Quiet on Set Exposes Slimy Behavior on Nickelodeon Sets

When thinking of Nickelodeon TV, we often reminisce about the entertaining moments spent watching our favorite shows like Victorious, Drake and Josh, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, and more. However, we rarely consider the behind-the-scenes events during the making of these shows. Before the documentary was released, Jennette McCurdy revealed in her book “I’m Glad My Mom Died” the embarrassing moments she experienced with Dan on the set of the popular TV show I Carly. On March 14, revealed the untold stories that these Nickelodeon stars and workers faced to bring joy to our own childhoods.
Throughout the five episodes, Quiet on set reveals the abuse of power experienced by the writers and child stars, highlighting how these wrongdoings were not only allowed but also shown on national television. Christy Stratton, one of the two women writers on The Amanda Show who were paid a single salary by Schneider, compares her time working for Dan to being stuck in an abusive relationship. Stratton was eventually fired from her job, whereas her coworker Jenny Kilgen decided to take legal measures against Schneider, for gender discrimination.
Despite the altercation with his colleagues, Quiet on set revealed perspectives from the actors regarding the negative atmosphere caused by Schneider. These child stars despised witnessing their parents’ financial struggles and were willing to do whatever it took to uplift their family from the poor neighborhoods. Schneider incorporated child actors into inappropriate sketches on All That and The Amanda Show. One example involved child actor Leon Frierson wearing a tight superhero costume with nose-shaped bumps on the shoulders. In the sketch, the superhero shot snot at another character, which was seen as a “cum shot” joke. Schneider’s next project, The Amanda Show, where Amanda Bynes played a character named “Penelope Taint.” Writers on the show were reportedly told to deceive Nickelodeon executives about the true meaning of the term “taint.” Additionally, a sketch on Quiet on Set featured Schneider in a hot tub with Bynes in a swimsuit, highlighting Schneider’s questionable humor and close relationship with the young actress. Amanda would sometimes go missing with Dan. As Bynes’ relationship with her parents worsened, she turned to Schneider for support, who tried to help her with her unsuccessful legal emancipation.
There were multiple individuals with a previous record of being sexual offenders present on set. The mother of a young girl who had a small role on The Amanda Show mentioned that parents were not allowed on set, and instead, a production assistant named Jason Handy supervised the children. Handy, who had inappropriate email exchanges with the young girl and even sent an explicit photo of himself masturbating to her mother, was arrested for his misconduct with minors. After Handy’s arrest, Brian Peck, an actor on The Amanda Show known for playing the “pickle boy”, was also taken into custody on 11 charges of child abuse involving a young actor whose identity was not revealed.
Drake Bell, famous for his role in Drake & Josh, experienced a shocking turn of events while on set when he became the victim of Brian Peck. Despite Bell’s father’s attempts to keep him away from Peck, he was unfairly labeled as homophobic, causing a rift between him and his son. Eventually, custody was granted to Bell’s father, unintentionally providing easier access for Brian to approach Drake. During one of these encounters, when Bell was only 15 years old, he woke up to the horrifying realization that Peck, who was 41 at the time, was sexually assaulting him. This distressing incident marked the beginning of a prolonged period of abuse that lasted for six months, gradually becoming more severe.
Brian Peck received a 16-month prison sentence and was mandated to register as a sex offender. Despite this, he managed to secure a role on the Disney series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody before his past was exposed. The trauma of the abuse, occurring during Bell’s peak career period, impacted him physically and mentally. Bell struggled with alcohol and substance abuse for many years. In 2021, Bell was found guilty and sentenced for child endangerment after admitting to sending inappropriate text messages to a minor. In the end of Quiet on Set, a statement from Schneider denies claims that he had complete control over his shows’ production, asserting that all actions were closely monitored by many adults involved. Unfortunately, justice still hasn’t been served for these child stars who endured this abuse.