How Columbus played a role in Nickelodeon’s start
The new four-part docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” addresses allegations of abuse on sets of popular Nickelodeon shows, a network with Ohio roots.
In the series, former Nickelodeon staff members speak out against former producer Dan Schneider, who was accused of engaging in unprofessional and inappropriate behaviors in the workplace. “Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell also shared his experience of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Brian Peck, a dialogue coach working with Nickelodeon at the time.
The series dives into a range of issues surrounding Schneider and whether Nickelodeon protected the well-being of its kid actors.
The network, though, actually has Columbus roots. Here’s a look.
Nickelodeon got its start thanks to a Columbus-based company
Nickelodeon got its start in 1977 as part of Qube, the first two-way interactive cable system/remote control by Warner
Cable. At the time, Qube’s ability to be passed around the room and to be held by hand was revolutionary, as most televisions were still controlled by a dial or nob.
The remote also offered an unprecedented 30 channels, as opposed to the three or four supported by an antenna.
One of those 30 initial channels was Nickelodeon.
Qube production was based at 1201 Olentangy River Road in Columbus, according to WOSU NPR. The city may have been chosen as the home of Qube headquarters because of “its proximity to New York City and Warner executives,” WOSU reported.
Pinwheel, a Qube channel that aired commercial-free, kid-friendly content 12 hours a day, later became Nickelodeon once Qube went under in 1984.
The network’s name comes from the five-cent movie theaters called “nickelodeons” from the early 20th century, named after the nickel admission cost and the Greek word for “theater.”
Where to watch the Nickelodeon documentary
All episodes are available to stream on Investigation Discovery and Max.
How many episodes does ‘Quiet on Set’ have?
“Quiet on Set” consists of four episodes. However, a fifth episode is set to release April 7.
When does the fifth ‘Quiet on Set’ episode come out?
The next episode of “Quiet on Set” will air on Investigation Discovery and stream on Max on April 7, according to Variety.