For years, there have been whispers on the internet surrounding child star abuse and hidden sexual innuendos in the content by Nickelodeon. From exiled cast members coming forward to fan speculation and exhaustive Reddit threads, this is content we’ve seen before. But now with the release of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” these whispers have turned to screams the media and its many executives can no longer ignore.
“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” a four-part docuseries that uncovered the toxic and sexual environment child stars endured at Nickelodeon, released March 17 on Max.
The series interviews people from every corner of production from former writers and crew to child stars. These people worked on Nickelodeon’s most famous TV shows from the nineties to the early 2000s such as our favorites “The Amanda Show,” “iCarly,” and “Victorious.”
Each testimonial described horrid mistreatment and abuse on set not only towards the adult employees but the child actors.
The most disturbing information to come from the series were details of former actor, producer and dialogue coach Brian Peck. In 2003, Peck was arrested on 11 counts of lewd conduct with a minor including sodomy but was only charged for two counts a year later and spent 16 months in prison. His victim was never named until now.
Drake Bell was the focus of the third episode in the docuseries. In the episode, Bell recounts the gruesome abuse he suffered on and off set by Brian Peck when he was 15 years old.
Struggling to describe the abuse, Bell spoke directly to the camera, “Imagine the worst thing someone could do to someone as sexual assault … I don’t know how else to put it.”
From fear-mongering and extensive verbal abuse to sexual harassment, each interview recounted volatile experiences with Dan Schneider, the creative force and executive director of the majority of your childhood favorites on Nickelodeon.
In response to the docuseries, Dan Schneider sat down in an interview we are fairly certain he paid for, by none other than Terrance Jeter, better known as T-Bo from “iCarly.” We know what you’re all thinking: come on T-Bo! In the online interview posted to YouTube titled, “A Conversation with Dan,” Schneider says, “I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
As for VALLEY, an apology was not accepted.
Let us know how you’re grieving the loss of your favorite childhood shows @VALLEYmag on all socials.
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