Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Whether it’s the smell of fresh cut grass, or the memory of cashing in on a big bet, reflecting on the past can elicit some intense emotions. Considering this, it’s no wonder many of us frequently revisit the beloved TV shows from our childhood, even as adults.
So, with that sense of whimsy filling our souls, IndianaBets.com took a break from covering Indiana sports betting to determine what classic cartoon show is the most popular in the Hoosier State. To come up with our results, we turned to Google Trends, comparing the search results for a long list of animated series from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early-2000s. The results reflect the 10 most-searched shows among Indiana residents for the time period between Feb. 28 and March 6, 2024.
“SpongeBob SquarePants” ranks out as the No. 1 most popular cartoon series in the state of Indiana. The show has been on since 1999, but you have to wonder how successful if would had been if it stuck to its original name. Creator Stephen Hillenburg’s planned to call his main character “SpongeBoy” before Nickelodeon’s legal team discovered that name was already taken.
At No. 2 is “Blue’s Clues.” The hybrid live action/animation series actually had two hosts during its run. First there was Steve (1996 to 2002), and then Joe (2002 to 2006). Episodes followed a dog named Blue and her attempts to communicate with Steve/Joe, as the host encouraged the young audience to guess what Blue was trying to say.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, “South Park” is No. 3 on our list of Indiana’s top nostalgic cartoons. The foul-mouthed misadventures of Cartman, Kyle, and Stan have been entertaining audiences since 1997. While we’re still awaiting the Season 27 premiere date, 2024 being an election year should provide plenty of ammunition for the show’s take-no-prisoners political humour.
Starring everyone’s favorite anamorphic aardvark, “Arthur” is Indiana’s fourth favorite cartoon show. The PBS series holds the distinction of being the longest-running animated children’s series in the United States. Arthur and his friends have been sharing life lessons with kids since 1996.
Like “SpongeBob,” No. 5 on our list, “Rugrats” debuted on Nickelodeon. Further down the list, Nick also claim “Hey Arnold!” at No. 8 and “The Fairly OddParents” tied for nonth.
Meanwhile, rival kids broadcaster The Cartoon Network’s only entry is “The Powerpuff Girls” (No. 6).As for the House of Mouse, they’re represented by “Recess” (7), which played the One Saturday Morning block on ABC in the late-90s before moving to the Disney Channel, where it shared air space with “Kim Possible” (10).
But regardless of which shows you like best, you can count on us to be here with the best Michigan betting apps when you flip the channel back to sports.
Author
Jeff Parker is an entertainment writer for IndianaBets.com. A writer for film, television and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with a Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full time as documentary filmmaker and producer.
