It will also see the return of original host Marc Summers, along with announcer John Harvey (a.k.a.
Harvey) and right hand woman Robin Russo.
It was a truly a team effort.
Credit: Viacom
The kids competing werent the only ones who had to work together and play to each others strengths.
We did it together.
Harvey was more than a sidekick.
MTV; Courtesy Everett Collection
Robin and I had fun.
The proof in the pudding is 30 years later, were all still friends.
We all talk to each other [and] hang out together.
There was a bond that remains to this day.
Russo and Harvey agree, with Russo crediting this to Summers being a generous host to begin with.
Marc made room for everyone.
He really made a lot of that happen.
There was nothing like it.
Nickelodeon was willing to take a chance.
They really encouraged us to try insane stuff.
This letDouble Daretry out episodic themes that ranged from wrestling, which saw actual wrestler Sgt.
Slaughter make an appearance on the show, to even 3D.
[That theme] was the dumbest thing on legs, laughs Harvey.
Thats all we did.
We called it the 3D episode.
It made an impression on both kidsandparents.
I used to do this really weird impression of Ethel Merman, a big Broadway star.
It was a very strange thing, recalls Summers.
We had a 10-year-old kid in the audience one time.
Harvey says they definitely tried to include jokes kids would never get so that parents would be interested too.
We had a love of parents, says Russo.
Still to this day, a lot of parents say they enjoyed it as much as the kids.
It was Halloween,Double Darehad been on five or six years, recalls Summers.
I fire up the door and this women goes, Youre the guy fromDouble Dare.
Let me tell you why I dont like you.
My kids destroyed my house doing an obstacle course.
Apparently they took coffee grounds and put them all over the house, ruining her carpet.
The next morning I wake up, and in my shrubs there were packing peanuts.
I think I was pranked by this woman.
Time flies when youre having fun.
I said Hi, Valerie.
Whats your favorite show?
She said, Finders Keepers, laughs Summers.
That was a Nick show.
[But] not my show.
Another memory sawRobinexact her revenge on him after shed had enough of Summers teasing.
She poured chocolate on my head, threw pies in my face, put peanut butter all over me.
I looked like the abominable snowman when I was done, says Summers.
It was a fun moment.
The kids had a great time.
That was the thing.
Kids would laugh at us having a good time.
It was a huge birthday party, says Russo, describing the shows atmosphere.
Its a showbiz axiom.
TheDouble Darespecial airs tonight at 9 p.m.
ET on Nick at Nite, with a special encore on The Splat at 10 p.m.
