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♪ Nick, nick, nick, nick
Na-nick, nick, nick ♪
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♪ Nick-e-lo-de-on! ♪
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[Katrina] For
a certain generation,
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the Nickelodeon jingle
is burned
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into our brain.
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[Marc] Get some juice
in the glass!
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[Katrina] In the early '90s,
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Nickelodeon
was kid everything.
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It was like the mecca.
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-Nickelodeon is the place
where only kids win.
-[kids cheering]
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It was the starting point
of everything cool.
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[Giovonnie] You come home.
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You watch Salute Your Shorts.
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Are You Afraid of the Dark?
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Have you lost your mind?
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[Giovonnie] Everybody watched
Ren & Stimpy.
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God, I sound so old saying...
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[imitating] You know,
before when I was comin' up
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there were
no internet, like...
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[laughing]
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[in normal voice]
But there wasn't.
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We didn't have
Netflix and Hulu.
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We didn't have
ten things to choose from.
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There was Nickelodeon
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and there was Disney.
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And that was it.
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And you better hope
that your house had cable.
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In the '90s and 2000s,
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there was one producer
who was able
to take Nickelodeon
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to new heights.
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It is our great honor
to present
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the first ever
Nickelodeon Lifetime
Achievement Award
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to a man who's been
making all of us laugh
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for the past two decades.
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[all] Dan Schneider!
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[Kate] The 2014
Kid's Choice Awards
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showed that Dan Schneider
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was Nickelodeon's golden boy.
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He was their cash cow.
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He created these shows
that were...
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hugely, hugely
successful for them.
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-[audience applauding]
-[Kate] He launched
the careers of child actors
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who became major stars.
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[Scaachi] For 20 years,
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he shaped
children's entertainment
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and shaped children's culture.
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When Dan accepted his award,
he was elated,
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he was emotional,
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and very few could have
predicted his downfall.
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Whoo! Try not to cry.
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[all laugh]
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Wow, thank you so much.
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I will warn you...
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if you were
a child of the '90s...
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this is going to
ruin that for you.
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[woman] What do we really know
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about Dan Schneider?
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[Kate] For decades,
Dan seemed like
he was untouchable.
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But around 2017,
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the internet videos
around Dan
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really started
gaining momentum.
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He made them do things
that were very weird.
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There are all these setups
that referenced porn.
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[audience laughing]
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[Scaachi] Like, squirting goo
on Jamie Lynn's face
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when she's just
13 years old.
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Feel these kids' feet.
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Wow, they're really soft.
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[Kate] People were
looking back
at old scenes and saying,
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"Dan Schneider
is obsessed with feet."
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Check this out.
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It's all very gross
and foul things.
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...impossible to escape
children's feet.
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-[woman] Dan Schneider...
-[man] ...absolutely
disgusting.
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He's a grown ass man.
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What the [bleep]
are you doing?
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There's one video
of Ariana Grande
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making a joke about a potato.
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Sometimes I wonder
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if you can get juice...
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from a potato.
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[inhales heavily]
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[Ariana groaning]
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Did that air on Nickelodeon?
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[squealing]
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Come on!
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Give up the juice.
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Yikes.
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I'm thirsty.
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[Kate] In another video,
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Ariana is pouring water
on herself
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in what seems like
a very sexual manner.
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And people started saying
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this feels
inappropriate for children.
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-[squealing]
-Looking
at Dan Schneider's stars,
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some of them
became extremely famous,
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some of them
really struggled publicly.
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After her arrest last week...
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[Scaachi] Now some of them
are starting to speak out
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about what happened
when they were on his sets.
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I work with an incredibly
emotionally abusive producer.
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I did not feel safe
around Dan Schneider
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while I was working
at Nickelodeon.
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All of this information
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has made us wonder...
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what was happening
behind the scenes.
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As a reporter at Insider,
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I wanted
to investigate further.
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[woman 1] I've been waiting
for someone to question
the climate.
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It's been a long time coming.
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I didn't feel safe
to say, "This hurt me."
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[woman 2] The bad
just doesn't go away.
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The bad stays for a lifetime.
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It was
a toxic, unsafe environment.
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[Jenny] I can't
sit on it anymore.
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I can't watch it continue.
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[woman 3] I want, uh,
people to be accountable.
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I've been waiting
17 years for today. [chuckles]
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Nickelodeon was
a little wild.
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-[all screaming]
-[Marc] All right.
All right, guys.
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It was a little quirky.
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[audience cheering]
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[Giovonnie] Always funny...
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but from a kid's view.
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[audience cheering on TV]
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And in Nickelodeon shows,
parents are, like,
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not really around.
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It was, like,
the kid is the star.
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You know, sometimes
parents are so dumb.
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-[audience laughing]
-Nickelodeon wasn't there
to educate you.
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-Put your hat on.
-[audience cheering]
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[Marc] We were there
to have fun, to get slimed,
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to be entertained.
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[man] I'll get you!
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I was slimed more times
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than I can care
to tell you about.
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It was part of my job.
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It's cold, it's wet,
it's gooey, it's sticky.
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-[man] Oh, my goly!
-[audience laughing]
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[Marc] Exactly how
did that feel?
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Like my son threw up on me.
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[all laughing]
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[Kate] In the mid-'90s,
Nickelodeon is pushing
the boundaries
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of children's entertainment.
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[indistinct conversations]
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[Kate] And this is when
Dan Schneider arrives.
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He's young. He's ambitious.
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And he has a lot to prove.
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[piano music playing]
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[Kate] Dan comes
out of Memphis.
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He describes himself
as sort of
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a awkward fat kid.
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[Kate] He's coming
from a father
who went to Harvard.
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And his parents do not have
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the highest expectations
for him.
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He wasn't exactly someone
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who they thought was going
to be massively successful.
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So Dan is able
to find himself in drama.
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Early articles
about Dan say
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he went to Harvard.
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But he never actually
attended the university.
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He auditions
for this teen movie
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that's shooting in Memphis
and he gets a job.
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Hello, Pizzas R Us?
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[Kate] It's a small role.
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But it eventually
leads to Dan
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ending up on
a really big show.
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[Rick] He is
on Head of the Class
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which is at the time
one of the biggest comedies
on TV.
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He was 19.
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[Dan] This put us
on the map, I mean...
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This got us small homes
and this...
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[all laughing]
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We... We get tables
in restaurants now.
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[Rick] As an actor,
Dan was cast as the fat kid.
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You guys pick
on the blimp again.
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Nice.
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You could sing
"We Are the World"
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-all by yourself.
-[audience laughs]
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He seemed always
driven by this fat joke.
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"I'm gonna show people
that that's not who I am.
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I'm not the fat kid.
I'm this talented writer."
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His first rip that he sold
in TV was Head of the Class.
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He cowrote it with one of
the other cast members.
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And everything else happened
because of that show.
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Several years later,
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Nickelodeon executive
came to him and said,
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"Hey, we're working
on this idea
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for a sketch show, All That.
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Would you like
to write the pilot?"
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And the next thing you know,
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he is producing the show.
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He's writing episodes.
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[Virgil] All That
first launched in 1994.
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The concept was,
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it was a Saturday Night Live
for kids.
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I wanted to make a show
for Nickelodeon
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and I wanted to do
sketch comedy
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'cause no one had
ever really done sketch comedy
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starring kids for kids.
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[Scaachi] At the beginning
of his career,
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Dan Schneider and his
early producing partner
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Brian Robbins
got noticed by the press
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for all of their success
for All That.
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It's a special thing.
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I mean, not many kids get
to go on national television
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and play
1,000 different characters.
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Eat rotten cheese...
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-We're doing highbrow stuff.
-Yeah.
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[Scaachi] All That was
a really edgy concept.
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And it established
Dan Schneider
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as this creative force
at Nickelodeon.
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And he helped
launch the career
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of some of comedy's
biggest names
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like Kel Mitchell
and Kenan Thompson.
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Is chocolate good
for congestion?
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I have no idea.
