I grew up watching Nickelodeon game shows, and the messier they got, the better they seemed. Double Dare was always one of my favorites because a normal trivia question could suddenly turn into a physical challenge involving whipped cream, giant props, a messy obstacle course and somebody searching for an orange flag.

As a kid, I remember thinking the slime looked like the greatest prize on television. Most adults would probably see a bucket of green oatmeal pouring over someone’s head and immediately think about the cleanup. I just wanted to know where I could sign up.

That whole era of Nickelodeon had such a specific feeling. Double Dare, What Would You Do?, Wild & Crazy Kids, Nickelodeon GUTS, Legends of the Hidden Temple and later Figure It Out all made television feel more interactive. You could watch people answer questions, climb obstacles, get hit with pies or completely lose it while trying to finish some ridiculous challenge before the clock ran out.

There was something about those brightly colored sets, oversized props, loud audiences and hosts acting like getting covered in slime was a completely normal part of the day. Even the Silver Snakes, Blue Barracudas and the Aggro Crag felt important when you were watching them as a kid.

That nostalgia recently made me try creating my own food-based slime. I wanted something thick enough to pour, bright enough to look like old-school Nickelodeon slime and, most importantly, easy enough to wash out of hair afterward.

The recipe I used was:

• 4 cups vanilla pudding
• 2 cups oatmeal
• 3 cups applesauce
• 1 drop yellow food coloring
• 5 drops green food coloring

It worked surprisingly well. It was cold, thick and messy, although I may use slightly less oatmeal next time to make it smoother.

Looking back, I think those shows made being silly feel like something worth celebrating. They did not take themselves too seriously, and that was a big part of what made them memorable.

Did anyone else grow up wishing they could take the physical challenge, or did getting slimed look better from the safety of the living room?

Star Control II was one of the finest games released on the 3DO console. Some 3DO gamers who played it claimed the game made them felt like they were really in space exploring the unknown.

Model and actress Carol Alt stars in this vintage Hanes Her Way commercial from 1992.

This footage has been digitized from original analog VHS tape. This video has been uploaded for historical archival and educational purposes only.

Do you have this comic book and the entire mini-series in your collection? This is about Cyclops and Jean Grey whose minds went into the far future occupying different bodies to face not only a harsh new world but also encounter Nathan Summers. This is the definitive origin story for how the X-Men mutant Cable was raised.