Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is an upcoming ID docu-series that revolves around the toxic culture that allegedly went behind many Nickelodeon children’s shows. Dan Schneider was the creator of some of the most popular shows on the channel. He was accused of promoting a culture of inappropriate behavior. That involved misconduct that was directed towards the young cast in the shows he wrote and served as showrunner for.
Dan Schneider became the face of Nickelodeon in the 1990s and 2000s. His shows, including Victorious, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, and All That became some of the most popular children’s shows on television. Apart from these, iCarly remains Schneider’s most well-known work. These shows also introduced the world to some of the most popular stars including Ariana Grande.
Among others, Ariana Grande and Victoria Justice were actors in Schneider’s “Victorious.” The show ran from 2010 to 2013. In August 2022, the Independent reported that Daniella Monet, an actor on the show, claimed she raised concerns to Nickelodeon over a scene that she felt was too sexualized. Alexa Nikolas, who was an actor on Zoey 101, referred to Schneider as a “creator of childhood trauma,” as she protested outside Nickelodeon Studios in 2020. She also said that his presence always put her in a tense state of mind, amid various other allegations against him.
Interviews that Viacom CBS conducted with Nickelodeon employees revealed verbal abuse that Dan Schneider perpetrated in the workplace, the New York Times reported in June 2021. Former Nickelodeon staff reportedly described him as a difficult and controlling showrunner. He allegedly had a delicate ego and was prone to angry emails and tantrums. He allegedly expressed an odd “chumminess” with his young actors which could be perceived as inappropriate.
When did Nickelodeon part ways with Dan Schneider?
Dan Schneider’s work went on to define Nickelodeon‘s children’s shows for two long decades. When they announced his separation from the channel in March of 2018, it came as a sudden move on the part of the channel. Schneider abruptly disappeared from the television space for years. He also didn’t work on anything apparent despite his joint statement with Nickelodeon suggesting that he would pursue other opportunities.
Suspicions of bad terms between Dan Schneider and the channel or allegations of some kind were going around. However, the writer-showrunner reportedly claimed to have left in the natural flow of events after a long stint with Nickelodeon. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Kids’ Choice Awards. He was 52 when they parted ways. Schneider had then been praised for his passion for what he did and his work ethic. Simultaneously, allegations of repeated verbal abuse were going around then.
In an interview that he gave after he parted ways with Nickelodeon, Dan Schneider said he worked on nearly 50 episodes every year until then. His reign is known to have redefined children’s television. Laughter tracks, fast-paced edits, and themes of adolescence and friendship gained popularity.
Dan Schneider denied the allegations against him. He also claimed that he didn’t behave in any way that could be perceived as inappropriate. He additionally claimed that the work conditions were by industry standards.
Investigation Discovery‘s Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids’ TV is expected to dig deeper into the known allegations. It will also explore some other accusations against Dan Schneider. The trailer for the docu-series was released on February 8, 2024. It will be aired on ID over two nights on March 18 and March 19, 2024, on ID.
