Nickelodeon's Live-Action Slate On Possible Hiatus Following Release Of ID's Documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV

During the week, Investigation Discovery unveiled a new four part documentary series, Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV. With a fifth episode set to rollout in the coming weeks which sees various former Nickelodeon stars talk about their experience on the network.

Episode 3 garnered the most attention after All That and Drake And Josh star Drake Bell came forward to address the abuse he experienced as a minor. Since then, several notable figures came forward to voice their support with talks over the matter still ongoing. 

Nickelodeon had responded to the revelations on Quiet On Set but some child actors feel more needs to be done by the network:

“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts, and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”

Schneiderverse hold on Nickelodeon 

Following the release of Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, Nickelodeon has distanced themselves from anything Schneider this includes Henry Danger and Danger Force shows that form part of the Dangerverse and also the last of Dan's masterpieces. 

In 2019, Nickelodeon did an investigation on misconduct in the workplace and fired Dan Schneider after investigation concluded. Although, he has no involvement in any projects from the network he is still being credited amongst properties.

Drake Bell after coming forward on Quiet On Set had criticized the network for keeping these shows on air for several years. It has caused further live-action on the channel to be boycott with their future in jeopardy.

As some readers aware, Nickelodeon currently has only two live-action projects on the air, The Really Loud House and Tyler Perry's Young Dylan. Following cancelations to Danger Force and That Girl Lay Lay, these shows are likely to suffer the same effect if not worse.

We're not saying Nickelodeon won't offer any further live-action but the toxicity that persisted on previous projects would endanger their success rate. If anything, it's possible Nickelodeon could put more attention to their animation slate. 

Something we've kind of seen Disney Channel put more emphasis as they've got a new movie on Big City Greens coming out alongside a new season of Phineas And Ferb. Monsters At Work which was previously a Disney+ first had moved to the network for Season 2.

Although Nickelodeon doesn't have a consistent lineup of content its one of the very few brands alongside Disney Channel to offer anything noteworthy as all other content is streamed these days.

Development Alert: Investigation Discovery Greenlights Fifth Episode To Teen Centered Documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV

Investigation Discovery has ordered a fifth episode of the docuseries, titled “Breaking the Silence.” It will air Sunday, April 7 at 8/7c on Investigation Discovery (and stream on Max).

According to ID, Episode 5 “will delve deeper into the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children’s television shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s, including allegations of abuse, sexism and racism,” and build off “the revelations explored in the first four episodes.”

Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien will lead a conversation featuring previous participants Drake Bell (The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh), former All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels and Bryan Hearne, and Hearne’s mother, Tracey Brown. Additionally, “new voices” will appear — including fellow former All That cast member Shane Lyons — “to discuss where the industry can go from here.”

Bell, now 37, appeared in Episode 3 of Quiet on Set and revealed himself to be the minor at the center of Brian Peck’s 2004 conviction. Peck, who served as a dialogue coach at Nickelodeon and bears no relation to Josh Peck, appeared on episodes of All That and The Amanda Show, and was later convicted of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16.

Bell’s Amanda Show and Drake & Josh co-stars Josh Peck and Nancy Sullivan both released statements following the release of Quiet on Set. “I reached out to Drake privately, but want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world,” Peck said on March 21. “Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry.”

Sullivan, meanwhile, wrote that it “broke my heart into a million pieces to hear just how much Drake was holding inside while we were working together. I was both devastated and proud seeing the man he’s grown into sit down on camera and bravely tell his truth.

“Past abuse doesn’t define us,” she said, “and it has no right to rule our lives.”

‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV’ Exposes Toxic Working Environment On Dan Schneider's Popular Teen TV Series Of The 1990s And Early 2000s This April On Investigation Discovery Across Africa

Investigation Discovery Africa, the leading true crime network, is set to premiere QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV, a four-part docuseries that uncovers the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. 

QUIET ON SET pulls back the curtain on an empire built by creator Dan Schneider that had an undeniable grip on popular culture. Series such as All That and The Amanda Show, among others, were obsessively consumed by children across the country and defined comedy for a generation. But behind the upbeat onscreen presence on these shows with questionable jokes and over-the-top sketches, QUIET ON SET reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew.

QUIET ON SET features unprecedented access to key cast members, writers, and crew spanning Schneider’s popular series at Nickelodeon. Former All That cast members Giovonnie Samuels, Kyle Sullivan, Bryan Hearne and Katrina Johnson and director Virgil Fabian pull back the curtain on the culture on the set of the beloved teen sketch series.  In The Amanda Show writer's room, writers Jenny Kilgen and Christy Stratton expose allegations of a toxic and sexist environment. Alexa Nikolas offers insight into being a part of Zoey 101. QUIET ON SET will feature additional cast and crew from iCarly, Sam & Cat, Victorious, and other iconic series, such as Marc Summers from the popular game show Double Dare. The series will also offer emotional testimony from parents of cast members who attempted to advocate for their children on these sets.

