Adults have the Oscars, the Grammys, the Golden Globes, and other stuffy black-tie events to celebrate movies, music and stars. Kids have the Kids’ Choice Awards to do the same thing… only with way less Prada and 100% more slime! And everyone knows there’s a direct equivalence between green goo and a good time— you can’t spell good without goo, after all.
The amazing awards event has evolved a lot over the years, and even made our jaws drop from time to time and slime to slime. Here are some of the zaniest facts and moments from the KCA’s epic history!
1. A Ballot is Born
The KCA have been an annual event for almost 30 years, with the first-ever show airing on April 18, 1988. At that time, they were called “The Big Ballot,” named for the ballots kids would send in to vote for their favorite movies, shows, and stars. The show was co-hosted by Tony Danza, Debbie Gibson, Brian Robbins, and the one-and-only Dan Schneider!
2. A Blimpy Debut
Two years later, in 1990, the iconic blimp award joined the party. It was configured to replicate Nickelodeon’s logo, and for those that don’t know, it doubles as a kaleidoscope! Trying seeing the world in technicolor with your Oscar. We bet you’ll be disappointed.
3. Pizza My Mind
Today, kids can vote online and through text. But before the Internet, everything was different. At first, voting was a combo of call-in votes, mailed-in ballots, and ballots completed at Pizza Hut! With the Internet, voting moved online exclusively, then text was added in 2007.
We get why it’s more convenient now, but Pizza Hut sounds like the best incentive to vote ever. This should be implemented in every election. And on an unrelated note, is anyone else hungry?
4. Slime of My Life
Celebrity sliming is a time-honored tradition. Recipients of slime throughout the years include the first to be slimed, Canadian comedian Les Lye in 1988, to Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice to the most recent 2017 slimes, Demi Lovato, Chris Pratt, Kevin Hart, and 2017 host John Cena!
The slime is meant as an honor rather than a humiliation, as most Nick fans know. But in one year, 1992, no celebrity was slimed. Instead, the whole audience got covered in the magical substance! You might say a good slime was had by all.
5. Big Help, Bigger Honor
The KCA’s have changed over the years, but most have one thing in common: the winners are picked by kids. There are a few extra-special awards, though, and these are bestowed upon very special recipients, hand-picked by Nickelodeon staff. An easier way to tell these awards apart? The blimps aren’t orange!
The Big Green Help is one of such special blimps, which was awarded first to Leonardo DiCaprio in 2009 for “going above and beyond to help the environment.”
The Big Green Help was shortened to just the Big Help in 2011, when a fantastical silver blimp was awarded to Michelle Obama for her advocacy in the fight against child obesity as FLOTUS.
6. Life-Slime Achievements
There is one VERY special award that has only been awarded one time, to one very special recipient. That award is the Lifetime Achievement award, which was bestowed upon the legendary Nickelodeon writer and producer, Dan Schneider, who has worked on over two decades worth of Nick shows from “All That” to “Henry Danger.”
The award was presented by some of the most iconic actors he’s worked with for the last 20 years, including Kel Mitchell, now of “Game Shakers” fame. Dan thanked Nickelodeon and cast and crew members, saying “I feel so lucky that I get to spend my days hanging out with people as talented and hilarious and wonderful as all of you.”
We have to say, it’s well deserved. Perhaps the only person (or sea creature) who has achieved as much as Dan Schneider on Nickelodeon is Spongebob Squarepants, who earned the most KCA blimps of all time at 14 through the series’ run.
Dan Schneider is an American actor, TV and film actor, and producer. Dan Schneider has devoted his life to behind-the-scenes production of hit shows on Nickelodeon including “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” “Kenan & Kel,” “Drake & Josh,” “Zoey 101,” “iCarly,” “Victorious,” “Sam & Cat,” “Henry Danger,” and “Game Shakers.”