| Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV | |
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 Promotional artwork for the documentary | |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
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| Production locations | California, U.S. |
| Cinematography | Victor Tadashi Suarez |
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| Running time | 43 minutes |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Investigation Discovery |
| Release | March 17 (2024-03-17) – April 7, 2024 (2024-04-07) |
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is a 2024 American five-partdocumentary television series that details the toxic behind-the-scenes world of children's television programs from the 1990s to the 2000s, with a special focus onDan Schneider's tenure as a producer andshowrunner atNickelodeon. The first four episodes aired March 17–18, 2024, onInvestigation Discovery,[1] and the fifth episode aired on April 7.[2] The series was simultaneously released onMax andDiscovery+,[3][4] and produced by Maxine Productions withSony Pictures Television Nonfiction andBusiness Insider; it was loosely based on aBusiness Insider article about Nickelodeon from 2022.[5]
After the series was released, the show was positively reviewed by audiences and critics, with praise given to individuals who alleged having negative experiences working at Nickelodeon.[6] However, some critics accused the documentary of not going into enough detail about Nickelodeon's workplace culture. Schneider has since released an apology video on hisYouTube channel, fueling further discussions from other Nickelodeon stars and further comments from the individuals featured in the documentary.[7] In addition, several of the individuals who wrote pleas for leniency forsex offenderBrian Peck following his conviction have publicly renounced supporting him, especially in light of the documentary.[8] The series has also led to a widespread debate, particularly on social media, around industry practices with regards to child actors, the loss of innocence, and the cost of fame for child stars.[9]
Quiet on Set: the Dark Side of Kids TV focuses primarily on the rise of television producerDan Schneider, who was later accused of fostering a hostile work environment.[10] The series depicts Schneider's work in chronological order, starting with his first big hit as a writer onAll That in 1994. Interviewed writers Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen accuse Schneider of underpaying them for their work onThe Amanda Show and presiding over a rampant culture ofmisogyny in the writers' room.[11] As the show progresses, issues regarding the actors in Schneider's productions are covered. Former actressAlexa Nikolas appears detailing her experience working in the seriesZoey 101. Former cast and crew members ofAll That,The Amanda Show and other Nickelodeon shows appear as well.[12]
In the third episode,Drake Bell reveals that he was sexually abused by former Nickelodeon dialogue coachBrian Peck (no relation to Bell'sDrake & Josh co-starJosh Peck) in 2001. Peck was arrested and charged in 2003 for child sexual abuse, but the victim's name had been sealed. Letters to the presiding judge in support of Peck were also revealed, including from actorsJames Marsden,Kimmy Robertson,Taran Killam,Alan Thicke,Joanna Kerns,Rider Strong, andWill Friedle along with directorRich Correll and producerTom DeSanto.[13][14] Kerns issued a statement to the documentary maker in this episode that she was unaware of the full extent of the case at the time and now regrets her letter of support.[15]
Another sexual abuser, production assistant Jason Michael Handy, described himself as a "pedophile, full-blown" while also sending a sexually explicit photograph to a former child actress.[16][17] Handy would be sentenced to six years in prison for other charges in 2004.[18]
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In 2018, in response to the#MeToo movement,Viacom International'sMTV Networks interviewed dozens of employees regarding their experiences withDan Schneider. Although their review found no sexual misconduct by Schneider, the employees expressed that Schneider was controlling and verbally abusive towards them. In March of that year, Schneider and Nickelodeon announced that their partnership was dissolving and Schneider would be let go.[20]
During that time, director and producer Mary Robertson noticed a string of viral videos showcasing inappropriate scenes from Schneider-produced shows. One video she noted was one ofAriana Grande as Cat Valentine fromVictorious pouring water on her face while lying upside down. Another clip depictedJamie Lynn Spears as Zoey Brooks in an episode ofZoey 101 getting viscous liquid squirted onto her face. Robertson thought that the two clips evoked pornographic imagery.[21][22]
