U-Pick Nick

U-Pick Nick was a live show produced by Nickelodeon. Along with touring, the show was also performed at the Dollywood and Silver Dollar City theme parks in Pigeon Forge, TN and Branson, MO, respectively.
==Show Content==
The game featured lively music and giant beach balls, presumably to entertain the audience while waiting for the show to begin. Hochenauer, Kelly. "Branson Provides Fun Family Entertainment". The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), 1996 Jul 7.
Volunteers were chosen from the audience to answer TV trivia questions and play games from Nickelodeon game shows like Family Double Dare, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Nickelodeon GUTS and What Would You Do?.Gibson, Lynn. "Dress Down For A Date With Slime". The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), 1997 Jul 14. 
Over the course of the show, three winners were slimed. The first would get "gas slime" (green confetti), the second would get "solid slime" (green ping pong balls), and the final would get liquid slime from the Sliminator."Nickelodeon 'Slime' Winner Is Local Boy". The Morning Call, 1997 Jul 22."People who have been hit by the "slime" from nickelodeon, what was it like?". Reddit, 2017 Jan 9. Other winners were rewarded with a pie in the face, a chance to use the Pie Pod or 
a trip to the Wall O' Stuff.Maes, Nancy. "Nickelodeon Live Show Is a Pie-In-The-Face Romp". Chicago Tribune, 1997 Aug 1997
Some of the games played included:
* One kid from each team is dressed in a gorilla suit and put in a cage. The other kid from the team throw water balloons shaped like bananas. The team that catches the most wins. Originally from Double Dare. CraigS1996Commercials. "(February 2 1997) WPMT-TV Fox 43 York/Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon Commercials". Daily Motion.
* One kid from each team climbs inside a set piece and down a pile of foam rubble to get puzzle pieces. The kid must then climb up the wall to throw the pieces to their team mate, who had to assemble the puzzle. The first team to correctly solve the puzzle wins. Originally from Legends of the Hidden Temple. 
* Members of both teams wear chicken helmets. Using their helmets beaks, they pop balloons in a giant bird feeder. The team who pops the most balloons in the time limit wins. Originally from Double Dare.Ianslide41. "Dollywood commercial 1997". YouTube, 2021 Jun 30. 
==Tour==
Tickets were $12 - $14. The show was sponsored by Kelloggs.
Over 80 members of the audience were invited on stage per show. People wishing to be selected were advised to be loud, wear outrageous clothes 
(especially green and orange), and bring a sign. 
The following shows are known:
Date 	Venue 	City 	State
1996 	Arizona State Fair 	Phoenix 	AZ"Arizona State Fair Concert History". Arizona State Fair.
February 2, 1997 	South Florida Fair 	West Palm Beach	FL"Coming Up". The News (Boca Raton, FL), 13 Dec 1996, 31C. Google Books. Accessed 14 Sep 2023.
February 15, 1997 	Hershey Park Arena 	Hershey 	PA
February 16, 1997 	Pepsi Arena 	Albany 	NY"YOU Could Sit On... The Big Orange Couch". The Sunday Gazette (Albany, NY), 26 Jan 1997, . Google Books. Accessed 14 Sep 2023.
February 17, 1997 	Cumberland County Civic Center 	Portland 	ME"Upcoming!" The Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME), 12 Feb 1997, Encore 8. Google Books. Accessed 14 Sep 2023.
April 6, 1997 	Farmington Civic Center 	Farmington 	MOAngler, David. "More than 2,000 turn out to get 'slimed' at Nickelodeon event". The Southeastern Missourian, 7 Apr 1997, 1A. Google Books. Accessed on 14 Sep 2023.
June 15, 1997 	Wolf Trap Concert Hall 	Vienna 	VA"School's out! Don't panic, Nickelodeon has a plan". The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), 12 Jun 1997, Weekender 23. Google Books. Accessed on 14 Sep 2023.
June 28, 1997 	Six Flags Great Adventure 	Jackson 	NJ"1997 Show Schedules". Great Adventure History".
June 29, 1997 	Six Flags Great Adventure 	Jackson 	NJ
July 6, 1997 	Meadow Brook Music Festival 	Rochester 	MIYonke, David. "Jazz and fireworks part of Fountain City festival". The Toledo Blade, 2 Jul 1997, Peach 5. Google Books. Accessed on 14 Sep 2023.
July 18, 1997 	Spokane Opera House 	Spokane 	WA
August 22, 1997 	Navy Pier's Skyline Stage 	Chicago 	IL
September 20, 1997	Naval submarine Base New London	Groton 	CTHamilton, Robert A. "Audience will have its way in Nickelodeon show at sub base". The Day (New London, CT), 19 Sep 1997, B14. Google Books. Accessed on 14 Sep 2023
November 2, 1997 	Palace Theatre 	Cleveland 	OH"Where To Go". The Vindicator (Youngstown, OH), 30 Oct 1997, C2. Google Gooks. Accessed on 14 Sep 2023.
==Theme Parks==
U-Pick Nick made its premiere at Silver Dollar City as part of the 1997 summer's National Children's Festival. Special guests on the first day included singers Charlie Pride and Andy Williams (who was slimed on stage), and a member of the musical group the Osmond Second Generation. The show was held in the 750-seat Riverfront Playhouse.
U-Pick Nick premiered in Dollywood on April 19, 1997. Darris Love (Ray Alvarado from The Secret World of Alex Mack), Lori Beth Denberg of All That, and Dolly Parton were all present that day.Stout, Michael W. "Dollywood Opens 12th Season". Louisville Music News, 1997 May. Unique to the location was the display of a wig Dolly Parton was wearing when she was unexpectedly slimed by Nickelodeon's people.Brooks, Nancy. "Dreams Do Come True". Dolly Parton On-Line, 1998 Jan.
==References==
Category:Theme park attractions