Showing posts with label Hey Arnold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hey Arnold. Show all posts

Friday, October 23, 2026

Hey Arnold! 30th Anniversary: Justin Shenkarow (Harold) Tells All! | Splat Attack Podcast

Hey Arnold! 30th Anniversary: Justin Shenkarow (Harold) Tells All! | Splat Attack Podcast


Hey Arnold! is turning 30, and we're celebrating with the voice of Harold Berman himself! 🎉 Join Splat Attack as we welcome Justin Shenkarow for a nostalgic, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most beloved animated shows of the '90s.

Justin takes us inside the world of Hey Arnold! and shares what it was really like growing up while voicing Harold. From auditioning for the original pilot to recording alongside his fellow young cast members, these are the kinds of stories every '90s Nick fan will love.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:

How Justin Shenkarow landed the role of Harold Berman
What made the original Hey Arnold! pilot so special
Why the young cast recorded their lines together
The surprising history of Arnold's early claymation appearances
How Hey Arnold! tackled real-life issues, including family, bullying, and cultural identity
Why Harold's Bar Mitzvah was especially meaningful to Justin
Behind-the-scenes memories of creator Craig Bartlett and the original cast
What happened when the original actors returned for Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie
Justin's favorite episodes, memorable catchphrases, and fan interactions
Our Tuned In segment: the songs that remind us of Hey Arnold!

Plus, we discuss the show's legacy, the friendships formed in the recording studio, and why this heartfelt Nickelodeon classic continues to connect with fans decades later.

💬 QUESTION FOR YOU: Who is your favorite Hey Arnold! character? Tell us in the comments [YouTube]! And which episode do you think deserves more love?

Be sure to follow Justin at: https://www.justinshenkarow.com/


Thanks for tuning in, and we'll splat you later!

0:00 Hey Arnold! Turns 30 | Welcome to Splat Attack
1:18 Justin Shenkarow Returns as Harold Berman
3:05 Remembering the Original Hey Arnold! Pilot
5:33 How Justin Landed the Role of Harold
8:05 Recording Hey Arnold! With the Original Cast
10:59 The Surprising History of Arnold's Origins
15:02 Did the Cast Know Hey Arnold! Would Become a Classic?
17:10 Harold's Bar Mitzvah and the Show's Deeper Stories
20:00 The Hard Work Behind Voice Acting
22:16 Behind-the-Scenes Stories and Craig Bartlett
28:12 Growing Up With the Hey Arnold! Cast
33:14 Hey Arnold!: The Movie and The Jungle Movie
38:24 Justin Shenkarow on Connecting With Fans
48:17 Justin's Favorite Hey Arnold! Episodes
52:40 Tuned In: The Songs That Remind Us of Hey Arnold!

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Tuesday, October 13, 2026

‘Hey Arnold!’ at 30: Why a Cartoon About a Boy With a Football-Shaped Head Still Endures 30 Years On

Thirty years after its 1996 debut, Hey Arnold! still stands out for its portrait of childhood in the city, shaped by a diverse neighborhood and a bluesy, funky score.

A photo illustration of Hey Arnold!
(Photo illustration by Tate Rudisill / Los Angeles Times; photos by Paramount Pictures and Viacom International Inc.)

The animated Nickelodeon series’ commitment to authenticity gave young viewers stories about the immigrant experience and unconventional families.

The show continues to have a dedicated fan base years later.

One of Craig Bartlett’s profoundest childhood memories involves a despondent turtle.

In a pet store hidden away in Seattle’s Chinatown, he and his friend Joan came across one in a murky little tank. They took pity on it, bought it and took it home to Portland, Ore. It didn’t come out of its shell for two weeks.

They knew what they had to do. They took the turtle to Square Lake, on Sauvie Island, and laid the turtle down on the shore. The creature’s head emerged from its shell to consider its new circumstances. Slowly but surely, it eased its way into the water and swam away. “We were jumping up and down with a kind of weird joy,” Bartlett recalled to The Los Angeles Times.

Much later, when Bartlett was creating his own animated series, he knew that the poetry of that moment, the strange cinematic magic of it, was something he wanted to tap into.

Thirty years ago, on Oct. 7, 1996, Hey Arnold! premiered on the kids’ cable network Nickelodeon. With its offbeat, lyrical, sometimes painfully honest portrayal of the feeling of childhood in the city, it quickly set itself apart as a new kind of kids’ show, attracting a dedicated fandom that endures to this day.

An urban ‘Little Rascals’

Arnold was a 9-year-old boy with an elongated ovoid head who enjoyed listening to jazz fusion under the skylight of his attic bedroom. According to Bartlett’s show bible, he was “philosophical, idealistic, romantic and hard to rile.” His best friend was Gerald. He was, in short, a chill little dude.

Bartlett had created the character almost a decade earlier, after a stint producing claymation segments for Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Back then, one of the cookie cutters that Bartlett used to cut shapes out of clay happened to be shaped like a football; from the work of his brother-in-law, Matt Groening, he’d also observed the importance of a striking silhouette. The result, in Bartlett’s short claymation films, which played the animation festival circuit and appeared on Sesame Street, was a daydreamer with a football-shaped head.

A cartoon boy holding a baseball bat stands in front of a girl squatting and holding a catcher's mitt with a boy behind her
Arnold was created by Bartlett almost a decade before the show was made, after a stint producing claymation segments for “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” (Nickelodeon)

In 1993, Nickelodeon was looking to expand its original animation lineup. Toward the end of a long, fruitless pitch meeting with a gaggle of writer-animators, Nickelodeon executive Mary Harrington put on Bartlett’s show reel. She was taken with Arnold right away, and intrigued by Bartlett’s visual style and imagination.

“I liked the way it looked,” she said simply. “I liked the quirkiness of it.”

Bartlett developed the show with Steve Viksten and Joseph Ansolabehere. The trio had previously worked together on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats — Bartlett as a story editor, Viksten and Ansolabehere as writers. (One of Bartlett’s contributions to Rugrats was Angelica’s stoic, wild-haired doll Cynthia.)

Instead of the suburban setting common to so many cartoons — including Nickelodeon’s Doug — Hey Arnold! was set firmly in the inner city, a vibrantly gritty amalgam of Seattle, Portland and Brooklyn. As part of his preparations for the series, Bartlett went on a photo-taking expedition through Seattle and Tacoma, collecting imagery of Pacific Northwest grunge to share with his artists: crumbling walls, fire escapes, water towers.

