MovieChat Forums > Rugrats (1991) Discussion > What do you think 'killed' Rugrats?

What do you think 'killed' Rugrats?

posted 15 years ago by joshwinkler87
77 replies | jump to latest

I mean it went from being the most popular show on Nickelodeon in 1998 to being off the air a few years thereafter. SpongeBob SquarePants has been on Nickelodeon since 1999 and it is showing no signs of going out of style anytime soon.

In my opinion, Rugrats just wasn't the same after it was brought back in 1997. It seemed more like a 'kiddie show' rather than having some of the adult humor the 1991-1994 episodes had. It was like a different show that had lost its charm. When they added Dil I think that just made it 10x worse. I liked Kimi but by the time she came along, Rugrats had lost it's magic.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] An_Invisible_Dog 15 years ago

Indeed it was the style of the writing, the weird voices and the animation that all changed when it was brought back in 1997.

It baffles me when people say "It was the movie!" or "It was Kimmie!" who ruined Rugrats. The show was completely different when it was brought back in 1997, it wasn't like the old Rugrats, with subtle adult humour. It really was a kids show from 1997 onwards.

[–] Takedi21 12 years ago

Indeed it was the style of the writing, the weird voices and the animation that all changed when it was brought back in 1997.

It baffles me when people say "It was the movie!" or "It was Kimmie!" who ruined Rugrats. The show was completely different when it was brought back in 1997, it wasn't like the old Rugrats, with subtle adult humour. It really was a kids show from 1997 onwards.

^Pretty much this!

Bed Intruder Song sung by Andrew Garfield: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuY92Jwrppg

[–] gapeach1004 11 years ago

This is something I didn't notice until recently watching reruns. In original run it just felt that the feeling was attached to Dil and Kimi. I think Dil and Kimi are some of the issues that are attached to the writing.

[–] csweetleaf2 15 years ago

It started to decline once the show was brought back on Nickelodeon back in 1997 but it didn't die until when they've added Dil and things got even worse when Christine Cavanaugh (the voice of Chuckie) left the show in 2001 and was replaced by Nancy Cartwright, I did not like Nancy Cartwright's voice as Chuckie at all

[–] gapeach1004 11 years ago

I stopped watching before Cavanaugh left, which is a good thing because I absolutely loved her as Chuckie (and Mona on Salute Your Shorts). I would have been devastated had I been watching when she quit.

[–] MagicKingdom 15 years ago

I actually prefered Kimmi to Dil.
Dil was just annoying.
Kimmi was at least kind of cute.

FroggerandSnowy

[–] DashTheGreat 15 years ago

When shows get too popular, they begin to take on ambitious goals. You had all of these movies coming out, Rugrats toys, etc. I dragged my dad to see the first Rugrats movie when I was little, and he laughs now about how I was having the time of my life, and he thought it was absolute torture. lol

When something gets everywhere, and saturates peoples' minds, they get tired of it. This is what happened with the Rugrats. The generation that grew up with it grew up. It had run its course. Rest in piece. However, this, and Rocko's Modern Life should be rememebered for the great shows that they were.

Side goal: Is it possible to find an animated show that never included the voice talent of Tara Strong? I don't think it is.

Edit: Sorry for asking, but who the heck is Kimmie? I stopped watching this show before the year 2000. It's not another Dil, is it? lol

[–] bballchick-4 15 years ago

^ Kimi is Chuckie's step sister, the daughter of Keira, the woman who married Chaz in "Rugrats in Paris." A lot of people consider Kimi a female version of Tommy because she's brave.

[–] gapeach1004 11 years ago

I also felt she was a female Tommy because she was drawn very similar to him. I think they were the same age (though I do not believe her age was ever mentioned). Chuckie was 2. Phil and Lil were older than 1. Tommy turned 1 in the first episode. Anyway, Kimi was drawn with the same bodystyle and the diaper showing. The two differences were she had hair and shoes.

[–] Illyngophobia 15 years ago

Rugrats suffered the Nickelodeon Curse,where everything tragically goes downhill.And it really stopped being the same in 1997-98.

Italy's shaped like a boot for a reason...so they can stick it up your ass. - Don Vito

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Redhawkof2008 15 years ago

Dil started the downfall in my eyes. Then when Kimi came, I about stopped watching altogether.

I thought Relapse was 'ehh' before Eminem said it was

[–] eggroll43 15 years ago

What killed rugrats is that its been on too long. And a new generation came and old fans grew up. I like Kimi, she's awesome.

[–] spring_june 14 years ago

I agree! Kimi was amazing. I grew up with Rugrats (born 1990) and I never stopped loving it but there came a point where I wanted to watch "older kid shows" and not so much kid's shows. It happens. The newer generation was more into crazy animation and action packed shows (my brothers), Rugrats was just too "calm" for them. Also there's only so much you can do, so you end up repeating stuff (Kimi being like Tommy) and that's when you have to pull the plug.

[–] Illyngophobia 14 years ago

I found the show less interesting when Dil came along, then I lost all interest when the second Rugrats movie came around.

"I'll go,because I am Cinema!" - Ben (Man Bites Dog)

[–] ColbertoReporto 15 years ago

I remember one episode that was basically all about Betty's strong chick-ness. Her former college roommate or whatever she was comes over and they reminisce about dorm weightlifting contests and play a bunch of sports or whatever. Classic.
www.myspace.com/godems

[–] tjbsik 15 years ago

when they took like a year long break the first season to come back with shinnier color was when it started to go down hill when dill came it went underground and when kimi came came sianora rugrats. although i love both of the movies which introduce those to characters.strange

[–] smokiekittycat 15 years ago

I don't blame Kimmi or Dill, their espisodes could have been like the old ones, if the show was ruined, it's the writers fault, maybe they ran out of ideas.

[–] 15 years ago

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