'All That' Star Claims 'We Would Choke' On Sugar While At Nickelodeon
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on March 19, 2024 at 12:45 PM EDT
The new docuseries, ‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV', is exposing Dan Schneider and Nickelodeon, including how stars allegedly "choked" on sugar during filming.
As you know, Dan Schneider has been accused of various allegations of abusive behavior. These accusations primarily center around his behavior while on set and his interactions with young actors and actresses who starred in his shows, including 'Drake & Josh', 'The Amanda Show', and 'All That'.
Bombshell Docuseries Exposes 'All That' Set
In the bombshell docuseries, ‘All That’ actress Giovonnie Samuels spoke out about the alleged work environment while on with the show, admitting, “I had no idea what kind of wild ride I was getting into.”
In one skit, titled 'Sugar & Coffee', Samuels says she played an old lady, who had to down "pounds and pounds of literal sugar in your mouth," adding, "and it's hitting you like sand."
She then called out the network for the apparent physical abuse, saying that "sometimes we would choke."
Kyle Sullivan Says Dan Schneider 'Got A Kick With Walking The Line'
Another ‘All That’ actor, Kyle Sullivan, who also guest starred on ‘The Amanda Show’, says that while “Dan [Schneider] took a liking to [him]," the work environment was "dysfunctional."
"You could get away with more" while on set for 'All That', Sullivan alleged, before explaining how the show reportedly forced kids to work "overtime" and how they were "pushing the envelope."
Sullivan also spoke on the 'Sugar & Coffee' skit, claiming "that sketch required a ton of physical work."
"It was taxing and if you look at the sketch, it is gross," he added in the docuseries. "The show was full of these uncomfortable sketches."
He claimed that "Dan [Schneider] got a kick with walking the line," something ‘All That’ star Bryan Hearne echoed as he accused Nickelodeon and Schneider of "ignoring child labor laws."
Writer Claims Nickelodeon Had An Unsafe Environment
Writer Scaach Koul was interviewed for the docuseries, who outed the production behind these shows at Nickelodeon.
“The person at the top sets the tone for the entire production," she said on camera during the newly released docuseries. "If you run a show dealing overwhelmingly with children, then you are responsible for creating an environment where those kids feel beyond comfortable to tell you that they are not comfortable."
She added, "It needs to be so safe that your most vulnerable person on set is able to say to you, the most powerful person there, I don't want to do this.”
Drake Bell Accuses Brian Peck Of Sexual Abuse
Drake Bellopened up in the docuseries, detailing the sexual abuse he claims he endured by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck.
After meeting Peck, he eventually became Bell's manager, which meant their relationship grew closer -- so close that Bell stayed over Peck's house from time to time.
“I was sleeping on the couch where I usually sleep and I woke up to him… I opened my eyes and I woke up and he was…he was s-xually assaulting me,” Bell, who was 15 at the time, says in the docuseries. “And I froze, and was in complete shock and had no idea what to do or how to react.”
“You know anytime I had an audition or anytime I needed to work on dialogue or anything, I somehow ended up back at Brian’s house,” the ‘Drake & Josh’ star recalled. “And it just got worse, and worse, and worse, and worse, and I was just trapped. I had no way out. The abuse was extensive and it got pretty brutal.”
Drake Bell 'Remembers All Of The Abusive Events'
The former child actor, who is now 37 years old, claims he has not forgotten any of the alleged abused encounters with Brian Peck, which “overshadowed” the rest of his time at Nickelodeon.
“I often look back at that time and wonder how in the world I survived,” he said in the docuseries. “I remember all of the abusive events, but everything outside of that is very blurry to me, which is a bummer because I experienced a lot of great things in my life and my career during this time. But it was so overshadowed and ruined by what I was dealing with on the inside that it made it really hard for me.”
Other stars who have made allegations against Schneider include former Nickelodeon actress Jennette McCurdy and former ‘Zoey 101’ star Alexa Nikolas.