As for Arnold, he lived with his grandparents in an old boarding house under a freeway overpass. The show’s diverse cast also represented what Bartlett called the “multiethnic gumbo” of American cities. The urban aesthetic was augmented with a bluesy, funky score by composer Jim Lang, inspired by Thelonious Monk, Vince Guaraldi and Beck.

There were fantastical elements, but what set Hey Arnold! apart was how invested it was in depicting what life is like for a fourth grader. The writers had in mind the intimacy of character-driven cinema of the ‘70s and the French New Wave; The Little Rascals was as much of an influence as The 400 Blows and My Life as a Dog. Ansolabehere and Viksten, who had attended UCLA and tried for years to break into Hollywood, would channel their cinematic storytelling instincts into the show.

Bartlett purposely wanted to steer away from the wacky Looney Tunes antics of cartoons like Animaniacs. Instead, the melancholy and ennui of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which had captivated Bartlett as a 6-year-old, would be a major touchstone.

A man in a plaid shirt sitting at a desk covered in paper and drawing pens. A small clay statue of Arnold stands on the desk
Craig Bartlett, the creator of Nickelodeon’s “Hey Arnold!” in 2002. (Paramount / Viacom)

“That was our real rebellion,” Bartlett said, “to make it not a gag show but more kind of moody.”

That stylistic rebellion extended to Arnold as well. “Arnold wasn’t your typical type-A personality lead character,” Harrington said. “He was quieter, he was thoughtful, he was really smart, more creative. But we thought kids could relate to him.”

Writing meetings revolved around discussion of childhood memories and experiences. Hey Arnold! built on the narrative foundation the group had established on their previous show.

“Rugrats opened up to us this idea that you could actually make a show about humans, about the human experience and about childhood,” Ansolabehere said. “The episodes I was proudest of were where you dug something out from inside of your history and your heart.”

Apart from the turtle story, which made it into the episode “Field Trip,” very few of Arnold’s adventures were directly borrowed from Bartlett’s life. Instead, “it was about capturing a feeling,” he said.

Going where no cartoon had gone before

Thematically, too, there was a determination to venture into more adult territory than any kids’ cartoon had previously. The show was frank in its portrayal of, among other subjects, social isolation, economic disparity, the immigrant experience and unconventional families. In “Arnold’s Christmas,” one of the most celebrated and audacious episodes of the show, Mr. Hyunh, a Vietnamese immigrant and resident of Arnold’s boarding house, tells the story of being separated from his daughter Mai during the Vietnam War. In the episode “Helga on the Couch,” Helga’s emotionally neglectful household was on poignant display.

The commitment to authenticity extended to the show’s voice cast, which was made up of child actors. This meant that a succession of actors played Arnold over the years, until their voices changed with the onset of puberty. Spencer Klein, who voiced Arnold in Episodes 61 to 100 and in the first movie in 2002, had the strange experience of joining a show he was already a fan of. “It was a special show,” he said. “It was a show you could really learn valuable life lessons from.”

Klein remembers that the actors recorded in the same room together, allowing them to interact more naturally. “Usually a number of the animators were there too,” he said. “They’d have sketch pads, and we were encouraged to be physically animated when delivering our lines. The animators would incorporate some of the physical aspects of our line deliveries into the animation.”

A cartoon mailman walks to a street corner where two boys are handing out fliers
The show’s voice cast featured child actors, including Spencer Klein, who voiced Arnold in Episodes 61-100 and the first movie. “It was a special show,” he said. “It was a show you could really learn valuable life lessons from.” (Paramount / Viacom)

In a deft bit of narrative maneuvering, Gerald’s voice breaking was written into the show; Jamil Walker Smith played the character for all five seasons and one movie. Similarly, Francesca Marie Smith voiced Helga G. Pataki for the entirety of Hey Arnold! and up to The Jungle Movie in 2017.

Conceived as a relentless bully of Arnold, Helga was one of the richer, more complex characters to come out of a kids’ cartoon in its or any era. At first, Ansolabehere said, the writers struggled with her motivation. They didn’t want a repeat of Angelica, the cackling 3-year-old schemer of Rugrats. Why did she pick on Arnold?

In Ansolabehere’s memory, Bartlett’s then-wife, Lisa, overheard the writers’ deliberations and casually suggested, “Maybe she’s in love with Arnold.”

“It was like a light bulb went off,” said Ansolabehere. “We were like, that’s it. That’s young love. When we don’t know what to do with it.” In minutes, Bartlett had sketched the makeshift shrine that Helga builds for Arnold in her closet.

Helga’s unrequited love for Arnold became one of the driving forces of the show. “She was a sort of villain who you related to and rooted for,” said writer Rachel Lipman, who joined the show as the first season was coming together. “However much she tortured Arnold, she was far more tormented herself on the inside. She also had this unending internal conflict — she really didn’t want to be in love with Arnold … but she just couldn’t fight the feeling. I hadn’t seen a show where the unrequited love this girl felt for a boy got to be explored to such deep levels.”

A pair of cartoon boys in black suits look at a girl in a pink dress standing beside the open door of a bus
Arnold, Gerald and Helga, who was voiced by Francesca Marie Smith. Helga’s unrequited love for Arnold became one of the driving forces of the show. (Paramount / Viacom)

It didn’t hurt that Smith gave the performance of a lifetime, putting her heart and soul into the melodramatic contradictions of the character, antagonizing Arnold one second and swooning over him the next. Smith’s firecracker performance inspired the writers to give Helga even more to do.

Smith remembers, even as an 8-year-old, feeling very strongly that she didn’t want to sit down while recording. “It was important to me to get the full power of my voice, the physicality of it,” she said. “I certainly remember that after a couple hours of recording, I would just absolutely crash. It’s amazing to me today how much energy I poured into that microphone.”

In 2024, Smith revealed that she was living with the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis. After a major relapse, and at Bartlett’s urging, she set up an online fundraiser to ease the financial strain of medical treatment. The page was shared widely among Hey Arnold! fans; Bartlett also helped raise funds by auctioning off original Hey Arnold! cels and hand-painted backgrounds.

It was an indication of the warm and tender feelings viewers still had for Helga and “Hey Arnold!” that Smith’s funding goal was surpassed in a matter of days. “No one is stronger than Helga G. Pataki,” one Reddit user wrote.

“It made such a real impact,” said Smith, emotional at the memory of it. “I’m so grateful.”

