Honestly, if you grew up in the nineties, you probably remember the neon orange splats and the chaotic energy of Nickelodeon. But let's get specific. While the first season of All That was a bit of a localized experiment filmed in Florida, All That season 2 was where the show actually found its soul. This was the year everything changed. The production packed its bags and moved from Orlando to the iconic Nickelodeon On Sunset in Hollywood. You could feel the shift in the air. The energy was higher, the budget was bigger, and the cast started to gel in a way that felt like lightning in a bottle.
It wasn’t just a sketch show anymore. It was a cultural powerhouse.
Most people talk about the "Golden Age" of Nick, but they rarely look at the nuts and bolts of why the second season worked. It was the year Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell solidified their status as the greatest comedic duo of their generation. We aren't just talking about kids' TV; we're talking about legitimate comedic timing that rivaled SNL.
The Cast Shakeup That Defined the Show
You've got to look at the roster. Season 2 saw the departure of Angelique Bates eventually, but more importantly, it was the first time the ensemble really felt like a team. You had Kenan, Kel, Lori Beth Denberg, Josh Server, Alisa Reyes, and Katrina Johnson.
Lori Beth was the anchor. Her "Vital Information" segments weren't just filler; they were the heartbeat of the show’s deadpan humor. While most kid actors try too hard to be "wacky," Lori Beth just sat there and delivered absurdities with the gravity of a nightly news anchor. It worked because it didn't pander.
Then you had Josh Server.
Josh was the veteran. Having been there since the pilot, he was the guy who could play the straight man or the absolute weirdest person in the room (think Detective Dan). But the real engine of All That season 2 was the raw, unscripted-feeling chemistry between Kenan and Kel. This was the season where "Good Burger" transitioned from a simple sketch into a phenomenon. When Kel Mitchell stepped into the role of Ed—inspired, as he’s said in various interviews, by a "surfer guy" voice he’d been playing with—the show hit a new gear.
New Faces and Fresh Energy
It wasn't just about the originals. This season introduced us to the concept that All That could evolve. It wasn't a static cast. They were figuring out that as kids grew up, the show had to stay young. This flexibility is what allowed it to last for a decade, but the 1995-1996 run was the blueprint.
✨ Don't miss: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
Why the Move to Hollywood Mattered
Geography is destiny.
Moving to Los Angeles changed the caliber of guest stars. Suddenly, you weren't just getting whoever happened to be in Orlando. You were getting the biggest names in R&B and Hip-Hop. We're talking about performances that define that era of music.
- Coolio
- Soul For Real
- Monica
- The Pharcyde
- Jon B.
Think about that. You’re a ten-year-old sitting on your carpet, and you’re seeing The Pharcyde perform on a variety show for kids. It gave the show a "cool factor" that no other network could touch. Disney Channel was still too polished and "Mickey Mouse Club" at the time. Nickelodeon was gritty. It was messy. It felt like it belonged to us.
The physical space of the Sunset Blvd studio also allowed for more elaborate sets. You could see the difference in the production value of sketches like "Loud Librarian" or "Ishboo." The lighting was better. The sound was crisper. It felt like a "real" TV show, yet it never lost the "By Kids, For Kids" ethos that Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin championed.
The Sketches That Actually Stuck
If we're being real, not every sketch in All That season 2 was a winner. Some were weird. Some were just loud. But the ones that hit? They hit hard.
Good Burger is the obvious one. But look at Earboy. It was such a bizarre concept—a kid with giant ears and his friend, Ross Perot. It shouldn't have worked. Yet, because of the commitment of the actors, it became a staple.
Then there was Cooking with Randy and Mandy.
🔗 Read more: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
This was Kenan and Angelique (and later other cast members) basically just making a mess. It tapped into that primal kid desire to see adults lose control of a situation. The chocolate. Oh, the chocolate. It was everywhere. It was gross, it was funny, and it was exactly what we wanted to see after a week of school.
The Nuance of "Vital Information"
Lori Beth Denberg’s "Vital Information" is often imitated but never duplicated. The secret was the writing. It wasn't "kid jokes." It was surrealism. "If you're drinking a glass of milk and someone tells you a funny joke, do not laugh, or you will have a very wet shirt." It’s simple. It’s effective. It treated the audience like they were in on the joke.
Guest Stars and Musical Impact
We need to talk about the musical guests again because people forget how influential this was. For many kids, All That was their introduction to the Billboard charts.
In Season 2, Episode 1, we had Naughty by Nature.
In Episode 3, we had Monica.
This wasn't just "background music." The musical guest was the climax of the episode. It taught a generation of kids how to appreciate live performance. It also bridged the gap between "kid culture" and "teen culture." You didn't feel like a baby watching All That. You felt like you were watching something that was slightly ahead of its time.
Behind the Scenes: The Tollin/Robbins Magic
You can't talk about this era without mentioning the producers. Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin understood something that most executives miss: kids are smart. They don't want to be talked down to. They want to see people who look and act like them—just a little more exaggerated.
The writers' room was also a melting pot of talent. They encouraged the kids to ad-lib. If Kel did something funny during a rehearsal, it stayed in. If Kenan made a face that made the crew laugh, that became the "beat" of the scene. This "loose" atmosphere is what gave All That season 2 its authentic feel. It didn't feel scripted by a 50-year-old in a suit. It felt like a playground.
💡 You might also like: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
The Legacy of the 1995-1996 Run
So, why does this specific season matter decades later?
It’s the DNA. Without the success of the second season, you don't get Kenan & Kel. You don't get the Good Burger movie. You don't get the careers of Kenan Thompson (the longest-running cast member in SNL history) or Kel Mitchell.
It proved that "Urban Variety" could work for a mass audience. It broke racial barriers without ever making it a "lesson." The cast was diverse because the world was diverse. It was natural. It was just... the way it was.
Addressing the Misconceptions
People often think the first season was the "best" because it was the original. No. The first season was the pilot phase. All That season 2 was the perfection of the craft.
Another misconception is that the show was just "slapstick." If you go back and watch, the wordplay was incredibly sharp. The satire of adult institutions—the library, the workplace, the news—was actually quite biting. It was SCTV for the middle school set.
Actionable Takeaways for the Super-Fan
If you’re looking to revisit this era or understand its impact, don't just watch clips on YouTube. Do the following:
- Watch the "Good Burger" Evolution: Track how Ed’s character changes from his first appearance in Season 1 to the more refined, "clumsy-hero" version in Season 2. You’ll see the exact moment Kel Mitchell finds the character's heart.
- Listen to the Soundtracks: The "All That" theme song by TLC is a masterpiece of 90s New Jack Swing/Hip-Hop. It set the tone for the entire season.
- Analyze the Blocking: Notice how the cast uses the physical space of the Hollywood set compared to the Florida set. There is more movement, more camera angles, and more ambition in the staging.
- Compare to Modern Sketch: Watch a modern kid's sketch show and see if it has the same "edge." Most don't. The lack of over-polishing is why Season 2 remains the gold standard.
The reality is that All That season 2 wasn't just a TV show. It was a vibe. It was the sound of a generation finding its voice in a messy, loud, and hilariously absurd way. It taught us that being "weird" was okay, and that sometimes, the best way to handle life is just to sit at a desk and give out some Vital Information.
The show eventually went through many iterations, but that specific window in the mid-90s? That was where the magic was at its most potent. If you want to understand the history of modern comedy, you have to start with the orange couch and the kids who weren't afraid to get a little bit of slime on them.