COURTESY INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
The documentary “Quiet On Set” has us all in its grip. The documentary is dominating everyone’s For You Page, where we watch the docu in small chunks. For everyone who is invested, we have good news. After all, you’ll be watching the documentary starting Friday on Discovery+ and HBO Max.
Starting Friday, March 29, four episodes of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV are already available to watch on discovery+ and HBO Max.
‘Quiet On Set’ reveals all the wrongs of children’s television
TV channel Nickelodeon grew to become the go-to channel for kids in America in the 1990s. Young teenagers became TV stars in hilarious children’s comedy series such as All That and The Amanda Show. Behind the scenes, however, things were less cheerful, with what now appears to be serious forms of verbal and sexual transgression. In the four-part documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, former child stars, their parents and employees of the program talk about their often shocking experiences. Drake Bell’s story cuts through the heart.
Sexual scenes
Child actors of the time now recount how they were induced into scenes that they were not at all happy about or that in hindsight also look very dubious. For example, one was smeared all over his half-naked body with peanut butter, which was then licked off by dogs. There were also numerous sexual scenes where teenage girls were doused with water or slime in their faces or over their half-naked bodies.
Going against the creators was not an option, especially for the children who looked up to the adults who, after all, decided their position. One of the children whose mother complained too much was not allowed to return after two seasons. Staff members who did not go along fully were also dealt with. Two female writers – who, nota bene, had to share one salary together – recounted sexual innuendos on the set and the many massages Schneider demanded from female employees. After their complaints, they were both fired.
Sex offenders on set
Actual sexual abuse also took place by at least three different employees. From sending nude photos to young girls – by what later turned out to be a serious sex offender – to physical abuse by a prominent person within the company. There is a shocking revelation of one of the better-known teenage stars telling publicly for the first time what happened to him.