The Secret World of Alex Mack turns 30

 

It's was hard to believe that ER turned 30 years old last month, but now it's even harder to think that my all-time favorite Nickelodeon series also turned 30 years old today. 

So growing up watching Nickelodeon, in the early 90s, was a mega hit children's network with shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark, Rugrats, and Clarissa Explains It All, just to name a few, but it was one show that premiered on October 8th, 1994 that just amazed me and that was "The Secret World of Alex Mack."

The series starred Larisa Oleynik as Alex, who's starting her first day of school when all of a sudden gets in a chemical accident that spilled on her, giving her powers from telekinetic powers to turning herself into liquid. And Oleynik makes the character so believable in such an honest way (think E.T. for a teenager) that there is a care for the character that just pulled me in from the start. 

Along with Alex, there are some really good supporting characters from the Mack family with scientist father George, business mother Barbara, and smart sister Anne, all of which I wish I had a family like that growing up. And of course, you can't forget Alex's best friend Ray, who is such a great companion and pretty much represents us, the viewers, who's reacting the same way we would react when seeing Alex and her powers and also being her big support system. 

And how can you not forget Vince and Dave, the two people who try to hunt down Alex for their boss, Danielle Atron? Both Vince and Dave were like the comic relief on the show, the somewhat bad guys that try and try again to catch Alex. 

The series was a hit on Nickelodeon's Saturday night's SNICK program and soon became a staple for a few nights per week during its four-season run, all of which ended with Alex's secret being revealed, but did she ever take the cure to end her powers. 

This was my show as a kid; while there were Power Ranger fans, Batman the animated series fans, and X-Men fans that took over the '90s kids' airwaves, I was an Alex Mack fan. There was something special about the character that I could relate to and root for. And rewatching the pilot episode today, there's so much nostalgia that still gets me both emotionally and interested as a viewer. And the theme song is freakin' amazing too. 

On this 30th anniversary of the premiere of Alex Mack, I highly recommend watching it; there are episodes on YouTube, or you can order the complete series on Amazon. 

Were you a fan of Alex Mack? Can you believe its been 30 years since the show premiered? What did you like about the show? Leave your comment.