Posted 22 September 2021
Tooned In / Nickelodeon / 8 February 2021 – Present
Earlier this year on weekdays, I came home from work and got into my DVR to find the recording of the latest episode of this made-for-me game show. The subject is something I love and what Nickelodeon is mostly about…NICKTOONS!
From a lost pilot from 1998, Tooned In was finally green-lit in recent years. This Nicktoon-themed game show features young contestants who answer questions about Nicktoons from past and present for a chance to win $1000. The host is a personable, fun-loving AI robot named Nicky.
What I Think
In a world where TV intros have become unnecessary, no formal intro is needed for this show. A brief, lively tune punctuated with a “TOONED IN” at the end is just as sufficient and memorable, great for bookending segments before and after commercial breaks.
The contestants seem no older than 13 years old so some of these questions are from Nicktoons before their time. I go absolutely crazy when they get it wrong and I scream at the tv. These young contestants either streamed these old shows or they studied their study guide (as stated at the end of the credits).
Also, $1000 is like $1,000,000 to the kids but not much for me.
Evolution through Season 1
In season 1, the show has evolved by some bounds. This includes how Nicky says “SCOREboard” and the addition of the “almost out of time” sound toward the end of the game (da-duuuuuh). The “Nicktoon Moment of the Day” and the “Slimmest Moment” were a good touch, too. It’s like this show was finding its footing through the season likely to avoid annoying monotony.
Pandemic Precautions
A pandemic didn’t stop the production of this game show. I found it wise to make the host AI to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. They used a canned audience, instead of a live audience, to which I’m not accustomed. We never see the audience, only hear them. As per the credits, there were COVID compliance officers, disinfecting techs, and cleaning techs. Helps me feel more confident to compete if I were a contestant.
A Fun Game Show for Nicktoon Fans
I like how this Tooned In game show is focused on questions about Nicktoons. Watching this show is like how some people watch sports games on TV, things tend to get loud as I scream at the TV. I liked how this show was shown on weekdays, great for after work. Good to see there is a season 2 currently airing (but that’s for a different post). I want to be Nicky’s friend. We need a battle of the champions game some time. That will surely be something.