Television reached its modern golden age as the 20th century came to a close and an era of media turned a new leaf. With this revamp of TV came the emergence of a definitive ‘Big 3’ of children’s entertainment: Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel. These powerhouses of kids’ programming were cornerstones of our childhoods, becoming undeniably influential as we all grew up.
With such a high quantity and quality of shows released in this period, it may be hard to rank them without bias. To gauge a true consensus of the people’s opinion, I did what any reporter would do — take to Instagram! Shortly after posting a story asking for responses and sifting through them, I came to the conclusion that only I actually hold the correct opinions and I disagree with everyone else. Anyway, here are the top five best shows from 2000-2010 ranked:
Honorable Mentions: Drake & Josh (2004-2007), The Fairly OddParents (2001-2017), The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005-2008), Pokémon (1998-2023), and What’s New, Scooby-Doo? (2002-2007)
5. Adventure Time (2010-2018)
Released just in time to be considered a 2000s show, Adventure Time is a masterclass in storytelling. Following the lives of Jake the Dog and Finn the Human in the colorful land of Ooo, its nonsensical humor begins to mature as pieces of a deeper story unveil. Adventure Time sets a great example of character development, non-linear storytelling, and mixing deep philosophical and emotional beats with comedy to become a show that is truly mathematical.
4. Phineas and Ferb (2007-Present)
Phineas and Ferb, two elementary-school stepbrothers, have technical abilities that would put engineering majors to shame. As these boys try to make every day of summer vacation one to remember, they embark on grand adventures accompanied by phenomenal original music by creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff Marsh. Every episode follows the same format, yet each turns out to be just as memorable, with witty banter, meta humor, and of course, Perry the Platypus.
3. iCarly (2007-2012)
Oh, Carly Shay, what a great TikToker you would have been. iCarly follows a group of teenagers, Carly, Sam, and Freddy, as they host their own web show and become internet sensations overnight. It characterizes the era of the late 2000s extremely well, with internet comedy becoming relevant with the release of YouTube in 2005! Its absurdist humor made every episode unique, with even the supporting cast stealing the show in episodes! ICarly’s true testament is how well its concept has held up, with the internet only further exploding in relevance and internet celebrities becoming even more common in the modern day.
2. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
It would be a travesty to not include the critically acclaimed Avatar: The Last Airbender in the top three. This story is set in a world where individuals can manipulate one of the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. A special being known as the Avatar is able to control all four. The show follows Aang, the Avatar and last Airbender, as he awakens from his century-long slumber. With his friends Katara, Sokka, and Toph, Aang must find a way to stop the Fire Nation before they conquer the world. With praise for its masterful storytelling, character writing, worldbuilding, animation, music, and its ability to explore mature themes, Avatar is a beautifully developed show suitable for all ages. Just don’t talk about the live-action film — it’s best if that’s forgotten.
1. SpongeBob SquarePants (1999 – Present)
In probably one of the most obvious conclusions to a ranking ever, SpongeBob comes out on top! In all seriousness, the influence a talking yellow sponge, a stupid starfish, and a cranky octopus (yes, an octopus) have had, not only on childhoods throughout the world but on pop culture as a whole, is irrefutable. With a mix of chaotic humor for children and deeper references for older audiences, SpongeBob has captured the hearts of many. Due to its sheer relevance, it’s hard to meet someone who doesn’t like this fun sponge. There is something so unique about this show that allows it to be relevant no matter what time, making its early years on the silver screen one of the most prominent examples of 2000s nostalgia to date.
