Docu: @ TW Dark side of kids tv: Nick

[basilosaurus]

Has anyone watched the first couple eps (I think it's on discovery and whatever their streaming is now)? It's about Nicklodeon and how really dark it was for the children there. Sexism, racism, like Harvey Weinstein nastiness but against children. It's really harrowing. It really casts a pall over my childhood tv watching. At least Marc Summers seems appalled and double dare seems to remain pure. So far.

It was the only kids' channel, and I don't think people after a certain era will understand it was groundbreaking and our only tv, and that's only if our parents paid for our 20 channels of cable. It did launch a number of careers, but at a huge cost. As a kid I of course didn't get a lot of the inappropriate jokes, but seeing it replayed as an adult, damn.

None of it surprises me. 

One thing that struck me was these kids feeling responsible for being breadwinners, so even if their guts said something ain't right, they wouldn't speak up. And kids were taught to defer to elders who of course knew best. 

It's 4 parts, and I'm only partly through 2. 

[followyourarrow]

I haven't watched the documentary, but I read I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Her book, while a lot about her relationship with her mom, did talk about the dark side of Nick as well.

[mrshandy]

Mar 18, 2024 14:37:06 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

I haven't watched the documentary, but I read I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. Her book, while a lot about her relationship with her mom, did talk about the dark side of Nick as well.

That book was one of the best books I read in a while (I listened to the audiobook TBF). But so well written and heartbreaking. 

DD used to watch Sam and Cat years ago before she came out with the book and that show was literally the worst. I banned her from watching it on our house tv because it was so terrible. 

[loira]

I've almost finished the 2nd episode and it is rage inducing on many levels. I feel so bad for those kids, and those women writers, and even the parents. I noticed that the parents were being manipulated in a similar way to parents of child athletes (like gymnasts) where they just slowly accepted all these weird and uncomfortable scenarios because they thought if they didn't it would hurt their kid's chances in the industry.

I did not grow up watching Nickelodeon, at least not as a channel. We had a channel called YTV that aired some shows that I *think* were Nickelodeon or in partnership with Nickelodeon, or maybe Nickelodeon later picked them up. They all had quite a lot of Canadian actors and were filmed in Canada so YTV likely aired them as CanCon (a requirement that Canadian media showcase a certain percentage of Canadian content). I'd never seen All That, but it sounds a lot like You Can't do that on Television, which was a Canadian show.

[nsl]

loira, Nick aired You Can't Do That on Television for years before All That premiered. If I recall correctly at least a few of the same actors were on both shows. I will definitely be watching this when I get the chance.

[macmars45]

It streams on HBO Max according to google.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 18, 2024 19:32:35 GMT -5 nsl said:

loira , Nick aired You Can't Do That on Television for years before All That premiered. If I recall correctly at least a few of the same actors were on both shows. I will definitely be watching this when I get the chance.

Alanis Morisette came from you can't do that, and I think the entire show was Canadian in origin. This is not yet in what I watched, though.

[macmars45]

I watched the first two episodes last night. Awful and unsurprising.

[icedcoffee]

I watched a bunch of the Amanda Bynes one. So horrible.

[litskispeciality]

I need to watch this series as I grew up on Nick and Disney.

Total speculation/tin foil hat. Alyson Stoner (Disney channel star) has a podcast/video stream speaking about their experience as a child star. I haven't had time to listen to the whole thing yet, however Alyson mentions in an early episode that they had recorded a LOT of content, interviews etc. with other kid stars about their experiences, only to have the company who was making (producing I don't know the right word) this podcast basically give Alyson a horrible deal. The host Alyson decided to scrap all the created content and has to be VERY careful what they share on this new podcast. Once I heard about this other doc I immediately assumed a lot of Alyson's stuff was recycled in to a new show...but I could be 100% off there.

I also enjoyed Jennette's book and noticed a theme of saying "the creator" vs. whoever that was (Daniel Schneider?) I assumed it was out of fear of lawsuit, and that some of that will come out in this doc. For those who haven't read Jennette's book, she pretty much hated being on Sam & Cat and alluded too she was promised her own show, and then something happened. I always thought she liked Ariana Grande more than she did, but there's some tea there too.

