Ahead of the release of a disturbing true crime documentary series titled Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, here’s what you need to know about Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider and if he’s in prison.
Dan Schneider was once known as a kid’s TV hitmaker, having struck gold with a wide range of successful shows for Nickelodeon in the 90s and 00s such as Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show, Zoey 101, iCarly, and Victorious.
However, in 2018 – at the height of the #MeToo movement – it was revealed that Schneider had been dropped by the infamous kids TV channel amid alleged complaints of abusive behavior made by staff members.
A 2017 investigation by Nick’s parent company ViacomCBS found no evidence of sexual misconduct, and Schneider has continued to deny the claims. But numerous allegations have surfaced over the years, which begs the question: is Schneider in prison?
Quiet on Set: Is Dan Schneider in prison?
Despite the ongoing controversies, Dan Schneider has never been charged and is therefore not in prison.
Police are yet to launch an investigation into the allegations against him. But many believe he should be held to account.
Taking to Reddit, one asked, “We all know some dark things happened and I’m sure a simple investigation into Nickelodeon would prove that, so my question is do you think that the *alleged* things that he did will ever come out and he will pay for it?”
Another replied, “Without solid evidence of sexual abuse, I’m afraid not,” while a third added, “I feel like there has to be SOME kind of physical proof SOMEWHERE! I just wish he wasn’t so powerful, I saw someone call him the Jeffrey Epstein of Nickelodeon.”
It’s yet to be seen whether there will be a police inquiry into the accusations against Schneider, but we’ll keep you posted if this changes.
Quiet on Set: What did Dan Schneider do?
Over the years while working for Nickelodeon, Dan Schneider has faced numerous accusations, many of which surfaced in a 2022 investigative report by Business Insider. These include requesting massages from female staff and stars, gender discrimination, fostering a toxic work environment, and creating “hypersexualized” content.
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In her 2022 memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy – who starred as Sam Puckett in iCarly – described a person on the show she identified as ‘the Creator,’ who pressured her into drinking alcohol underage, gave her an unwanted massage, pitted the young co-stars against each other, and was photographed wearing a bikini. Although she didn’t outright name him, many believe she’s referring to Schneider.
Fans of his shows have highlighted a number of problematic scenes, including one in which Schneider can be seen in a hot tub with Amanda Bynes – star of The Amanda Show – when she was a young teen.
People why wonder Amanda Bynes is messed up as an adult have to remember that as a child she was alone in a hot tub with Dan Schneider pic.twitter.com/GaWb3y07Mi
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) March 20, 2023
Others include compilations from Ariana Grande’s time on Victorious, with shots including the singer putting her toe in her mouth, pouring water on herself, and squeezing a potato with her eyes closed, asking for it to “give up the juice.”
Speaking to Insider, fellow Victorious star Daniella Monet said Schneider is “not the only one to blame,” with the outlet adding: “The network, as well as the department of standards and practices, had to sign off on everything. Monet added that Schneider’s male-dominated writers’ rooms could result in some hypersexualized content.”
In a 2021 profile in The New York Times, Schneider denied the allegations, which included spending too much time with the young co-stars who worked for him, and suggested he would be making a comeback. When the report was shared online, former All That writer Liz Feldman tweeted: “I worked for Schneider 25 years ago. I can confirm inappropriate behavior was happening even then. #metoo.”
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, an upcoming docuseries from ID, is set to delve into the accusations further. As per the synopsis: “#QuietOnSet pulls back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider, that had an undeniable grip on popular culture. Series such as All That and The Amanda Show, among others, were obsessively consumed by children across the country and defined comedy for a generation.
“But behind the upbeat onscreen presence on these shows with questionable jokes and over-the-top sketches, Quiet on Set reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew.”
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV premieres across two nights on ID from 9pm-11pm ET/PT on Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18. It will also be available for streaming on Max, which you can sign up for here. And for more upcoming true crime and documentaries this month, head here.
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