A Case That’s All That
Throughout the 1980s, Nickelodeon’s popular show, “You Can’t Do That on Television” aired on the network. After the show had ended in 1990, the network was considering trying another sketch comedy show starring kids.
In April of 1994, All That aired on Nickelodeon as a special preview. The episode had musical guest TLC who also sang the All That theme song.
In December of that same year, the show premiered with an original cast of: Angelique Bates, Lori Beth Denberg, Katrina Johnson, Kel Mitchel, Alisa Reyes, Josh Server, and Kenan Thompson.
The Atlantic praised it for its “diverse cast, un-condescending tone, and kid characters played by actual kids.” It was unlike any other shows at the time. Created by Brian Robbins and Michael Tollin. Written by Dan Schneider
History
Brian Robbins & Michael Tollin
In 1991, Brian Robbins started a production company with Michael Tollin. Robbins was good friends with Dan Schnieder, as they had previously worked together on a show called “Head of the Class” in the mid 1980s
The head of development at Nickelodeon asked Robbins and Tollin to film a project for the network. Pleased with their work, he asked them if there was a project they would be interested in making for Nickelodeon, and the men developed a pitch for an “SNL for kids”
Robbins and Tollin asked Dan Schnieder to be the head writer of the show, and the men started a nationwide search for the cast
They felt it was important to find the cast first and then tailor the show to their strengths
Keven Kopelow and Heath Siefert also wrote and produced the show, and went on to work with Kenan and Kel on their spin-off show
Keven also played the stage manager
Initially, the show did not test well with focus groups, but the then president of Nickelodeon Geraldine Laybourne decided to green-light the show anyway
The Cast Members
Original Cast
Lori Beth Denberg
On twitter we created a poll and asked who was the funniest original All That cast member, and Lori Beth was the obvious winner! We also asked our patrons this question and Joel Thomas answered that Kenan and Kel’s sketches were the funniest, he thought Lori Beth was the best performer on the show
18 when the show began
Characters
She hosted Vital Information (as herself)
Miss Fingerly the teacher
Miss Hushbaum the loud librarian
Connie Muldoon, Good Burger patron
Has since played smaller roles in other movies and television
She was a frequent panelist on “Figure it Out”
Was on the Steve Harvey show in the early 2000’s for 67 episodes
Josh Server
15 when the show began
Characters
Detective Dan
Earboy
Flem
Bernie Kibbitz
Tandy Spork
The only cast member to last all six original seasons
Theater thug in Drake and Josh and also guest starred on other Nickelodeon shows for an episode
Kenan Thompson
15 when the show began, he had already been in The Mighty Ducks 2 (1994)
Characters
Pierre Escargo
Mavis
Super Dude
Lester Oaks
Randy
Principal Pimple
Starred in Kenan & Kel while still a cast member on All That
Also starred in films like Good Burger (1997) and Fat Albert (2004)
Has been on SNL now for 16 seasons
Officially the cast member to stay the longest
Kel Mitchell
15 when the show began
Characters
Ed in the Good Burger sketches
Clavis (to Kenan’s Mavis)
Repair Man
Coach Kreeton
Okrah
He forgot his monologue he’d prepared for audition, but when he tripped on some studio equipment, he turned it into a joke and had the producers laughing. He has said that his Ed voice for the Good Burger sketch also came out of that audition
Currently plays “Double G” on Game Shakers on Nickelodeon and is an executive producer for the new All That
https://www.kelmitchell.com/blogs/news/
Here he has a link to some cool Mr Mitchell Morning Motivation youtube videos
Overcame drug use and suicidal thoughts through finding faith- very open about this
Angelique Bates
14 when the show began
Characters
Mandy
Penny Lane
Four Eyes (Earboy’s girlfriend)
Beth (Good Burger sketch)
The first cast member to leave All That, she chose not to renew her contract after season 2
Dabbled as a rapper, going by “Alizay”
Did a few small roles but has switched to stand up comedy
Katrina Johnson
12 when the show began
Characters
Roseanne Barr
Ross Perot
Lactose Intolerant explanation girl
Lemonade scammer
No longer is acting
After leaving All That she became a flight attendant
Now she is hosts “Unscripted Radio” which is an online radio show?
