Introduction
THE KINGFISH
Gone Fishin'
Introduction
Hello everyone! This is my first alternate timeline here on this site! Alternate history has always fascinated me. The idea of another world - or another chain of events in history has fascinated me ever since I started learning about history. I first got into alternate history proper after watching Alternate History Hub’s “What if the Communists Lost the Chinese Civil War” video. Now I’ve thought about “serious” alternate history projects before. These include ones where Teddy Roosevelt won the 1912 Election, one where the Cold War ended with both the United States and the Soviet Union collapsing, and one where the entire world becomes communist, eventually leading to a new Cold War between authoritarian socialist dictatorships and rouge AIs. But this project is not one of those.
This is one centered on something less influential than big border changes - but nevertheless results in interesting changes. This will be a timeline centered around pop culture! I’ve lurked on this site for a while now - and I’ve seen my fair share of timelines. Among these are pop culture timelines. Some that have inspired me the most have been Dirty Laundry: An Alternate 1980s by @Andrew T and A Hippie in the House of Mouse by @Geekhis Khan - both of which I highly recommend checking out if you haven’t already. Anyways, I digress - I’ve decided to make my own pop culture-centered timeline centered around the decade just about everyone (well, everyone on the internet at least) seems to be nostalgic about: the 1990s.
Despite me personally not having been alive during the time, the 1990s have stood out to me as a decade where a whole lot of things were very volatile - from cultural zeitgeist to the fabric of the world order. If I were to summarize the 90s in just three words, it would be “everything went global.” For better or for worse, the 90s brought us the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the United States as not just the sole superpower - but also the world policeman. Democracy and capitalism were seemingly enshrined in the global order. The rise of the internet also made the world far more interconnected than ever before. The Information Age was taking its first steps, and advances in computer technology had made their mark on everything from business operations to special effects in blockbuster movies. Culture and goods and services flowed freely through countries via globalization, and from a pop culture perspective brought us the likes of anime to the Western world. From a purely Western or American perspective, it was one of the most peaceful times in human history - and one that’s considered the “last great decade” by many - before being put to an end by the September 11 attacks and other future events. We will not be elaborating on said events here - lest the mods come breathing down my neck about “current politics.”
So yeah, as it turns out, changing history in America around the late 80s/early 90s can bring countless changes down the road. And that is why I chose this. As for what I will change - well, it involves two iconic pieces of 90s media. The first being Nirvana, the grunge rock/alternative rock band that defined a generation of youth angst and anxiety. The second is The Ren & Stimpy Show, the deranged cartoon about a psychotic chihuahua and a dimwitted cat which redefined the boundaries of animation. Both of these have had a lasting impact on the landscape of entertainment - despite the dubious history of the latter’s creator. But what if I were to tell you that there was a rumor were one almost wrote a song for the other? How would this impact each other at their height in popularity in the early 90s? And how would this affect everything else?
The answer awaits in the coming chapters!!
But before we begin, I have a few things to say:
1. Any resemblance this timeline may have to others on this site or elsewhere is purely coincidental. Although some may point out similarities with some timelines, such as Player Two Start by @RySenkari and @Nivek, I try to put an original spin on things in order to stand out.
2. Constructive criticism and feedback is more than welcome - it’s encouraged. If you have any ideas that you want me to cover, feel free to PM me and I’ll see if I can work it in. But please, be civil.
3. Since this is my first alternate timeline project for this site - there may be times where this goes on hiatus - as well, I have a life, and I need to balance my niche hobbies with my job and my school work. But rest assure, expect this timeline to continue to receive updates.
4. I do not condone the actions and behavior of the real-life John Kricfalusi towards his production staff, nor his sexual misconduct towards Robin Byrd, Katie Rice, and many other young female artists. My intention of depicting Kricfalusi in this scenario is not to be sympathetic to him, but to show that he did not always have to go down the path of being a monster.
5. Lastly, I’d like to thank the following for helping me with ideas: @Otakuninja2006 @TheFaultsofAlts @kirbopher15 @ExowareMasses @UNIVERSAL.EXE @CourtlyHades296 @Nivek @SultanArda @TheGuyWhoHeartsHistory @Screwhorn77 Thank you all so much for the support, I wouldn’t have gotten this far without all of you guys with your suggestions and your helpful criticisms.
So sit back, relax, and without further ado, here is…..
