‘Quiet On Set’: Investigation Discovery Docuseries Reveals New Allegations Of “Toxic Environment” On Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon Shows – Watch Trailer

Denise Petski
·3-min read

UPDATED with statement from Dan Schneider’s spokesperson: Investigation Discovery has released a trailer for Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a new four-part docuseries that uncovers the toxic and dangerous culture on the sets of Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon children’s shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Per ID, “Quiet on Set reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew.”

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New allegations by Nickelodeon alums are revealed in the trailer, including from former All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels, Kyle Sullivan, Bryan Hearne and Katrina Johnson and director Virgil Fabian.

“Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship,” a former employee who is not named alleges in the trailer. “There was a toxic environment. It made me trust people less,” says another Nickelodeon alum.

Following the release of the trailer, a spokesperson for Schneider issued a statement provided to Deadline Thursday afternoon.

“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 statement read. “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.”

In the docuseries, writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton expose allegations of a toxic and sexist environment in The Amanda Show writer’s room. Alexa Nikolas offers insight into being a part of Zoey 101. The docuseries also features additional cast and crew from iCarly, Sam & Cat, Victorious, and Marc Summers from the popular game show Double Dare. The series also includes emotional testimony from parents of cast members who attempted to advocate for their children on these sets.

The docuseries will feature these interviews, woven with archival footage (some of which has never been broadcast), scenes from the shows and social media commentary.

Nickelodeon parted ways with Schneider in 2018 after multiple complaints of abusive behavior from members of his staff.

In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Schneider said if he was found to be difficult by some people, it was because he has “high standards. I’m very willing to defend creative things that I believe in.”

Schneider also told the Times he never acted inappropriately with people with whom he worked. “I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t have the long-term friendships and continued loyalty from so many reputable people if I’d mistreated my actors of any age, especially minors,” he said.

Quiet on Set is directed by Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz and produced by Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction in association with Business Insider.

The docuseries will premiere across two nights on ID from 9PM-11PM ET/PT on Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18.

Watch the trailer above.

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