Robertson (with Emma Schwartz) later partnered withBusiness Insider reporterKate Taylor to reach out to dozens of actors and crew members who worked on the sets of Schneider's shows.[21] Taylor previously wrote about Nickelodeon in a 2022Business Insider article entitled "Inside Dan Schneider's 'disgusting' Nickelodeon empire".[5] Taylor's article partially influenced the direction of the series.[23] Schwartz noted that the many individuals who responded to the offer were relieved that they could share their negative experiences, but several more were still afraid to come forward with their experiences.[21] They also attempted to reach out to Schneider, but he refused to appear on camera. His responses were shown throughout the series through text.[22] After Bell's interview was filmed, he would tell Robertson that a weight was lifted from him.[21] OnThe Sarah Fraser Show podcast on March 22, 2024, Bell revealed that he went to rehab after his interview for the documentary.[24] Bell was previously offered to be in a similar documentary, but he refused. Bell revealed in 2024 that he received criticism for not appearing in the other documentary.[25]
Before they sat down with Bell, the directors petitioned the court to make the letters supporting Brian Peck public. They toldVariety "We didn't know what we would find...[b]ut what the letters allow us to do is get a window into who, in Hollywood, was supporting this man during a time that he had been convicted as a child sex offender."[22] After the trailer for the documentary was released, Robertson toldUS Magazine that she attempted to reach out toRider Strong andWill Friedle but neither responded.[26] Kate Taylor and Olivia Singh later published several letters featured in the documentary onBusiness Insider.[8]
Robertson toldThe Hollywood Reporter that if the series became successful, she hoped they could make more episodes ofQuiet on Set.[21] On March 22, 2024,Rotten Tomatoes listed a fifth episode calledBreaking the Silence.[27] On March 26, 2024, Investigation Discovery confirmed that the fifth episode would premiere on April 7 and that Bell would make another appearance.[2] Jason Sarlanis, aWarner Bros. Discovery executive, stated that the episode would dig "deeper into the crucial conversations the docuseries ignited and exploring the lingering questions left in their wake to provide further insight from the brave voices who've spoken out previously and those who are coming forward again."[2]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rising Stars, Rising Questions" | Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz | March 17, 2024 (2024-03-17) | 0.614[28] | |
The episode explores the early career ofDan Schneider, especially with his involvement as a producer and writer onAll That and casting choice withAmanda Bynes, who became a successful young actress at the time. After the success ofAll That, workers and former cast members reveal Schneider's toxic behavior suddenly emerged when they had hard time working with him in Nickelodeon studio. Two former female writers onThe Amanda Show, Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen, discuss their tumultuous relationship with Schneider. These include a split payment that goes againstunion regulations and alleged sexual harassment from Schneider. After Schneider's mistreatment, Stratton was later fired from production, and Kilgen quit her job, vowing never to work with Schneider again. The episode ends after two writers settled a lawsuit on gender discrimination against Schneider and foresaw a threat that reveals the dark side of Nickelodeon. | |||||
| 2 | "Hidden in Plain Sight" | Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz | March 17, 2024 (2024-03-17) | 0.614[28] | |
Amanda Bynes was discovered by a producer in 1996 during a routine atLaugh Factory. Her career was catapulted byThe Amanda Show andWhat I Like About You. Bynes severed ties with Schneider, whom she looked up to, for his involvement in filing a lawsuit against her parents, which affected her reputation. The show's former writers removed Schneider because of the controversy causing Schneider to continue working at Nickelodeon. Former child actors ofAll That express the hardship from Schneider's toxic work environment during their performance on theSNICK On-Air Dare includingLeon Frierson,Bryan Hearne,Katrina Johnson,Giovonnie Samuels, andKyle Sullivan. The episode also reveals two crew members ofAll That, production assistant Jason Michael Handy and dialogue coach and actorBrian Peck, the latter of which also worked onThe Amanda Show, became convicted sex offenders. Handy was arrested in 2003 with multiple felony charges of inappropriate child molestation and child pornography. Three months later, Peck was also arrested for assaulting a minor which caused mass shock in production questioning how the incident with Peck happened. The episode ends withDrake Bell who was revealed to be one of the victims of sex offenders. | |||||
