What was the whole '90s obsession (mainly in the mid 90s) with everything between "X-Treme" or "Extreme"?

Examples include the cancelled Sonic X-Treme, and much of the advertising in general from the period. Does anyone else remember what I'm talking about?
http://brandedinthe80s.com/6390/the-90s-were-so-damn-extreme

Yes, I do know what you're talking about. Even foods didn't escape it with Snickers Extreme and Doritos Extreme. It was overplayed since it began.

Yes, I do know what you're talking about. Even foods didn't escape it with Snickers Extreme and Doritos Extreme. It was overplayed since it began.


What was so extreme about them?

What was so extreme about them?

Nothing, that's just it. It was a dumb way to market anything.

What was the whole '90s obsession (mainly in the mid 90s) with everything between "X-Treme" or "Extreme"?

Examples include the cancelled Sonic X-Treme, and much of the advertising in general from the period. Does anyone else remember what I'm talking about?
http://brandedinthe80s.com/6390/the-90s-were-so-damn-extreme


The "EXTREME!" craze was the edgier son to the "Totally Rad" craze of late '89/early 1990.

Nothing, that's just it. It was a dumb way to market anything.


I think the 90's was all about hardcore, very explicit stuff like violence, cursing and hot women all about "in your face" ideas and stuff.

I think the 90's was all about hardcore, very explicit stuff like violence, cursing and hot women all about "in your face" ideas and stuff.


Yeah the '90s were very edgy from what I remember, in fact the '90s seems much edgier than today.

Yeah the '90s were very edgy from what I remember, in fact the '90s seems much edgier than today.


So why couldn't the 80's do it?

So why couldn't the 80's do it?


The '80s weren't about getting to 1999, that's why.

Even the adult cartoons went extreme.

What about the video game NBA JAM EXTREME? That game came out in 1996.

It sounds like we need to an appreciation thread for all things extreme from the 90s. Let's start with that crappy G.I. Joe Extreme cartoon from like 1995.

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29310.jpg

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29164.jpg

http://dealseekingmom.com/files/2010/09/FREE-Can-Pringles-Extreme.jpg

You had "extreme" chips.

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29310.jpg

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29164.jpg

http://dealseekingmom.com/files/2010/09/FREE-Can-Pringles-Extreme.jpg

You had "extreme" chips.
Containing MSG?

Containing MSG?


Yes, a lot of those chips contain MSG and plus they're very spicy.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_original/cbh3fb8ea05rdlpxmz2c.jpg

http://www.americansoda.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/448x448/91eb5f3d97a70d4a3762da495c732fb0/w/a/warheadsextremesour_500.jpg

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29310.jpg

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/doritos-extreme-tortilla-chips-29164.jpg

http://dealseekingmom.com/files/2010/09/FREE-Can-Pringles-Extreme.jpg

You had "extreme" chips.

Now they have Doritos Jacked and they're a cut out 3D triangle with shapes inside. They're spicy, but not overly so.

Now they have Doritos Jacked and they're a cut out 3D triangle with shapes inside. They're spicy, but not overly so.


I guess extreme in their eyes means loads of spices.

http://static.caloriecount.about.com/images/medium/gerrits-extreme-ice-chewing-114409.jpg
https://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lis7h1rCVI1qdis2oo1_500.jpg

I remember X-treme commercials like these when I was little.  ::)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMLrw3Z312I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2j1mH1xO0k


This commercial is from 2002 but still...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91yJOsV0f-k

http://t5.rbxcdn.com/923ca2b384a5d82ee17eeb2908c8137d
ECW was originally called eastern championship wrestling
http://file.answcdn.com/answ-cld/image/upload/w_728,h_298,c_fill,g_face:center,q_60,f_jpg,d_default-topic-page.jpg/v1/tk/answ-images/3975776d/29dd0a981b4510eef8a327f5420fafe4cad4a7bd.jpg
Then became this....

http://t5.rbxcdn.com/923ca2b384a5d82ee17eeb2908c8137d
ECW was originally called eastern championship wrestling
http://file.answcdn.com/answ-cld/image/upload/w_728,h_298,c_fill,g_face:center,q_60,f_jpg,d_default-topic-page.jpg/v1/tk/answ-images/3975776d/29dd0a981b4510eef8a327f5420fafe4cad4a7bd.jpg
Then became this....


I used to love ECW, I watched it a lot during the 1990's.

I love that extreme '90s culture man! It made the decade so edgy and cool! The 2010s could use some of that.

I love that extreme '90s culture man! It made the decade so edgy and cool! The 2010s could use some of that.

Yeah man, You're damn right!!! :)  IMHO! This decade has been too... feminine 8-P 

I love that extreme '90s culture man! It made the decade so edgy and cool! The 2010s could use some of that.


Back then, it was extreme, I think now we're living in a PG environment where everything or almost everything has to be politically correct or be in a censored world.

I used to love ECW, I watched it a lot during the 1990's.

I can't even remember what channel it was on, but yes I remember it! It was more...daring...than even WWE got at the time, which says alot.


Back then, it was extreme, I think now we're living in a PG environment where everything or almost everything has to be politically correct or be in a censored world.

That's because people are taught to be offended by everything now, no matter how small.

I can't even remember what channel it was on, but yes I remember it! It was more...daring...than even WWE got at the time, which says alot.

WWF at the time tried to copy ECW during The Attitude Era between 1998-2001, they had a lot of ratings and it skyrocketed.