Over the course of its four parts, QUIET ON SET will shine a spotlight on these emotional accounts, chronicling a pattern of gross, abusive, and manipulative behaviour that unfolded across decades, as well as exclusive stories about child predators on set. These interviews, woven with archival footage (some of which has never been broadcast), scenes from the shows and social media commentary, will recontextualise many moments within these series that may have seemed silly or off when first aired but now carry a much darker undertone, offering a powerful reframing of these beloved shows.

QUIET ON SET is directed by Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz and produced by Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction in association with Business Insider.

QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV will premiere across two nights, Sunday, 7 April and Sunday, 14 April, from 21:00 – 23:00 CAT on Investigation Discovery (ID) Africa with two episodes back-to-back each week.

Reminder: M-Net's Me And 1Magic Alongside Ginx eSports TV Will Close On DStv From 31 March 2024 (Schedule Attached)

MultiChoice will be axing M-Net's 1Magic and Me alongside Ginx eSports TV from the DStv platform by the end of March. This would bring the number of scrapped TV channels on the platform to nine joining B4U Movies and People's Weather which exited a month prior. 

Another brand looking to exit DStv soon is WildEarth as both parties failed to reach new agreement. Since then, a petition has been going around to keep it on DStv with the channel seeking donations as they've been going through financial woes.

1Magic

1Magic will end its run with the female led drama Lee Daniel's Star at 23:55 and from what we've seen most shows within that week would end to their climax. With a few exceptions such as Lockdown seeing as those are basically repeats.

According to the pay-tv company, further content from 1Magic would be available on the remaining M-Net channels. That would mean those currently watching 1Magic would have to revert their focus to Mzansi Magic for further content currently viewed on Showmax. 

Unlike most items on the list, MultiChoice had promised to supplement 1Magic with another TV channel known as Channel X. It has no relation to Elon Musk but will base their lineup and identity on Showmax as the revamped streamer also trademarks an X.

Me

Me will ends its run with reality based series The Real Housewives Of Atlanta based from The Real Housewives franchise at 23:10. Most shows within this week would reach their climax including M-Net originals Reyka and Recipe For Love And Murder.

According to the pay-tv company, further content from Me would be available on the remaining M-Net channels. That would mean those watching Me would need DStv Premium to watch the latest international and locally produced content on M-Net.

Although some of the entertainment like Chicago Med and The Equalizer is available on Universal TV with Young Sheldon on Comedy Central. These channels are lagging behind with one of two not having an estimated timeframe on new episodes. 

It's currently unknown whether Me will fold under Channel X or the pay-tv company will look find other means for compensation.

Ginx eSports TV 

Ginx eSports TV will end its run with The Games That Made Me at 23:00. Despite SuperSport handling distribution rights and other technical aspects of the brand, current seasons of programs won't be completed with other portions being repeats.

Unlike the other two, MultiChoice doesn't offer an alternative offering to Ginx eSports TV this leaves WWE as the only sports brand to be grouped under general entertainment section of their platforms. 

Canal+ Group Buys Stake In African TV Production Company Marodi TV

Canal+ Group has acquired a stake in Marodi TV, a Senegalese production company which is a leading purveyor of TV series across Africa and a force within the continent’s creative economy.

The deal pursues Canal + and Marodi’s ongoing partnership, as well as further strengthens the Paris-headquartered company’s position in French-speaking Africa, where Canal+ produces over 4,000 hours of African content and has 30 channels dedicated to the continent in 10 languages.

For the last five years, Marodi TV has broadcast its catalogue as part of Canal + Group’s channel line-up. It has produced exclusive series that premiered on the Sunu Yeuf channel in Wolof, and went on to launch on the pan-African channel A+. Both channels are available to Canal+’s 8 million subscribers in Africa. Marodi TV and Canal+ have also co-produced together a number of successful series, such as “Emprises” and “Déchéances.”

Founded in 2012 with the ambition of making quality African content accessible on all media, Marodi TV boasts a catalogue of over 600 hours of content, as well as a community of 6 million subscribers on YouTube. Some of its biggest series hits include “Pod & Marichou,” “Maitresse d’un homme marié” (“mistress of a married man”) and “Karma.”

With Canal+ Group as its new shareholder, Marodi TV will continue being managed by its founder and majority shareholder, Senegalese entrepreneur Serigne Massamba Ndour. The partnership will allow Marodi TV to expand the library’s distribution across Africa and beyond via synergies with Canal+. They will also establish an original catalogue for Canal+’s future channel in Pulaar, the language spoken by the Fulani community which has a strong presence in Senegal, Guinea and Mali.

Canal+ Group is already a majority shareholder in the production companies Rok Studios in Nigeria, Plan A in the Ivory Coast and Zacu Entertainment in Rwanda.

“Based in Senegal, this producer benefits from an artistic, technical, linguistic, and climatic environment that is particularly conducive to audiovisual production,” said Fabrice Faux, director of channels and content at Canal+ International. “This investment again demonstrates our enduring commitment to growing Africa’s creative industries and our excitement and commercial optimism in its creative and media sectors,” Faux continued.  

Serigne Massamba Ndour, Marodi TV CEO, said the “alliance will enable us to strengthen our production and broadcasting capabilities and export our model across the continent.”