Disturbing look at child sexual abuse at Nickelodeon.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV is a docuseries that covers the emotional and sexual abuse suffered by child actors on Nickelodeon in the mid- 1990s and early 2000s. Child pornography and sexual assaults are discussed in detail. The documentary also explores the racial challenges faced by former child actors, including the pressures of being the "token Black girl" and dealing with racism and stereotypical roles on set. The one-on-one interviews contain sexist language as well as descriptions of continual sexual assault. Both victims and their parents are shown tearing up as they recount their stories. There are a few instances of bleeped-out profanity as well as sexual references and insult language such as "taint," "idiot," "slut," bleeped-out "s--t" and "c-m shot."
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Expect accounts of child TV stars' harrowing experiences of abuse, capturing victims emotionally recounting their trauma from producers. It features unsettling TV show clips that mock obesity, alongside discussions on the immense pressure from parents for their children to achieve fame and financial success. The series also covers the toxic work environment created by producer Dan Schneider, as well as the actions of two separate crew members who were later found to be pedophiles. Child pornography and sexual assaults of children are discussed in detail.
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Extensive discussions and detailed descriptions of children being manipulated and abused. Multiple instances of children partaking in content with thinly veiled sexual references. A young girl says in an audition, "I'm so flat, it's disgusting." A man talks about feeling very exposed by being made to wear a leotard and phallic-looking costumes as a child actor. A woman says there were only two roles for girls in Hollywood: innocent and naive or hyper-sexualized. There are stories of a male producer watching pornography and pressuring women into acting out sexual situations at work. A man recounts his experience of being groomed and eventually sexually assaulted by a crew member when he was 15 years old. There are references to sodomy, phone sex, and child pornography. One instance involved a grown man kissing and touching a 9-year-old girl, another of a man sending a naked picture of himself masturbating to a young girl.
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Contains sexist language as well as descriptions of sexual assault. There are a few instances of bleeped-out profanity as well as sexual references and insult language such as "taint," "idiot," "slut," bleeped-out "s--t" and "c-m shot."
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Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
The show is set in the world of the children's cable network Nickelodeon.
Positive Role Models
some
Most of the people this documentary focuses on are predators. However, there are stories of parents and other adults standing up for children, as well as women standing up against sexism in the workplace. A victim of sexual abuse in childhood also tells his story publicly for the first time.
Diverse Representations
some
Exposes the entertainment industry's diversity issues, particularly in children's TV in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. Female writers share their experiences of earning half the salary of male counterparts and facing sexism in the writers' room. The documentary also explores the racial challenges child actors faced, including the pressures of being the "token Black girl" and dealing with racism and stereotypical roles on set.
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Educational Value
a little
A look behind the scenes of Nickelodeon's kids' programming in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The series details the abusive actions of producer Dan Schneider, as well as two other adult men on set who were eventually convicted of child sexual abuse.
Positive Messages
very little
This is a documentary that focuses on the abuse of children. The only positive messages are around calling out wrongs when you see them.
QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV is a look behind the scenes of Nickelodeon shows from the mid-1990s to the 2010s. There's a lot of focus on the role of abusive producer, and "golden boy," Dan Schneider. The series also covers his sexual harassment of female workers as well as the sexual assault of children by multiple crew members.
A poignant look into the exploitation of child actors in children's television, through firsthand interviews with those affected, including former child stars and female writers. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV effectively showcases the various forms of abuse encountered by young actors, offering story after story of their victimization. The docuseries is challenging to watch due to the raw vulnerability of the child victims and the gravity of their experiences. Despite its tough subject matter, the series is crucial for shedding light on systemic problems within the entertainment industry, emphasizing the urgent need for protective measures for child actors.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what sexual abuse is, and what children can do if they or someone they know is a victim of such abuse.
How do power imbalances come into play in this show? Talk about who had the power in this story and how it perpetuated abuse.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