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All That quickly became
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a pretty big hit
for Nickelodeon
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where they went from, like,
a pretty scrappy production
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to getting some of
the biggest names
in entertainment
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to be these guests.
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-[audience cheering]
-I do.
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♪ All That, yo
We be coming ♪
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My name is Leon Frierson.
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I was on seasons
four to six of All That.
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Quinn gotta showered
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00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,100
and knocked out
by a talking cheeseburger.
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[laughs]
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[Leon] A lot of us got
our break on All That.
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I am Katrina Johnson.
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From the time
I was ten to 16,
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I starred on All That.
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Garty!
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How are you, my darlin'?
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[Katrina] Dan Schneider
was my mentor.
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And I remember,
my first audition,
he was there.
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All of my callbacks,
he was there.
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You wanna... Sorry.
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You wanna
see something really gross?
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Look at this.
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[all laughing]
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I'm so flat, it's disgusting.
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00:09:01,667 --> 00:09:03,667
When we were
filming the pilot,
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00:09:03,667 --> 00:09:05,467
he came up to me
and he said,
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"I chose you.
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You are my choice.
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00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:10,767
And I know
you're gonna be great."
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It made me feel like
a million bucks.
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When I would say,
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"Hey, I have this idea
for this character,"
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he would always listen.
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00:09:20,767 --> 00:09:24,367
And we would usually
turn it into something.
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One day, the network
called my parents and said,
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00:09:28,567 --> 00:09:31,266
"We want to see
how you would feel
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00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:34,166
if we created
The Katrina Johnson Show."
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00:09:34,166 --> 00:09:35,800
And that I'm already living
the dream life,
258
00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,734
but it gets even better.
259
00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:42,100
Dan, and he was
the head writer, so...
260
00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:43,667
Dan kind of ran things.
261
00:09:43,667 --> 00:09:45,967
I'm the producer.
Executive producer.
262
00:09:45,967 --> 00:09:47,333
That's why
he gets the headset.
263
00:09:48,066 --> 00:09:49,266
I have to yell.
264
00:09:49,266 --> 00:09:50,800
In early
behind the scenes interviews,
265
00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,000
you see Dan
presenting himself
266
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,367
as a self-deprecating
and really funny boss.
267
00:09:57,367 --> 00:10:01,767
Dan just created
a really fun set.
268
00:10:01,767 --> 00:10:03,567
Don't know what's taking
so long now.
269
00:10:03,567 --> 00:10:04,767
Let me find out.
270
00:10:04,767 --> 00:10:05,934
[woman] All right,
come on.
271
00:10:07,367 --> 00:10:08,333
[man] That could explain it.
272
00:10:08,333 --> 00:10:09,667
-Come on, not again.
-[indistinct conversations]
273
00:10:09,667 --> 00:10:12,100
♪ Happy birthday ♪
274
00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,433
-[indistinct conversations]
-[all laughing and cheering]
275
00:10:15,467 --> 00:10:17,066
Nothing humiliating
about that!
276
00:10:18,500 --> 00:10:20,500
[Virgil] Dan was a big kid.
277
00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:23,467
He was always
doing something
to joke around
278
00:10:23,467 --> 00:10:25,700
or poke fun at somebody.
279
00:10:25,700 --> 00:10:26,700
[Dan] I mean, okay,
280
00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:28,300
These are the breaks, y'all.
281
00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:30,767
He kept things pretty light
in the beginning.
282
00:10:32,467 --> 00:10:35,667
[Katrina] On All That,
he would inspire you
283
00:10:35,667 --> 00:10:37,367
to get whatever
it was that you needed
284
00:10:37,367 --> 00:10:38,634
to get it done, you know?
285
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,333
But we were kids and
they were long days.
286
00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:44,266
[Leon] You know,
some would say
287
00:10:44,266 --> 00:10:46,266
that he was trying
to push them
towards greatness.
288
00:10:46,266 --> 00:10:49,467
But there's also a...
another side.
289
00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:53,700
[Scaachi] A lot of these kids
in the entertainment industry
are vulnerable.
290
00:10:53,700 --> 00:10:56,367
The power balance
between a child and an adult
291
00:10:56,367 --> 00:10:58,467
is so striking already.
292
00:10:58,467 --> 00:10:59,867
And then on top
of it you add
293
00:10:59,867 --> 00:11:02,033
that it's
an employment situation.
294
00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,367
These are eight
to 15-year-olds...
295
00:11:05,367 --> 00:11:07,567
and they are
often responsible
296
00:11:07,567 --> 00:11:09,166
for the entire
economic success
297
00:11:09,166 --> 00:11:10,700
of their families.
298
00:11:10,700 --> 00:11:12,800
What are they gonna do
if they get in trouble?
299
00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,700
What if all of this goes away
because they complained?
300
00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,600
And so you spend
your time working,
301
00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,867
hoping that people
don't poke the soft spots
302
00:11:20,867 --> 00:11:22,233
on your body
and in your brain.
303
00:11:23,166 --> 00:11:25,100
[woman] Dan! Dan.
304
00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:27,400
Here, Leon,
start to the green room.
They're there...
305
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:28,667
[Leon] On All That,
306
00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:30,066
what really made me feel
307
00:11:30,066 --> 00:11:31,967
the most uncomfortable were...
308
00:11:32,567 --> 00:11:33,533
the leotards.
309
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,367
I mean, I was just
a growing boy
310
00:11:37,367 --> 00:11:39,767
trying to, you know,
fit into my body
311
00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:41,467
and it was just out there
312
00:11:41,467 --> 00:11:45,066
for everyone to kind of
look at and...
313
00:11:45,066 --> 00:11:46,367
judge me or...
314
00:11:46,367 --> 00:11:48,767
You know, I just felt
very exposed.
315
00:11:48,767 --> 00:11:50,767
[indistinct chatter]
316
00:11:50,767 --> 00:11:52,867
[Leon] So one week
we get a script,
317
00:11:52,867 --> 00:11:56,900
there's a new character for me
on All That named Nose Boy.
318
00:11:56,900 --> 00:11:59,200
Naturally, I'm in
a superhero costume
319
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,066
which is just
tights and underwear.
320
00:12:02,066 --> 00:12:04,200
You know, what was
different about this...
321
00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,000
They... They gave me
a prosthetic nose,
322
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,100
like a enlarged nose...
323
00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:10,867
and they put this same nose
on the costume.
324
00:12:12,867 --> 00:12:14,600
I'm Captain Big Nose.
325
00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,300
-[audience laughing]
-What are your
special powers?
326
00:12:16,300 --> 00:12:17,567
[Leon] You can't help
but notice
327
00:12:17,567 --> 00:12:20,834
that it looks like
penis and testicles
on my shoulders.
328
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,500
[Scaachi] This is a child
playing this role.
329
00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:28,266
And he is playing it
for other children.
330
00:12:28,266 --> 00:12:30,900
His audience is kids
as young as six.
331
00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:32,567
I'm allergic to asteroids.
332
00:12:32,567 --> 00:12:34,266
-[audience laughing]
-[gasping]
333
00:12:34,266 --> 00:12:35,500
[sneezes]
334
00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,967
[audience laughing]
335
00:12:40,166 --> 00:12:44,100
And the joke in that sketch
is effectively a [bleep] joke.
336
00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:46,433
It a [bleep] joke
for children.
337
00:12:47,867 --> 00:12:49,100
[Leon] I'm just looking
back at it,
338
00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:50,734
it's just very strange.
339
00:12:51,900 --> 00:12:53,734
Frankly, it was
just uncomfortable.
340
00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:55,967
In the...
the moments to myself
341
00:12:55,967 --> 00:12:57,967
you would just
be thinking, like...
342
00:12:57,967 --> 00:12:59,967
"Hey, this is what
we gotta do be on the show.
343
00:12:59,967 --> 00:13:02,367
To stay in the cast
and stay in the good graces
344
00:13:02,367 --> 00:13:03,967
of the people
that were higher up."
345
00:13:05,467 --> 00:13:07,767
Some of the child actors
felt like they could not
push back,
346
00:13:07,767 --> 00:13:10,100
especially with
Dan Schneider.
