Fans Allege Dan Schenider's Comedy Has An 'Aggressively Sexual Undertone With Minors'
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on May 20, 2024 at 6:15 PM EDT
In the 'Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV' docuseries, Dan Schneider was accused of verbal abuse, discrimination, fostering a 'toxic' work environment marked by misogynistic comments, and more.
The former Nickelodeon producer is known for writing scripts for various 90s and 2000s shows such as 'All That,' 'Drake & Josh,' 'Zoey 101,' 'Victorious,' 'iCarly,' and more.
While these shows were very popular, the scenes and some of the lines delivered now raise concerns.
Did Nickelodeon Shows Include Sexualized Jokes?
Fans are now diving deeper into the shows and are claiming that some of the lines and jokes can be looked at as sexualized, which many deem inappropriate considering the lines were delivered by teenagers at the time.
For example, one scene that was discussed during the new docuseries, 'Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV’, involved Ariana Grande in a bedroom attempting to squeeze a potato to get the juice out. Accusations claim that this was a reference to pleasuring a man until he ejac-lated.
Another scene that has raised concerns also includes Ariana Grande, but this time, she is sitting in a bathtub as her costars, Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress, pour water and soap on her, making her wet.
Dan Schneider Addresses The Jokes Made In Kids Shows
After the scenes were brought to light, Dan Schneider addressed the jokes, saying they should be eliminated from reruns.
“Let’s cut those jokes out of the show, just like I would have done 20 years ago or 25 years ago,” Schneider said. “I want my shows to be popular. I want everyone to like [the shows], the more people who like the shows, the happier I am. So if there’s anything that needs to be cut because it’s upsetting somebody, let’s cut it.”
Does Dan Schneider's Comedy Have A 'Power-Obsession' Manner?
After watching the 'Quiet On Set' docuseries and hearing former Nickelodeon staff and cast members speak out on their experience with Dan Schneider, fans took a closer look at the jokes used during the late 1990s and early 2000s shows, many of which Schneider helped write the scripts for.
"A lot of Schneider’s comedy has a cruelty, power-obsession and an aggressively sexual undertone with minors on a fairly consistent basis," one fan alleged of the former Nickelodeon producer.
"I don’t mind innuendos in kids' shows once in a while. SpongeBob going on a panty raid at elderly Mrs. Krab's house and getting in trouble for it, or Patrick wearing fishnet stockings is fine," the fan added. "They are a drawn sponge and a starfish coded as adults -childlike ones, but still adults."
"However, what they do is they use cheeky wordplay and make what they are joking about very hidden and something you can easily miss," they claimed.
Fans Question Why The Adults Didn't Deliver The Jokes
Another fan asked, "Why aren't the adult characters doing these so-called adult jokes in these shows?"
"I never see Spenser [from 'iCarly'] or any other adult character say innuendos but the minors. It's always the minors in these shows. Dan almost exclusively having minors do these adult 'jokes' is very suspicious," they added.
"There's nothing wrong with an adult joke or two in a kids' show. There's nothing wrong with universal appeal and to get as much people to enjoy and appreciate something. HOWEVER! It is HOW it's done that is either funny or sick," that same fan expressed. "Let's take something like 'Shrek' or 'SpongeBob Squarepants.' They like to throw in adult jokes."
Dan Schneider Files Lawsuit Against 'Quiet On Set' Docuseries
It should be noted that Dan Schneider has recently addressed some of the claims made in 'Quiet On Set' and has filed a lawsuit claiming the docuseries falsely portrayed him as a sexual predator. Before filing the suit, Schneider did own up to some of his past actions, admitting some were "embarrassing."
“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,” he said shortly after the docuseries was released. “Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret, I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
“I wish I could go back, especially to those earlier years of my career, and bring the growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job and never, ever feel like it was okay to be an a–hole to anyone, ever,” he added.
Dan Schneider has never been found guilty of sexual abuse.