Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a recent documentary series that premiered on Sunday, investigates the darker side of the entertainment industry for children in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The four-part documentary series includes interviews with former child stars and crew members from popular Nickelodeon shows like The Amanda Show and All That. They talk about their experiences behind the scenes, revealing problems like abuse, s*xism, racism, and a high-pressure environment.
The documentary focuses on Dan Schneider, a former Nickelodeon showrunner accused of misconduct in 2018. It begins by tracing his transition from actor to Nickelodeon employee. The second episode explores how he pressured child stars and engaged in inappropriate behavior on set to get laughs.
Dan Schneider Accused of Traumatizing Child Actors on Set
The second episode of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV painted a disturbing picture of what went on behind the scenes of the Nickelodeon show All That.
Cast members like Giovonnie Samuels, Bryan Christopher Hearne, and Kyle Sullivan spoke out about their experiences, revealing a work environment that sounds anything but fun.
Sullivan described the set as “dysfunctional” with long hours that seemed to constantly push the limits. The cast mentioned having to perform skits that they found unpleasant, involving things like pouring sugar and coffee into their mouths. He said:
“It was gross, it was weird. The show was full of these uncomfortable sketches. I think Dan got a kick out of walking the line with that.”
Samuels and Hearne, both Black cast members, both spoke about feeling like outsiders because most of the people on set were white. Hearne recounted a time during a costume fitting when someone used a racial slur to describe his skin tone. This incident brought him to tears on set.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Here is the second episode of documentary that is exposing Nickelodeon for child sex abuse “Quiet on Set.” This Episode is finally diving into Dan Schindler and the way he implemented ‘pedophile culture’ into Nickelodeon and a continuation on Amanda Bynes. pic.twitter.com/Hovqrz98px
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 19, 2024
The On Air Dares segments seemed particularly awful. The challenges included the cast sitting in vats of fish or worms, putting scorpions in their mouths, and being covered in peanut butter and licked by dogs. Hearne described these stunts as “traumatic” to experience and uncomfortable to watch others go through.
Dan Schneider Described as “Disturbing” by Showrunners and Writers
The showrunners themselves described Dan Schneider‘s on-set behavior as “disturbing” and “volatile.” Former actors and writers shared their experiences on Vulture, talking about the chaotic and uncomfortable work environment.
Writer Christy Stratton described a constant fear of working under Schneider. “Dan was volatile and could turn any moment,” Stratton said.
Stratton further revealed a particularly disturbing incident where she was pressured to perform a degrading act during a pitch meeting. “I was scared,” Stratton said. “Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship.”
She went on to express regret for the incident, stating, “I think of that poor girl and what she had to go through. I would not do that today.” Another writer, Amanda Kilgen, made even more serious accusations, claiming Schneider forced her to watch p*rnography.
These allegations come after Schneider’s departure from Nickelodeon in 2018 following investigations into his conduct. While the investigations found no evidence of s*xual misconduct, it concluded he was verbally abusive on set. Schneider has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