| 3 | "The Darkest Secret" | Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz | March 18, 2024 (2024-03-18) | 0.641[29] | |
Drake Bell and his father Joe discuss their situation during the production ofThe Amanda Show. When they first met Brian Peck atNickelodeon on Sunset, Joe became suspicious of Peck upon noticing Peck's behavior of touching Drake and the executives ignoring him due to Peck being openly gay. Upon learning about Drake's parents' divorce, Brian Peck manipulated Drake into believing he was more important in Drake's life than his parents, causing Drake to sever his relationship with his father. Drake struggles to talk about Peck eventually sexually assaulting him many times when Peck invited him to Peck's mansion. After Drake lashes out at Peck who repeatedly calls Drake at his girlfriend's house and insists he plays the role of the father onDrake & Josh, he and his mother organized a police sting that resulted in Peck being arrested. While Drake and his parents were relieved that they would not have to deal with him anymore, Drake remained traumatized for years to the point that he went down a self-destructive path. Drake reveals that the legal issues surrounding Peck's long-term sentencing does not happen. | |||||
| 4 | "Too Close to the Sun" | Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz | March 18, 2024 (2024-03-18) | 0.641[29] | |
The episode begins by discussing Brian Peck's court case in 2004, which involved multiple Hollywood individuals supporting him. Peck was sentenced to 16 months of probation and labeled as a convicted sex offender as he continued working in Hollywood after his release, which also caused a public backlash at Disney Channel for hiring him. The letters from Hollywood individuals recovered from the court reveal multiple cases of misinformation and victim blaming which exemplify Peck's manipulation. When Ezel Channel, a former worker of Nickelodeon, was exposed as a sex offender, the public began to question Nickelodeon's policy on protecting child actors. After the success ofDrake & Josh, Dan Schneider's later career sees him becoming more important to Nickelodeon, but he receives scrutiny for his sometimes inappropriate behavior, as well as sexual jokes featured onZoey 101,iCarly, andVictorious.Jennette McCurdy, a former child actress-turned-teen idol who starred iniCarly andSam & Cat, reveals several details of Schneider's verbal abuse from her published memoir,I'm Glad My Mom Died, and her recent absence from theNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in2014. Nickelodeon's decision to fire Schneider in 2018 during the#MeToo movement is applauded by crewmembers. However, some interviewers reflect on how being child actors affected their well-being when they reached adulthood. In contrast, other child actors who became celebrities fell into a downward spiral from their childhood mental trauma, resulting in facing legal consequences and health problems. The episode acknowledges Drake Bell'slegal issues – including hisDUI arrest in 2015 and his 2021 guilty plea forchild endangerment. | |||||
| 5 | "Breaking the Silence" | Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz | April 7, 2024 (2024-04-07)[2] | 0.453[30] | |
The episode recaps the first four episodes, including unused clips. The episode also features interviews fromDrake Bell,Giovonnie Samuels,Bryan Hearne, Hearne's mother Tracey Brown, andShane Lyons. This is also Lyons' debut appearance in the docuseries. JournalistSoledad O'Brien served as the episode's moderator. | |||||
In alphabetical order:
| Aggregate scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[31] |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 100%[32] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Chicago Sun-Times |   |
| The Guardian | |
On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, 100% of 12 critics gave the series a positive review with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critic consensus states, "Respectful and thorough in giving voice to the collateral damage of an entertainment empire that was only kid-friendly on the surface,Quiet on Set is a vital showbiz exposé."[32] On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on four critics, indicating a "generally favorable" show.[31]
Richard Roeper from theChicago Sun-Times positively reviewed the series, giving it three out of four stars. He wrote that the documentary expanded on a report byBusiness Insider and described the documentary as a "journalistically solid, straightforward and at times heartbreaking expose."[33] Eric Deggans fromNPR praised the individuals on the show for speaking out while also hoping that documentaries likeQuiet on Set could "change popular attitudes about how child actors are treated in the same way that other works have changed ideas about sexual assault, harassment and codes of conduct in the workplaces which fuel Hollywood's dream factory".[34]