347
00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:13,100
And so I always did
my best to be a trooper.
348
00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:14,200
Never complain.
349
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:15,500
'Cause we knew,
350
00:13:15,500 --> 00:13:17,367
being close to Dan,
351
00:13:17,367 --> 00:13:21,567
could mean an extra level
of, uh, success.
352
00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:24,700
It was important to be...
to be on his good side.
353
00:13:24,700 --> 00:13:27,667
And he made it known
who was on his good side.
354
00:13:35,367 --> 00:13:38,634
[Katrina] One day,
uh, the producers
called my house...
355
00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:42,333
and spoke
to my parents and said,
356
00:13:42,767 --> 00:13:43,667
"Hey..."
357
00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:44,634
[chuckles]
358
00:13:45,266 --> 00:13:47,200
"Katrina's getting too fat.
359
00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,667
We already have a fat one.
She can't be the fat one."
360
00:13:51,266 --> 00:13:54,400
They go,
"Well, uh, she's a dancer.
361
00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,166
She's in dance class, like,
six hours a day.
362
00:13:57,166 --> 00:13:58,533
There's nothing more
we can do."
363
00:13:59,367 --> 00:14:00,266
I mean...
364
00:14:00,867 --> 00:14:03,100
That stuck with me.
365
00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:05,000
"You can't be
the fat one." Like...
366
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,100
I still hear those words
in my head to this day.
367
00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:10,333
And it's funny because...
368
00:14:11,367 --> 00:14:13,000
shortly after that call,
369
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,100
I went through puberty.
370
00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:18,367
And then
the producers freak out
371
00:14:18,367 --> 00:14:20,200
because now
I look like a woman
372
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,266
and I'm not
little girlish anymore,
373
00:14:22,266 --> 00:14:24,567
so then that
became an issue.
374
00:14:24,567 --> 00:14:27,367
And then after that
I'm sort of like...
375
00:14:27,367 --> 00:14:28,834
edged out...
376
00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:34,000
by, like,
a younger version of me.
377
00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,800
Please welcome
ten-year-old Amanda.
378
00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:38,433
[audience applauding]
379
00:14:40,767 --> 00:14:45,300
[Katrina] I remember one day
I was at the Laugh Factory.
380
00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:48,000
It's a really famous
comedy club on Sunset.
381
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,667
They would have
workshops for kids.
382
00:14:50,667 --> 00:14:54,500
Couple of Nickelodeon people
had gone to support Katrina.
383
00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:57,100
[Katrina] Brian Robbins
and Dan Schneider came
384
00:14:57,100 --> 00:14:58,967
and I said, "You gotta
check out this girl.
385
00:14:58,967 --> 00:15:00,266
She's really amazing."
386
00:15:00,266 --> 00:15:02,400
And the girl
was Amanda Bynes.
387
00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,700
The other day,
I got a pimple.
388
00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:08,266
I remember Amanda
doing a routine
389
00:15:08,266 --> 00:15:11,767
about having a pimple
that she couldn't pop
390
00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:13,867
on the inside of her nose.
391
00:15:13,867 --> 00:15:15,900
I mean, what's the deal?
392
00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,166
Is God sitting up there
in heaven
393
00:15:18,166 --> 00:15:20,367
looking down at me
and saying,
394
00:15:20,367 --> 00:15:23,200
"I think I'll give her
a challenge."
395
00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:24,834
[audience laughing]
396
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:27,834
[Katrina] And
I remember thinking...
397
00:15:28,867 --> 00:15:30,367
"You're like ten.
You do not have a pimple
398
00:15:30,367 --> 00:15:31,467
on the inside
of your nose."
399
00:15:31,467 --> 00:15:33,767
But that was
a really kickass routine
400
00:15:33,767 --> 00:15:34,734
and it was...
401
00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:36,867
pretty flawless.
402
00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:39,166
[Virgil] Dan saw her
and, like, immediately...
403
00:15:40,266 --> 00:15:41,433
knew she'd be a star.
404
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:42,867
[Scaachi] Over the '90s,
405
00:15:42,867 --> 00:15:45,767
Dan's star is rising
in Nickelodeon.
406
00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:47,367
But what takes him
to the next level
407
00:15:47,367 --> 00:15:50,066
is when he discovers
Amanda Bynes.
408
00:15:50,066 --> 00:15:52,100
And he recognizes
her talent
409
00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,166
and he wants her
in All That immediately.
410
00:15:54,166 --> 00:15:56,967
-[audience laughing]
-Hi, hi, everyone.
It's me, Amanda.
411
00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:01,567
Amanda was
absolutely natural.
412
00:16:01,567 --> 00:16:03,433
Her timing
was impeccable.
413
00:16:03,767 --> 00:16:05,166
Uh, very physical.
414
00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:07,367
Then my bully
kicked on me at school.
415
00:16:07,367 --> 00:16:10,100
I discovered that music
could be used as self-defense.
416
00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:12,166
-[audience laughing]
-Oh, well, how?
417
00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:13,266
Hmm?
418
00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:16,200
[audience laughing,
applauding]
419
00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,400
[Leon] We had to go
to school on set.
420
00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,834
I mean, I was allowed
to go to school.
421
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,400
-[woman] How many hours?
-Three.
422
00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:22,567
-[woman] Three?
-A day.
423
00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:23,767
-[woman] Can you share what--
-Go talk to the teacher.
424
00:16:23,767 --> 00:16:25,066
[woman] Okay.
425
00:16:25,066 --> 00:16:27,066
[Leon] And so
there would be times
426
00:16:27,066 --> 00:16:28,734
where Amanda
would just be missing.
427
00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:33,266
And a lot of times
we would just hear
428
00:16:33,266 --> 00:16:35,700
that she would
be with Dan,
429
00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,233
pitching ideas and writing.
430
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:40,800
We've seen them
grow closer
431
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,634
-to each other on set.
-[Leon's mom] So, uh...
432
00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:45,767
Leon is the man.
433
00:16:45,767 --> 00:16:47,100
See what
we're doing here, um...
434
00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:50,300
[Katrina] The law was that
a parent or guardian
435
00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:53,000
had to be with us
at all times.
436
00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,000
Parents on All That...
437
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,400
I would say they tried
to stay out the way.
438
00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,000
Okay, guys. Ready for ya.
439
00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,967
[Leon] With us all being,
uh, novices...
440
00:17:01,967 --> 00:17:04,567
With some of us,
this was out first job.
441
00:17:04,567 --> 00:17:06,667
It was just in
our best interest
442
00:17:06,667 --> 00:17:08,967
to kind of go with the flow.
443
00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:10,400
But...
444
00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,967
Amanda Bynes' parents
were very hands on
445
00:17:12,967 --> 00:17:14,000
with her career.
446
00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,467
Um, specifically her dad.
447
00:17:16,467 --> 00:17:19,300
[Katrina] I think Amanda's dad
kind of treated her
448
00:17:19,300 --> 00:17:21,934
like a wind-up doll,
like, she had...
449
00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:27,667
really a lot of pressure
and high expectations
from him.
450
00:17:27,667 --> 00:17:28,700
-[Leon's mom]
Say, "Hands up."
-[Leon] Hands up.
451
00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:29,834
[Leon's mom]
Say, "Kids, hands up."
452
00:17:30,767 --> 00:17:33,000
[Leon] His presence
was always felt.
453
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,500
A big part of that
was his relationship
454
00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:36,934
with Dan Schneider.
455
00:17:38,367 --> 00:17:41,133
They carefully crafted
Amanda's career.
456
00:17:42,367 --> 00:17:45,367
It was enviable
for a lot of the cast members.
457
00:17:45,367 --> 00:17:47,667
When Amanda
joined the show...
458
00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:51,800
Oh, I had less
and less and less
459
00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,533
and then no time with Dan.
460
00:17:57,100 --> 00:17:58,400
So...
461
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,266
the new favorite
had arrived. I was out.
462
00:18:08,066 --> 00:18:09,166
So I felt
463
00:18:09,166 --> 00:18:11,066
now I don't need
to do this anymore,
I can just...
