From baggy jeans, neon-colored tops and gold jewelry to Baby Bottle Pops and Super Soakers, the ’90s was an era of fun, spunk and boldness. Young adults of this decade fondly reminisce about their childhood and the notions of individuality and freedom. But of all the things that are held dear in our hearts, the memory of shows that aired on Nickelodeon seems to resonate the most.

“Rugrats,” “The Wild Thornberrys,” “All That” and even “Kenan & Kel” have had such an impact that we still long to watch them late at night and reference them in jokes today.

But what is it about these shows that has earned them such a huge place in the hearts of fans almost two decades later?

Girelis Guzman, a sophomore majoring in graphic design, says she loves ’90s Nickelodeon because the shows were different, rather than today, when they all seem the same.

“’90s Nick was just awesome,” Guzman said. “The shows were relatable and not about nonsense like musicals and clichés. The characters were more down to earth.”

These shows had great storylines that kept kids coming back for more. Nick had such a wide range of shows, from cartoons to comedy. It had something for every kid, adding to its appeal as a network.

If you wanted a good scare, you tuned into “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” Want a good game show? Check out “Legends of the Hidden Temple.”

Whether they were cartoons or live-action stars, these shows were filled with adventurous characters that represented what it meant to be a kid — being mischievous and having fun.

Take Tommy Pickles’ philosophy, for instance: “A baby’s gotta do what a baby’s gotta do.” When you’re a kid, playing is all you do, but Tommy made everything from going to a play to digging in the sandbox into a huge, magical adventure and allowed us to follow our imaginations and be creative. And who could forget Kel’s constant declaration of his love for orange soda, which made every kid beg their parents for some Crush? While maybe not teaching us about proper health, Kenan and Kel showed us about true friendships and being there for one another.

These characters were simple, wild and free, traits that many of today’s TV show characters lack. The quality of shows from the 1990s set the bar pretty high for those to follow. And it seems that shows today just don’t stack up to those from our childhood.

“The difference between the shows back then and the shows now is that I feel some of the shows now do not make any sense,” said Idalia Herrera, a sophomore majoring in psychology. “I honestly feel that some of the episodes of certain shows are weird, pointless and confusing.”

The shows that have recently aired on Nick, including “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide” and “Supah Ninjas,” do not hold true to the fun, simple spunk that Nickelodeon shows emulated just two decades ago. The characters are too animated and unrealistic. And they can’t seem to touch the hearts of viewers in the way that classic ’90s characters were able to.

Not to mention that it seems every show these days is about singing, being in a band, living the high life or producing your own online videos. While it’s important to stress to kids they can do whatever they set their mind to, talk about setting some unrealistic expectations for this new generation.

However, there is still some hope out there for ’90s Nickelodeon lovers. Due to the high request by childhood fans, Keith Dawkins, senior vice president and general manager of Nicktoons and TeenNick, decided to bring back popular ’90s shows in “The ’90s Are All That.” In July 2011, TeenNick aired “All That,” “Clarissa Explains It All,” “Doug” and “Kenan & Kel.”

The response has been tremendous. What we thought had left our lives forever has finally come home, where it belongs. “The ’90s Are All That” airs in two-hour blocks, from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. every night. So if you’re missing the ’90s, tune in on campus to channel 59.