Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, March 21st, 2024.
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DAN SCHNEIDER STORY
Another actor who worked on several of Dan Schneider's shows came forward today and posted a message on Instagram after watching the Quiet On Set documentary.
Jack Salvatore Jr. played Mark Del Figgalo on Zoey 101 and the recent remake Zoey 102. He also worked off-camera on several other Schneider led shows and I think it's fair to say that based on the video he posted, he's not exactly a fan.
"My name is Jack. I was a child actor on "Zoey 101." I also worked in the production department as an intern on "iCarly" and I worked in the writer's room on "Sam & Cat" and "Victorious."
That Max documentary that was recently released did a really good job of uncovering the details of workplace toxicity specifically on Dan Schneider's shows for Nickelodeon.
We could talk about the massages. We could talk about the fact that he would literally count his gold coin collection in front of his crew, who were living paycheck to paycheck. We could talk about how sometimes he would bring out his shotgun to scare one of the writers when they were working at his house.
We could talk about the high-level conversations I wasn't supposed to hear about how Nickelodeon didn't want to recommend anti-depressants to Jennette McCurdy after her mom for fear that she might kill herself and make the network look bad.
But I want do want talk about is never letting this stuff happen again. This is an entire industry built on hopes and dreams and adrenaline and wish fulfillment. And that can be a very dangerous thing for megalomaniacs to wield.
Even in posting this, I'm a little afraid. Is this going to screw up my career moving forward? I have no idea, but I think it's important and it needs to be said. Because if my silence ensures the perpetuation of environments I don't want to work in anymore, then what is the point in working in them?
And until Homeboy goes on "60 Minutes" to answer some questions from some real journalists and not a cast member of his who he's paying to be there...apology not accepted.
This is one of the things that was impossible to predict until Quiet On Set aired. Would this documentary be a galvanizing event that would give other people cover to come forward and talk about their experiences? Or would this be a Michael Weatherly-type bad PR blip that most people would forget in a month or two?
Based on what I've seen this week, I think we're starting to get an idea of what the answer might be.
And BTW, if you have any information related to this story, you can reach out off-the-record to me by email at
AND ANOTHER LESS STRAIGHT-FORWARD RESPONSE
I've been asked a number in the past few days why more people had not come forward to talk about their experiences with Dan Schneider before now. I suspect there is a slightly different answer to that question depending on who you speak with. Some people legitimately had overall pleasant interactions with Schneider. But for those who didn't, it's some complicated mixture of fear, of not wanting the discussion of what happened to overshadow what you've done in years since and/or the inability to process the trauma in a healthy way, even after all of these years.
Matt Bennett played Robbie Shapiro on Victorious and he also issued a statement today about Quiet On Set. Although based on his statement, he appears to be unsure of just how much he wants to share. I can't help thinking that part of the calculation is that anything he says will inevitably lead to other cast members being asked for their take. Most notably series star Victoria Justice, who has always been unwilling to discuss any of the specifics about her time on the show.
SPEAKING OF IMPORTANT ISSUES IN TELEVISION
If you haven't checked out LateNighter, it's a great new web site devoted to covering all things Late Night TV. Today, they posted a piece by NPR's TV critic Eric Deggans, who talked with The Daily Show's Dulce Sloan about diversity in late night television:
From my perspective, it seemed an obvious ask: If the powers now running The Daily Show decide — after more than a year of looking for a permanent host to succeed Trevor Noah — to offer the job to her, would she accept it?
But Sloan insists the concept is so unlikely, she can’t even imagine it — despite having guest hosted the show once (her week was cut short by the writer’s strike last year). She also performed alongside a lineup of guest hosts that included Sarah Silverman, D.L. Hughley, John Leguizamo and Chelsea Handler. Her point: late-night TV these days doesn’t seem all that interested in hiring Black women to host anything.
“I’m just telling you the reality of the situation…that’s not going to happen,” says Sloan, speaking from a room in Austin, where she’s been doing standup comedy dates and promoting her new book, “Hello Friends! Stories of Dating Destiny and Day Jobs.”
“I’m paying attention and I work there. It’s not about whether they asked me; it’s why they didn’t ask Roy,” she adds, referring to former correspondent and friend Roy Wood Jr., who left The Daily Show last year after a well-regarded guest hosting stint, saying the show hadn’t offered him the top job and he was ready to move on. “Because if they didn’t ask Roy they sure as hell ain’t going to ask me. If they’re getting rid of all of the diversity in late night, why would they turn around and ask me?”
Go read the entire piece. And subscribe to LateNighter's daily newsletter while you're there.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
THURSDAY, MARCH 21ST:
* Diarra From Detroit Series Premiere (BET+)
* Down Home Fab Season Premiere (HGTV)
* Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (Hulu)
* House Hunters: All-Stars Series Premiere (HGTV)
* My Father's Murder In Greece (LMN)
* Paradise (Tubi)
* Road House (Prime Video)
* The Long Shadow (Sundance Now)
* 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND:
* Buying Beverly Hills Season Premiere (Netflix)
* Davey & Jonesie's Locker Series Premiere (Hulu)
* Menus-Plaisirs - Les Troisgros (PBS)
* My Undead Yokai Girlfriend Series Premiere (Prime Video)
* Shirley (Netflix)
* The Casagrandes Movie (Netflix)
* You'll Never Find Me (Shudder)
SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!