464
00:18:11,367 --> 00:18:12,367
go to college.
465
00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:14,066
So I did.
466
00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:17,166
And then maybe a year later...
467
00:18:18,166 --> 00:18:19,200
someone told me,
468
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,266
"Oh, have you seen
The Amanda Bynes Show?"
469
00:18:23,066 --> 00:18:25,033
And I was like, "What?
470
00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:27,867
That makes sense."
471
00:18:27,867 --> 00:18:30,100
[all chanting] Amanda! Amanda!
472
00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:33,367
[Scaachi] Amanda Bynes'
physical comedy really shines
473
00:18:33,367 --> 00:18:35,400
in that first episode.
474
00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,767
-Hey, it's Amanda!
-[Scaachi] And it was
her big break,
475
00:18:37,767 --> 00:18:39,533
and it was
Dan Schneider's big break.
476
00:18:40,767 --> 00:18:42,900
[theme song playing]
477
00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:44,166
[Scaachi] And this is actually
the first time
478
00:18:44,166 --> 00:18:47,166
that Dan Schneider's name
is listed as a creator.
479
00:18:47,166 --> 00:18:48,567
This gave him
a whole new level
480
00:18:48,567 --> 00:18:50,100
of control and power
481
00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:52,433
and there would
be consequences
to that later on.
482
00:18:52,867 --> 00:18:55,166
-Hey! Look at you.
-Oh!
483
00:18:55,166 --> 00:18:57,500
-[Dan] I like your outfit.
-Good to see you.
Yeah, I like yours too.
484
00:18:57,500 --> 00:18:59,967
Dan Schneider's decision
to have Amanda...
485
00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:02,567
be the star of the show...
486
00:19:02,567 --> 00:19:04,567
is forward thinking
is a lot of ways.
487
00:19:04,567 --> 00:19:07,066
A lot of adult
female comedians do not...
488
00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:08,467
get their own shows
489
00:19:08,467 --> 00:19:10,867
without jumping through
a million hoops.
490
00:19:10,867 --> 00:19:14,266
There's usually two roles
that girls occupy
in Hollywood.
491
00:19:14,266 --> 00:19:17,200
One is super innocent,
really sweet.
492
00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,000
Like Shirley Temple,
cute, young.
493
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,634
And then the other side is...
494
00:19:22,667 --> 00:19:26,467
Hypersexualized,
built for male consumption.
495
00:19:28,266 --> 00:19:30,600
Amanda Bynes
was like a new deviation
496
00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:34,467
as a young actress
in Hollywood.
497
00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:35,767
And I hereby sentence you
498
00:19:35,767 --> 00:19:37,800
to be chased by
an unpredictable man
499
00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:38,900
in a gorilla suit!
500
00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:41,367
Really personality driven.
Really funny.
501
00:19:41,367 --> 00:19:43,500
-[audience applauding]
-Get that done!
502
00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:46,266
For Amanda
it's a spotlight
on her comedic talent,
503
00:19:46,266 --> 00:19:48,767
which is something
that is kind of rare to see.
504
00:19:48,767 --> 00:19:51,900
-[all laughing]
-Ah, that's good.
505
00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:54,567
You would think
that for this kind of
506
00:19:54,567 --> 00:19:56,600
strong female lead
to be celebrated,
507
00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,667
you would have
a lot of women
behind the scenes.
508
00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:00,667
In reality...
509
00:20:00,667 --> 00:20:02,400
female writers
on The Amanda Show
510
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,166
told us that this experience
511
00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:06,667
was really one of
the most disturbing
512
00:20:06,667 --> 00:20:08,467
in their careers.
513
00:20:08,467 --> 00:20:13,767
Working for Dan was like being
in an abusive relationship.
514
00:20:24,867 --> 00:20:26,000
[Christy] At the time,
515
00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,867
there weren't a lot
of positions for women
516
00:20:28,867 --> 00:20:30,200
in sketch comedy.
517
00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,166
It was very hard to navigate
518
00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:35,266
when you knew
the opportunities
519
00:20:35,266 --> 00:20:37,367
for women were fewer.
520
00:20:37,367 --> 00:20:41,600
You knew you were
going in for the one spot.
521
00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,967
This was way back in 1999.
522
00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:47,400
There were
forums where people
would talk about writing
523
00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:48,700
and it was in
one of those groups,
524
00:20:48,700 --> 00:20:50,533
a television-comedy
writing group.
525
00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:53,000
Dan Schneider
was in that group
526
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,100
and he had said that
he was working on this new
527
00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:56,367
television show
for Nickelodeon.
528
00:20:56,367 --> 00:20:58,967
So I just took
a shot and I asked him
529
00:20:58,967 --> 00:21:00,367
if he would read my work.
530
00:21:00,367 --> 00:21:02,567
And the story
that he told me later
531
00:21:02,567 --> 00:21:05,567
was that Dan gave them
to his Writer's Assistant
532
00:21:05,567 --> 00:21:07,166
and said, you know,
"Read through these
533
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:09,600
and rate them
funniest on top."
534
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,800
He was surprised
to find that mine was on top
535
00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,100
and that's
what prompted him to call me.
536
00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:16,667
[telephone ringing]
537
00:21:16,667 --> 00:21:19,667
I was actually sitting
at my desk at work...
538
00:21:19,667 --> 00:21:20,700
[telephone ringing]
539
00:21:20,700 --> 00:21:22,367
...when the producers
called me
540
00:21:22,367 --> 00:21:24,600
and told me that, you know,
541
00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,367
"Congratulations,
we're offering you
542
00:21:26,367 --> 00:21:28,667
a Staff Writer position
on The Amanda Show."
543
00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:30,000
This was, like,
a dream come true.
544
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,000
I had been
in LA for seven years
545
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,667
and so it felt
very satisfying
546
00:21:36,667 --> 00:21:40,734
that, um, someone
was gonna pay me
547
00:21:41,066 --> 00:21:43,000
to write comedy.
548
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:44,567
[telephone ringing]
549
00:21:44,567 --> 00:21:47,500
I remember
speaking to the line producer
550
00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:50,400
and she said that
I was going to have to
551
00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,600
split a salary with a writer
that I did not know.
552
00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,200
So they were getting
two for the price of one.
553
00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:58,900
They were going to
hire two woman
554
00:21:58,900 --> 00:22:00,700
and have them
share a salary.
555
00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:02,867
And I never saw it
happen to any of the men.
556
00:22:02,867 --> 00:22:07,367
I was like,
"Well, I'm excited,
I get to stop temping."
557
00:22:07,367 --> 00:22:08,500
This was my dream job.
558
00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:09,667
I mean,
this is what I wanted.
559
00:22:09,667 --> 00:22:11,533
This is what
I worked so hard for.
560
00:22:12,266 --> 00:22:14,200
I'm not about to turn it down.
561
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,200
I thought to myself,
"Don't be a complainer.
562
00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,533
You know,
do whatever you have to
do to get this job."
563
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,667
[Christy] I remember
the early days
being a lot of fun.
564
00:22:26,667 --> 00:22:30,400
We were on the Paramount lot,
which was very exciting.
565
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:31,767
To get to walk around,
566
00:22:31,767 --> 00:22:34,033
it felt like,
you know, Hollywood.
567
00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:36,100
[Jenny] My first week
on the job,
568
00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:38,066
I got to meet
my writing partner.
569
00:22:38,066 --> 00:22:40,166
Christy's very easy
to get along with.
570
00:22:40,166 --> 00:22:42,166
I mean,
I liked her immediately.
571
00:22:42,166 --> 00:22:43,667
[Christy] She was nice
and fun
572
00:22:43,667 --> 00:22:46,400
and those
early days were great!
573
00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:47,433
They were great.
574
00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:51,300
It was early on,
when we first started,
575
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:54,834
that Dan said
he didn't think
women were funny.
576
00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,467
[Jenny] He said women
can't write funny.
577
00:22:57,467 --> 00:23:00,767
He challenged us to name
a funny female writer.
