Twenty-nine years ago, back in 1996, kids were introduced to the greatest bedroom ever constructed! Children still living in their parents’ house, regardless of their age, had to be jealous of the room. And who did it belong to? The title character in Nickelodeon’s newest “Nicktoon,” “Hey Arnold!” The “Football Head” was a fresh addition for kids who may have grown tired of “Rugrats” and “Doug.”
Your typical intercity fourth grader from P.S. 118 entered our lives and left a lasting impact. Alongside a cast of lovable, relatable characters, “Hey Arnold!” instantly became a classic for kids of the generation. The popular show took us through boarding house living in the inner-city from the perspective of the “football-shaped” head of a very bold kid!
Oh, Arnold, How I Despise Him, and Yet, I Love Him
Now just lean in, as if his best friend Gerald was about to tell a tall tale of an urban legend. Maybe this story will be about the “Stoop Kid,” who we all know is afraid of leaving his stoop. Or could this story be about “Monkey Man,” who is the local borderline psychotic superhero that fights crime in the city while screaming his own name? Don’t forget about “Pigeon Man,” who not only lives amongst the pigeons but ultimately ascends with them. Or could it be about my favorite, the story of “Four-eyed Jack!”
We all have an amazing show to thank for all these great legends within the city. “Hey Arnold!” took the lives of the fourth-grade class at P.S. 118 and mixed in the personalities found within the neighborhood. In addition to the great stories each episode provided, the individual characters left a lasting impression.
Everyone wishes they had a best friend like Gerald. Even if he doesn’t know how to ride a bike, he oozes charisma and always had Arnold’s back. Helga is an aggressive tomboy who bullies everyone, especially the “Football Head.” Just don’t ever look in her closet, where there may be a shrine of her love, Arnoldo. You could also find her sleepwalking around town, reciting poetry expressing her love to the blonde-haired boy.
We all know a couple of big dummies, like Harold and Stinky, who were in our group of friends from childhood. A slick-talking kid named Sid, who’s always trying to come up with the next quick scam, and a kid named Eugene, who is a jinx that nothing good ever happens to.
The residents of the boarding house are a whole other story. Mr. Green is the respected butcher in town, who gives the kids a chance at their first jobs. Ernie is not only shaped like a wrecking ball, but he operates one as well. We can’t forget about the mooch, who is Oscar, who’s always asking for a dollar. And last but not least, Mr. Hyunh, who may think everything is “very creepy,” but also has a voice that is a mix between Randy Travis and Jesus.
Final Thoughts
“Hey Arnold!” was one of my favorite cartoons as a kid. You would be lying to yourself if you didn’t dream of having Arnold’s room or hitting a walk-off home run at Gerald Field. Hopefully, you don’t have a neighborhood ice cream man like the “Jolly Ollie Man,” who isn’t the friendliest guy to the kids.
I’ve played decades of softball and never seen the “dangerous lumber” Arnold displayed on the diamond. I can’t believe this show is twenty-nine years old. Every now and then, I will throw on a couple of episodes on Amazon Prime for old time’s sake. Just remember “never eat raspberries… Gotta Go!”
