If you ask any '90s kid what their favorite thing was about the "good-old days," they'll likely bring up old-school Nickelodeon in some form or another. From Legends of the Hidden Temple to All That, the kid-focused shows from decades past have a nostalgic quality that simply can't be replicated in today's entertainment world. Perhaps the most enthralling of these programs was Double Dare, a game show played by kids and families that combined trivia and messy physical challenges — you'd be hard-pressed to find a '90s kid who never dreamt about competing on the show.
So when I got an email from one of Nickelodeon's PR reps asking if I'd like to participate in a game of Double Dare at Comic-Con, my editor whisper-screamed: "You HAVE to say yes!" And once I found out that the event would be hosted by original '90s host Marc Summers, I agreed with her. So during my second night at Comic-Con, I made my way to a San Diego nightclub (transformed into an cartoonishly orange-and-green game-show venue) in sneakers and leggings, not sure what to expect from my impending foray into the world of '90s Nick throwbacks.
Upon walking in the doors, I was greeted by the sight of All That's original cast — yeah, I'm talking Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli, Josh Server, and Kel Mitchell — decked out in red and blue Double Dare paraphernalia and donning the show's signature padded safety equipment. Once I realized that they, too, would be competing on Double Dare, I was hit with a feeling of nostalgic excitement that could only be replicated by the news that Lisa Frank is debuting a clothing line.
While I waited for the All That cast to finish their game (and subsequent Facebook Live stream), I was assigned to my team: the Blue Team, in which I'd be competing alongside Greg Cipes, the voice actor of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles's Michaelangelo and two Nickelodeon employees. After we were given Double Dare t-shirts, puffy pants, helmets, and elbow/knee pads, I looked out at the other players enthusiastically smashing their faces into plates of whipped cream and I knew that this was no joke: I was really going to live my childhood dream of competing on Double Dare.
Not to brag, but our team eventually took home the championship trophy from this '90s throwback extravaganza, and here's what I learned about the show from my experience. Spoiler alert: I got whipped cream everywhere.