Finally, I wonder if they'll talk about Drake Bell at all? I really enjoyed Drake and Josh, but I can't stomach it after all of the allegations against Drake the person.

[fortnightlily]

Mar 19, 2024 14:41:40 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

Finally, I wonder if they'll talk about Drake Bell at all? I really enjoyed Drake and Josh, but I can't stomach it after all of the allegations against Drake the person.

Sounds like yes:

"In the new Investigation Discovery documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, the Drake & Josh actor speaks publicly for the first time about the repeated sexual abuse he survived as a teenager, which was perpetrated by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was later convicted. In the final segment of the four-part series (out tonight on ID), Bell discusses how his trauma led him down a dark path."

ew.com/drake-bell-addresses-abuse-allegations-against-him-in-documentary-8609922

[basilosaurus]

Mar 19, 2024 16:13:46 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

Mar 19, 2024 14:41:40 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

Finally, I wonder if they'll talk about Drake Bell at all? I really enjoyed Drake and Josh, but I can't stomach it after all of the allegations against Drake the person.

Sounds like yes:

"In the new Investigation Discovery documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, the Drake & Josh actor speaks publicly for the first time about the repeated sexual abuse he survived as a teenager, which was perpetrated by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was later convicted. In the final segment of the four-part series (out tonight on ID), Bell discusses how his trauma led him down a dark path."

ew.com/drake-bell-addresses-abuse-allegations-against-him-in-documentary-8609922

Episode 3 for sure. I haven't seen ep 4.

I cannot imagine the guilt father feels. He saw it, reported it multiple times, was dismissed and ostracized for it.

I agree that parents are as manipulated as the kids. "That's just the way things are in Hollywood." "You're just being homophobic. Not every gay man is a predator."

Eta it is mentioned again in ep 4, but it's not the focus like in 3

[quesyrah]

Mar 19, 2024 14:41:40 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I need to watch this series as I grew up on Nick and Disney.

Total speculation/tin foil hat. Alyson Stoner (Disney channel star) has a podcast/video stream speaking about their experience as a child star. I haven't had time to listen to the whole thing yet, however Alyson mentions in an early episode that they had recorded a LOT of content, interviews etc. with other kid stars about their experiences, only to have the company who was making (producing I don't know the right word) this podcast basically give Alyson a horrible deal. The host Alyson decided to scrap all the created content and has to be VERY careful what they share on this new podcast. Once I heard about this other doc I immediately assumed a lot of Alyson's stuff was recycled in to a new show...but I could be 100% off there.

I also enjoyed Jennette's book and noticed a theme of saying "the creator" vs. whoever that was (Daniel Schneider?) I assumed it was out of fear of lawsuit, and that some of that will come out in this doc. For those who haven't read Jennette's book, she pretty much hated being on Sam & Cat and alluded too she was promised her own show, and then something happened. I always thought she liked Ariana Grande more than she did, but there's some tea there too.

Finally, I wonder if they'll talk about Drake Bell at all? I really enjoyed Drake and Josh, but I can't stomach it after all of the allegations against Drake the person.

I listened to Alyson’s podcast too and was under the impression that most of the content was scrapped by production’s lawyers (fear of lawsuits).

[litskispeciality]

quesyrah, that makes sense. TW TW the stuff I've heard on Alyson's podcast is also really sad and scary. Even just the late night filming in cold rain at midnight.

[quesyrah]

Mar 20, 2024 8:43:59 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

quesyrah, that makes sense. TW TW the stuff I've heard on Alyson's podcast is also really sad and scary. Even just the late night filming in cold rain at midnight.

Agree, it’s awful what these kids went through

[babsbunny]

Does the Doc mention the show Pete + Pete at all? If so, anything about the actor who played the dad? (Last name raw.ls. First name hard-y.)

Supposedly I sat next to him on a flight between 2003 and 2007 when he was also playing the bored repair man for the washer dryer appliances (you know the brand). He was chatty and I'm shy. I remeber being a little interested in the convo and then wanting it to end.

Yes I am being vague to try to hide from smart search computers. I'll be waiting for the Doc to hit another streaming service until I can watch it.