Nick Schager, entertainment critic forThe Daily Beast, positively reviewed the series, writing that it "resonates as a continuation of a tale as old as Hollywood itself, and yet another warning to moms and dads that they should think twice before agreeing to help their juvenile offspring chase A-list glory".[35] Jack Seale ofThe Guardian rated the series four out of five stars, writing "Anything that makes [child sexual abuse] less likely to happen again is invaluable.Quiet on Set has, commendably, played its part."[36]
Candice Frederick ofHuffington Post gave the show a mostly-positive review. She liked that the series presented stories other than Drake Bell's testimony. However, she criticized the series for not going in-depth with Nickelodeon's overall workplace culture, writing "If that's true, how many of them still work at, or with, Nickelodeon? This is the kind of thing we should also be asking."[37]Vulture's Ben Rosenstock had similar issues with the docuseries, criticizing it for certain omissions; such as allegations where Schneider tried to get teenage actors to drink alcohol, the sexual assault accusations against Bell, and a paucity of former employees of Nickelodeon willing to talk openly about the workplace culture beyond Schneider's heavy involvement.[38]
Kelly Lawler ofUSA Today wrote that she "can't help but empathize" with the notion that children's television should be more regulated in order to keep future child actors safe. She also pointed out that many individuals featured inQuiet on Set would never let their own children be a part of the acting industry. Lawler concluded "Even asQuiet has encouraged a conversation about child actors, who at least have some legal protection, there is a wild west of child influencers on TikTok and Instagram".[39]
According toNielsen Media Research, the first two episodes were viewed by 0.614 million viewers with a 0.40 household rating and a 0.11 18–49 rating.[28] The next two episodes were viewed by 0.641 million viewers with a 0.42 household rating and a 0.13 18–49 rating.[29] Reelgood reported that the docuseries was the fifth most streamed television series across all streaming platforms from March 14 to March 20, 2024.[40] From March 18 to March 25, 2024,Quiet on Set was the most streamed television series in the United States according to the streaming aggregatorJustWatch.[41] On March 26, 2024, Investigation Discovery reported that the first four episodes were watched by over 16 million viewers across cable,Max, andDiscovery+. It was also the most-viewed unscripted series on Max since its launch on May 23, 2023.[2]
Just before the series premiered, a Nickelodeon spokesperson issued statements toVariety andNBC News that stated, "Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward".[42][43] Nickelodeon also toldVariety that they investigate "all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct."[42]
In an interview onThe Sarah Fraser Show, Drake Bell found Nickelodeon's response to be "empty" and felt that it was written "by obviously a legal representative."[44][45]
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On aTikTok live video,Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide starDevon Werkheiser joked about the Nickelodeon abuse allegations with co-starsLindsey Shaw andDaniel Curtis Lee present. He then attempted to walk back the comments, saying "sorry, we shouldn't joke about this." Drake Bell and Alexa Nikolas, among others, criticized the live video onTwitter and several accused the trio of making light ofchild sexual abuse.[46][47] In response, Werkheiser issued an apology to Bell and the other featured individuals, writing "I was being an idiot today" and stated that he was sorry for worsening the pain of the featured actors.[48][49] On March 22, 2024, all three actors would elaborate the incident in theirpodcast,Ned's Declassified Podcast Survival Guide. During the episode, Werkheiser recalled a positive interaction with Bell during theNed's Declassified pilot's wrap party. The actors also revealed that Brian Peck was on-set as a stand-in during a single episode ofNed's Declassified.[50][51]