Alisa Reyes
13 when the show began
Characters
Kiki (The Island Girls)
Penny Lane
Sally (Earboy’s crush)
Rash (bassist for the band Bacteria)
Has continued acting and is also an acting coach now as well
Is a singer, released a single called Sexy Hot
Reminds me of Island Girls…. Lol
Devotes some of her time to charities such as The American Cancer Society, Peace Beads, Kids with a Cause and many more
A board member for the non profit dance company called CDI – California Dance Institute
Added later
Danny Tamberelli
Widely known for his role in Pete and Pete first
Took over for Lori Beth as the Vital Information anchor
Amanda Bynes
Amanda replaced Angelique Bates at the beginning of season 3 and became a breakout star
She had been discovered while at a comedy camp; she was doing stand-up comedy at age 10
Her most popular character was Ashley in the “ask Ashley” sketches
Once the show ended, she had her own spinoff called “The Amanda Show” at age 13
Nick Cannon
Before being a cast member, Cannon was already a writer for the show and was normally the audience warm-up. He came to the show after Lori Beth exited.
Other members that were added in the later seasons were:
Christy Knowings
Played Jessica, the co-host of What-Everrrr
Took over the Penny Lane role
Leon Friarson
Played Leroy in Leroy and Fuzz
Mark Saul
Most well-known sketch was Stuart, who takes over other peoples’ jobs
Was on Grey’s Anatomy for a bit
Gabriel Inglesias
Only one season on the show, now a well-known stand-up comedian and has a Netflix show
Favorite Sketches
We asked on twitter what were peoples’ favorite All That sketches
For Your Reference Podcast and Alex Heine both named Pierre Escargot
Another Damn Movie Podcast named Detective Dan
Lori Beth Denberg with Vital Information
Loud Librarian
Good Burger
Spawned the 1997 movie of the same name
Earboy
This was a recurring character played by Josh Server about a boy named earboy who had a friend named Pizza Face played by Kel Mitchell
Lemonade Stand
Katrina Johnson played a deceptive girl who would trick people with free peanut butter donuts
Once their mouths were sticky and they needed a drink, she charged $30 a glass for lemonade and $100 for a non-peanut butter doughnut
A look into the first reboot
After the cast left the show in 2000, the show went on hiatus as producers went on another nationwide search for a new All That cast
Chelsea Brummet, Jack DeSena, Lisa Foiles, Bryan Hearne, Shane Lyons, Giovonnie Samuels, and Kyle Sullivan were the kids chosen for the All That re-launch in 2002
Jamie Lynn Spears, younger sister of Brittany, joined the cast in season 8
Nickelodeon held a nationwide contest to find the “funniest kid in America” and added the winner, Christina Kirkman to the cast as well
In 2004, the start of the “10th” season, the show aired an All That 10th Anniversary reunion that featured some of the old cast members
This episode was hosted by Frankie Munez (why?)
It also brought back Vital Information with Lil’ JJ
The special ended with the staple characters Mavis and Clavis for a melancholy good-bye as they walk away on the empty stage
This was the show’s last season until they announced a reboot in 2019
The Revival
In the fall of 2018, Brian Robbins (the original co-creator of All That) was named the president of Nickelodeon
A revival of the show was inevitable as Robbins said, “I would’ve never, ever, ever canceled the show. It should’ve been [Nickelodeon’s] Saturday Night Live. All That was a very sophisticated show. Young humor, but the level of comedy on that show was sophisticated.”
Favorite moments
Lori Beth handing off Vital Information
Kids doing celebrity impressions
Cancelled with Nathan
Cameo Appearances
In the first episode, Lori Beth Denberg and Josh Server make appearances with Kenan and Kel
Keenan Thompson’s Influence
Executive Producer of the reboot with Kel Mitchell