Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Investigation Discovery
Topics: Film and TV
Gerrard Kaonga
A new docuseries is set to shed light on the alleged toxic and uncomfortable working conditions for child actors and staff at Nickelodeon under Dan Schneider.
You might not know his name or his face, but you likely know much of Dan Schneider’s work.
TV producer and screenwriter Schneider was very much the mind behind some of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows like iCarly, Drake & Josh, Kenan & Kel and All That.
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However, rumors have long circulated Schneider about his treatment of the young actors and a new documentary is set to take a closer look at them.
Schneider has been accused of constantly taking pictures of child actors' feet and taking part in costume fittings with a 12-year-old star.
The trailer for Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV has Nickelodeon alumni speak out against Schneider and highlight the ‘hostile’ work environment for years.
The docuseries, which is set to air on March 17 and 18 on Investigation Discovery, has former child actors, parents and ex-staff commenting on the atmosphere at Nickelodeon as well as Schneider’s alleged behavior.
Those in the series also state that pedophiles were working on some Nickelodeon sets and questioned how safe the child actors were.
Social media users were glad the project was being made following numerous allegations against Schneider.
“THEY FINALLY MADE IT! I've been waiting years for this is be brought to light. If you watch early All That or The Good Burger movie don't be surprised if you see [Dan Schneider],” one YouTube user wrote.
“I am so glad they will be releasing this this needs to heard loud and clear for the public. I was aware of YouTube video essays on this and now it finally time for Nickelodeon to be held accountable and be a message to how to treat kids better when working with them on TV shows and movies,” another person commented.
“The actors I recognize being interviewed [in the trailer]: Katrina Johnson, Kyle Sullivan, Giovonnie Samuels, Bryan Hearne (and mother), Alexa Nikolas, Raquel Lee, Leon Frierson. I'm so glad that they are all being given a voice,” another added.
“I’m really curious about checking this docuseries out, since I grew up in that era of Nickelodeon. Quite shocking to see,” a fourth person added.
“I wasn't the biggest nick fan. I watch more of the cartoons then the live action stuff. I heard stories of Dan Schneider. Definitely watching this. I feel for everyone who had to deal with him,” another person commented.
A representative for Schneider told the UNILAD following the documentary trailer's release: "Dan cared about the kids on his shows even when sometimes their own families unfortunately did not.
"He understood what they were going through and he was their biggest champion.
"The fact is many of the kids on these shows are put in the untenable position of becoming the breadwinner for their family and the pressure that comes along with that. Add on top of that the difficulties of growing up and having to do so under the spotlight while working a demanding job, all as a child.
"That is why there are many levels of standards, executives, lawyers, teachers and parents everywhere, all the time, on every set, every day.
"However, it is still a hard place to be a kid and nobody knew that better than Dan."
UNILAD has contacted Dan Schneider and Nickelodeon for comment