These bumpers are pure genius to me. This was when they started making awesome bumpers that people remember still to this day. I also love the story behind these bumpers.
Two people, Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman used to be known as "logo guys". They are known for developing (not disigning) the MTV logo. They worked for MTV Networks for a little while, until they had the idea of developing media brands. They left MTV Networks and started Fred/Alan Inc. The first clients for Fred/Alan was MTV Networks.
Fred and Alan, along with Tom Corey and Scott Nash, developed what is refered today as "the orange splat".
Fred and Alan wanted to then create bumpers for Nickelodeon. They worked with Eugene Pitt, leader of The Jive 5, and several different animators. The hardest part was convincing Nickelodeon to use Doo-Wop. Nickelodeon executives believed, "Doo-wops 30 years old, no kid has ever heard of it.
According to Fred Seibert, "We won the day on two grounds.
"Fred played on the executives liberal backgrouds. 'We love all forms of African-American music, and using doo-wop will be a great way to educate American kids without anyone being the wiser.'
"Alans worked even better. He opened his mouth and, quoting The Marcels arrangement of chestnut 'Blue Moon,' sang:
"'Bom-ma-bom, a-bom-bom-a-bom, ba-ba-bom-bom-a-bomp, b-dang-a-dang-dang, b-ding-a-dong-ding.'
"'What kid isnt going to relate to that right away?' Alan asked.
"Case closed."
Out of all this, the classic Nickelodeon jingle was born.
