Top 10 Nickelodeon Scenes We Look at Differently After Watching Quiet on Set

Bryan Christopher Hearne stood out as one of the few Black cast members during his seasons on “All That.” Hearne got the sense that Dan Schneider favored his white co-stars. This was reflected in multiple sketches, including one where Hearne had to sell cookies as if he were a drug dealer. There were more blatant instances of racism behind the scenes. To portray a rapper named Lil' Fetus, Hearne had to wear a body suit that matched his skin tone. Hearne isn’t sure who, but when he was being fitted, somebody said that the costume should be the same color as “charcoal.” A crew member could tell that this comment deeply hurt Hearne, attempting to comfort him. Hearne nonetheless decided against telling his mom.

“Amanda’s Jacuzzi” was a recurring sketch on “The Amanda Show.” Wearing a bathing suit, star Amanda Bynes would interview a fully dressed guest in the hot tub with her. Cameos included Elvis, Babe Ruth, and Amelia Earhart. It was weird, but innocent enough… except for the time Dan Schneider joined her. Like the other guests, Schneider was fully clothed, making the idea of him hot tubbing with an underage girl a little less icky. Yet, it’s hard to watch this scene without thinking about Schneider’s real-life dynamic with Bynes, namely how he tried to help her get emancipated. Schneider might not be responsible for everything that’s gone wrong during Bynes’ adulthood, although his impact during her childhood arguably contributed to her future struggles.

Joining “All That” in Season 4, Leon Frierson appeared in memorable sketches like “Leroy & Fuzz,” but he looks back at a particular character with awkward memories. Frierson played a superhero named Nose Boy. The former child star already felt exposed in a tight leotard, although a few other additions to the costume elevated the discomfort. In addition to wearing a large nose on his face, Frierson’s shoulder pads came with prominent noses that looked more like… well, something that should’ve been censored. You could argue that we’re just seeing things, but two things hammer home the innuendo. 1) Nose Boy sneezes snot on people, echoing another bodily function. 2) It’s a Dan Schneider show. It’s safe to say he knew what he was doing.

“Quiet on Set” spotlights an “Amanda Show” sketch where Judy Trudy takes her court to a classroom. The sketch itself is harmless, but there is a darker backstory buried there. The sketch included an extra named Brandi, who grew up loving Nickelodeon and was excited to get her start in the industry. During this time, Brandi was befriended by a Nickelodeon production assistant named Jason Handy. Conversing online, it appeared that Handy was just being nice and wanted to help further Brandi’s career. After Brandi received an indecent image, though, it became clear that he wanted something far more depraved. Her mother initially avoided contacting the police, but the authorities eventually found that Brandi was just one of the children Handy had been inappropriate with.

They make it look like so much fun on TV, but being a Nickelodeon star can come with some gross baggage. The “Sugar and Coffee” sketch is one example. For Bryan Christopher Hearne, nothing was more stomach-churning than the On-Air Dares. “SNL” for kids is one thing, although “Fear Factor” for kids may’ve been asking too much from the “All That” cast. In this recurring SNICK bit, Hearne recalled being covered in peanut butter and having dogs lick him. The visual discomfort Hearne expresses doesn’t even begin to describe how he felt inside. While we wouldn’t want to be in Hearne’ place, we’d still probably take the peanut butter over putting a scorpion in our mouth, which was another dare!

Amanda Bynes played an assortment of colorful characters on her show, most notably Penelope Taynt. Amanda’s

Ariana Grande is such an iconic pop star that it’s easy to forget she got her start as Cat Valentine on “Victorious.” Watching “Quiet on Set,” we’re not sure how we forgot about some of the uncomfortably sexualized bits Grande had to partake in. These ranged from putting tomatoes in a bra, to spilling water on her chest while on a bed, to putting her foot in her mouth. Dan Schneider shows had A LOT of foot and mouth stuff. Yet, we’re pretty sure that Grande was the only one asked to milk a potato. On the food chain of bad taste, potatoes might not be as suggestive as bananas or eggplant, but there’s a reason why you can’t do that on television.

Looking back at some moments from “Zoey 101,” we’re inclined to ask, “Was that intentional?” Alexa Nikolas, who played Nicole Bristow, will tell you yes. Nikolas recalled a particularly traumatic episode where her character accidentally squirts a tube-based snack called “Goo Pop” on Jamie Lynn Spears’ face. One could argue that this is in the spirit of Nickelodeon’s trademark slime, but the substance’s shape and texture call something else to mind. We’re not grasping at suggestive straws. According to Nikolas, somebody on set called out what the “Goo Pop” shot actually looked like. Not every young actor knew what this meant then, although they certainly do now. The scene’s sexualized nature is only made more uncomfortable knowing the pregnancy scandal Spears later faced.

In over 30 years, the Kids’ Choice Awards have given out their lifetime achievement prize to two individuals: Optimus Prime and Dan Schneider. One aged better than the other. In 2014, Nickelodeon stars from the past and present gathered to honor Schneider. Having created so many hit shows for the network, Schneider seemed worthy of such praise. In only a few years, though, the public started to see Schneider in a different light. For all the careers Schneider helped launch, many felt victimized by him. Few have a lower opinion of Schneider than Jennette McCurdy, who didn’t show up to present this award. Some moments aside, we still enjoy many of these Nickelodeon shows, but we’ll never look at their creator the same way again.

There was something very wrong with Pickle Boy. We’re not talking about the time he handed a pickle to Ray Romano through a hole, although that did push some boundaries. In addition to playing Pickle Boy, Brian Peck served as a dialogue coach on multiple Nickelodeon shows, working with young stars like Drake Bell. There were evident red flags that Peck shouldn’t be anywhere near children, such as his friendship with John Wayne Gacy. Yet, Bell was caught off guard as Peck allegedly groomed and assaulted him. Only sentenced to 16 months, Peck received support from famous friends at the time and even found some prominent work after his conviction. Having watched “Quiet on Set,” though, more people are seeing the problem with Pickle Boy.

Has “Quiet on Set” made you question any other Nickelodeon moments? Let us know in the comments.