nickelodeon – My Geek Wisdom

“The choices are yours and yours alone!”

From: Legends of the Hidden Temple

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Olmec

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon show, Legends of the Hidden Temple. Essentially a kid’s game show akin to shows like American Gladiators and Takeshi’s Castle, Legends of the Hidden Temple has the contestants perform games in order to win the chance to trek through the aforementioned Hidden Temple.

The quote is actually kind of a catchphrase of Olmec (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker), the stone face affixed to the Hidden Temple. Before the final game, the Temple Run, Olmec tells the contestants of the paths they can take through the Hidden Temple. He then gives them the option regarding which path to use via the quote.

Geek wisdom: We all make are own decisions. While we may be given options and we also may be given suggestions on what to do, we ultimately are the ones which path to take in life.

“I can see! I CAN FIGHT!”

From: The Fairly Oddparents

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: King Arthur Liebowitz

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon animated series, The Fairly Oddparents. The show features Timmy Turner who gets into various adventures because he has two fairy godparents, Wanda and Cosmo, who can grant his every wish. And these wishes usually backfires, leading to Timmy to un-wish whatever it was to return everything to its status quo.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “Knightly Knight“. Timmy wishes to be transported to the actual Camelot and he encounters Arthur Liebowitz while saving his parents from being eaten by a dragon. Thinking Arthur would be happier to look at his impending doom, Timmy gives him his father’s glasses. This corrects Arthur Liebowitz’s vision and gives him the constitution to fight as he exclaims the quote.

Geek wisdom: A change in one aspect of someone’s life can lead to even more changes in that life. You learn one simple skill and this enables you to learn a more complex skill. Small steps can lead to bigger steps.

“…And in real life, you can’t always win.”

From: Hey Arnold! The Movie

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Gerald Johanssen

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2002 animated film, Hey Arnold! The Movie (also known as Arnold Saves the Neighborhood in some territories). Based on the Nickelodeon cartoon, the film has the titular character trying to save his home and the entire neighborhood from being torn down to give way for a new shopping mall.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. After trying to find a document that will cement the neighborhood as a historical landmark that will save the neighborhood from demolition and failing, Arnold and his best friend Gerald go to the arcade to lament on their loss. Arnold wishes there was something he could do and this is when Gerald gives the quote.

Geek wisdom: Life isn’t always fair and, sometimes, you can’t get everything you want. You just have to try your best and be okay with the knowledge you did give it your all.

“He’s just standing there… menacingly!”

From: Spongebob Squarepants

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Patrick Star

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from a certain creature who lives in a pineapple under the sea, Spongebob Squarepants. One of Nickelodeon’s most popular cartoons, Spongebob Squarepants features the titular character who gets into different crazy adventures in Bikini Bottom (and sometimes outside the town).

The quote comes from the episode entitled “Hall Monitor” where Spongebob, due to his zeal of being assigned as the school’s hall monitor, accidentally causes various mishaps across Bikini Bottom and, as a result, deemed as a “maniac” by the public. Spongebob doesn’t realize this and vows to capture the “maniac” with the help of his friend, Patrick Star. At night, Patrick recognizes Spongebob as the “maniac” in the darkness and calls Spongebob on the radio, saying he’s close to where the “maniac” is. When Spongebob can’t see the “maniac” (because he is the “maniac” in question), he asks Patrick what the “maniac” is doing. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Our perceptions and reality on people can differ. We can have some preconceived notions about certain people and we can jump to conclusions based on them. It’s a good idea to give people a chance before forming your own judgement on them.

“Disco? With myself? Outrageous!”

From: The Fairly Oddparents

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Jorgen Von Strangle

The quote comes from the episode entitled “The Secret Origin of Denzel Cronker!” Denzel Cronker is one of Timmy Turner’s teachers who is obsessed with proving the existence of fairies. Deciding to figure out why Cronker is so mean, Timmy wishes to travel back to the past to find out. They eventually travel back to the 70’s and inadvertently cause a young Cronker to reveal that he had fairy godparents then. As revealing the existence of fairies is against the rules, the head fairy, Jorgen Von Strangle, erases every person’s memory and forbids Timmy, Wanda and Cosmo from trying to fix this. Jorgen then meets up with his 70’s counterpart and delivers the quote before the two versions dance.

Geek wisdom: It’s nice to be alone with yourself sometimes. While it’s good to be with company, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the quiet solitude of having some fun by yourself as well.

“Many things that seems threatening in the dark become welcoming when we shine light on them.”

From: The Legend of Korra

Genre: Television and Cartoons

Who said it?: Iroh

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from The Legend of Korra. The sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this Nickelodeon takes place some time after the events of the original series as a new Avatar, a water tribe girl named Korra, inherits the title.

