A new docuseries delving into Dan Schneider's Nickelodeon television empire has received its first trailer.
Directed by Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, the four-part Investigation Discovery (ID) series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV finds former child stars and Nickelodeon employees detailing the alleged abuse they encountered while working on popular programs including All That, The Amanda Show, iCarly and Zoey 101.
Per the official synopsis: "Series such as All That and The Amanda Show, among others, were obsessively consumed by children across the country and defined comedy for a generation. But behind the upbeat onscreen presence on these shows with questionable jokes and over-the-top sketches, Quiet on Set reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew."
Nickelodeon ended its relationship with Schneider in 2018, with Deadline citing "multiple complaints of abusive behaviour ... filed by members of his staff," "well-documented temper issues" and "suspicion over the treatment of some younger stars of his shows."
In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Schneider expressed that if he was found to be difficult to work with, it was a result of his own “high standards," saying, "I’m very willing to defend creative things that I believe in.”
In 2022, Business Insider published a report with new claims from former Nickelodeon actors and employees, including allegations of gender discrimination and asking for "massages from adult female colleagues." A source close to the producer told Vanity Fair that Schneider “regrets ever asking anyone [for a massage] and agrees it was not appropriate, even though it only happened in public settings.”
Quiet on Set features testimony from former All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels, Kyle Sullivan, Bryan Hearne and Katrina Johnson and director Virgil Fabian, while Zoey 101 actress Alexa Nikolas, Amanda Show writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton, Double Dare host Marc Summers and additional cast and crew from iCarly, Sam & Cat and Victorious are also featured.
The series premieres March 17 on ID, with all four instalments airing between March 17 and March 18.