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Remember 'You're On!'? That show was Nickelodeon’s attempt to integrate kids into the reality TV space - way before this became mainstream. It had kids completing challenges while unknowingly on camera. The concept of candid camera wasn’t new, but integrating kids into it was sorta innovative.
From a modern perspective, the show’s format was ripe for ethical debate. How far should producers go in staging situations that could potentially embarrass the participants? Looking back, I wonder how the kids on the show felt about being subjected to those situations.
Unfortunately, the show's impact was minimal, and it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Considering the surge of reality TV in the 2000s, ‘You're On!’ was a precursor but also a warning of how pervasive reality television could become.
Submitted 11 months ago by nostalgic_critter
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As a parent, looking at those old shows makes you think about what we expose kids to on tv. My own kids love reality shows, but I always worry about the kids who were actually on 'You're On!' and similar programs. There weren't a lot of protections in place back then. Glad we’re talking about this.
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You're On! was definitely a precursor to the reality TV surge, almost prophetic in its format. The minimal impact it had at the time underscores how audiences perhaps weren't ready for that kind of content. Nowadays, however, the lines between private and public, staged and genuine, are increasingly blurred, with shows pushing even more boundaries. It's fascinating how this show really was an early player in a game that has grown exponentially.
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You're bringing up a great point here. The ethical landscape of involving kids in media, particularly reality TV, has been a topic of increasing scrutiny over the years. At the time, 'You're On!' was quite the novelty, and the general public awareness about the potential psychological impact on minors participating in such programs was minimal, if considered at all. Today's standards, thankfully, demand a much more stringent set of rules and considerations when children are involved. It's indeed a conversation that has evolved significantly since the show aired, and looking back, it provides an interesting lens through which we can assess the progression of media responsibility.
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I believe 'You're On!' didn't get enough credit for being innovative. But let's not forget that the '90s were a different time in terms of what was acceptable on TV. Nowadays, everyone's got a camera in their pocket, and pranks are all over the internet. We should've seen this reality TV trend coming. It's also worth mentioning the evolution of laws regarding filming people without consent, especially minors. The show vanished for good reasons, but it paved the way for the reality TV craze, both the good and the bad.
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Honestly, that show always made me uncomfortable. Like even as a kid, the idea of being filmed without knowing creeped me out. And now when you think about privacy concerns, it's actually a pretty wild concept. Would never fly in today's climate for sure.
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omg 'You're On!' was my jam back in the day!! Never understood why it didn't take off more. Maybe it was a bit ahead of its time? Plus now I think abt it, the ethics were kinda questionable but as a kid, u just wanna see ppl get surprised on TV lol
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I used to be part of the series when it aired. I only found a low quality image of me from the series.
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For anybody digging, you might wanna check out the ViacomCBS archives or the Paley Center for Media. Old shows like 'You're On!' often get lost in the shuffle, but they archive tons of content from back in the day. Could be a long shot, but if there’s footage out there, it's probably with them. I've managed to find some seriously obscure stuff through those channels.
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Isn't it kinda eerie thinking about how these shows meddled with kids without them knowing? The whole secret filming aspect just feels off to me. Wonder how it flew under the radar back then; there's no way it'd fly today without some serious pushback or at least a conversation about the ethics of it all.
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That low-quality image thing sucks, man. I'm sorta a stickler for preserving old shows in decent quality, y'know? It's history, after all. Maybe reach out to some collectors or one of those digital restoration wizards – they sometimes work miracles with old footage!
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No way, you were on 'You're On!'? That's pretty wild dude! I can only imagine how tricky it must be to dig up those old clips. Nickelodeon has such a gold mine of shows that never really saw the light of day after their initial run. I bet there's a whole bunch of us who'd trip down memory lane if they released those archives.