Still groovin’ after all these years

The fandom for Hey Arnold! hasn’t wavered and remains as strong as ever three decades later. There have been 10 vinyl pressings of Hey Arnold! music tracks since 2020. More recently, the show’s composer Jim Lang and his group, the PS 118 All Stars, announced a string of concert dates, playing music from the show around the country, with Bartlett as a special guest vocalist.

Bartlett has also been approached by Paramount Global Publishing to write a novel version of his Helga spinoff idea The Patakis and is currently in talks about a Hey Arnold! graphic novel.

The concerts are a great showcase of Lang’s groovy, down-tempo tunes —  Hey Arnold! undoubtedly turned a bunch of young viewers onto jazz — but they’re also a chance for millennial fans to bask in their memories.

Juan Escalante, who attended a concert in August, was transported right back to his childhood bedroom in Venezuela, “when I wished I had a cool room like Arnold’s!”

“Hey Arnold! felt like a kids’ show that allowed kids to see themselves,” he said, “and their imaginations reflected back at them.”

Stream Hey Arnold! The Music, Vol. 1: https://nickelodeon.lnk.to/HeyArnold_Vol1

From TODAY:

As ‘Hey Arnold’ Turns 30, Its Creator Reflects On Show’s Portrayal of Real, Raw Topics

“Everyone was trying to figure out how to make their cartoon have its own unique corner,” showrunner Craig Bartlett says. “And for me, it was emotional authenticity.”

Between its iconic jazzy saxophone intro music, the wacky personalities at P.S. 118 and Football Head’s teenage dream of a bedroom, “Hey Arnold!” has charmed millennials for decades, uniting ‘90s kids of all backgrounds.

But ask anyone for the most memorable part of the Nickelodeon program and they’ll likely point to the show’s depth — the episodes that bore into loss, the struggle to fit in and the undeniable complexity of childhood.

As fans wrap their minds around the show’s 30th anniversary in October, creator Craig Bartlett is reflecting on the enduring love for “Hey Arnold!,” particularly for the cartoon’s refusal to shy away from the raw and real. Bartlett tells TODAY.com that it’s all been rewarding as that’s exactly what the show set out to do.

“You know, everyone was trying to figure out how to make their cartoon have its own unique corner, where it was different from everything else,” Bartlett says. “And for me, it was emotional authenticity.”

Anchored around friendly fourth-grader Arnold Shortman, the show, which premiered on October 7, 1996, ran for five seasons across nearly eight years. While the program had no shortage of laughs, it was the cartoon’s handling of issues like depression, addiction, poverty and more that, many viewers say, made it stand out.

Episode “Arnold’s Christmas” from Season 1, for example, looks into the backstory of character Mr. Hyunh, who, it’s revealed, is a refugee who was tragically separated from his infant daughter amid the Fall of Saigon, the historic event that marked the end of the Vietnam War.

In another episode later on in the series, character Chocolate Boy attempts to get over his addiction to chocolate. As Arnold helps him throughout his journey, Chocolate Boy reveals that his attachment to the candy stems from a beloved nanny he had when he was young, who gave him a bag of chocolate upon her departure from the family.

And who could forget the episode in which the gruff and tough Helga sits down with a school psychologist. It’s through the therapy sessions that it’s revealed that under her hard exterior is a girl from a dysfunctional household who’s felt largely forgotten by her parents. Helga’s obsession with Arnold, the episode shows, goes back to a moment on her first day of preschool. While her parents paid her no mind, leaving her to walk alone in the rain, Arnold, it turns out, is the first to notice Helga that day and display any semblance of kindness to her.

The showrunner explains that the franchise actually started off as claymation shorts that appeared on “Sesame Street.” In those shorts, Arnold was five years old. But Bartlett “grew him up” for Nickelodeon, he says.

"Hey Arnold!" started out as a claymation
"Hey Arnold!" started out as a claymation. Courtesy of Craig Bartlett

“He was meant to be like me when I was little, and I was kind of bored with everything, and a daydreamer that was not present in some ways,” Bartlett says. “By the time we got him into growing him up into ‘Hey Arnold!’ he was a fourth grader who did things with friends, but he still was a dreamer — you’d imagine he had a real kind of freeform imagination, and that was how it started.”

Bartlett says that much of his inspiration was drawn from the 1965 animated classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” In it, main character Charlie Brown fails to feel the holiday cheer, despite the warmth and celebration of the season. Bartlett says that the film’s acknowledgement of its main character’s melancholy was deeply comforting to him as a kid.

“I was so affected by ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ — that he was bummed and he knew he was supposed to love Christmas and be happy, but it wasn’t there,” Bartlett explains.

The iconic voice cast of "Hey Arnold!"
The iconic voice cast of "Hey Arnold!" Courtesy of Craig Bartlett

It’s reflective, he adds, of the sense of “yearning” often felt in those younger years.

“That describes childhood to me. You’re … hoping for cool things, and not necessarily having it,” he says “That, I think, was really key. It was what I was trying to convey.”

Bartlett says that as he created the show, he aimed to reflect some of those heavier emotions that children naturally feel. While many of the topics that were told through the eyes of the show’s characters were often serious in nature, Bartlett explains that he and his staff weren’t worried about whether kids would get it.

“We trusted that kids were living lives like that,” Bartlett says, raising Helga’s story as an example. “Some were living lives like they felt unseen like Helga.”

The show was also one of the first cartoons to feature kids voicing kids. And the young, tween actors at the time who provided the oh-so-memorable voices of the cast, from Lane Toran as Arnold to Francesca Marie Smith as Helga, also inspired much of the writing and injected personality into the characters, Bartlett says.

The storylines weren’t the only aspect that gave the show its authentic feel. Bartlett says that the music from composer Jim Lang was essential to conveying the show’s raw emotions.

“The music went hand in hand. Jim took all those ideas and turned them into really good, bummed-out music,” Bartlett says. “It’s about being bummed. And I just thought Jim, he really intensified that feeling. I can’t picture those episodes without the music.”


Bartlett adds that the freedom that the crew had to experiment with themes and storylines played a big part in bringing those meaningful lessons on screen. At the time, Bartlett says, Nickelodeon essentially gave the group free-reign to play.

“It’s hard to believe that the network let us operate that way, but they did. They just left us alone, mostly to do our thing,” he says.

The moment, he says, was perfect.

“You really got the vibe it was time for us to do our own thing, and that they were really going to let us do it,” he says. “It was just such good times for everybody. Nick was making tons of money, and so they were like, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix.’”

