Quiet on Set released a bonus episode featuring updates from Nickelodeon alums and new claims from former child stars. The episode started with Soledad O’Brien interviewing Drake Bell, Giovonnie Samuels, and Bryane Hearne, who shared their experiences participating in the docuseries. Bell spoke about his decision to break his silence about being sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was sentenced to prison in 2004. Samuels and Hearne praised the directors for creating a comfortable environment during the interviews.
The docuseries, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, provided a platform for former child stars and crew members to share negative experiences on the sets of Dan Schneider’s shows. Bell used the platform to speak out about his abuse by Peck and praised the directors for their sensitivity. All episodes of Quiet on Set are available for streaming on Max, and the bonus episode included new claims and never-before-seen footage.
Drake Bell addressed the response to his story in the bonus episode, discussing his interactions with his family and former costar Josh Peck. He also mentioned the support he received from Schneider during his time on the network. The bonus episode also featured Rider Strong and Will Friedle retracting their support for Peck and Drake’s lack of direct apology from them.
The bonus episode included reactions to Dan Schneider’s public apology, with Samuels and Hearne laughing off his comments. They questioned the sincerity of his apology and criticized his handling of diversity in his projects. Samuels revealed that Schneider had contacted her before the docuseries aired and asked for a quote of support, which she declined due to feeling intimidated by him.
Shane Lyons broke his silence about his experience on All That and interactions with Brian Peck. He recalled being fired from the show at age 16 and shared his positive interactions with Peck, who made “passes” at him. Lyons emphasized the need for stronger protections for child actors on sets and highlighted the loophole in current laws that allows convicted child molesters to work as long as a parent or guardian is present on set.
The bonus episode also featured Raquel Lee Bolleau discussing her experience on The Amanda Show and a controversial skit with Amanda Bynes. Bolleau recalled feeling uncomfortable with Bynes’ actions and receiving pressure from the director to keep quiet about it. Nickelodeon released a statement after the docuseries premiered, stating their commitment to investigating all complaints to ensure a safe and professional workplace environment. Lyons emphasized the need for updating laws to prevent convicted child molesters from working on Hollywood sets.