578
00:23:00,767 --> 00:23:01,800
And he said this
579
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,066
to the writers
in the writers' room.
580
00:23:04,066 --> 00:23:07,300
And that was my first
indication of trouble.
581
00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:10,166
That maybe this guy
didn't really value
women in the writers' room.
582
00:23:10,166 --> 00:23:12,767
And later he had said that,
583
00:23:12,767 --> 00:23:15,600
"Hey, do you mind
that I refer to you
and Christy as the girls?
584
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,767
Are the girls in the room?
Where are the girls?"
585
00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:19,467
And we both
were, like, "No."
586
00:23:19,467 --> 00:23:22,567
And he said, "Oh, good.
Because I can't stand girls
587
00:23:22,567 --> 00:23:24,066
that are uptight
about things like that."
588
00:23:25,066 --> 00:23:29,100
And when he said that,
I knew that next time
589
00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:30,767
this guy asks me
if I mind something,
590
00:23:30,767 --> 00:23:32,467
there's a right
and wrong answer.
591
00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:34,133
And thank God
I answered right.
592
00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:38,667
[Christy] Dan
ran the writers' room.
593
00:23:38,667 --> 00:23:42,300
He was there anytime
we were doing any work
594
00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:45,367
and he was very playful.
595
00:23:45,367 --> 00:23:47,767
We would laugh and joke around
596
00:23:47,767 --> 00:23:51,166
and being dirty
was part of the silliness.
597
00:23:51,166 --> 00:23:54,800
Hello, citizens.
My name is Penelope Taynt.
598
00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,800
So Penelope Taynt,
599
00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,700
um, is a character
that Dan created.
600
00:23:59,700 --> 00:24:02,066
-My name is Penelope Taynt.
-Yeah, I know.
601
00:24:02,066 --> 00:24:04,500
[Jenny] He came up
with the name Penelope Taynt.
602
00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:06,066
The taint is
the part of the body
603
00:24:06,066 --> 00:24:07,867
that's between
the penis and the anus.
604
00:24:07,867 --> 00:24:10,000
It's that skin there,
that's the taint.
605
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,166
And Dan had said to us
in the writers' room,
606
00:24:12,166 --> 00:24:15,166
"Don't tell
what this word really means."
607
00:24:15,166 --> 00:24:16,867
He wanted us
to keep that a secret.
608
00:24:16,867 --> 00:24:19,367
I remember someone
from Nickelodeon
609
00:24:19,367 --> 00:24:20,700
sitting with us
and saying like,
610
00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:24,266
"Oh, does this mean,
you know, this dirty thing?"
611
00:24:24,266 --> 00:24:28,166
And Dan was like,
"No. Why would you
think that's, like, tainted?
612
00:24:28,166 --> 00:24:29,667
Like you've
tainted something."
613
00:24:29,667 --> 00:24:30,934
And they were like, "Okay."
614
00:24:31,567 --> 00:24:33,533
Man, that is power.
615
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:35,700
That is power.
616
00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:37,800
That you can just
say you want something
617
00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:39,333
and it's done.
618
00:24:40,166 --> 00:24:41,367
That's what I thought.
619
00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:43,667
So, it got on the show
620
00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:45,800
and it's one of those things
where it's like, "Ooh."
621
00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,166
You know, like, "Eh."
622
00:24:48,166 --> 00:24:49,467
It's a young girl.
623
00:24:49,467 --> 00:24:52,400
And bless Amanda
and bless The Amanda Show.
624
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,467
[Scaachi] In one scene,
you know, she's praying
625
00:24:55,467 --> 00:24:56,767
on a twin bed.
626
00:24:56,767 --> 00:25:00,266
There's something so slimy
about connecting this, like,
627
00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:03,567
sexualized genitalia joke
628
00:25:03,567 --> 00:25:08,200
with a little girl who's
portraying a little girl too.
629
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,700
It was clear that
there was a permissibility
630
00:25:11,700 --> 00:25:14,500
around these sexualized
jokes with children.
631
00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:16,000
[Jenny] It was
par for the course.
632
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,500
Like, strange things
amused Dan
633
00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:20,533
and that was just
one of the things
he thought was funny.
634
00:25:21,467 --> 00:25:24,066
He liked to play
pranks and jokes,
635
00:25:24,066 --> 00:25:27,567
which at first seemed fun.
636
00:25:27,567 --> 00:25:30,233
[Jenny] In the beginning,
I would see, you know,
an instant message pop up.
637
00:25:30,900 --> 00:25:33,266
Dan would send a message
638
00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:35,066
for you to say out loud.
639
00:25:35,066 --> 00:25:36,533
Scream "hammers."
640
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,200
And you scream it.
641
00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,400
And then it would be
more degrading, like,
642
00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:43,734
scream, "I'm an idiot,"
643
00:25:43,967 --> 00:25:45,600
or "slut."
644
00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,567
And if you didn't, he would
send you the message again,
645
00:25:48,567 --> 00:25:50,767
caps, exclamation points,
646
00:25:50,767 --> 00:25:53,266
he would scream out,
"Say it." until you did.
647
00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:56,467
[Christy] One time Dan said,
648
00:25:56,467 --> 00:26:01,800
"I'll give you $300
to eat two pints of
ice cream in 30 minutes."
649
00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,100
And I'm like, "Yeah."
650
00:26:03,100 --> 00:26:05,867
I've got no money,
I've got half a salary,
651
00:26:05,867 --> 00:26:09,233
I will absolutely eat
two pints of ice cream
in 30 minutes.
652
00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:11,166
And I did,
653
00:26:11,166 --> 00:26:14,033
and I was throwing up
afterwards but it was fine.
654
00:26:15,266 --> 00:26:16,700
Then the money didn't come
655
00:26:16,700 --> 00:26:18,900
and I knew he must've
forgotten about it.
656
00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:20,767
-So one day he said...
-[fly buzzing]
657
00:26:20,767 --> 00:26:22,667
..."Somebody kill
that fly for $30."
658
00:26:22,667 --> 00:26:24,667
And I go, "Should I
add it to your tab?"
659
00:26:26,867 --> 00:26:29,000
Dan took me into his office
660
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:33,367
and he said, "How dare you
accuse me of not making
good on my bets?"
661
00:26:33,367 --> 00:26:36,800
And I was like, "No, no,
no, no. I was, I was just
kinda kidding around."
662
00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:42,166
He had, um, fostered this
very casual, fun atmosphere,
663
00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:45,367
but I felt that Dan
could be very volatile
664
00:26:45,367 --> 00:26:49,433
and could turn any moment.
665
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,967
I was... I was scared.
666
00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,567
[audience cheering]
667
00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:06,867
[Kate] In a lot of ways,
Nickelodeon was creating this
668
00:27:06,867 --> 00:27:08,767
culture where it was
a mini Hollywood.
669
00:27:08,767 --> 00:27:10,100
Like a Hollywood for kids
670
00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:12,667
where all these actors
are kind of competing
for the same roles,
671
00:27:12,667 --> 00:27:13,767
they all know each other
672
00:27:13,767 --> 00:27:16,600
and they are in their
own little ecosystem.
673
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,000
-[interviewer] Are you
nominated?
-Yes.
674
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,166
How do you feel
about that?
675
00:27:19,166 --> 00:27:20,567
Um, it's real exciting.
676
00:27:20,567 --> 00:27:21,767
I'm honored
to be nominated.
677
00:27:21,767 --> 00:27:23,900
I don't think I'm gonna win,
but it's still cool.
678
00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:25,767
Something that
epitomizes that really well
679
00:27:25,767 --> 00:27:26,900
is the Kids' Choice Awards,
680
00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:30,467
which is almost like the kids'
version of the Oscars.
681
00:27:31,467 --> 00:27:35,500
[presenter] And the Kids'
Choice is Amanda Bynes!
682
00:27:35,500 --> 00:27:38,100
[Kate] Amanda Bynes gets
the Kids' Choice Awards.
683
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:40,000
She was hugely successful
684
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:45,166
and was becoming one of these
massive, massive A-list stars.