While the show ended in 2004, it got one final curtain call with the 2017 television flick, “Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie.” Since then, there’s been no shortage of love for the show. Lang has even taken the music back on the road with project PS 118 All Stars, in which the band behind the iconic songs plays the tracks live for audiences across the U.S. Bartlett is a special guest for many of the dates.

Though fans have long called for a “Hey Arnold!” revival, Bartlett says he isn’t certain whether there will be anymore Arnold Shortman stories on our future screens.

For now, he says he’s happy to be joining shows as part of the PS 118 All Stars, comparing the tour experience to that of Mr. Hyunh in the episode “Mr. Hyunh Goes Country.”

“I’m super grateful I got to do 100 half-hours and two movies eventually,” Bartlett says. “If there’s no more Arnold TV or movies, I’m glad that it ended so, so nicely.”

###


Craig Bartlett reveals the heart behind ‘Hey Arnold’ and clears up a long standing fan theory

More than two decades after its debut, Hey Arnold! continues to hold a special place in the hearts of animation fans. The Nickelodeon series became known for its memorable characters, emotional storytelling, and a city that felt both gritty and magical. While many viewers still remember Arnold's distinctive football shaped head, creator Craig Bartlett says every design choice was made with purpose. Looking back on the beloved series, Bartlett recently shared the creative inspirations behind the show and addressed one of its most debated fan theories.

Bartlett explained that Arnold's unusual appearance was designed to make the character instantly recognizable. Inspired by advice from Simpsons creator Matt Groening, he wanted Arnold to stand out even as a simple silhouette on screen. The original design began as a clay character with an exaggerated football shaped head, creating a look unlike any other television cartoon at the time. That bold artistic decision helped transform Arnold into one of Nickelodeon's most iconic animated characters and gave the series an instantly recognizable identity that remains popular with audiences today.

The interview also gave Bartlett the chance to settle a theory that has circulated online for years. One of the show's most emotional episodes follows the lonely Pigeon Man, whose mysterious departure led some fans to speculate that the story symbolized suicide. Bartlett firmly rejected that interpretation, explaining that the ending was always intended to be hopeful. In his vision, Pigeon Man simply flew away with his feathered companions to begin a peaceful new life, eventually imagining him caring for pigeons in Paris. By addressing the theory directly, Bartlett reaffirmed the optimistic message that has always been central to the series.

Beyond its memorable characters, Hey Arnold! stood out because of its unique setting. Bartlett revealed that the fictional city was inspired by places that shaped his own life, including Seattle, Portland, and Brooklyn. The result was a fictional neighborhood that blended urban realism with warmth and imagination. Arnold's famous attic bedroom, complete with its skylight and rooftop escape, became one of the show's most admired locations. Bartlett also credited the novels of Gabriel García Márquez as a major influence, drawing on the literary style of magical realism to make ordinary city life feel quietly extraordinary without losing its emotional authenticity.

For Bartlett, the greatest reward has never been the show's popularity but its lasting impact on viewers. He believes children's television carries tremendous responsibility because young audiences often remember its messages for life. Many fans have written to him describing how the series gave them hope during difficult moments and encouraged them to make the best of challenging circumstances. Those heartfelt stories confirm that Hey Arnold! was always about kindness, resilience, and empathy. Years after its original run, the series continues to inspire new generations while reminding longtime fans why its gentle optimism has endured for so long.

###

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Thursday, October 08, 2026

Craig Bartlett In Talks For 'The Patakis' Novel, 'Hey Arnold!' Graphic Novel Revival

Hey Arnold! writer and producer Joe Purdy set the record straight on whether the classic Nickelodeon show is on its way back.

Update (10/8): Craig Bartlett has revealed that he has been approached by Paramount Global Publishing to write a novel version of his Helga spinoff idea The Patakis and is currently in talks about a Hey Arnold! graphic novel.

Update (8/20): Unfortunately the reports are not true. Craig Bartlett himself has confirmed to X/Twitter account Hey Arnold Perfect Shots that there are currently no talks with Paramount for a Hey Arnold! revival.

However, it's not all bad news: to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hey Arnold!, a The Music of Hey Arnold! Live tour has been announced, featuring Jim Lang, the PS 118 Players, and special appearances by Craig Bartlett!

Update (8/25): In a post on his official Instagram, Craig Bartlett commented: "Here to tell you that the stories this week about being in talks w Paramount are not true. Joe made some comments that were taken out of context. Sorry gang, but don’t worry, there’s lots of Arnold stuff to keep me busy all year!"

Gerald and Arnold from 'Hey Arnold!'
Nickelodeon

Hey Arnold! writer Joe Purdy recently addressed the possibility of a revival of the beloved animated Nickelodeon series. Created by Craig Bartlett, Hey Arnold! chronicled the everyday adventures of fourth-grader Arnold Shortman as he navigated friendship, family, and the chaos of the fictional city of Hillwood. The series premiered on Nickelodeon on October 7, 1996, and ran for five seasons and 100 episodes, along with a theatrical film, before concluding its run on June 8, 2004. In 2017, Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie delivered the long-awaited closure fans had sought for more than a decade when Arnold goes on a search for his long-missing parents.

During an interview with The Direct at MultiCon 2026, Hey Arnold! writer and producer Joe Purdy was asked if there have been recent conversations about reviving the Nickelodeon series. Purdy confirmed that discussions are "absolutely" happening amongst decision-makers at Paramount, the parent company of Nickelodeon:

"Absolutely. Yes, yes, yes. There is an ever-changing environment of the business and people who are making decisions. It's the cliche story... But be sure we are [having conversations]."

Purdy's remarks about the "ever-changing environment" of the business are tied to the major leadership changes at Paramount since Skydance Media's acquisition of the company. The $8 billion deal closed in August 2025, ending decades of Redstone family control and installing Skydance founder David Ellison as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Paramount Skydance. 

When pressed further about potential storylines and aging up characters in a reboot, Purdy emphasized that any future story would keep the characters only  "a year or two older:"

"Absolutely, good question. We're asked that a lot. Would they be much older? Probably not. I think a year or two older. They're so beloved."

Asked whether the series would remain set in the '90s, Purdy said he is unsure, but he pointed out that adding "some technology" could enrich the story while teasing that they are "ready to go" with several ideas and storylines if given the chance: 

"I don't know still in the.... I think it's just to add some technology, also.  It'd be a little strange, if not. So, that would definitely be a huge difference. We have many, many ideas and storylines, so we're sort of ready to go. But I don't think it would be an abrupt, 'They're in high school.'"

