You mean before they just went to paid programming during the late-night hours?
7AM Saturday morning Star-Spangled Banner FTW.
But back on topic:
It still jarrs me to hear the PS1 and Saturn described as "old-school." I suppose it's okay if these kids never grew up with old systems, but I know that it's never to late to enjoy them later in life--even if they're seen as a different type of "fun."
I only played the MegaMan series, Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger and Yoshi's Island and beat SMB2 during my college years--and loved them all. I'm currently working my way through the GBA remakes of Final Fantasy 1-5.
Finally, I extend my sympathy to all of those who grew up in the pre-NES era, while the rest of us are talking about 8 and 16-bit systems. I suppose how I'll know how that feels all too soon...