685
00:27:45,166 --> 00:27:47,667
Thank you all! Oh, my God!
This is so exciting!
686
00:27:47,667 --> 00:27:51,867
Okay. I want to say
thank you to Nickelodeon,
Brian Robbins, Dan Schneider.
687
00:27:51,867 --> 00:27:54,367
The Amanda Show
is on Nickelodeon.
688
00:27:54,367 --> 00:27:56,800
[Scaachi] She was
giving interviews,
she was on talk shows,
689
00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,900
she was everywhere.
690
00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:01,400
Dan Schneider
was very responsible
691
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,500
for Amanda Bynes'
career at that point
692
00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:05,867
and they were
very tied to each other
693
00:28:05,867 --> 00:28:07,567
and I think she trusted him.
694
00:28:07,567 --> 00:28:09,767
My name
is Raquel Lee Bolleau
695
00:28:09,767 --> 00:28:13,266
and I was on the first season
of The Amanda Show.
696
00:28:13,266 --> 00:28:14,367
Mrs. Shane...
697
00:28:14,367 --> 00:28:17,100
The Amanda Show was huge.
It was huge!
698
00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:21,467
We had fans coming
and wanting to, like,
see us every episode.
699
00:28:21,467 --> 00:28:26,266
As a 12-year-old girl,
I was over the moon.
700
00:28:26,266 --> 00:28:28,166
I was so excited.
701
00:28:28,166 --> 00:28:29,767
We'd be out
and people would say,
702
00:28:29,767 --> 00:28:32,667
"Oh, my goodness. You're that
girl on The Amanda Show."
703
00:28:32,667 --> 00:28:34,266
It was a pretty big show.
704
00:28:34,266 --> 00:28:37,233
[Raquel] There was
Amanda, of course,
and there was me and Drake.
705
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,467
Him and I were
so silly on this show.
706
00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:44,567
Amanda was the star.
707
00:28:44,567 --> 00:28:50,667
So, I think we both knew
that we weren't the stars
of the show very early on.
708
00:28:50,667 --> 00:28:51,967
[Drake] She's the star
so she gets
709
00:28:51,967 --> 00:28:54,634
the extra, extra
handy-dandy equipment.
710
00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,266
On The Amanda Show,
Dan is the king maker.
711
00:28:58,266 --> 00:29:01,166
He is the one who is deciding
who gets a spin-off,
712
00:29:01,166 --> 00:29:03,266
who gets the most lines.
713
00:29:03,266 --> 00:29:05,166
If you are on
Dan's bad side,
714
00:29:05,166 --> 00:29:07,567
you kind of could
kiss your career goodbye.
715
00:29:07,567 --> 00:29:08,900
You wanted Dan to like you
716
00:29:08,900 --> 00:29:10,767
'cause if he didn't,
he was mean to you.
717
00:29:11,467 --> 00:29:12,867
It's my 13th birthday.
718
00:29:12,867 --> 00:29:15,700
People brought me
this big, big cake,
719
00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:17,066
like, a massive cake.
720
00:29:17,967 --> 00:29:19,600
It was great to be
able to share the cake
721
00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,567
with the whole crew
and everyone else,
722
00:29:22,567 --> 00:29:25,600
but it was told to me,
"Dan's really upset."
723
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,767
Like, "Why did you
get her that cake?"
724
00:29:27,767 --> 00:29:29,100
Like, "That's a big cake.
725
00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:30,767
She didn't need
that big of a cake."
726
00:29:30,767 --> 00:29:32,133
And I was just like...
727
00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:35,066
And I really...
I felt it.
728
00:29:37,467 --> 00:29:39,567
Of course, as a parent
you want to speak up,
729
00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:43,266
but then I just didn't want
Raquel to face any backlash
730
00:29:43,266 --> 00:29:46,734
for any behaviors
that I had, uh, done.
731
00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:49,467
I remember Raquel
saying to me
732
00:29:49,467 --> 00:29:51,800
she felt that
he may have favored,
733
00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:55,567
uh, Drake and Amanda
more than her.
734
00:29:55,567 --> 00:30:01,100
I remember Dan
and Amanda Bynes being
very close on The Amanda Show
735
00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:04,867
and I think very few people
made Dan laugh.
736
00:30:05,667 --> 00:30:08,767
You know,
and I think she did.
737
00:30:08,767 --> 00:30:11,867
In rehearsal,
she would say funny things
738
00:30:11,867 --> 00:30:13,266
and do funny things.
739
00:30:13,266 --> 00:30:17,100
[Amanda] Uh, yes,
this is your doctor.
Yes, Doctor...
740
00:30:17,100 --> 00:30:19,233
-[Dan babbling]
-[Amanda babbling]
741
00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:23,367
[Karyn] I definitely
saw Amanda
742
00:30:23,367 --> 00:30:26,867
being very close
physically with Dan.
743
00:30:26,867 --> 00:30:30,100
There were many times
that I saw Amanda
744
00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:31,900
sitting behind him,
hugging him
745
00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:36,567
or giving him, like,
a neck massage or whatever.
746
00:30:36,567 --> 00:30:39,367
Dan and Amanda
had a close relationship
747
00:30:39,367 --> 00:30:43,400
and I didn't think
anything different than that.
748
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,500
The hot tub scene,
749
00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:47,700
though, I thought
was always a little odd.
750
00:30:47,700 --> 00:30:50,000
I am the executive producer
and I'm the headliner.
751
00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,367
You actually wrote the words
752
00:30:51,367 --> 00:30:52,800
we're saying
to each other right now.
753
00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:53,767
Uh, yes.
754
00:30:53,767 --> 00:30:56,500
When you watch the video,
it's Amanda Bynes,
755
00:30:56,500 --> 00:30:58,700
clearly very young,
wearing a swimsuit
756
00:30:58,700 --> 00:30:59,767
in a hot tub
757
00:30:59,767 --> 00:31:02,166
and next to her
is Dan Schneider
758
00:31:02,500 --> 00:31:03,634
fully clothed.
759
00:31:04,667 --> 00:31:06,266
And he's kinda saying,
760
00:31:06,266 --> 00:31:08,266
I created this situation.
761
00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:10,200
I am the reason
we are in this hot tub.
762
00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:11,667
I am pulling the strings.
763
00:31:11,667 --> 00:31:13,200
Now since you're
the executive producer
764
00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:14,967
of the show,
can I have a raise?
765
00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:16,867
No.
766
00:31:16,867 --> 00:31:19,667
Maybe at the time
people viewed it as comedy,
767
00:31:19,667 --> 00:31:21,367
but I think now
some people
768
00:31:21,367 --> 00:31:23,867
are very uncomfortable
with the implication.
769
00:31:23,867 --> 00:31:25,667
[Kate] For me, looking back
at The Amanda Show
770
00:31:25,667 --> 00:31:29,000
is really a kinda sad
and strange experience.
771
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,767
Knowing that
as years went on
772
00:31:30,767 --> 00:31:31,867
Amanda and Dan's relationship
773
00:31:31,867 --> 00:31:34,467
would take
a turn for the worse.
774
00:31:34,467 --> 00:31:36,567
It is also bittersweet
to watch knowing
775
00:31:36,567 --> 00:31:38,967
what the women were dealing
with behind the scenes.
776
00:31:38,967 --> 00:31:42,066
He became a worse
and worse person to work for.
777
00:31:42,667 --> 00:31:45,166
[Jenny] Dan called me
at home
778
00:31:45,166 --> 00:31:49,867
and he asked me
if I was conspiring
against the company.
779
00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,767
He said,
"If I find out that you did,
780
00:31:52,767 --> 00:31:54,567
you're never gonna
work for Nickelodeon again."
781
00:31:59,567 --> 00:32:02,300
[Jenny] Dan got
worse and worse
as the season got on.
782
00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:04,500
And because
I was a first-time writer,
783
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:07,467
I didn't know
what was acceptable
and not acceptable.
784
00:32:07,467 --> 00:32:11,133
And so Christy and I
both did things that
were uncomfortable.
785
00:32:13,100 --> 00:32:16,867
Dan was showing pornography
on his computer screen.