Marc Summers, former host ofDouble Dare, was surprised by his involvement in the docuseries and withdrew from the project upon learning what it was about. He revealed onElvis Duran and the Morning Show that he was misled into thinking that the documentary was about Nickelodeon in general. Upon being shown footage of a Nickelodeon series, he walked off the set, feeling "ambushed". He denied meetingDan Schneider or any of the subjects involved, adding that his time on Nickelodeon preceded them. He was informed that his appearance would be cut, although he was later informed a part would be shown. Robertson and Schwartz responded by stating that all participants were informed of the project's intentions.[52] However, further evidence from other participants being unaware fully of the series was brought up whenRaquel Lee andAlexa Nikolas expressed disappointment on the docuseries being revealed to be made for Investigation Discovery, with both claiming they would not have done the interview upon knowing that, feeling that their story should have been on a "more serious credible platform".[53]
Just after the episode was released, Bell's co-starJosh Peck received negative comments on his social media for remaining silent about the abuse Bell endured. Josh Peck previously mentioned on a 2022 podcast that he was not really close with Bell.[54] On March 20, 2024, Bell defended Peck through aTikTok video, stating that Peck privately reached out to him.[55][56] A day later, Josh Peck broke his silence through a post onInstagram. Peck stated that after finishing the docuseries, he took a few days to process it, and afterwards he reached out to Bell, confirming Bell's video the day earlier. Peck concluded "Children should be protected" and hoped thatQuiet on Set could bring a "necessary change" to the film industry.[57][58]
Nancy Sullivan, who was an ensemble member ofThe Amanda Show and portrayed Audrey Parker onDrake & Josh, also expressed support for Bell. In an Instagram post, she wrote "Sending love to Drake for a deep healing and for a rich and beautiful life ahead."[59]Steve Burns, who portrayed Steve on theNick Jr. seriesBlue's Clues, posted a video on TikTok where he spoke to his viewers while breaking thefourth wall, "Hey, just checking in. Tell me, what's goin' on", before remaining silent, in the spirit of the interactions on his original show. Although the docuseries was never mentioned in the video, Burns' video was seen by individuals on Twitter as a response to the docuseries.[48][60][61] In an interview with NBC'sToday, Burns stated that Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. were separate and that Nick Jr. operates primarily in New York City while Nickelodeon operates primarily in Los Angeles, and there was "no overlap whatsoever between any of those shows and what we were doing". He later stated "I'm coming to it much the same as anyone else, with horror and heartbreak. It's just terrible to watch it unfold. I don't know what else to say, other than that it's heartbreaking."[62]
Kenan Thompson responded that the situation was a "tough subject", adding that most of the incidents described occurred after he left Nickelodeon. He also mentioned that Schneider was not involved much onKenan & Kel and that his "heart goes out to anyone that's been victimized, or their families."[63] He also urged Nickelodeon to investigate it, complaining that the network was "supposed to be a safe place for kids".[64]Kel Mitchell responded by mentioning an incident back in 1997 where he got into an argument with Schneider, who was the head writer ofAll That, in which he yelled at Mitchell.[65][66]
Amber Frank, who portrayed Taylor Hathaway inThe Haunted Hathaways, posted a response video on her TikTok, alleging thatchild pornography appeared on some of Nickelodeon's computers when they began work on the show.[48]Allie DiMeco, who portrayed Rosalina inThe Naked Brothers Band, alleged that the episode where she kissed a Frenchman in his thirties gave herPTSD. She claimed that she was around 14 or 15 at the time. She called out Nickelodeon for not allowing kids to speak out against these decisions. However, she acknowledged that the set ofNaked Brothers Band was relatively safer than others due to the show's involvement from showrunnerPolly Draper, the mother of starsNat Wolff andAlex Wolff.[48]Variety reported that actor playing the Frenchman, Jake Hertzog, would have been about 21 years old at the time of filming.[67] DiMeco also alleged that when she was "12 or 13", an adult female producer kissed her after DiMeco mentioned that she never had her first kiss.[68]Jack Salvatore Jr., who portrayed Mark Del Figgalo onZoey 101 and was a writer on several of Schneider's shows, responded to the documentary through an Instagram video by adding several more allegations to Schneider. These included Schneider bringing out a shotgun to scare one of the writers as well as Nickelodeon not recommending anti-depressant pills toiCarly starJennette McCurdy after the death of her mother due to the risk of suicide. He later stated he wanted to do his part in "preventing something like this from ever happening again".[48]
