Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell is opening up about the sexual abuse he alleges he endured at the hands of Brian Peck, a dialogue coach who worked on Nickelodeon’s “All That” and “The Amanda Show.” Bell, who starred on “The Amanda Show” from 1999 to 2002 before leading his own series, “Drake & Josh,” in 2004, is sharing his story in the upcoming Investigation Discovery series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The four-part docuseries, set to air March 17 and 18, delves into the darker aspects of children’s television, particularly focusing on the 1990s and early 2000s era dominated by shows created by Dan Schneider.
Brian Peck was arrested in August 2003 on multiple charges related to sexual abuse allegations involving an unnamed minor. In May 2004, he pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old and to oral copulation with a minor under 16. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and required to register as a sex offender in October 2004. While Bell has not yet detailed the specific nature of the abuse he experienced, he is expected to do so in the upcoming docuseries.
The series “Quiet on Set,” produced by Maxine Productions and Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction, in association with Business Insider, also explores the toxic work environment created by Dan Schneider on his shows. Former child actors and crew members have described an uncomfortable and bizarre atmosphere on set, with allegations of sexualized scenes and pressure on young female stars to wear skimpy outfits. Schneider parted ways with Nickelodeon in 2018, with the network stating that all of his work was “carefully scrutinized and approved.”
The docuseries aims to shed light on the experiences of former child stars and crew members, many of whom are speaking out for the first time. With exclusive interviews and revelations, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” promises to unveil the hidden challenges faced by those who grew up in the spotlight of children’s television.