The quote comes from the episode “A New Spiritual Age,” which was the 10th episode of the 2nd season. Korra is trapped in the Spirit Realm and is overwhelmed by her new surroundings. She is rescued by the spirit of Iroh (now voiced by Greg Baldwin) and the aged mentor helps Korra in finding a way to find her friend. He directs her to bring a bird she accidentally injured to her home atop a scary looking mountain. When Korra tells him she’s afraid, Iroh points to the bird and reminds her how she was afraid of it, too. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Things that are unknown and unfamiliar to us can be scary and off-putting. It will remain that way until we actually put the time to understand them. We have to remain open or else we will always be prejudiced to these things just because we don’t understand what they are.

“…I hope you will think like a mad genius.”

From: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Genre: Television and Cartoons

Who said it?: King Bumi

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a cartoon series that aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. The story follows the adventures of Aang, the titular “last airbender,” to learn how to control, or “bend,” the four primal elements of air, water, earth and fire in order to become the Avatar.

The quote comes from the the first season episode entitled “The King of Omashu.” Aang and his friends travel to the town of Omashu. They accidentally cause some property damage when Aang relives a past experience he had with his friend Bumi. They are arrested and the King of Omashu declares Aang should go through several trials to prove his worthiness of being the Avatar. During the third and final trial, the King asks Aang to guess what his name is. Aang figures out the King is Bumi, his old friend. King Bumi acknowledges Aang will have to go through a lot to even get to a point he’s able to face the Fire Lord. However, when he does, he hopes he’s ready and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, thinking out of the box is a good idea. Not going with other people’s ideas and coming up with your own might me much more creative than anyone else can think up.

“Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source.”

From: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Genre: Television and Cartoons

Who said it?: General Iroh

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a cartoon series that aired on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008. The story follows the adventures of AAng, the titular “last airbender,” to learn how to control, or “bend,” the four primal elements of air, water, earth and fire in order to become the Avatar.

The quote comes from the episode “Bitter Work.” General Iroh (voiced by Makoto “Mako” Iwamatsu), the uncle of Prince Zuko, who comes from the Fire Nation. Iroh decides to teach his nephew the art of lightning bending. Zuko is unable to learn it and gets frustrated. Iroh explains that his shame at himself is causing the anger that is stopping him from creating lightning. Zuko rebutts that he is actually still very proud. This is when Iroh delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Being too proud of oneself leads to overconfidence and can lead you to make disastrous errors. But being too prideful can also lead to not learning from those mistakes. Learn to own up to your mistakes and remember that you’re not perfect.

“Imagination!”

From: Spongebob Squarepants

Genre: Cartoons

Who said it?: Spongebob Squarepants

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the hit Nickelodeon cartoon, Spongebob Squarepants. As the theme song tells you, Spongebob Squarepants live in a pineapple under the sea. But even though he lives by himself (with his pet snail, Gary) and does a lot of adult stuff, he still has a childlike innocence inside him as the quote will attest.

The quote comes from the episode entitled, Idiot Box. Spongebob and his close friend Patrick Starr order a large television. However, they throw out the TV and keep the box instead. When their stuck up neighbor goes to ask the two why they’re just keeping the box, Spongebob states they don’t need the television before gesturing with his hands, making a rainbow appear, and delivering the quote.

Oh, and just in case Nickelodeon takes down the clip, here’s a moving image of the quote in question…

Geek wisdom: Yes, imagination can indeed lead to beautiful things and it seems to be that a lot of people are losing their ability to envision new things and instead just focus on the harsh reality of life. But imagination is important as this is how we come up with new innovations and ideas.

Don’t look down on your imagination. You never know if using it will lead you to envision better things in life.

“You’re so hurtful!”

From: The Amanda Show / Moody’s Point

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Misty

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon show The Amanda Show. The Amanda Show started in 1999 and was a sketch comedy show much like in the vein of Saturday Night Live and even Nickelodeon’s own All That. In fact, the show is named after Amanda Bynes, who also starred in All That when she was much younger.

As The Amanda Show was a sketch comedy show, there were some recurring skits. One of them was Moody’s Point, a parody of teen dramas of the time. One of the characters in Moody’s Point is a girl named Misty, a rather homely girl who is incredibly sensitive and delivers the quote because of her fragile ego.

On a side note, this isn’t Misty’s only “catch phrase.” Her other one is “What’s that supposed to mean” and is usually uttered because of the same reason.

Geek wisdom: Thin skinned people have difficulty taking any criticism. If we are that way and take any constructive feedback and just tell the critic that we feel offended, then we cannot grow and improve. While there are some people who will try to hate on you, you should always be ready to listen to both good and bad feedback as we can learn from them both.