[tacokick]

Mar 20, 2024 21:32:01 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

Does the Doc mention the show Pete + Pete at all? If so, anything about the actor who played the dad? (Last name raw.ls. First name hard-y.)

Supposedly I sat next to him on a flight between 2003 and 2007 when he was also playing the bored repair man for the washer dryer appliances (you know the brand). He was chatty and I'm shy. I remeber being a little interested in the convo and then wanting it to end.

Yes I am being vague to try to hide from smart search computers. I'll be waiting for the Doc to hit another streaming service until I can watch it.

No Pete and Pete! That was before this time period.

I actually went to college with the girl who played Ellen!

[tacokick]

The content of some of the shows/skits was what surprised me. I don’t understand how some of that made it on air and no one complained, especially some of the stuff with Ariana Grande.

A lot of kids shows will have some jokes sort of aimed at adults (like when Sesame Street would do a parody of True Blood or Downton Abbey) but nothing like what they were showing in the clips on the documentary.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 20, 2024 22:19:54 GMT -5 tacokick said:

The content of some of the shows/skits was what surprised me. I don’t understand how some of that made it on air and no one complained, especially some of the stuff with Ariana Grande.

A lot of kids shows will have some jokes sort of aimed at adults (like when Sesame Street would do a parody of True Blood or Downton Abbey) but nothing like what they were showing in the clips on the documentary.

I agree with all this. 

I think it's long been true that there is innuendo and jokes only adults would get, from even early Disney cartoons. And that doesn't bother me. My thought had been if you're old enough to get it you're old enough to see it. Let the adults forced into watching kid tv have something to chuckle to themselves about.

But money shots in multiple shows? Simulated hand jobs? That orgasm scene with the water bottle? That's not mere innuendo for a laugh. It's depraved and disgusting.

[Jalapeñomel]

Mar 20, 2024 22:10:27 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Mar 20, 2024 21:32:01 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

Does the Doc mention the show Pete + Pete at all? If so, anything about the actor who played the dad? (Last name raw.ls. First name hard-y.)

Supposedly I sat next to him on a flight between 2003 and 2007 when he was also playing the bored repair man for the washer dryer appliances (you know the brand). He was chatty and I'm shy. I remeber being a little interested in the convo and then wanting it to end.

Yes I am being vague to try to hide from smart search computers. I'll be waiting for the Doc to hit another streaming service until I can watch it.

No Pete and Pete! That was before this time period.

I actually went to college with the girl who played Ellen!

Pete and Pete was my favorite. 

[litskispeciality]

Jalapeñomel, babsbunny, tacokick, I loooove Pete and Pete too! DH and I went as Little Pete and Artie the Strongest Man...in the World! for Halloween once. My brother also got me an Orange Lazurus shirt last year. Anyway I really hope that show wasn't effected. Also knowing Ellen in real life would be so cool, she's kind of bada$$, at least on the show lol.

I still need to watch this, but have to wait for DH now. I am surprised though that Ariana Grande hasn't complained about the Jennette book as she def pushes the line of things she says about AG more than any other actors/actresses she's worked with (minus the bad boyfriend later in the book).

I'm also curious, but again assume I'll be sick to my stomach, about the feet stuff. I watched more iCarly and Sam & Cat than I should have for not having kids (lol), and I remember more feet references and shots than makes sense on pretty much any show, never mind a kids show.

[tacokick]

Mar 21, 2024 9:24:59 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

Jalapeñomel, babsbunny, tacokick, I loooove Pete and Pete too! DH and I went as Little Pete and Artie the Strongest Man...in the World! for Halloween once. My brother also got me an Orange Lazurus shirt last year. Anyway I really hope that show wasn't effected. Also knowing Ellen in real life would be so cool, she's kind of bada$$, at least on the show lol.

I still need to watch this, but have to wait for DH now. I am surprised though that Ariana Grande hasn't complained about the Jennette book as she def pushes the line of things she says about AG more than any other actors/actresses she's worked with (minus the bad boyfriend later in the book).

I'm also curious, but again assume I'll be sick to my stomach, about the feet stuff. I watched more iCarly and Sam & Cat than I should have for not having kids (lol), and I remember more feet references and shots than makes sense on pretty much any show, never mind a kids show.

