the summer.
It was hosted byStick Stickly, aMr. Bill-likepopsicle stickpuppeteered byRick Lyon and voiced byNew YorkerPaul Christie (who would later voiceNoggin mascot,Moose A. Moose until 2012).
This all takes place in the 8-foot Stickopolis, a mini city for popsicle sticks, which is located next to Nickelodeon Studios. It included places like Fodor's Fashions (named after Agi Fodor, Stick's creator), Abby's Attic (named after Abby Miller, producer), Brad's Garage (named after Brad Pope, prop maker and puppeteer), Rick Rickly's Dance Studio (named after Rick Lyon, assisting puppeteer), Dave's Diner (named after Rick Lyon's friend David Regan), Stickbuck's Café, and Stickolini Brothers Pizza.[2]
Tim Lagasse designed and built all of Stick’s sets and props with Jim Napolitano's help.[3]
The 1998 stint ran from July until August.Henry and June's Summer replaced this Nickelodeon summer block a year later. Stick Stickly was later revived for theTeenNick 1990s' blockThe '90s Are All That.
During its first summer, the programming consisted of normal Nickelodeon shows that would have aired regardless, but come its second summer,Nick in the Afternoon made some key changes.
Instead, it showed preselectedNicktoons with added segments such as "U-Pick" (viewers pick what show and episode they want to see) and U-Dip (viewers pick which substance Stick Stickly is dipped in or any substance at all using their bare feet).
Viewers occasionally chose a program that had not been aired on Nick in many years, for exampleYou Can't Do That on Television, or from time to time would select aNick at Nite program such asI Love Lucy,The Munsters, orThe Brady Bunch. The preselected segments were indicated by a dial using Stickly as the spinner, so as to keep the cartoons a surprise.
Stump Stick is which Stick had to answer a riddle asked by a famous Nickelodeon celebrity correctly, or he'd have to wear a Dunce Cap. This usually resulted in Stick not knowing the answer, and not even getting the joke.
Dip Stick is where Stick would be blindfolded and dipped into some kind of substance having to guess what he was being dipped into. Substances included Mayonnaise, Slime, Gak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Toothpaste and others. Segments similar to skit were Flop Stick and Splatter Stick, where Stick was dipped into substances in alternative ways, using different devices. Stickly would often be subject to U-Dip, where viewers pick which substance he is dipped in or any substance at all using their bare feet.
Holly's News where Holly B. Wood reported the latest news about Nickelodeon, Nick in the Afternoon and Stickopolis. She sometimes even held interviews with Nickelodeon celebrities such asRosie O' Donnell andMelissa Joan Hart.
Stick Stickly is the host of Nick in the Afternoon. He is a fun-loving popsicle stick who likes to encourage kids on the show. created by Agi Fodor and Karen Kuflik, that appears on the television network Nickelodeon. He has googly eyes, a jelly bean nose, and a small mouth. He also really likedrubber bands and asked viewers to send in them for his birthday, using them then to make a largerubber band ball. His idol is "Super Stick" and his catchphrase is "Simmer Down".
Woodknot Stickly is Stick's twin brother who once had a fight with him which caused Woodknot to run away from home. Stick embarked on a daring quest to find him in the "Oh, Brother" special.
Holly B. Wood is one of Stick's friends and Stick's love interest.
Stick Lady is a female stick.
Newscaster is a female stick that interviews Stick.
Evil Stick is an evil lookalike of Stick Stickly who tried to take over the block.
When giving viewers the address at which they could write him, Stick Stickly was a part of included contest promotionals forKraft Foods andToys "R" Us.
Outside of Nick in the Afternoon and the two specials, Stick also served as the host for various special marathons, such as Nonstop Nicktoons Weekend. He would also appear in "Stick Witness News" promos, in which he would give reports on shows being added to Nickelodeon's line-up, or let viewers know about contests or programming events they could write in to.
He would sing a little (and easily memorized) jingle forming his write-in requests: "Write to me/Stick Stickly/PO Box 963/New York City/New York State/10108." After theInternet became mainstream, a note stating "...or e-mail me at nick.com" was added to the end.
Stick Stickly segments from the block have been used in promotions forThe '90s Are All That, and on September 6, 2011, during The '90s Are All That block, a commercial announced that Stick Stickly would be returning to television on Friday October 7, 2011 at midnight.
The following week, it was announced via a separate ad that he would host every Friday for the block's version of U-Pick. On his debut night, it became apparent that his segments were adapted for his new target demographic, both in terms of more mature language and humor and in terms of modern technology.
The character has been updated for modern times, with a vocabulary that not only makes frequent reference to modern amenities such asFacebook,flat screen TVs andJersey Shore, but also has been updated with a more adult sense of humor to reflect the olderlate-night audience. Stickly hosts "U-Pick with Stick" each Friday, where users on The '90s Are All That website can request up to four shows to be seen.
The winning "pick," which is decided by an online vote (another sign of modern times), is announced by Stick Stickly. Stickly is also taking questions by use of aTwitterhash tag, #POBox963, a reference to his old 1990s era jingle from Nick in the Afternoon.
It was later announced in December 2011 that U-Dip would also make a return, joining a longlist of objects dropped on New Year's Eve at midnight. He was joined by correspondents Woodknot andFace. Stickly's appearances were placed on hiatus in March 2012. He temporarily returned to host 1990s Game Show Week on August 5, 2013, then returned to U-Pick on a regular weekly basis in June 2015.
Stick Stickly made an on-air appearance onThe '90s Are All That from August 5–8, 2013, in which he hosted the "'90s Game Show Week" on the block, and returned to doing U-Picks in June 2015 as part of "Stick's Summer Down Adventures" which aired on Wednesday nights from June 17–July 15, 2015 (the last week being Stick's Picks). This was the result of the re-branding of '90s Are All That with The Splat.
On February 8, 2016, TeenNick's block The Splat, had a "U-Pick" week, whereTwitter users could ask to play certain shows using the hashtag, #UPickTheSplat. The whole event was hosted by Stick Stickly and featured classic Nick in the Afternoon "U-Dip" segments during commercial breaks.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 30 | May 16, 1994 (1994-05-16)[4] | June 24, 1994 (1994-06-24)[5] | |
| 2 | 65 | July 31, 1995 (1995-07-31)[6] | October 27, 1995 (1995-10-27) | |
| 3 | 130 | July 8, 1996 (1996-07-08)[7] | January 3, 1997 (1997-01-03) | |
| 4 | 85 | July 7, 1997 (1997-07-07) | October 31, 1997 (1997-10-31) | |
| 5 | 40 | July 6, 1998 (1998-07-06) | August 28, 1998 (1998-08-28) | |