'Quiet on Set' documentary sheds light on the dark, toxic side of kids television

In the realm of children's television, Nickelodeon was one of the primary channels most beloved by children.

Together with Disney, Nickelodeon dominated children's television for more than a decade, leading to the emergence of talented child actors, some of whom have found success in the industry.

Those who grew up during this era would often talk about celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Drake Bell, Victoria Justice, Jerry Trainor, Jennette McCurdy, Jamie Lynne Spears, and Kenan Thompson, among others.

Millions of children around the world tuned in to enjoy legendary shows like The Amanda Show, All That, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious, Sam and Cat, and Henry Danger among others.

These masterpieces were created by Dan Schneider, who was regarded as Nickelodeon’s ‘golden boy’. He has worked as a writer and producer on numerous shows and revolutionized kids' comedy.

Unbeknownst to viewers around the world was the toxic work environment on the sets of Nickelodeon coupled with the sexual misconduct of minors among other issues.

In light of Investigation Discovery’s documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids’ TV, numerous child actors have come out to tell their experience with the network and, more importantly, their experience with Schneider.

These allegations surfaced years after the #MeToo movement, which exposed several abusers. This investigation sheds light on the disturbing actions of men in the film and television industry, revealing how they have negatively impacted the lives of their colleagues and child actors.

Several employees were interviewed in 2018 about their experiences with Schneider. Although no allegations of sexual misconduct by Schneider were found, the employees expressed that the producer was controlling and verbally abusive towards his colleagues.

Later that year, Dan Schneider was dismissed by Nickelodeon due to creating a toxic work environment.

These allegations were later corroborated in the docuseries by two former female writers of the show "All That," who discussed their tumultuous relationship with Schneider.

The docuseries also documents how children were made to act out material laced with sexual innuendo.

Girls’ bare feet were a recurring theme on the network’s shows. Other scenes depicted child actors wearing revealing outfits that they later said they would not wear as adults.

As a Nickelodeon viewer, it is concerning to see the sexually suggestive skits aired on national television, which are being passed off as children's humour.

It is more shocking to discover three crew members who were working on the sets were convicted of sexual offences against minors.

The Quiet on Set documentary depicts how former child actors reflected on the impact of their well-being on the set, with one acknowledging his troubles with the law.

It also demonstrates how businesses fail to protect their performers, who in this case belong to a vulnerable age group.