Pete and Pete was so fun! It was really a quirky show. Great guest starts. And I have a Artie sticker on my car lol

It sounds like the problems at Nickelodeon started when Dan Schneider got on the scene and basically took over the network after having a lot of success.

There was an article on the AV Club I had read years ago about the cancelation of Pete and Pete and seems like 1996 was a big year of upheaval at the network and that sort of paved the way for a move to different programming that ended up being what Dan Schneider got in on. It’s old and doesn’t address the current issues but it was interesting and still online www.avclub.com/nickelodeon-grew-up-and-blew-up-in-1996-1798250787

Real life Ellen said it was a lot of work being on the show and exhausting because she was still living in Long Island and would commute to the set in New Jersey.

[fortnightlily]

I interned at Nickelodeon in 2003, but the department I was in was more doing development for their animated shows. Being an elder millennial my peak watching was definitely the Pete and Pete, Hey Dude, Alex Mack etc. days. So yeah, I have paid little attention to this whole era but it's sad to read about.

[UMaineTeach]

I don’t remember much about Pete and Pete, but I think of it every year when the clocks get set back. That episode where they focus on reliving an hour of their lives.

[wise_rita]

Mar 21, 2024 10:22:33 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

I interned at Nickelodeon in 2003, but the department I was in was more doing development for their animated shows. Being an elder millennial my peak watching was definitely the Pete and Pete, Hey Dude, Alex Mack etc. days. So yeah, I have paid little attention to this whole era but it's sad to read about.

Salute Your Shorts!

[wesleycrusher]

Mar 22, 2024 11:09:09 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Mar 21, 2024 10:22:33 GMT -5 fortnightlily said:

I interned at Nickelodeon in 2003, but the department I was in was more doing development for their animated shows. Being an elder millennial my peak watching was definitely the Pete and Pete, Hey Dude, Alex Mack etc. days. So yeah, I have paid little attention to this whole era but it's sad to read about.

Salute Your Shorts!

I cannot hear the name Zeke without thinking of Zeke the Plumber. 

A few years ago I read the book Slimed!: An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age.  It focused on the time before Dan Schneider, and I honestly don't remember the book talking about disturbing topics. It makes me wonder if the book was written in conjunction with Nick so that stuff was cut out or they picked/chose who gave their history, if this stuff was just not as prevalent pre-Dan (unlikely?), or if it wasn't on my radar then as all this stuff came out afterwards so I didn't pick up on it. 

[AJL]

The episode about what happened to Drake Bell was devastating. While it wasn’t mentioned if Dan Schneider ever perpetuated the level of abuse that Bryan Peck did, he absolutely facilitated it by creating an extremely toxic environment where parents and other adults who were trying to secure the safety and welfare of their children couldn’t do so without fear of retaliation against their kids or losing their jobs.

[Poeticxpassion]

Was anyone surprised by the people who wrote letters of support for Brian Peck? I admit I gasped at James Marsden. I’ve loved him since Second Noah.

[basilosaurus]

Apr 8, 2024 1:16:54 GMT -5 Poeticxpassion said:

Was anyone surprised by the people who wrote letters of support for Brian Peck? I admit I gasped at James Marsden. I’ve loved him since Second Noah.

I have the memory of a mosquito (unless you've done me wrong which is elephantine) but didn't many write these letters before they knew the details? Things like I never experienced it, so clearly this is wrong. And then saying oh shit, I retract.

I'm not saying that stance is defensible, but I think it's human. Someone you've known for years who's never shown that side to you, you might come to their defense before all the details are known.

[litskispeciality]

Apr 8, 2024 1:16:54 GMT -5 Poeticxpassion said:

Was anyone surprised by the people who wrote letters of support for Brian Peck? I admit I gasped at James Marsden. I’ve loved him since Second Noah.

I was by Allan Thick, and some of the cast of Boy Meets World. I didn't know Brian Peck was an extra (?) on BMW? They had a special episode of the Pod Meets World podcast addressing Brian Peck, but I couldn't get through the whole thing.

1 new episode dropped last night, but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet.