Back to the Future

The Influential, Everlasting Groundbreaking Power of ‘All That’

The sketch comedy series with a diverse cast pioneered funny television for both children and adults

This story is a part of our Back to the Future series on how key moments in the year 2000 influenced similar events in 2020.

The year 2000 wrapped up an iconic moment in television history — the season finale of the original All That series. After six seasons of authentic improv, hilarious sketch comedy acts, and outright feel-good TV for children, the show was put on hiatus to be relaunched with a completely new cast. Leading up to the abbreviated sixth season was the show’s 100th episode, which was filmed live for the first time in the series’ history. With a musical performance from Lauryn Hill, celebrity guests including Melissa Joan Hart and Robert Ri’chard, and appearances from original cast members, the episode was a huge success, leading the show to win the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Show in 1999.

For six years, beginning in 1994, tuning into All That was a daily ritual for young children in America. Airing every Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m., the one-of-a-kind children’s TV show gave kids a reason to beg their parents for cable television. Opening with a catchy and hip tune by TLC while cast members jump in slow-motion across the screen, the half-hour program provided kids authentic improv, hilarious sketch comedy acts, and outright feel-good TV.

An uncommonly diverse cast for ’90s television instantly set the show apart before the opening credits concluded. Angelique Bates, Lori Beth Denberg, Katrina Johnson, Kel Mitchell, Alisa Reyes, Josh Server, and Keenan Thompson made up the original seven child comedians to pioneer the series, placing All That as the most racially and gender-inclusive show on Nickelodeon during its era. Bold, incomparable moves like performances from TLC, Brandy, Aaliyah, and Usher on a children’s television show, sketches where kids were superior to adults, and cast members dabbling in both feminine and masculine roles were just a few of All That’s unique aspects. At once, the show was a cultural reset, a blueprint, and a barrier-breaker.