Hey Arnold! cast of characters
Nickelodeon

The Direct also spoke with Hey Arnold! creator Craig Bartlett about the potential of seeing a revival. Reflecting on how the series might evolve, Bartlett emphasized the enduring nostalgia for the 1990s while stressing the importance of acknowledging change: 

"So, we talk about the '90s, which is really the conversation, because people are so nostalgic for the '90s, and for good reason. There's a lot going on. It was really booming. It was boom times. When we got the chance to make The Jungle Movie, that came out in 2017. So already, almost 20 years had gone by, and so the question was, 'What's happened to Arnold's neighborhood?' And we had some gentrification going on. So, I would continue that gentrification thing, and... If you think about, I always like Brooklyn as a model, because Brooklyn has been gentrified like crazy in my lifetime, and it's kind of good and bad, and I think that would be kind of the interesting story: what's good about the changes and the progress, and what's been lost?"

Bartlett then addressed what narrative opportunities a modern reboot of Hey Arnold! could explore that were less feasible during the original run, noting that the show would likely still avoid overt politics and create stories that can hold up over time:

"Yeah, we probably would still not be political... You had to be careful not to be too topical, is kind of the main point, because cartoons are supposed to be evergreen. They're supposed to be, a '90s cartoon can play perfectly well now, because we had an eye toward that. And technology keeps changing. That's the biggest change is technology. And when we made 'The Jungle Movie' in 2017, we gave Rhonda a cell phone, but all the other kids didn't have one. I think they'd all have to have smartphones now, I'm afraid. And maybe that would be one of the things we'd talk about; Attention spans getting frayed by having a little computer in your hand all day long."

Interest in expanding the Hey Arnold! universe is nothing new. In July 2022, a supposed spinoff for Hey Arnold! focusing on Helga Pataki and her dysfunctional family made headlines after pages from an old show bible surfaced online (later covered by Collider). Bartlett confirmed in an April 2023 interview on Jordan Fringe's YouTube channel that the leaked materials were genuine. The project, titled The Patakis, had been pitched around 2000 as a more mature continuation aimed at Nick at Nite or MTV, following a teenage Helga after Arnold had moved away.

Revivals are nothing new for beloved shows from earlier generations. Ben 10 had its own revival that introduced major redesigns for its aliens and a fresh continuity, while other franchises took varied approaches. This ranged from faithful continuations like Samurai Jack's Adult Swim return to full-scale reboots of hit cartoons like Rugrats in 2021 and The Powerpuff Girls in 2016. In 2019, Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, a TV movie based on another of Nickelodeon's beloved '90s Nicktoons, bowed on Netflix, and saw Rocko, Heffer and Filburt blast back down to earth following the events of the series finale and grapple with modern life today.

More than two decades after its original run ended and nearly a decade after The Jungle Movie provided a well-earned closure, Hey Arnold! could still have a revival to expand and deeply explore the characters in a modern setting.

Joe Purdy and Craig Bartlett's comments at MultiCon 2026 paint a consistent picture of what a Hey Arnold! reboot would look like: one that keeps the core characters and tone largely intact, with only modest updates for technology and the evolving neighborhood rather than a radical reinvention.

Potential storylines could build on those ideas. Arnold and his friends might grapple with the arrival of smartphones, while the town could face challenges from new establishments such as coffee shops and art galleries. Characters like Phoebe could navigate academic pressure, while Gerald could still continue inventing elaborate urban legends with their own modern takes.

With a dedicated fanbase that has kept the series alive through petitions and reunions, and with the original talent prepared with creative ideas, a proper continuation would not only satisfy longtime viewers but also introduce a new generation to one of Nickelodeon's most empathetic and enduring stories - and smooth jazz.

It's important to note that, at the time of posting, a Hey Arnold! revival is still to be given the greenlight.

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Originally published: August 19, 2026 at 00:00 BST.

Sources: ScreenRant, Mandatory, ComingSoon, @ToonHive; Update H/T: Special thanks to @TVShowsFan and @digirangerscott!

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Republic Records: Kids & Family, Nickelodeon & Paramount+ Mark 30 Years of 'Hey Arnold!' With First-Ever Streaming Release of Its Music

REPUBLIC RECORDS: KIDS & FAMILY, NICKELODEON & PARAMOUNT+ MARK 30 YEARS OF HEY ARNOLD! WITH FIRST-EVER STREAMING RELEASE OF ITS MUSIC

HEY ARNOLD! THE MUSIC, VOL. 1 BRINGS JIM LANG’S GENRE-BLENDING SCORE, 39 TRACKS IN TOTAL, TO STREAMING ON THE EXACT DAY THE SERIES PREMIERE

LISTEN TO HEY ARNOLD! THE MUSIC, VOL. 1 HERE

'Hey Arnold! The Music, Vol. 1' Artwork

NEW YORK, NY (October 7th, 2026) Thirty years after Hey Arnold! first aired on Nickelodeon, its music is finally on streaming. Republic Records: Kids & Family, Nickelodeon, and Paramount+ release Hey Arnold! The Music, Vol. 1 today, the same date the series premiered on October 7th, 1996. The 39-track collection is available on all streaming platforms and is the first time music from the series has been officially released digitally.

Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie

Composer Jim Lang gave the show’s city a sound as recognizable as Arnold’s football-shaped head or the stoop Stoop Kid refused to leave. He mixed jazz, hip-hop, funk, Latin rhythms, and orchestral scoring, a combination that was rare on kids’ TV in the 1990s.

Hey Arnold!: The Movie

The album runs from the opening “Theme 98” and the closing “Stompin’ (End Credits)” to character pieces such as “Helga’s Love Theme,” “Phil Steps Out (Grandpa’s Theme),” “Harold’s Boogie,” and “Home wit Jerome.” It also includes “The Simple Things,” “Hip Hopera,” “Eugene! Eugene!,” and “When Life Gives You Lemons, Dance!”

Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie

Lang’s music did more than sit behind the action. It set the pace of Arnold and Gerald’s neighborhood adventures, and it carried Helga’s quieter, more vulnerable moments and the show’s more serious episodes. Over the run of the series, he kept experimenting and introducing young viewers to jazz and its offshoots without losing the show’s humor.

Hey Arnold!

“I genuinely wish I could tell my childhood self that one day I would get to help release the music from Hey Arnold!,” said Bree Bowles, Senior Vice President, Republic Records: Kids & Family. “I used to race home from school every day to watch the show. It was my absolute favorite growing up, and the music is such a huge part of what made it special. Jim created a sound that was completely its own and, 30 years later, it still immediately takes you back to that world.”

