When most people think of “classic” TV their heads are imagining scenes from the shows of the ’60s, ’70s, and sometimes even the ’80s. But then we, the millennial minions of TVWriter™, harken unto Classic Television it’s ’90s shows all the way. And one in particular is always – and we mean always – a topic of deep conversation when the topic comes up. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yore and CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL:
by Pilot Viruet
In 1991, Mitchell Kriegman created Nickelodeon’s Clarissa Explains It All, a groundbreaking and charming sitcom with a female lead (Melissa Joan Hart) and an innovative visual style. Equally popular among boys and girls, the show would go on to become one of the biggest hits for the network. Twenty years after the series finale, the love for Clarissa has yet to die down. Kriegman is even keeping her legacy alive with a novel that picks up with Clarissa in her 20s. Flavorwire talked with Kriegman about the upcoming book, the importance of diversity on television, and the story behind the hubcaps on Clarissa’s wall.
Flavorwire: I want to talk about Clarissa Explains It All’s relevance because after we published this controversial interview with Mathew Klickstein, there were some “I can’t believe he said that Clarissa wasn’t a big hit” reactions. It was a weird, unfair comparison because different kinds of shows can coexist.
