"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" is a five-part documentary series that delves into the behind-the-scenes environment of children's television programs from the 1990s and 2000s. It particularly focuses on Dan Schneider's role as a producer and showrunner at Nickelodeon, exploring allegations of a toxic work environment, abuse, sexism, and racism. The series features interviews with former child actors, writers, and crew members, who share their experiences working on popular shows like "All That," "The Amanda Show," "Zoey 101," and "iCarly". The documentary aims to uncover the disturbing truths and power imbalances that existed behind the upbeat on-screen presence of these shows. "Quiet on Set" premiered on Investigation Discovery (ID) across two nights, March 17 and March 18, 2024, with a fifth episode released on April 7, 2024. It was also simultaneously released on Max and Discovery+.
The documentary features interviews and archival footage of various individuals. Some of the main people who appeared in the series are:
- Drake Bell as Self - Cast Member, "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh"
- Giovonnie Samuels as Self - Cast Member, "All That"
- Alexa Nikolas as Self - Former actress on "Zoey 101"
- Leon Frierson as Self - Actor
- Bryan Hearne as Self - Cast Member, "All That"
- Kyle Sullivan as Self - Actor
- Raquel Lee as Self - Actress
- Shane Lyons as Self - Actor
- Amanda Bynes as Self (archive footage)
- Dan Schneider as Self (archive footage)
- Scaachi Koul as Self - Culture Writer
- Kate Taylor as Self - Journalist, Business Insider
- Brian Peck as Self (archive footage)
- Rick Ellis as Self - Writer, Self - Founder, AllYourScreens.com
- Soledad O'Brien as Journalist, Moderator of Episode 5
"Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" has received positive reviews from audiences and critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating based on 12 critics, 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". On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. The first two episodes were viewed by 0.614 million viewers, with a 0.40 household rating and a 0.11 rating for the 18-49 demographic. The subsequent two episodes garnered 0.641 million viewers, with a 0.42 household rating and a 0.13 rating for the 18-49 demographic.
The series consists of one season with five episodes. The episode titles are:
- Rising Stars, Rising Questions
- Hidden in Plain Sight
- The Darkest Secret
- Too Close to the Sun
- Breaking the Silence
The series has ended.
An official trailer for "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" is available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh5eOUppszU
Viewers who enjoyed "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" might also find these shows interesting:
- "An Open Secret": Explores the exploitation and abuse of children in Hollywood.
- "House of Hammer": A docuseries that explores the dark secrets and allegations surrounding the Hammer family.
- "Allen v. Farrow": A documentary that investigates the allegations of sexual abuse against Woody Allen.
