5 out of 5

…And on the 30th anniversary of that most Nickelodeon of shows, ‘Double Dare,’ leteth the dedicated gather at a night club to watch the matured victors of that most idealized of eras come together for a low-rent – but massively entertaining – 30 minute revamp of the original.

That pretty much says it all.

It would’ve been nice if they could have stocked this with a full cast of Nick all-stars instead of one Pete and some All That people (come on – All That was way past the Double Dare prime years), but it doesn’t matter: there’s an incredible positive energy rippling through this special that felt completely legitimate, and although you get the sense that it was hacksawed together on a gaffe, it’s pretty impressive that they put the props together that they did and wrangled them into a club space.  Your hosts are there, there are some choice (if generic) flashbacks, and there’s a healthy dose of slight discomfort that these are all adults celebrating the kiddiest of kidness: getting messy.  I could rate this lower but I really dug the DIY feel of it, and changing it into a more formal or planned-out affair might’ve stifled the seemingly sincere glee everyone seemed to get, as well as the joy of the contestants who won their random chance – years past it being considered possible – to be on the ‘show.’  Like, Hidden Temple, let me on it now, I’m ready to go.

Is there a new Double Dare around the corner?  Don’t be weird.