U-Pick Live facts for kids
Quick facts for kids U-Pick Live |
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The final U-Pick Live logo, used from October 4, 2004 to May 27, 2005.
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| Genre | Live Action Variety |
| Created by | Various |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 401 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Richard Barry |
| Producer(s) | Jonathan Judge |
| Production location(s) | New York City |
| Running time | 120 (counting commercials) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Nickelodeon |
| Original release | October 14, 2002 – May 27, 2005 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Slime Time Live |
| Related shows | Nick in the Afternoon Nickelodeon SPLAT! |
U-Pick Live was a fun TV show that aired on Nickelodeon from October 14, 2002, to May 27, 2005. It was on weekday afternoons, live from Nickelodeon Headquarters in New York City's Times Square. The show ran from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.
What made U-Pick Live special was that viewers got to choose which Nickelodeon shows would air! They did this by voting online, usually for their favorite cartoons. The hosts of the show also did funny skits and gags. They often included people from the live studio audience and even had celebrity guests. You could also see interviews with famous people and musical performances on the show.
The idea for "U-Pick" shows actually started way back in 1994 with a block of shows called Nick in the Afternoon. Before U-Pick Live, there was a show called U-Pick Friday from 1999 to late 2000. It was hosted by Henry and June from the cartoon KaBlam!. After U-Pick Live ended, the idea of letting viewers choose shows didn't come back until 2011. It returned as part of a show block called The '90s Are All That.
Contents
Meet the Cast of U-Pick Live
The show had a great cast of hosts and characters who made it so much fun!
The Hosts
- Brent Popolizio played himself, always ready for a laugh.
- Candace Bailey played herself, often joining in on the silly activities.
- Antonio Neves (2002–2004) was known for bringing out the Nicktoon tapes. He sometimes even used wild stunts to deliver them! Fans also remember him as "Antonio's Floating Head."
- Logan Sekulow played "Logan the Intern" in the final season. He was famous for his dance-offs with Brent and singing in skits.
Fun Characters
- Jeff Sutphen as Pick Boy: He was a "Super Hero" who "picked" people from the audience to join in the fun. Pick Boy was a bit full of himself but also kind of silly. He was very popular, and fans often voted in polls about him, like "What kind of hairstyle should Pick Boy Have?". Once, he was even voted off the show in a poll asking "Who should be kicked off from the show forever?". But don't worry, Pick Boy came back the next season! After U-Pick Live ended, Pick Boy still appeared in ads and at events like the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
- Garbagio (2002–2004): He was known for "wrestling" random objects, like in a special episode called "Milk and Cookies." He wore a cool wrestling mask.
- Tom Lamberth as Cow: This was a person in a cow suit who would often just stand there and moo, or do other funny, strange things.
- Kenneth Harton as Professor Pickens: He was the inventor of cool gadgets like the Pick-Bot 2000.
- Noah Segan as Henry and Julia McIlvaine as June: These characters from KaBlam! hosted the earlier U-Pick Friday show.
Fun Activities and Games
U-Pick Live was packed with exciting activities and sketches that kept everyone entertained.
The Prize Wall
A lucky person from the audience got to pick one of many doors or holes on a special wall. They hoped to find the "Bucket of Bucks" (money!). Other doors had all sorts of prizes, from cool electronics to funny random items like a plunger. The Prize Wall changed its look in 2004, becoming a punchboard with nine paper-covered holes.
Candace's Corner
Candace would chat with viewers about different topics. But often, other cast members would interrupt her with silly antics!
Outdoor Adventures
Brent and Candace sometimes went outside to Times Square. Viewers online would vote on what funny things they should do out there.
Boys vs. Girls Challenges
Brent and the boys from the audience would compete against Candace and the girls. They played all sorts of games, which often got very messy and fun!
Celebrity Fun
Famous guests on the show would answer silly questions and follow funny commands from the audience. It was always a blast to see celebrities act goofy and show a side of them you don't usually see!
Ten Seconds with Brent
Just like the name says, Brent had ten seconds to talk about something. But he was usually cut off right in the middle of an important sentence! Once, he even used a "cookie-on-a-string" to distract the person controlling the timer so he could talk longer. Another time, he only got three seconds!
Hilarious Gags and Moments
The show was full of funny recurring gags that made everyone laugh.
- Antonio's Tape Delivery: Antonio would often deliver the tape of the chosen Nickelodeon show in a dramatic or silly way to where it was supposed to be played.
- Garbagio's Wrestling Matches: Garbagio would "wrestle" all sorts of random objects, making for some hilarious moments.
- Pick-Bot 2000: This was a robotic co-host created by Professor Pickens, adding a futuristic and funny touch to the show.
- Obstacle Course Races: Sometimes, the hosts would race through obstacle courses set up in the studio hallways.
- Pick Boy's Crashes: Pick Boy would often run through walls made of shaving cream or fake bricks, always with a funny crash.
- Mr. Chi Chi: A chimpanzee who was supposedly an attorney at law, adding to the show's quirky humor.
- The Arm Illusion: Sometimes, after a commercial break, Brent would be talking to the camera with Candace behind him. His arms would be wrapped around Candace, and she would move her arms as if they were his, matching what he was saying. Then, Candace would quickly back away, showing the trick! This happened a few times, starting with a Thanksgiving special.
Other Cool Facts
- Sometimes, Best of U-Pick Live episodes would air, showing the funniest and most memorable moments from past shows.
- The show Slime Time Live would often send viewers over to U-Pick Live as their show was ending.
- Once, during a big blizzard in New York, Slime Time Live actually took over hosting U-Pick Live for the day!
- For the premiere of a new The Fairly OddParents episode called "Timmy's Big Super Hero Wish," U-Pick Live held a contest. The child who won would become Pick Boy's new sidekick on the show! Even though it was announced, no such character was ever added.