Arnold Shortman

Created by Craig Bartlett, Hey Arnold! follows Arnold, a football-headed fourth grader who lives with his grandparents in a boarding house full of eccentric tenants. Along with his best friend, Gerald, and classmates including Helga, Harold, Phoebe, Rhonda, and Eugene, he deals with the ups and downs of growing up in the city. The series ran five seasons and became known for stories about friendship and family that never talked down to its young audience.

Hey Arnold! The Music, Vol. 1 is available now on all streaming platforms.

HEY ARNOLD! THE MUSIC, VOL. 1 TRACKLIST:
  1. “Theme 98”
  2. “Ice Me Down”
  3. “Idea Montage”
  4. “The A Game”
  5. “Home wit Jerome”
  6. “Chalk on the Wall”
  7. “Wyze Gyze”
  8. “Phil Steps Out (Grandpa’s Theme)”
  9. “The Weather Channel”
  10. “Harold’s Boogie”
  11. “Janxed”
  12. “Checkmate”
  13. “A Crazy Night”
  14. “Invisible Hippo”
  15. “Parents Day”
  16. “Helga’s Love Theme”
  17. “Groove Remote”
  18. “Stompin’ (End Credits)”
  19. “You Crazy Cat”
  20. “Pop Daddy Remix”
  21. “Smashed”
  22. “Slippage”
  23. “Rats”
  24. “Salt! Salt!”
  25. “Arnold Habanera”
  26. “Curlamillo”
  27. “Ride of BrunHelga”
  28. “Hip Hopera”
  29. “The Simple Things”
  30. “In Da House”
  31. “My Last Bow”
  32. “Old Tomorrow”
  33. “I Will Prevail”
  34. “I’ll Hit Me!”
  35. “The Engineer’s Song”
  36. “Better Not Touch My Gal”
  37. “Eugene! Eugene!”
  38. “Nice Guys Finish Last”
  39. “When Life Gives You Lemons, Dance!”

SHARE IT: @RepublicKids @Nickelodeon @ParamountPlus

###
Lyrics:

Smashed

Darling, you left my heart
in pieces on the floor
So tell me why shouldn’t I
Break some things of yours?

I’ll smash your lamp, the antique chair
That stupid thing you always wear;
I’ll smash a vase, the radio
Those little teacups from Limoges;

Your whacky paintings on the walls;
Darling, POW, I’ll smash them all;
Lover, it’s just a game;
Cupid can take the blame;
I’ll take the place apart

But don’t worry, I won’t smash your heart!

Not me - maybe some other clown, but I’m not gonna smash your heart,
Baby – you’re talking to Dino over here

Hip Hopera

The opera? What a waste of a good field trip!

Contests of brute strength,
wrestling in the mud!

I'm looking for some music to listen to

Curly's the best;

That's right—
tastes so good it's right

Arnold's a dud!

Figaro...

Helga, you should really get a clue;

Whatever you say —
that's right —
what's a Torero?

Curlamillo's for you!
Arnold is last week's news—
He's overdue;

Figaro-ro-ro-ro

Curly's the one...for you!

This is over!

The Engineer's Song

Sometimes, late at night,
you can hear the whistle wail
with a spooky, screechy sound
like a wheel gone off the rail

And up in the smoky clouds,
you can almost recognize
the ghost of a crazy engineer
with fiery cinder eyes

I say, whoo-whoo!
I’m waiting on the haunted train?
Heh heh
Whoo-whoo!
I’m waiting on a haunted train
Heh heh

We’re gonna, crash your engine,
only sticks and stones
and old conductors' bones remain...

Whoo-whoo

Choo-choo baby
Heh heh heh heh

I'll Hit Me

1, 2, 3, unh!
Watch me! Hey!
Watch me! Hey!

Now you think–
you got to put me down
Now you think–
you got to push me all around

But wait, don't hit me!
I'll hit me!
To the bridge!

Hey, alright
Got to, got to
C'mon
Got to
Feel it, huh, in your body
Baby, man, hey!

I got a date
I got to, got to, got to break a plate
Don't hit me,
Unh
I'll hit me!
Unh, unh
I'm crazy!
Unh, unh, unh!
YEAAAAAAH!

In Da House

I’m in da house, baby
Baby, baby
Stylin’

Dino’s in the house
Ha ha ho- ho house
With my homeboys

Fresh
Fre fre fresh
Fresh

Dino
Ra ra ra raps
The raps
Fresh baby
The rat boys

Eugene! Eugene!

Eugene! Eugene!
Eugene! Eugene!

Who's the pluckiest,
life is duckiest
Gosh darn unluckiest,
watch out for that truckiest
Fella you've ever seen?

Eugene! Eungene!
Eugene! Eugene!

Who's the jolliest,
trip and falliest
By gosh, by golliest,
watch out for that trolleyest
Fella who's ever been?

Eugene! Eugene!
Eugene! Eugene!
Eugeneeee

My Last Bow

I once was king,
That day is gone;
I've been dethroned
and stoned
By the uncaring throng

They're bringing down
That curtain now
I guess it's time
For my last bow

Life was a gas,
But that gas has passed;
I've gone from top of the pops
To the back of the class

Auf wiedersehen
Adieu and ciao;
Baby it’s time
For my last bow

Curlamillo

I'm so fine,
the girls know I'm divine;
The thing is, I'm sublime —
it's really true, you know;

Check out my cuspidor! I'm what you're looking for;
Helga, won't you dump this guy and come to my bullfights?

Bullfights, huh?

Bullfights and swordfights,
rolling in manure;
Blows to the head,
I can endure!
Fighting bulls is all I want in life
Plus I could use a wife,

And several pairs of tights
in shades of blue;

Helga, please say "I Do"!

Arnold Habanera

My name's Don Arnold...please have a caramel;
Your hair is lovely — do you like my pants?

They're made of satin; the cape's pure Latin —
I had it tailored in the south of France!

The south of France — your satin pants;
Why don't you ask the lady for a dance?

It's time for your decision!

It's almost intermission!

Hey, Arnold — you better ask her to dance!

Rats

Rats — we're rats —We're furry and forlorn;
We live in sewers, love in sewers,
And our hearts are torn;
We laugh, we cry,
We sing in harmony;
I love her — but I love him —
And darn it, he loves me!
Ohhh... Rats, Rats, Rats, Rats, Rats!

