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Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is a 2024 American five-part documentary television series that details some of the behind-the-scenes world at children's television programs from the 1990s to the 2000s, with a special focus on Dan Schneider's tenure as a producer and show runner at Nickelodeon. The first four episodes aired March 17-18, 2024, on Investigation Discovery, and the fifth episode aired on April 7. The series was simultaneously released on Max and Discovery+. The series was produced by Maxine Productions with Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction and Business Insider. The series was loosely based on a Business Insider article about Nickelodeon from 2022. 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. However, criticism was drawn to the documentary not going into detail of Nickelodeon's workplace culture. Schneider has since released an apology video on his YouTube channel, fueling further discussions from other Nickelodeon stars and further comments from the individuals featured in the documentary. In addition, several of the individuals who wrote pleas for leniency for sex offender Brian Peck following his conviction have publicly rejected supporting him, especially in light of the documentary. 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. Synopsis Quiet on Set: the Dark Side of Kids TV depicts the rise of television producer Dan Schneider, who was accused of fostering a hostile work environment. The series begins with Schneider's work in chronological order, starting with his first big hit All That which first aired in 1994. Interviewed writers Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen accuse Schneider of underpaying them and presiding over a rampant misogynistic culture in the writers room. As the show progresses, issues regarding the actors in Schneider's productions are covered. Former actress Alexa Nikolas appears detailing her experience working in the series Zoey 101. Former cast and crew members of All That, The Amanda Show and other Nickelodeon shows appear as well. In the third episode, Drake Bell reveals he was sexually abused by former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck (no relation to Bell's Drake & Josh co-star Josh Peck). 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 actors James Marsden, Kimmy Robertson, Taran Killam, Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle along with director Rich Correll and producer Tom DeSanto. 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. 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. Handy would be sentenced to six years in prison for other charges in 2004. Production In 2018, in response to the #MeToo movement, Viacom International's MTV Networks interviewed dozens of employees regarding their experiences with Dan 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. 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 of Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine from Victorious pouring water on her face while lying upside down. Another clip depicted Jamie Lynn Spears in an episode of Zoey 101 getting viscous liquid squirted onto her face. Robertson thought that the two clips evoked pornographic imagery. Robertson (with Emma Schwartz) later partnered with Business Insider reporter Kate Taylor to reach out to dozens of actors and crew members who worked on the sets of Schneider's shows. Taylor previously wrote about Nickelodeon in a 2022 Business Insider article entitled "Inside Dan Schneider's 'disgusting' Nickelodeon empire". Taylor's article partially influenced the direction of the series. 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. They also attempted to reach out to Schneider, but he refused to appear on camera. His responses were shown throughout the series through text. On the day that Bell's interview was filmed, Robertson told The Hollywood Reporter, the entire set was quiet. Bell later told Robertson that a weight was lifted from him. On The Sarah Fraser Show podcast on March 22, 2024, Bell revealed that he went to rehab after his interview for the documentary. 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. Before they sat down with Bell, the directors petitioned the court to make the letters supporting Brian Peck public. They told Variety "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." After the trailer for the documentary was released, Robertson told US Magazine that she attempted to reach out to Rider Strong and Will Friedle but neither responded. Kate Taylor and Olivia Singh later published several letters featured in the documentary on Business Insider. Robertson told The Hollywood Reporter that if the series became successful, she hoped they could make more episodes of Quiet on Set. On March 22, 2024, Rotten Tomatoes listed a fifth episode called Breaking the Silence. On March 26, 2024, Investigation Discovery confirmed that the fifth episode would premiere on April 7 and that Bell would make another appearance. Jason Sarlanis, a Warner 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." Episodes Cast In alphabetical order: Reception On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 12 critics gave the series a positive review. On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating a "generally favorable" show. Rich.... Discover the Emily Wesley Stringer popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Emily Wesley Stringer books.