786
00:32:16,867 --> 00:32:18,000
He'd asked me several times
787
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:19,667
to massage him
in the writers' room
788
00:32:19,667 --> 00:32:21,100
and in the studio.
789
00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:24,000
And he would
say things sometimes, like,
790
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,266
"Uh, can you please
give me a massage?
791
00:32:26,266 --> 00:32:28,367
I'll put one of your
sketches in the show."
792
00:32:28,367 --> 00:32:31,100
And he would always present it
like a joke, you know?
793
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:34,567
And he would be laughing
while he said it, um, but...
794
00:32:34,567 --> 00:32:37,000
You always felt like
disagreeing with Dan
795
00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,166
or saying...
Or standing up for yourself
796
00:32:39,166 --> 00:32:40,533
could result
in you getting fired.
797
00:32:42,767 --> 00:32:46,000
One of the worst one was, was
we were in the writers' room
798
00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,166
and Christy was talking
about high school,
799
00:32:49,166 --> 00:32:50,200
which is relevant because
800
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:52,066
we're writing
for a young girl,
801
00:32:52,066 --> 00:32:56,567
and Dan was just...
said, "You know what
would be funny?
802
00:32:56,567 --> 00:32:59,767
If you leaned
over the table
803
00:32:59,767 --> 00:33:01,467
and acted like
you were being sodomized
804
00:33:01,467 --> 00:33:03,734
and told that story
about high school."
805
00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:07,767
She said no at first
806
00:33:07,767 --> 00:33:10,867
and then he was kind of like,
"Oh, come on, come on.
It'd be so funny. Just do it.
807
00:33:10,867 --> 00:33:11,767
It'd be so funny."
808
00:33:11,767 --> 00:33:13,867
And everyone
was kind of laughing too
809
00:33:13,867 --> 00:33:16,000
'cause he's making it,
like, this big joke.
810
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,266
She couldn't get out of it.
811
00:33:17,266 --> 00:33:18,533
You know,
he's begging her.
812
00:33:21,266 --> 00:33:23,066
So she just
leaned over the table and did
813
00:33:23,066 --> 00:33:24,567
what he asked her to do.
814
00:33:24,567 --> 00:33:27,600
[producer] Do you remember
Dan asking you
815
00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,767
to, um, act out
being sodomized?
816
00:33:30,767 --> 00:33:32,500
Ah, I'd rather not.
817
00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:33,567
[laughs embarrassedly]
818
00:33:33,567 --> 00:33:34,934
I'd rather not. I...
819
00:33:35,867 --> 00:33:38,000
I don't wanna
talk about that.
[laughs]
820
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:39,100
I mean, it's not that I'm not,
821
00:33:39,100 --> 00:33:40,200
like, I'm not proud of it
822
00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:41,634
and I'm also, like, ugh...
823
00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:43,867
Thinking about it now,
824
00:33:44,467 --> 00:33:45,767
yeah, it's like...
825
00:33:45,767 --> 00:33:47,767
Oh, boy.
I just think of that
826
00:33:47,767 --> 00:33:52,166
poor girl and what she
had to, you know, go through.
827
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:53,934
Um, yeah.
828
00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:58,066
And I would not
do that today,
829
00:33:58,767 --> 00:34:00,867
but I did it then.
830
00:34:00,867 --> 00:34:03,600
Um, it was upsetting
to watch
831
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:07,100
because you know... I know,
I knew Christy at this point
832
00:34:07,100 --> 00:34:09,266
and I didn't feel
at all comfortable
833
00:34:09,867 --> 00:34:12,266
complaining to him about
834
00:34:12,266 --> 00:34:16,166
anything that might
make him feel like, "Ugh,
there's a girl in the room.
835
00:34:16,166 --> 00:34:18,100
She's killing the vibe."
836
00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:19,000
You don't want to be viewed
837
00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,767
as the person
that can't take a joke.
838
00:34:22,467 --> 00:34:24,066
It was probably
the wrongest thing
839
00:34:24,066 --> 00:34:25,467
I've ever seen
happen to a woman in
840
00:34:25,467 --> 00:34:27,066
a professional
environment ever.
841
00:34:28,967 --> 00:34:31,600
And then all of a sudden I had
heard about mid-season,
842
00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:35,200
um, that having
the writers split their salary
843
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:38,166
was against
the rules for the show.
844
00:34:38,166 --> 00:34:41,667
So I called the Writers Guild
to ask them if that was true.
845
00:34:41,667 --> 00:34:43,967
Can, can there be teams
on this show and they said no.
846
00:34:45,700 --> 00:34:47,000
[Christy] Jenny told me this
847
00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,000
and I was going, like, "Wow.
848
00:34:49,000 --> 00:34:52,166
They were trying
to pull a fast one."
849
00:34:56,367 --> 00:34:57,767
[Jenny] Dan called me at home
850
00:34:58,867 --> 00:35:01,467
and he asked me if I was
851
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:03,467
conspiring
against the company.
852
00:35:04,867 --> 00:35:07,500
He had found out
that the guild was now
853
00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:10,667
requiring him to pay
for our separate salaries
854
00:35:10,667 --> 00:35:12,767
and he wanted to know if...
855
00:35:12,767 --> 00:35:14,667
if I was the one
that made that happen.
856
00:35:14,667 --> 00:35:16,467
"'Cause if I find out
that you did,
857
00:35:16,467 --> 00:35:18,567
you're never gonna
work for Nickelodeon again
858
00:35:18,567 --> 00:35:20,667
or for any Viacom project."
859
00:35:20,667 --> 00:35:24,567
I was terrified
'cause I'd never seen him
quite that scary before
860
00:35:24,567 --> 00:35:28,367
and also,
you know, angry too.
861
00:35:28,367 --> 00:35:32,467
He had gotten caught doing
something ethically wrong
862
00:35:32,467 --> 00:35:35,600
and said, "If I find out
you told on me,
863
00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,600
I'm going to do something
even worse to you.
864
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:39,867
You're not gonna
work again."
865
00:35:42,266 --> 00:35:46,533
[Virgil] I think things
started to change with Dan.
866
00:35:47,467 --> 00:35:49,133
You could feel his presence.
867
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:53,734
When he walked on the set,
the crew could feel it.
868
00:35:55,367 --> 00:35:58,800
He wasn't the happy guy
making jokes anymore.
869
00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,266
There was a few times
when he came down
870
00:36:01,266 --> 00:36:03,667
that he lit everybody up.
871
00:36:04,266 --> 00:36:05,700
[Raquel] Dan yelled a lot.
872
00:36:05,700 --> 00:36:07,367
Dan was like a tornado.
873
00:36:07,367 --> 00:36:09,367
He'd come in
and, like, phew...
874
00:36:09,367 --> 00:36:12,567
You'd be like, "Wow. Okay.
What just happened?"
875
00:36:12,567 --> 00:36:14,467
Dan showed up.
876
00:36:14,467 --> 00:36:17,567
The set would
not feel the same
when, when he would leave
877
00:36:17,567 --> 00:36:19,867
because, you know, I think
878
00:36:19,867 --> 00:36:23,166
because everybody
was on their toes, scared.
879
00:36:24,166 --> 00:36:25,567
[Jenny] He could
literally be nice
880
00:36:25,567 --> 00:36:27,000
and then mean and then nice
881
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,767
and then mean, like,
throughout the day.
882
00:36:28,767 --> 00:36:30,000
So one minute I'm like,
883
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,100
"I've got Dan wrong.
He's really nice.
He's supportive."
884
00:36:32,100 --> 00:36:34,066
and then, like,
an hour later I could be like,
885
00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:36,066
"This guy is scary as hell."
886
00:36:38,567 --> 00:36:43,467
We were all feeling,
near the end, paranoid,
887
00:36:43,467 --> 00:36:46,400
uncomfortable, um...
888
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,166
It was just a bad...
it was just a bad vibe.
889
00:36:50,166 --> 00:36:55,066
We all felt like,
you know, the axe
could drop at any moment.