WWF at the time tried to copy ECW during The Attitude Era between 1998-2001, they had a lot of ratings and it skyrocketed.

Really? Was that were the hardcore title was inspired from?

Really? Was that were the hardcore title was inspired from?

Yup!! ;)

WWF at the time tried to copy ECW during The Attitude Era between 1998-2001, they had a lot of ratings and it skyrocketed.

EXACTLY!! Vince was actually out of touch 20 years ago; if you think about it!! It wasn't until he saw the grittiness of ECW and realism of WCW, that forced him to change the direction of the company! Paul Heyman revolutionized the wrestling business during the 90s!

Really? Was that were the hardcore title was inspired from?


Yes and the blood,violence and suggestive themes such as Mae Young giving birth to a hand, rape scenes and HLA (Hot Lesbian Action) themes to name a few. The HLA was Eric Bischoff's idea to spark rating during the early 2000's.

EXACTLY!! Vince was actually out of touch 20 years ago; if you think about it!! It wasn't until he saw the grittiness of ECW and realism of WCW, that forced him to change the direction of the company! Paul Heyman revolutionized the wrestling business during the 90s!


and now ECW is just a faded memory.

Yeah man, You're damn right!!! :)  IMHO! This decade has been too... feminine 8-P


I completely, absolutely agree. Now, in order to like most music and television, you have to be a) A girl, b) a member of the LGBT community, or c) under 16 years old.

This culture has gotten so female-driven to the point where it has gotten straight-up misandrist. Back in the '90s, it seems like most of the pop culture was made with guys in mind, and those in their early 20's at that. Besides, almost all of the music back then was equally enjoyed by both genders. It's weird to think that girls were once jamming to gangsta rap and grunge with the guys.

Guys have always enjoyed the aggressive. The intimidating. The extreme. It pretty obvious that the 1990's were all about what the guys wanted. That's probably why I like them so much. Due to how progressive/liberal the world has gotten over the years, having such an intimidatingly young adult hetero male-driven culture will never be seen again.

Guys have always enjoyed the aggressive. The intimidating. The extreme. It pretty obvious that the 1990's were all about what the guys wanted. That's probably why I like them so much. Due to how progressive/liberal the world has gotten over the years, having such an intimidatingly young adult hetero male-driven culture will never be seen again.

Back in the early to mid 90's, we wanted the aggressive and extreme look/sound, from food to music videos and to television shows, they all or most of them had to be "extreme" in some sort of way.

I completely, absolutely agree. Now, in order to like most music and television, you have to be a) A girl, b) a member of the LGBT community, or c) under 16 years old.

This culture has gotten so female-driven to the point where it has gotten straight-up misandrist. Back in the '90s, it seems like most of the pop culture was made with guys in mind, and those in their early 20's at that. Besides, almost all of the music back then was equally enjoyed by both genders. It's weird to think that girls were once jamming to gangsta rap and grunge with the guys.

Guys have always enjoyed the aggressive. The intimidating. The extreme. It pretty obvious that the 1990's were all about what the guys wanted. That's probably why I like them so much. Due to how progressive/liberal the world has gotten over the years, having such an intimidatingly young adult hetero male-driven culture will never be seen again.

Sooo true, Buff and Xena for example; may have been girls but they were BADASSES back in the day!!

Sooo true, Buff and Xena for example; may have been girls but they were BADASSES back in the day!!


and don't forget Chyna (Joanie Laurer) ruled the WWF for most of the mid to late 90's
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llrif9EQfY4/UDlqwkR_IXI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/XnFegKaXMgg/s1600/chyna3.jpeg

Sooo true, Buff and Xena for example; may have been girls but they were BADASSES back in the day!!


I know, Lara Croft as well, that's why the '90s are so awesome!

Now, in order for a girl to be "strong", she has to struggle too much, whine a lot, and just barely escape bad scenarios. There's a reason why "Eye Candy" failed as a tv show.

The new Lara Croft has received a lot of criticism from devoted fans (including myself) for following too close to current trends, and that her characterization will be unfashionable in a few years.

Also these days, if a woman has to be badass, she has to be ugly or butch. She has to wear shapeless clothing, have a deep voice, be androgynous, but have really sensitive emotions.

In the '90s, it was all about beautiful girls that could kick your ass! The sexier they were, the more powerful they were. With Buffy, when she was vulnerable and unconfident, she wore dumpy clothes (flannel, baggy pants, no makeup). When she was strong and powerful, her outfits got sexier and tighter (short skirts, tight pants, crop tops). With Lara Croft, she had very feminine physical characteristics, but masculine psychological ones (aggression, force, anger, impatience, irritability). I haven't watched enough Xena to evaluate.

So basically;

2010s
Pretty = Weak
Androgyny = Strong

1990s
Pretty = Strong
Ugly = Weak

Hence another example of extreme '90s culture, proving that the 2010s cater to women instead.

I remember there was also a lot of Rollerblading/Skateboard culture and the X Games on ESPN were very popular during this time

I wonder why they chose the 90's as an extreme period?

I wonder why they chose the 90's as an extreme period?
Because it was approaching the bi-millennial?

Because it was approaching the bi-millennial?


Or maybe people wanted a chance to express themselves.

Or maybe people wanted a chance to express themselves.

Maybe 80s backlash also!!

Containing MSG?


They look like they contain THC. Their executives were probably smoking weed while making ideas for the products back then.