‘Quiet On Set’ Team Predicts 100% Positive Change for Kids Shows Thanks to Docuseries

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV has unveiled unsettling truths about ’90s kids TV. Yet, the documentary series, which is up for a Best Documentary Emmy Award, has sparked positive change.

During a discussion with Deadline, executive producers and contributors of the Investigation Discovery project reflected on its impact. Former All That cast member Bryan Hearne believes the documentary’s exposure of issues has a “100 percent chance” of leading to significant improvements, thanks to executive producers Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz.

The docuseries, also nominated for an Emmy in Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, aimed to shed light on the hazardous and toxic environments present on the sets of Dan Schneider’s Nickelodeon shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Giovonnie Samuels, who co-starred with Hearne on All That and participated in the series, emphasized ongoing activism. “There’s a program affiliated with SAG addressing this issue, and I’m committed to continuing to raise awareness. Bryan’s nonprofit is already making a difference, and I’m turning my acting workshops into a nonprofit to extend help further. We’ve also engaged with Congress to push for federal legislation to ensure everyone is protected,” said Samuels.

Discussing what federal law might entail, Samuels added, “If child predators can’t be at schools, they shouldn’t be allowed on sets either. The laws need to be straightforward to effectively protect children.” The docuseries features former child star Drake Bell who details physical abuse by former voice coach Brian Peck, underscoring the necessity for commonsense legal protections.

Writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton reveal the misogynistic and toxic culture in The Amanda Show writers’ room. Alexa Nikolas shares her experiences from Zoey 101. The series also includes perspectives from iCarly, Sam & Cat, Victorious, plus insights from Marc Summers of the game show Double Dare. Furthermore, the series presents emotional testimonies from parents of cast members who endeavored to advocate for their children.

Quiet on Set achieved a landmark as the most streamed program in Max’s history, with its first four episodes amassing 1.25 billion minutes of viewing from March 18-24. Robertson and Schwartz prioritized creating a safe space for participants to share their stories authentically.

Source: Deadline