“Quiet on Set” might ruin your childhood, but watch it anyway – The Crimson White

In March 2024, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a documentary detailing the toxicity behind hit Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s and 2000s, was released on streaming platforms. The series stars former child actors who appeared on hit series such as “All That” and “The Amanda Show,” which was helmed by executive producer Dan Schneider.

Nickelodeon cut ties with the producer in 2018, it said in a statement deadline that “many joint discussions about the next direction and future opportunities” led to the network and Schneider “not extending the current deal”.

Before his departure, Schneider was under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Although no evidence of sexual misconduct was found, it was proven that he had engaged in verbal abuse on set.

His abuse, which created an environment rife with racism, sexism and harassment, is the main theme of the documentaries. The former parents and stars who lived through these experiences bravely tell their stories.

Since their premiere, documentaries have at least increased 16 million viewers distributed across multiple streaming services.

Public reaction to the series was largely a mix of shock and support for the alleged victims. Many adults who had watched Nickelodeon as children now re-watched the shows and recognized problematic themes, such as inappropriate jokes from the child actors.

Accordingly TodayAdults are “‘disheartened’ by allegations of behind-the-scenes misconduct on the shows they grew up with.”

“Quiet on Set” definitely touched on a lot of important issues surrounding child actors and the behind-the-scenes toxicity they often face. Nickelodeon is no stranger to controversy, as former child star Jennette McCurdy has been very open about her negative experiences, particularly in her book “I'm Glad My Mom Died.” She and a number of other stars said they faced misconduct or abuse from the showrunners and producers, the same people who are supposed to protect the children.

There was an obvious power imbalance on the Nickelodeon sets, which led to many child stars being exploited and exposed to inappropriate situations (such as underage drinking) while working.

The documentary is a tough watch as it highlights horrific examples of abuse, but it is extremely important that people watch a series like this for two main reasons. Firstly, it highlights how unethical these television programs made specifically for children are, and secondly, it raises awareness of the normalization of child abuse in the industry.

Nickelodeon isn't the only television network to experience its fair share of controversies, but it has gotten away with its immoral decisions made for the good of the shows and not the good of the child actors.

The station is no stranger to child criminals working for it. Most notable is Brian Peck, a dialogue coach who was convicted of sexually assaulting Drake Bell. There was one other person besides Peck an other man Nickelodeon was shut down despite being convicted of a sex crime involving a child and at least three employees later committing sex crimes against children.

Nickelodeon ignored the safety of its actors and hired these dangerous men, even though these programs were literally made for children. One wonders if Nickelodeon even values ​​the safety and well-being of its child actors.

Child abuse in the acting industry is a decades-old story. Because children are vulnerable and easily manipulated, they are too often easy targets.

Some children have parents who are just as bad as these executives in these companies, and other children are taught that their careers are more important than their well-being. “Quiet on Set” serves only to expose the ways in which children were blatantly abused without being offered almost any protection they should have received.

Despite Nickelodeon's complete lack of security for its child actors, these shows are still part of many people's childhoods. Should you still watch it? Well, the choice is yours. There's a difference between watching a show for nostalgia and watching a show because you don't care about the victims. However, if someone decides to watch these shows again, they should be aware of the victims and their stories and condemn the people responsible for the trauma inflicted on the actors.

If people decide not to watch these shows after watching the documentaries, that's completely understandable and a reasonable reaction.

The series was a great way to bring recognition to victims and expose the harmful behavior behind the scenes of once-popular television shows.

Child labor laws While there are safeguards in place to ensure the welfare of child workers, it is clear that children in the industry are equally vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by employers and parents.

Federal laws should be enacted regarding child safety in the entertainment industry, and in particular one law: the Coogan lawthat protects children's financial security should be applied to all states.

Hopefully, taking the time to listen to the stories being told will generate enough outrage to ensure future child actors are better protected in the future.