Film

After 20 Long Years, Nickelodeon Is Still Sitting on the Final Season of This Classic ’90s TV Gem

27 February 2026

In the 1980s, Nickelodeon was best known for reruns, You Can’t Do That On Television, and, of course, Double Dare. Then, in the 1990s, Nickelodeon introduced a number of classic cartoons that are still loved to this day. These cartoons pushed the cable channel’s family fun style to the edge, introducing kids to the concept of subversive humor.

But one live-action series of the time took a different approach. The Adventures of Pete & Pete combined the innocence of classic Americana and mixed in a DIY attitude, with a dash of absurdist humor and more than a pinch of anti-authoritarianism to make things sweet and spicy at the same time.

The Adventures of Pete & Pete Was Unlike Anything Else On TV

The series about “Big” Pete Wrigley and his younger brother, “Little” Pete Wrigley, growing up in the small town of Wellsville followed the old playbook of giving its viewers lessons about growing up, but did it in the most off-kilter way possible. For example, Little Pete’s staying away for 11 days straight teaches us that our parents don’t set bedtime to be mean, they do it to help us.

The series started with over two dozen shorts in 1989. The success of those led to 5 specials that aired from 1991-1993. And, finally, The Adventures of Pete & Pete was turned into a regular series, running for three seasons and ending in 1996, becoming a cult favorite along the way.

Collage of Pete (Michael Maronna) and Pete (Danny Tamberelli) and Artie (Toby Huss).

The Adventures Of Pete & Pete Cast & Character Guide: Where Are The Actors Now

The Adventures of Pete and Pete cast have all had different sorts of careers since the Nickelodeon show ended, but many are still in the industry.

Helping that cult status were the guest stars. While the show featured a number of comedians and actors of the time, including Saturday Night Live’s Ellen Cleghorne and Bebe Neuwirth, the creators also brought in actors and musicians from the punk and alternative scenes. Blondie’s Debbie Harry, the B-52s’ Kate Pierson, and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe all showed up in episodes.

Adding to the alt cred was the use of music by the indie rock band Polaris, who created the show’s endlessly catchy theme song, “Hey Sandy.” The band’s only album is Music from The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and any indie kid of the ’90s was sure to have a copy of. And if they didn’t have the full album, they had the free tape you could send away for with two Frosted Mini Wheats UPC seals.

Fans Are Still Waiting For The Third Season Of Pete & Pete To Be Released

In 2005, Nickelodeon released the first two seasons of The Adventures of Pete & Pete with the shorts and specials that preceded the series included on the discs. The third season was supposed to follow in 2006, but it never arrived. And, to this day, Nickelodeon’s decision to halt the release remains a mystery.

According to co-creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi in a 2012 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Nickelodeon produced the DVDs for Season 3. Commentary tracks were recorded. Other special features were filmed. The discs were pressed, and the packaging was made. But, all this time later, the third season set has never been released.

An Iconic Nickelodeon ’90s Series Has Officially Vanished From Streaming

A beloved ’90s Nickelodeon series joins a growing list of shows that have been made completely unavailable to watch on streaming platforms.

Adding to the mystery is that The Adventures of Pete & Pete isn’t available anywhere now. It is not on any streaming platform, though it seems like it should be on Paramount+ alongside other ’90s Nickelodeon classics like Clarissa Explains It All and Are You Afraid of the Dark. And while the Pete & Pete shorts can be purchased digitally, none of the specials or full seasons are available.

As it stands, fans have to hold on to their 25 year old DVDs, hoping they don’t get random scratch if they want to keep enjoying The Adventures of Pete & Pete or share it with a new generation. They will continue to get Petunia tattoos that match Little Pete’s. They will keep calling people that annoy them “blowhole” and tell them to “bite my scab.”

They will continue to hold the show dear, but without the final season, there will be no joy in Wellsville.