Out of Control

This show was on during Nickelodeon's good days in the 80's. It featured Dave Coulier, now mostly well known from Joey Gladstone on "Full House" and host of "America's Funniest People". It was basically a news show except filled with goofy segments and quirky characters. Sure it had a crappy set and graphic abilities, but it was Dave back when he was funny and Nickelodeon when it was quality. There was also station manager Diz, who had hair and makeup like Cyndi Lauper, and her calling card was a high whistle-pitched scream. Some of the skits on the show were "It's Probably True" dealing with oddities around America, "How Not to Do Things", "Adult Education" (not porno, it's where kids are the teachers) and "Moments in Inventions". Diz also had a segment but I forget what it was called. All I remember is her animated face doing that scream; EEIIIIEEE EEIIIIEEE!

It may not have been the best show, but at least Nick was being creative and original instead of pumping out the garbage it is now. And of course, "CUT IT OUT"!

This show was part of what I consider the "golden age" of the Nickelodeon cable channel, along with shows like "Live Wire", "You Can't Do That On Television", "Pinwheel", and "Turkey TV". Dave Coulier (known as "Joey" on the unfunny sitcom "Full House") was the host, as well as the voice of Ha-Ha, the comedy computer that spat out jokes on little ribbons of paper. The show had animation, as well as several very entertaining segments like "It's Probably True", in which Dave would visit strange places or people in various parts of the country.

While it may not be as well remembered by my generation as "You Can't Do That on Television," "Out of Control" was just as big a part of Nick's "Golden Age" of programming. While it would be a few years until I was of age to stay up late enough to learn that the opening spot light on the curtain, and Dave's intro was a spoof on "The Tonight Show," it didn't matter. This show was simply downright fun!

I'll never forget an episode where Dave goes to a japanese restaurant and learns all about sushi. Now being 24, sushi has become a phenomenon within my lifetime, and so at the time this show was on it was still very much a foreign concept to alot of people, and especially me! I'm sure everyone remembers what a stink was made in "The Breakfast Club" over having sushi for lunch. To make a long story short-when I finally DID try sushi, all I could think of was this show and how I finally did something that seemed so cool and, well "Out of Control!"

For people who seem surprised at how awful Nickelodeon has become, and how shows like this are long gone-just consider the source. Nick was created by MTV, which at the time was also hip, original, and above all entertaining. Now neither one is even a shadow of it's former self.

At least we still have memories of a great show like "Out of Control!"

Maybe it was just that I grew up on this show and shows like "Hi Honey, I'm Home", "Hey Dude", and "You Can't Do That on Television", but "Out of Control" was one of Nickelodeon's best shows. I loved it whenever I watched it. Now, if I turn to Nick, I get boring cartoons that all look alike and more and more "Rugrats". There aren't any live action shows, the kind that made Nickelodeon what it is. If anyone out there happens upon an old videotape of Out of Control or some other cable channel decides to run it, you have to watch it! And, just to bring it up, Dave Coulier is much funnier in this role than as "Joey Gladstone".

This was one of the great shows on Nick before it became really comercial. It was fun and interesting, and actually made you think. I think that the kids today would be more creative if they had more shows like this one on tv. If anyone from NICK reads these, Please get this back on TV. I would really like for my nieces & nephews to see this.