Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (originally known as Nick News W/5 and simply Nick News) is a news documentary program that ran from 1992 through 2015. It was the previous record holder for longest-running Nickelodeon series prior to December 15, 2022 (SpongeBob SquarePants has since surpassed that). The show was hosted by Linda Ellerbee and was honored with several awards, including three Peabody Awards and three Emmy Awards.
Linda Ellerbee[]
- Main article: Linda Ellerbee
Nick News has been hosted by Linda Ellerbee since the show's inception in 1992. Ellerbee was one of five candidates auditioned over the course of two weeks. She was chosen because her competitors were "too loud and obnoxious", claimed one of the show's set designers. According to Ellerbee: "I was honored when I was named the host of Nick News. The show will be about kids and their everyday lives." Ellerbee has never missed an episode due to illness. The show is officially known as Nick News with Linda Ellerbee. Throughout the years, Nick News has featured special guests of honor, such as Al Gore, Bill Cosby, Faith Hill, Rosie O'Donnell, Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Dr. Phil.
History[]
Nick News was originally known as Nick News W/5 until the show's "who, what, when, where, and why" type format was dropped.
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee was shown on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. and later 8:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon, and ran in reruns at various time slots. Nick News was #1 in the ratings on Nickelodeon in 1992-1993, and has never gone below #6 in the ratings, making it one of the most consistently highly-rated news shows on TV. The show was also shown in prime time on CBS on Saturdays from 1993 until 1996. From 1995 to 1999, the first-run syndicated version of the show—distributed by Paramount Domestic Television (now CBS Television Distribution)--aired on local stations—both independent and network-affiliated—all over the United States of America.
The show also previously appeared early weekday mornings fully commercial-free as a part of the television cable industry's Cable in the Classroom initiative, which urges teachers from schools around the globe to tape programs of Nick News and then later show them to their class during school hours.
Nick News was additionally shown on Noggin since the network's launch on February 2, 1999, until March 31, 2002, when the network rebranded and removed its retro block. Segments from Nick News were also shown on the Phred on your Head Show.
The show's later 22-minute long episodes would run commercial-free (commercial advertisements and promos for Nickelodeon programming fill the gap between the end of the program and the start of a Nick at Nite show). TeenNick aired two episodes of the show in reruns on both October 25, 2010 and February 15, 2011. The most recent episode, titled "Liar Liar Pants on Fire: Lies Parents Tell You", was about kids and celebrities discussing lies their parents have told them to get either get them to do something, or get them out of their hair. This episode aired October 22, 2013. Nick News is well known for many trademarks during its run on Nickelodeon, such as Ellerbee's signature tagline, "If you want to know, ask!"
After 25 years on the air, an hour-long finale titled Hello, I Must Be Going: 25 Years of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee aired on Nickelodeon on December 15, 2015.
On June 23, 2020, Nickelodeon announced that it would be reviving Nick News in a series of hour-long specials. The first installment, titled Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special, premiered on June 29 and was hosted by Alicia Keys. Kids, Race and Unity was made in direct response to the wave of protests and unrest following the killing of George Floyd, with its purpose being to "amplify the voices and experiences of Black children across the country". A number of special guests appeared on the program, including Black Lives Matter co-founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi; teen activist Marley Dias, founder of the #1000BlackGirlsBook campaign; 12-year-old singer and viral sensation Keedron Bryant; Ibram X. Kendi, author of Antiracist Baby; Teens4Equality founders Jade Fuller, Nya Collins, Zee Thomas, Kennedy Green, Emma Rose Smith and Mikayla Smith; social media star Tabitha Brown and her family; and family therapist, Dr. George James.
On October 6, 2020, CBS's 60 Minutes veteran Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson joined Nickelodeon as executive producer of the Nick News revival, as well as the newly-developed Vice President of News Programming for the channel.
Another special titled Nick News: Kids and the Impact of Climate Change, premiered on April 10, 2021. It discussed climate change, how it impacts the planet, and what people are doing about it. It will be hosted by CBS News correspondent Jamie Yuccas and features messages from special guests including YouTube personality, wildlife educator, and television host Coyote Peteron; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski; and actress, television host, comedian and YouTuber Liza Koshey.
Video releases[]
- Main article: Nick News videography
External links[]
Cable in the Classroom v • t • e | |
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Shows | Kids' Writes • Standby...Lights! Camera! Action! • Against the Odds • Mr. Wizard's World • Kid's Court • Launch Box • Nick News • Nickelodeon Wild Side Show • Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge |
Specials | The Big Help • The Big Green Help • Kids Pick the President • Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal • Worldwide Day of Play |
See also | Nick Jr. • Noggin |