Nibble, nibble, nibble, nibble,
Underneath the grimy street;
What a dreary kibble life is;
What a bitter dish, de-feat;
The rodent's life is pain,

Impotent and inane —
There's only one thing worse than Cats;
Rats — we're rats —
We're maudlin and repressed;
We live in sewers, love in sewers,
That's why we're depressed!

And oh, the pain,
We need to share with you,
And in three hours,
You're gonna feel it too!

Ohhh... Rats — Rats, Rats, Rats!

Old Tomorrow

Lilac and sunshine,
that was yesterday
Through poppies wild,
We run for miles
Galloping into an endless maze

So blue is the sky we dreamed upon
How could the day turn out so wrong?
And leave me lost and longing for yesterday

But, we’ve got tomorrow
Who needs yesterday?
‘Cause old tomorrow’s always just a day away

Where this road will lead to
No one can say
We’ll count the miles (we’ll count the miles)
It takes awhile (it takes awhile)
And we’ll share the smiles along the way (wayyy)

‘Cause, we got tomorrow (we got it)
Who needs yesterday? (who needs it)
‘Cause old tomorrow’s only just a day away

Hooooa
We got tomorrow (we got it)
Who needs yesterday? (Who needs it?)
‘cause old tomorrow’s only just a day away

Heyyy
Old tomorrow’s only just a day away

Away

You Crazy Cat

Arnold, you crazy cat
In your nutty hat
I really love the way your head is shaped like that

Heyyy Arnold, push button whiz
Won’t you please tell me what your last name is

Swingin’ with Gerald
While Harold whines
And Helga shrines at your
Arnold…
Nickelodeon’s own
But is it Wednesday’s in the Nickel-o-zone

Nice Guys Finish Last

Well, I guess it’s true what they say, Betty,
What’s that Lawrence?

Nice guys finish last
Bad guys have a blast
Take his money—
Grab his honey
Dump that loser fast

No, no, no!
We’ve gone over this for two weeks!
Bigger, meaner, nastier

Who cares if you're nice?
Nice guys pay the price
Life lambasts them,
While jerks cruise past them,
Right to the head of the class
Because nice guys…
Finish last!

Pop Daddy Remix

(Pop Pop)
Pop Daddy
(Pop Pop Pop Daddy)
Sing it Pop Daddy

You know, you know
I love them little turns (Pop)
Like taking candy from a baby (Daddy)
I mean, you my su- sugar daddy
Check it out

(Pop Daddy)
Give Pop Daddy some sugar baby
(Pop)
Pop Daddy (Daddy)
Hey, someday you gon’ learn
Crime don’t pay

(Pop)
Pop Daddy
(Pop Daddy)
(Pop Pop Pop Daddy)
Pop Daddy’s takin you downtown today

I do? I do
That’s what I said ‘innit
Takin’ care and become a lil lil- little old baby

Are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’

Ride of BrunHelga

Ruth is a lightweight—
a giggling geek-bait;
I need to thrash her—
that's what I said!
Ruth is a loser!
How could you choose her?
How could you do that, football head?

Football head! Football head!

To show my contempt,
her picture I shred!

Helga's a viking!

Sure is exciting!

I'm gonna thump her right on the head!

Oh yeah? How?

With my golden magic slingshot!

Golden magic slingshot?

Golden magic slingshot?

I thought it was spear and a magic helmet.

No—
with my golden magic slingshot!
Doi!

Salt! Salt!

Salt, salt,
whiten demons
Save us from
the evil demons

That was close
Salt, salt,
pure white wonder
Save us from
the man down under

Phew!
That was close.

Phew! Phew! That was close.

Salt, salt,
we are feeble
Save us from
the Devil's evil
Phew,
that was close

Salt, salt
from the ocean
Save us from
the devil's potion
Phew!

Salt, salt,
queen of spices
Save us from
the Devil's vices

Phew, that was close
Salt, salt,
chilling starkness
Save us from
the Prince of Darkness

That was close.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Dance!

When life gives you lemons, dance!
Dance like there's a muskrat in your pants!
When your toes are tappin',
Nothin' bad can happen!
When life gives you lemons, dance!

When they kick you in the rear, don't miss your chance!
Dance like your pants are full of ants!
When you're caught in a downpour
With nothing to live for
Strike your most spirited stance!
And Dance!

(Let 'em know your life is sweet!)

Dance!

(Till the juice gets on your feet!)

You can breakdance, or tango,
Or frug, or fandango,
Or hula,
But don't miss your chance!!

When life give you lemons...
Dance!
Dance!!
Dance!!!

Slippage

Slippage
Slippage, slippage

Slippage
Slip-, slip-, slippage
Slippage, slippage

Slippage

I hear…the word slippage…
One more time I’ll-

Slip slip
Slip slip
Slip slip
Slip

Slippage

Better Not Touch My Gal

You better not touch my gal
Or I'll pop you in the kisser, pal;
You better not even try,
Or you'll be lookin' at a big black eye!

So listen good
you two-bit hood,
I'll give you to the count of ten,
And if you're not gone by the crack of dawn,
You'll never eat solid food again!

Oh grandma you’ve still got it in you

The Simple Things

You can offer me a diamond-plated pearl;
You can send me all the riches in the world;
You can tempt me with the palaces of kings;
I'd give 'em back in a big ol' sack and keep the simple things

I've got the simple things;
I've got the rain in spring
Got spicy chicken wings,
and French-fried onion rings

You can line me up a mile of limousines;
For me it don't add up to a hill o' beans;
I got no hankerin' for grabbin' your brass ring;
It's crystal clear - I'll stay right here and keep the simple things

I've got the summer breeze,
got 16 cans of peas
A two-speed window fan
when it's 93 degrees

So forgive me for not grabbin' your brass ring;
It's crystal clear - I'll stay right here and keep the simple things
It's crystal clear - I'll stay right here and keep the simple things

Theme 98

A here we go, a here we...

Arnold!
Hey, Arnold!

Hey, Arnold!
Arnold!
Arnold!
Arnold!

Arnold!
Move it, Footballhead
Hey, Arnold!

I Will Prevail

I will prevail! (Sing it!)
I will prevail! (Yes!)

You may have thrown me out the door
but I won't cry or weep or wail!
Oh, we'll weather this storm too!
Yes, we'll keep on smiling through!
And while I'm turning blue,
I'll simply send my thanks to you.
(Oh thank you!)