890
00:36:56,767 --> 00:36:58,867
It was our last week of work
891
00:36:58,867 --> 00:37:01,467
for Season 1
of The Amanda Show.
892
00:37:02,500 --> 00:37:05,600
I had this meeting
at my manager's office
893
00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:10,934
and, uh, by the time
I got in my car to
go back to the office,
894
00:37:11,367 --> 00:37:13,667
I had been fired.
895
00:37:13,667 --> 00:37:16,100
[Jenny] Dan, basically,
owned all of your time.
896
00:37:16,100 --> 00:37:18,500
Your weekends, after work,
897
00:37:18,500 --> 00:37:23,300
and Christy had done
two personal things
during the season, like,
898
00:37:23,300 --> 00:37:26,367
she had gone to
a concert on the weekend
899
00:37:26,367 --> 00:37:28,667
and she had
friends over one night
900
00:37:28,667 --> 00:37:32,567
and she basically
got fired for that.
901
00:37:33,867 --> 00:37:37,400
[Christy] It just felt
very vindictive that, um,
902
00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:42,166
it was three days,
three more days of,
of, of being paid.
903
00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:45,033
So I went back to temping
and I had nothing.
904
00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:52,467
[Jenny] I went down
to the studio to meet with Dan
905
00:37:52,467 --> 00:37:55,066
about Season 2.
He said, "Here's the deal.
906
00:37:55,066 --> 00:37:57,567
We're bringing you back
for Season 2, staff writer.
907
00:37:57,567 --> 00:38:00,100
We're offering you
a 16-week contract,
908
00:38:00,100 --> 00:38:02,000
but you need to
work the whole season."
909
00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,400
Which was,
I believe, 27 weeks.
910
00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,000
He was telling me I had
to work 11 weeks for free
911
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,333
and I was devastated.
912
00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:10,000
'Cause I'd proven myself.
913
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,700
I'd written well,
I'd paid my dues
914
00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:14,934
and he said, This is
all the money that we have."
915
00:38:15,767 --> 00:38:17,667
And then, meanwhile,
he hired a white male
916
00:38:17,667 --> 00:38:19,300
at full salary.
917
00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:21,567
No credits,
you know, first job
918
00:38:21,567 --> 00:38:23,100
but he's asking me,
919
00:38:23,100 --> 00:38:24,900
second season
on the same show,
920
00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:26,533
"You have to work
11 weeks for free."
921
00:38:32,467 --> 00:38:34,867
I lasted four days
in Season 2.
922
00:38:37,266 --> 00:38:39,000
Dan gave us this assignment,
923
00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,700
asked all the male writers
into his office,
924
00:38:41,700 --> 00:38:42,734
and left me out,
925
00:38:43,767 --> 00:38:45,266
and then he called me in
926
00:38:45,266 --> 00:38:47,100
and all the men
were standing
927
00:38:47,100 --> 00:38:49,467
and Dan was
behind his desk.
928
00:38:49,467 --> 00:38:52,634
And he said,
"Okay, pitch your idea."
929
00:38:54,767 --> 00:38:56,066
I pitched my idea
930
00:38:56,467 --> 00:38:58,100
and he said,
931
00:38:58,100 --> 00:38:59,634
"Didn't you
used to do phone sex?"
932
00:39:01,266 --> 00:39:03,367
Just like that, like,
out of nowhere.
933
00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:05,166
I was like, "No, Dan."
934
00:39:05,166 --> 00:39:06,200
And he goes like,
"Didn't you tell us?
935
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:07,567
Didn't you
say that last season,
936
00:39:07,567 --> 00:39:09,467
that you used to
have a job like that,
something like that?"
937
00:39:10,667 --> 00:39:11,900
No.
938
00:39:11,900 --> 00:39:13,066
I was destroyed.
939
00:39:13,066 --> 00:39:15,000
I went outside,
I was crying.
940
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:16,200
I can't do this.
941
00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:18,367
So, I did. I went home
and I quit.
942
00:39:18,367 --> 00:39:19,567
[laughs sadly]
943
00:39:19,567 --> 00:39:20,967
And it was so devastating.
944
00:39:20,967 --> 00:39:23,467
It was so hard
to let go of that job but...
945
00:39:23,467 --> 00:39:24,567
[sighs wearily]
946
00:39:25,467 --> 00:39:26,767
I mean, I just
couldn't do it anymore.
947
00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:28,800
There's no way I was
gonna be the only woman
948
00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:31,233
in that [bleep]
world with him. No way.
949
00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:44,634
[Christy] I was
at my temping job.
950
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:47,000
I get a call from Jenny,
951
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:48,266
"I'm suing Dan."
952
00:39:48,266 --> 00:39:49,467
[laughs]
953
00:39:49,467 --> 00:39:51,433
And I remember thinking...
954
00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,166
Like, it just
took me by surprise
955
00:39:54,166 --> 00:39:55,900
because we were all afraid.
956
00:39:55,900 --> 00:39:59,867
We are all afraid.
That's why just me
and Jenny are talking to you.
957
00:39:59,867 --> 00:40:02,800
Like, people
are afraid of him.
958
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,100
The reason
I did it was because
959
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:07,700
I didn't want this
to be happening to
other women in the future.
960
00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:13,467
She said, "Hey, um,
can, can you write
a letter on my behalf?"
961
00:40:13,467 --> 00:40:15,433
And I said,
"Of course, I will."
962
00:40:16,967 --> 00:40:17,900
And so then I hired...
963
00:40:17,900 --> 00:40:21,834
I hired a lawyer
and started blowing whistles.
964
00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:26,567
So my lawyer
filed complaints
965
00:40:26,567 --> 00:40:29,100
against the
production company
966
00:40:29,100 --> 00:40:31,700
for gender discrimination,
967
00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:35,166
hostile work environment,
harassment...
968
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:37,100
Yeah, and in response
969
00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:39,166
they did
an internal investigation
970
00:40:39,767 --> 00:40:40,867
and they settled,
971
00:40:40,867 --> 00:40:43,634
but it had
a lasting impact
on my career.
972
00:40:44,066 --> 00:40:45,200
I mean, I knew that.
973
00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:47,100
I knew that this
was the end of my career,
974
00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:48,567
so it had better be worth it.
975
00:40:48,567 --> 00:40:49,800
Like, it had better stop.
976
00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,634
And to learn
that it didn't stop?
977
00:40:54,066 --> 00:40:55,333
That it was all for nothing?
978
00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:02,667
The Amanda Show was
Dan Schneider's first show
979
00:41:02,667 --> 00:41:03,667
and he had a complaint
980
00:41:03,667 --> 00:41:05,200
against him
for gender discrimination
981
00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,166
and creating
a toxic work place,
982
00:41:07,166 --> 00:41:09,867
on his first
big show that he did.
983
00:41:09,867 --> 00:41:12,300
So a lot of the seeds
of the issues that we see
984
00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:13,800
throughout
Dan Schneider's empire,
985
00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:15,200
were there
from the beginning.
986
00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,367
How safe can any kids
be in that environment
987
00:41:18,367 --> 00:41:20,000
if that's how
the adult women
988
00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:22,000
are being treated
behind the scenes?
989
00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:23,533
[gurgling, squealing]
990
00:41:24,967 --> 00:41:26,767
[Scaachi] And on Dan's shows
there was always this,
991
00:41:26,767 --> 00:41:29,467
kind of, murkiness in
what was appropriate
992
00:41:29,467 --> 00:41:31,300
and what was inappropriate.
993
00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:32,900
I don't like this.
994
00:41:32,900 --> 00:41:35,767
[Scaachi] But there would be
even bigger problems
down the line
995
00:41:35,767 --> 00:41:38,533
with actual pedophiles
on set.
996
00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:44,767
[reporter] Van Nuys division
officers have arrested
a suspected child predator
997
00:41:44,767 --> 00:41:45,800
charged with kissing
998
00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,000
and touching
a nine-year-old girl,
999
00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:50,333
but officers believe
there may be more victims.
1000
00:42:12,600 --> 00:42:14,700
[somber music playing]