Matt Bennett, who played Robbie Shapiro onVictorious, wrote on his Instagram account disapproving of the treatment of the actors on set, with an additional note stating that it is a private situation for a lot of people and wishing for people to be respectful of their privacy.[57][69]Melissa Joan Hart, who played the titular character inClarissa Explains It All, reacted to the documentary in the podcastMeghan McCain Has Entered the Chat. Although she had a positive experience during her time on Nickelodeon, Hart toldMeghan McCain that she still trusts the victims "one hundred percent".[70]
Angel Massey, the mother ofZoey 101 starChristopher Massey, defended Schneider on Instagram. She praised Schneider for boosting her son's career while also blaming the victim's parents. She also posted some images of people's negative comments, including an image of multicolored fly swatters.[71][72] Christopher Massey later posted an Instagram story urging people to leave his mother alone. He also wrote "My story will be told from me.....not from a parent, a friend, a co worker.....ME!!!"[72]Madisyn Shipman, who starred in the Nickelodeon showGame Shakers, also defended Schneider. On an Instagram post, she shared that she had "nothing but positive things to say" about Schneider based on her experience on set.[73]Zoey 101 star Matthew Underwood revealed on his Instagram that he was sexually abused as a child and was sexually assaulted by his agent when he was 19, causing him to retire from acting. He mentioned his experience at Nickelodeon working for Schneider was mostly positive, praising him for taking accountability in his apology. He also urged fans to stop sending death threats to former child stars for not speaking up.[74]
In episode 5 of the series, formerAll That starsGiovonnie Samuels andBryan Hearne responded to Schneider's apology, expressing dissatisfaction.[75]
In aBusiness Insider interview,All That starLori Beth Denberg accused Schneider of showing her pornography, includingbestiality, initiatingphone sex with her andgroping her breasts. Schneider denied much of her allegations, calling them "wildly exaggerated", noting that the interviewer was executive producer Kate Taylor.[76][77][78]
In a 2024 interview withMarie Claire,Victoria Justice described her relationship with Schneider as "complex" as he helped her rise to fame and was grateful. She acknowledged Schneider's ego and after hearing Schneider say he owes people an apology, Justice said "one of them would be me". She also said some of the jokes, especially the ones that were inappropriate were in poor taste.[79][80]
OnPenn Badgley's podcastPodcrushed,Ariana Grande mentioned that she had to "reprocess" her relationship to Nickelodeon. She added that at the time of filmingVictorious, she and the cast felt that the humor "pushed the envelope" and that it happened quickly. She added after realizing the context, she became a little bit upset and deemed much of the child actors featured as survivors. Grande supported the notion of having therapists on television sets.[81]
Before the episodes were broadcast, Schneider's spokesperson released a statement that defended the content of his productions. The spokesperson claimed that everything was approved by the network producers. The spokesperson concluded, "Unfortunately, some adults project their adult minds onto kids' shows, drawing false conclusions about them."[22]
After the episodes were broadcast, Schneider uploaded an interview onYouTube with BooG!E (who had appeared as recurring character T-Bo oniCarly) regarding the docuseries. Schneider stated that the documentary was hard to watch, specifically citing a moment when he asked several crew members for massages. Schneider also agreed that some jokes on his older shows should be cut for future airings, adding they were added as kids found them funny and nobody brought concern at the time. He reiterated that every creative decision he made at Nickelodeon was carefully reviewed by the network.[7]
Schneider acknowledged his behavior in writing rooms and apologized for making writers feel uncomfortable with the environment. He also denied having any role in salaries, stating that sharing salaries is a common practice among television writers. Schneider cited the demand of producing over 40 episodes a year for feeling pressure. Schneider mentioned he was very proud of the diversity of his shows, with several having major Black characters. He denied being banned from any set and stated if he was ever off set he was busy writing; since he was known to be present on set, this gave such an illusion. Schneider stated that he was part ofAmanda Bynes' counsel for her attemptedemancipation and that she called him one morning distressed. Schneider, concerned for her, stated he called someone trusted to pick her up and that she was eventually taken by police.