Man’s Best Friend: An Alternate 1990s and Beyond
Hello everyone! This is my first alternate timeline here on this site! Alternate history has always fascinated me. The idea of another world - or another chain of events in history has fascinated me ever since I started learning about history. I first got into alternate history proper after watching Alternate History Hub’s “What if the Communists Lost the Chinese Civil War” video. Now I’ve thought about “serious” alternate history projects before. These include ones where Teddy Roosevelt won the 1912 Election, one where the Cold War ended with both the United States and the Soviet Union collapsing, and one where the entire world becomes communist, eventually leading to a new Cold War between authoritarian socialist dictatorships and rouge AIs. But this project is not one of those.
This is one centered on something less influential than big border changes - but nevertheless results in interesting changes. This will be a timeline centered around pop culture! I’ve lurked on this site for a while now - and I’ve seen my fair share of timelines. Among these are pop culture timelines. Some that have inspired me the most have been Dirty Laundry: An Alternate 1980s by @Andrew T and A Hippie in the House of Mouse by @Geekhis Khan - both of which I highly recommend checking out if you haven’t already. Anyways, I digress - I’ve decided to make my own pop culture-centered timeline centered around the decade just about everyone (well, everyone on the internet at least) seems to be nostalgic about: the 1990s.
Despite me personally not having been alive during the time, the 1990s have stood out to me as a decade where a whole lot of things were very volatile - from cultural zeitgeist to the fabric of the world order. If I were to summarize the 90s in just three words, it would be “everything went global.” For better or for worse, the 90s brought us the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the United States as not just the sole superpower - but also the world policeman. Democracy and capitalism were seemingly enshrined in the global order. The rise of the internet also made the world far more interconnected than ever before. The Information Age was taking its first steps, and advances in computer technology had made their mark on everything from business operations to special effects in blockbuster movies. Culture and goods and services flowed freely through countries via globalization, and from a pop culture perspective brought us the likes of anime to the Western world. From a purely Western or American perspective, it was one of the most peaceful times in human history - and one that’s considered the “last great decade” by many - before being put to an end by the September 11 attacks and other future events. We will not be elaborating on said events here - lest the mods come breathing down my neck about “current politics.”
So yeah, as it turns out, changing history in America around the late 80s/early 90s can bring countless changes down the road. And that is why I chose this. As for what I will change - well, it involves two iconic pieces of 90s media. The first being Nirvana, the grunge rock/alternative rock band that defined a generation of youth angst and anxiety. The second is The Ren & Stimpy Show, the deranged cartoon about a psychotic chihuahua and a dimwitted cat which redefined the boundaries of animation. Both of these have had a lasting impact on the landscape of entertainment - despite the dubious history of the latter’s creator. But what if I were to tell you that there was a rumor were one almost wrote a song for the other? How would this impact each other at their height in popularity in the early 90s? And how would this affect everything else?
The answer awaits in the coming chapters!!
But before we begin, I have a few things to say:
1. Any resemblance this timeline may have to others on this site or elsewhere is purely coincidental. Although some may point out similarities with some timelines, such as Player Two Start by @RySenkari and @Nivek, I try to put an original spin on things in order to stand out.
2. Constructive criticism and feedback is more than welcome - it’s encouraged. If you have any ideas that you want me to cover, feel free to PM me and I’ll see if I can work it in. But please, be civil.
3. Since this is my first alternate timeline project for this site - there may be times where this goes on hiatus - as well, I have a life, and I need to balance my niche hobbies with my job and my school work. But rest assure, expect this timeline to continue to receive updates.
4. I do not condone the actions and behavior of the real-life John Kricfalusi towards his production staff, nor his sexual misconduct towards Robin Byrd, Katie Rice, and many other young female artists. My intention of depicting Kricfalusi in this scenario is not to be sympathetic to him, but to show that he did not always have to go down the path of being a monster.
5. Lastly, I’d like to thank the following for helping me with ideas: @Otakuninja2006 @TheFaultsofAlts @kirbopher15 @ExowareMasses @UNIVERSAL.EXE @CourtlyHades296 @Nivek @SultanArda @TheGuyWhoHeartsHistory @Screwhorn77 Thank you all so much for the support, I wouldn’t have gotten this far without all of you guys with your suggestions and your helpful criticisms.
So sit back, relax, and without further ado, here is…..
Man’s Best Friend: An Alternate 1990s and Beyond
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