Opinion by ScarlettHenery

“Victorious,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Jessie,” “Lab rats,” just to name a few. These iconic TV shows are what we all grew up on. They are what cultured us, what connected us, and really what helped shape our generation. In my opinion, these shows carry a nostalgia that can’t be replaced by shows these days. Whether it is the annoying laugh track, witty characters, or the way these shows take me back to my 12-year-old self on a Saturday morning in my living room, these shows will always be my favorite. 

I’ll be discussing my hot takes on the top three best kid shows of our generation. The criteria I’ll be judging on is how nostalgic this show makes me feel, how funny it was, and whether or not I believe it was a good influence on me and kids my age.

Taking third place is “Jessie.” This Disney classic features a wealthy NYC family whose parents are always working. In need of a nanny, the quirky main character from Texas, Jessie, takes on the daunting task of taking care of these kids. The children of the show include all of the different stereotypes in middle and high school life: the popular girl Emma, cool guy Luke, nerdy Ravi, and sassy Zuri. Now, while it did make for entertaining and exciting episodes, this is getting third because of how it portrayed the characters. The kids in this show love to talk back, rebel, and show a great level of disrespect to Jessie. It could be said that “Jessie” was not the best influence for kids to see. It’s also highly unrealistic because of the sheer wealth of this family. 

Ranking in at number two is “Lab Rats.” This show portrays the life of teenager Leo and his new bionic step-siblings Adam, Chase and Bree. Everyone that’s seen this show secretly wanted those bionic smarts, speed and strength that the teens had. In “Lab Rats,” the science fanatic stepdad Donald Davenport, takes the teens on dangerous secret missions. With evil characters, exciting scenarios, and, eventually, an island full of bionic teens, this show was definitely a favorite. It connects realistic teen life with one of complete fantasy. The teens face all of the awkward and confusing aspects that come with high school, which makes the episodes very relatable. What really makes this show stand out is the other half of their lives, the part of their life where they risk their lives to face off evil.

Coming in at a well-deserved number one, “Good Luck Charlie’’ offers the whole package. This comedic sitcom is filmed through the lens of main character Teddy’s advice to her baby sister through “video diaries.” Each episode proves to add insight into the life of Teddy and her family through a series of chaotic learning experiences. With the Duncan family being of all ages, “Good Luck Charlie’’ is relatable for a wide range of kids. Its humorous and disorderly family makes for entertaining episodes full of chaos and misunderstandings. Its importance of family and values makes this show very influential on children. The Duncan family is extremely tight-knit and relies on each other when in need. Bridget Mendler’s role as Teddy offers girls a sort-of role model, as she’s a high schooler who strives for greatness. This earns top ranks as my grown, 18-year-old self would still sit down and watch this show. 

Disney, Disney XD and Nickelodeon provided us with the best shows of the 2010’s. They give teens today episodes and memories they can all relate to and talk about whether it’s those Saturday mornings watching Disney shows or the intense excitement over a season finale. All of these shows provide a certain nostalgia and shared experience all of us as teens can relate to now.