Regarding the sexual abuse of Drake Bell by Brian Peck, Schneider denied hiring Peck and stated that the case was "the darkest part of my career" and was devastated by Bell's abuse, adding that he helped Bell's mother prepare her courtroom speech. He also acknowledged feeling baffled after hearing Peck, a registered sex offender, was hired byDisney Channel after being released from prison. When asked if there was anything that could be changed in hindsight, Schneider mentioned having an on-set therapist as well as changing his demeanor.[7][82][83]
Alexa Nikolas, one of the individuals featured in the documentary, released aYouTube live stream reacting to Schneider's video on March 20, 2024. In her video, she criticized Schneider's decision to release a public video rather than sending private apologies to each of the former child stars and staff members. Furthermore, she also voiced her disapproval at Schneider's decision to enlist an actor in one of his shows to conduct the interview, likening it to anecho chamber. Nikolas concluded by saying "I don't forgive Dan Schneider" and accused him of "playing the victim."[84][85][86] Nikolas founded a protest organization, "Eat Predators", which has sold merchandise critical of Nickelodeon. Some people have criticized Nikolas on social media for this, accusing her, according toBuzzFeed of "'profiting' from her Nickelodeon costars' 'trauma'". Nikolas has responded to this by writing, "Nickelodeon was my childhood trauma TOO. BTW. I got exploited as a child while in a toxic work environment and that company made millions of dollars off of [sic] us kids. I want to see people supporting me and others rocking a Sickelodeon t-shirt. You watch that doc and attack me?".[87]
All That cast memberBryan Hearne, who was featured in the documentary, found Schneider's performative, stating "If I could be candid, Dan was an actor before all of this,"…"And so I think that he brushed off some chops and gave us a nice performance. Where was all this apologizing when Jennette McCurdy's book came out?"[88]Leon Frierson, another individual featured in the documentary, had a more positive reaction to Schneider's video. In a statement toEntertainment Weekly, he said Schenider acknowledged his mistakes while he "shed light on a failed process" to reduce any questionable content on the network. On theThat's F***ed Up Podcast, Frierson also revealed that he was paid about1⁄10 as much as cast members from other networks.[48]
In May 2024, Schneider sued the producers of the documentary fordefamation, claiming that the series implied he was complicit inchild sexual abuse. The producers ofQuiet on Set attempted to dismiss the suit by filing a motion, claiming Schneider's suit was aSLAPP suit. In November 2024, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ashfaq Chowdhury ruled that Schneider's suit had merit and had not been brought "on frivolous grounds, simply to harass defendants", allowing it to proceed.[89][90][91]
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Just before the docuseries aired, Strong and Friedle released an episode of the podcast seriesPod Meets World in which they addressed their past friendship with Brian Peck on the set ofBoy Meets World and defense of him during the trial and sentencing. Both contended they were not aware of the full extent of Peck's charges and that he had misled them. They also said they had since cut ties with Peck.[26] In an interview on the podcastThe Sarah Fraser Show in March 2024, Drake Bell took issue with thePod Meets World episode, pointing out that both Friedle and Strong were already adults when they wrote their letters (Friedle was 27 and Strong was 24).[44] He also revealed in the same interview that he never received any apologies from any of the people who had written letters in support of Peck.[24] On April 5, 2024, Bell tweeted that he had spoken to Strong and forgave him for his letter.[92] In December 2024, during a later episode ofThe Sarah Fraser Show, Bell further clarified that he had an "apologetic and sweet" conversation with both Friedle and Strong, noting that it lasted for two hours. Bell also mentioned thatRobin Thicke, son ofAlan Thicke (who died in 2016), did not reach out to him, noting; "I don't think [Robin] even connected the dots or anything like that because he has nothing to do with it".[93][94]
Joanna Kerns issued a statement to the documentary makers that she was unaware of the full extent of the case at the time and now regrets her letter of support.[13] On March 25, 2024, directors Beth Correll and Rich Correll also wrote a statement toVariety expressing regret for supporting Peck before knowing the charges he faced while also apologizing to Bell.[95]
Tom DeSanto, who was an executive producer on the 2000 filmX-Men (which featured Peck in an uncredited role), released a statement toPeople magazine regretting supporting Peck. He wrote, "I want to personally apologize to Drake and his family and emphatically state that had I been fully informed of all the accusations, my support would have been absolutely withheld."[14] Bell responded to DeSanto's apology, saying that his apology "creates a ripple effect", adding that the situation "is a very, very tough thing for everyone involved".[24] On April 2, 2024, during his appearance on theNot Skinny but Not Fat podcast, Bell believed that many of the individuals were fooled by Peck. Bell adds "I don't really harbor any anger — it's just confusion."[23]