‘Quiet on Set’ Subject Dan Schneider Receives Green Light in Defamation Suit

Famed Hollywood producer Dan Schneider has scored a legal victory in his lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Sony. On Friday, Judge Ashfaq G. Chowdhury ruled that Schneider, whose behavior while working at Nickelodeon is explored in the Investigation Discovery and Max docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, can move forward with a defamation lawsuit filed in May. In his suit, Schneider says the docuseries was a “hit job” that alleged he was a child sexual abuser.

Per Variety, Judge Chowdhury ruled in Schneider’s favor on the basis that a “reasonable viewer” could deduct that the docuseries makes “damning implications about his conduct.” The Judge also denied a motion filed on behalf of Warner Bros. and Sony to throw out Shchneider’s defamation lawsuit, claiming Quiet on Set never accused Schneider of sexual abuse. The four-part investigative piece aired in March dives into problematic and toxic behavior on Nickelodeon shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The incidents detailed by series stars and staff include sexual misconduct and volatile and sexist behavior at the hands of several adults.

According to the show’s official logline, Quiet on Set “pulls back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider, that had an undeniable grip on popular culture.” While interviewees never accuse Schneider of sexual assault in the series, several do call him out for creating a toxic work environment. Two other subjects discussed in the documentary, production assistant Jason Handy and dialogue coach Brian Peck, are now convicted sex offenders.

Schneider alleges significant mental and financial harm from Quiet on Set and is seeking unspecified damages.

Dan Schneider Admits He Was “A Bad Leader,” but Never Involved in “Heinous Acts”

Following the release of Quiet on the Set, Schneider expressed regret for his past actions during a video conversation with actor Bobbie K. Bowman. Schneider admitted that watching the documentary was difficult and embarrassing and acknowledged the need to apologize to those he had wronged. In a separate statement, Schneider shared:

“There is no doubt that I was sometimes a bad leader. I am sincerely apologetic and regretful for that behavior, and I will continue to take accountability for it. They went beyond reporting the truth and falsely implied that I was involved in or facilitated horrific crimes for which actual child predators have been prosecuted and convicted. I have no objection to anyone highlighting my failures as a boss, but it is wrong to mislead millions of people to the false conclusion that I was in any way involved in heinous acts like those committed by child predators.”

Schneider began his career as an actor (notably in Head of the Class) but is best known for his work behind the scenes. As the founder and co-president of the production banner Schneider’s Bakery, Schneider created or worked on several of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows, including Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, iCarly, Victorious, and Sam & Cat. In 2018, Nickelodeon and Schneider parted ways following a misconduct investigation into Schneider’s behavior.

Nearly two weeks after Schneider sued Warner Bros. and Sony, All That star Lori Beth Denberg added to the negative press surrounding him. Denberg (who starred in the sketch comedy series between 1994 and 1998) claimed that Schneider showed her pornographic content in his office when she was 19, initiated phone sex with her, fondled her breasts, and verbally abused her both on and off set. Schneider has denied those allegations, calling them “wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false.”

Quiet on Set is available to stream on Max.