I will prevail, right through this gale!
(This windy gale!)
Right through wind and snow and ice and rain and sleet and fog and hail!

I will prevail! (You will prevail)
I will prevail! (You will prevail)
We will prevail!

Ahhh, ahhh, ah!

Hey Arnold The Music Vol. 1 - Album Credits

TRACK 1:
Theme 98 Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Theme 98
Track timing: 00:47
ISRC: QT9792611040
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 2:
Ice Me Down Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Ice Me Down
Track timing: 00:54
ISRC: QT9792611041
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 3:
Idea Montage Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Idea Montage
Track timing: 00:33
ISRC: QT9792611042
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 4:
The A Game Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: The A Game
Track timing: 00:39
ISRC: QT9792611043
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 5:
Home wit Jerome Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Home wit Jerome
Track timing: 00:55
ISRC: QT9792611044
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 6:
Chalk on the Wall Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Chalk on the Wall
Track timing: 01:16
ISRC: QT9792611045
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 7:
Wyze Gyze Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Wyze Gyze
Track timing: 00:50
ISRC: QT9792611046
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 8:
Phil Steps Out (Grandpa’s Theme) Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Phil Steps Out (Grandpa’s Theme)
Track timing: 00:58
ISRC: QT9792611047
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 9:
The Weather Channel Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: The Weather Channel
Track timing: 01:12
ISRC: QT9792611048
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 10:
Harold’s Boogie Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Harold’s Boogie
Track timing: 01:25
ISRC: QT9792611049
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 11:
Janxed Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Janxed
Track timing: 01:21
ISRC: QT9792611050
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 12:
Checkmate Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Checkmate
Track timing: 00:53
ISRC: QT9792611051
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 13:
A Crazy Night Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: A Crazy Night
Track timing: 01:20
ISRC: QT9792611052
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 14:
Invisible Hippo Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Invisible Hippo
Track timing: 01:47
ISRC: QT9792611053
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 15:
Parents Day Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Parents Day
Track timing: 01:37
ISRC: QT9792611054
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 16:
Helga’s Love Theme Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Helga’s Love Theme
Track timing: 00:49
ISRC: QT9792611055
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 17:
Groove Remote Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Groove Remote
Track timing: 01:30
ISRC: QT9792611056
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 18:
Stompin’ (End Credits) Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Stompin’ (End Credits)
Track timing: 01:51
ISRC: QT9792611057
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 19:
You Crazy Cat Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: You Crazy Cat
Track timing: 00:30
ISRC: QT9792611058
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (50%) / Eric Alan (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 20:
Pop Daddy Remix Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Pop Daddy Remix
Track timing: 00:48
ISRC: QT9792611059
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 21:
Smashed Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Smashed
Track timing: 01:00
ISRC: QT9792611060
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(75%) / Rachel Lipman (12.5%) / Steve Viksten (12.5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 22:
Slippage Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Slippage
Track timing: 00:48
ISRC: QT9792611061
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 23:
Rats Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Rats
Track timing: 01:37
ISRC: QT9792611062
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (90%) / Steve Viksten (10%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 24:
Salt! Salt! Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Salt! Salt!
Track timing: 00:45
ISRC: QT9792611063
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (50%) / Craig Bartlett (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 25:
Arnold Habanera Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Arnold Habanera
Track timing: 00:43
ISRC: QT9792611064
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Georges Bizet arranged by Jim Lang (50%) / Craig Bartlett (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 26:
Curlamillo Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Curlamillo
Track timing: 01:08
ISRC: QT9792611065
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Georges Bizet arranged by Jim Lang (50%) / Craig Bartlett (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 27:
Ride of BrunHelga Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Ride of BrunHelga
Track timing: 01:48
ISRC: QT9792611066
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Georges Bizet arranged by Jim Lang (50%) / Craig Bartlett (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 28:
Hip Hopera Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Hip Hopera
Track timing: 00:43
ISRC: QT9792611067
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (50%) / Craig Bartlett (50%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 29:
The Simple Things Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: The Simple Things
Track timing: 01:24
ISRC: QT9792611068
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Craig Bartlett (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 30:
In Da House Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: In Da House
Track timing: 00:15
ISRC: QT9792611069
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 31:
My Last Bow Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: My Last Bow
Track timing: 01:17
ISRC: QT9792611070
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (90%) / Steve Viksten (10%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 32:
Old Tomorrow Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Old Tomorrow
Track timing: 01:32
ISRC: QT9792611071
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Craig Bartlett (100%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 33:
I Will Prevail Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: I Will Prevail
Track timing: 00:46
ISRC: QT9792611072
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP) (62.5%) / Craig Bartlett (12.5%) / Joe Ansolabehere (12.5%) /
Steve Viksten (12.5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 34:
I’ll Hit Me! Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: I’ll Hit Me!
Track timing: 00:49
ISRC: QT9792611073
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(50%) / Craig Bartlett (16.66%) / Joe Ansolabehere (16.66%) /
Steve Viksten (16.67%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 35:
The Engineer’s Song Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: The Engineer’s Song
Track timing: 01:28
ISRC: QT9792611074
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(95%) / Josie Nericcio (5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 36:
Better Not Touch My Gal Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Better Not Touch My Gal
Track timing: 00:31
ISRC: QT9792611075
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(62.5%) / Jon Greenberg (12.5%) / Craig Bartlett (12.5%) / Steve
Viksten (12.5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 37:
Eugene! Eugene! Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Eugene! Eugene!
Track timing: 00:45
ISRC: QT9792611076
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(60%) / Michelle Lamoureaux (20%) / Craig Bartlett (20%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 38:
Nice Guys Finish Last Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: Nice Guys Finish Last
Track timing: 00:48
ISRC: QT9792611077
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(75%) / Michelle Lamoureaux (12.5%) / Craig Bartlett (12.5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

TRACK 39:
When Life Gives You Lemons, Dance! Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist roles: Programmer
Title: When Life Gives You Lemons, Dance!
Track timing: 00:48
ISRC: QT9792611078
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang (ASCAP)(75%) / Michelle Lamoureaux (12.5%) / Craig Bartlett (12.5%)
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)
ALBUM:
Hey Arnold Volume 1 Credits
Artist: Jim Lang
Artist Role: Programmer
Title: Hey Arnold Volume 1
Producer: Jim Lang
Writer: Jim Lang
Mix: Enjoy the Ride
Master: Enjoy the Ride
Publisher: HIRAETH MUSIC (ASCAP) (50%) / TUNES BY NICKELODEON (ASCAP) (50%)

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Originally published: October 08, 2026.


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