Top 10 Unhinged Moments on Nickelodeon Shows
#10: Sven Höek
“The Ren & Stimpy Show” (1991-96)
While some may mistakenly think of it as an adult show, this children’s series takes us on wild adventures with Ren, the emotionally volatile chihuahua, and Stimpy, the dimwitted cat. Things take a dark turn when Ren’s cousin Sven pays them a visit, who bonds a little too much with Stimpy. The two wreck the house, causing Ren to become completely unhinged when he discovers the mayhem. Parts of Ren’s diatribe were significantly toned down before airing to lessen the graphic descriptions. By the end of the episode, all three characters find themselves on a fiery journey to Hell.
#9: Go to Heck
“Rocko’s Modern Life” (1993-96)
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During a wonderful dinner at the Chokey Chicken, Rocko’s best friend Heffer chokes on a chicken rib cage. When Heffer’s body floats towards the big burger in the sky, his wings turn into anvils and he falls to Heck - which seems to be a kid-friendly way of saying “Hell.” Guided by a hooded demon named Peaches, Heffer is shown the error of his ways. If this weren’t dark enough, when the episode reaches its end, we’re led to believe that Heffer is stuck in an endless nightmare. We’re gonna have nightmares for a while after this one.
#8: Panty Raid
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
When Mr. Krabs goes through a midlife crisis, our favorite sponge and starfish try to help him recapture his youth by going for a night on the town. We’re not sure how children were supposed to relate to this but to each their own. When Mr. Krabs isn’t satisfied with the activities, Patrick suggests they go on a “panty raid.” They do the deed with utter glee, but things take a dark turn when they realize that they’ve panty-raided Mr. Krabs’s mother! While this episode has been pulled from streaming services, it lives on as one of the most infamous Nickelodeon episodes in history.
#7: The Kidnapping
“Rugrats” (1991-2004)
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When we tune in to watch “Rugrats,” we expect adorable adventures and hilarious toddler mishaps, not a full-blown crime spree. But in this episode, Tommy gets mistaken for the son of the rich Ronald Thump and gets kidnapped by a pair of shady characters. Tommy proves to be a handful with his incessant crying. When the kidnappers leave him to make him some milk, Tommy finds their stash of jewelry. His next impulse? Flushing them down the toilet. After a couple more incidents, the criminals take Tommy back home. They make it just in time for the adults to remain unaware of their negligence.
#6: It’s a Wishful Life
“The Fairly OddParents” (2001-17)
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It’s no secret that Timmy Turner is really bad at making wishes. When he starts feeling unappreciated, he takes it to the extreme and wishes he had never been born. He expects to enter a world where everyone is miserable from his absence. But in a clever twist inspired by the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Timmy finds out that everyone’s lives are actually better without him. While this all turns out to be a test to teach Timmy that one should do what is right regardless of recognition, it’s more than a little heavy to see him go through such an existential bummer.
#5: The Stalker
“iCarly” (2007-12)
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When the gang tries to cheer up a fan named Nora on her sixteenth birthday, the party is a complete bust. Nobody shows up, the clown suffers an aneurysm, and her parents abandon her. They set up a live stream, turning the party into a sensation that catapults Nora’s popularity through the roof. But when the party’s over, she traps Carly, Sam, and Freddie in her basement. With all communication cut off, Carly has to send a coded SOS message to Gibby, who saves the day. Now, while we love the show's humor, it’s hard not to wonder if some of the jokes poke fun at people dealing with mental illness, not to mention homelessness in other instances.
#4: Hello, Mrs. Bighead
“Rocko’s Modern Life” (1993-96)
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Bev and Ed Bighead’s marriage seems to be on the rocks. Even Cupid quits his job after trying to get Ed to love his wife. Feeling unattractive, Bev sets her sights on her next-door neighbor Rocko. What follows is a crude series of events as Bev tries to woo Rocko. She even goes so far as to spike his drink with an aphrodisiac. At the end of the episode, Rocko persuades Ed to appreciate his wife more. Now, here's the kicker: this episode was actually banned for quite some time before resurfacing on streaming. It’s clear that Nickelodeon was still figuring out what was appropriate for their audiences.
#3: Organ Harvesting
“Invader Zim” (2001-06)
When Zim comes down with a case of the Head Pigeons, he realizes that he must stuff himself full of human organs in order to appear more human. It’s just as grotesque as it sounds. Dib, Zim’s nemesis, catches wind of this bizarre plan and tries to find someone to help him stop Zim. Unfortunately, his efforts prove futile. By the end of the episode, Zim’s plan is a success and he’s able to fool the school nurse into thinking he’s human. This kind of hilariously bizarre subject matter could be tied to why the show was canceled before the completion of its second season. Maybe it pushed the boundaries too far for some audiences. But at least it left a lasting impression.
#2: Squidward Is Not Okay
“SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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When SpongeBob catches Squidward looking particularly glum, asks if he has any happy memories. When Squidward denies having any, SpongeBob makes it his mission to create good memories for him. Eventually, the only thing that makes Squidward happy is destroying papier-mâché sculptures of SpongeBob. There are a few scenes that touch upon Squidward’s deep despair, including a moment where he puts his head in an oven, hinting at a darker intention. He then pulls out cookies he had baked, so we can all have a very awkward and relaxed chuckle. It’s not surprising that some of the show’s darkest themes come courtesy of Squidward, but even this unsettled us.
#1: The Dan Schneiderverse
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Once called “The Norman Lear of children’s television,” Dan Schneider has producer credits on several of Nickelodeon’s most successful shows. His zany and over-the-top comedy defined a generation of children’s programming. However, in recent years, some writers, cast members, and crew from various Nick shows have come forward to express discomfort with Schneider’s alleged inappropriate behavior. To make matters worse, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding suggestive scenes in shows such as “Victorious.” The controversy surrounding him has cast a dark shadow over his once-celebrated legacy. It’s an unfortunate situation that has prompted important conversations about the treatment and well-being of those working in the industry.
