(NewsNation) — A bonus episode of a docuseries shedding a disturbing light on what went on behind the scenes of some of the most popular shows on Nickelodeon in the 1990s and 2000s will be released next week.
The fifth episode of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is set to premiere on April 7 on Investigation Discovery, according to Variety Magazine. The episode builds “off of the revelations explored in the first four episodes,” Forbes reports.
Kate Taylor, a senior correspondent for Business Insider, told NewsNation that much of the discussion revolves around actors sharing their experiences and speaking out publicly for the first time.
“Speaking out can be retraumatizing. So, I think that for a lot of people, it is going to be thinking about what it’s been like having this support instead of having people negate their experience. I know a lot of them have been concerned that if they speak out will people listen,” Taylor said.
The first four episodes, which premiered on Investigation Discovery and Max last month, exposed the toxic culture at popular shows including “All That,” “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” and the alleged abuse some child actors experienced while filming.
The first four parts of the series also focused on producer Dan Schneider, the man behind some of the biggest children’s shows of that time but was alleged to have created an environment that made a lot of people uncomfortable.
There were accusations of creating a toxic workplace, inappropriate behavior, and over-sexualizing young stars, including Ariana Grande and Jamie Lynn Spears.
Schneider addressed the allegations from the docuseries and apologized.
Taylor, who began reporting on Nickelodeon in 2022, said it’s difficult to contemplate potential prison sentences. Instead, she highlighted the importance of the alleged abusers being barred from working with children in the future.
The new episode will feature discussions with former stars about “where the industry can go from here,” Forbes reports. Additionally, the episode will feature a discussion with actor Drake Bell, who accused Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck of repeatedly sexually abusing him.
Taylor said it’s important to focus on ensuring similar situations are prevented in the future.
“When we’ve reached out for comment from Nickelodeon, they’ve said things like we have made these changes — there are firmer background checks now, for example,” she said. “How do we make sure there’s not another ‘Quiet on Set’ 20 years from now, talking about what it was like to be a child actor in 2024 or being a child influencer in 2024?”
