by Jessica Ham

Television is all about sex and scandal these days and the kids’ shows are melting our children’s brains. It’s almost impossible to find a middle ground, but if you look hard enough you just might find one in ICarly on Nickelodeon. ICarly is clean, educational, and entertaining. The show features Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), her best friend Samantha Puckett (Jennette Mccurdy), their technical producer Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress), and her older artistic brother Spencer Shay (Jerry Trainor).

The characters Carly and Sam decide they want to create a show for all of their friends and family to enjoy so they create a web show called ICarly. They do skits, eat and make strange foods, and show funny videos sent in by their viewers. Carly lives with her 20 something brother Spencer because their father is in the Navy. Spencer is an artist who loves making sculptures from inanimate objects. Another of their friends, Freddie, also works on the show and is harboring a crush on Carly. Sam likes to beat up Freddie and tease him—Sam is known for being a tough, butt-kicking tomboy. The television show ICarly shows Carly’s life and the ups and downs of running a live web show.

I love this show because it reminds me of how teen shows used to be. I used to love watching re-runs of Facts of Life and Full House, and ICarly brings me back to those times when teen shows were clean but entertaining at the same time.

The writing on ICarly is impeccable. This show makes me laugh so hard I can’t breathe. It is also very relatable. My friend Megan and I relate to the characters so much so that I call her Sam and she calls me Carly. Carly, Sam, and Freddie deal with typical teen issues and show you how to handle those issues. I suggest that everyone watch this show, not just teens and kids but adults too, as it’s something you can all watch together. You will have fun with the family and laugh until you can’t laugh anymore.

To learn more about ICarly check out the show’s website. It is currently on its fourth season and can be seen on Nickelodeon—check your local listings for times.

Jessica Ham is 17 years old and an ongoing contributor to our Teen Talk section; with dreams of being on Broadway, she’s right at home covering Entertainment.