Wondering what really happened behind the scenes of Drake & Josh? Drake Bell and Josh Peck’s reunion on the Good Guys podcast renewed interest after the 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set. Their conversation revealed Bell’s on-set abuse and its impact on his life and the show.
Here’s what the two co-stars revealed, what the documentary exposed, and what it means for their legacy at Nickelodeon.
What did Drake Bell and Josh Peck discuss about on-set abuse?
Drake Bell and Josh Peck discussed abuse allegations from their time on Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh during a reunion on Josh Peck’s Good Guys podcast.
Bell revealed he feared their friendship would be ruined after he reported the abuse, stating, “When this drops, is Josh going to look at me and be like, ‘Bro, you took our dream away?’” He also described the physical toll the stress took on him, saying, “Dude, I was losing my hair. Like, I had these giant scabs on my head.” (via Today)
The 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set prompted the conversation. Bell revealed he was the victim in the 2004 sexual abuse case involving dialogue coach Brian Peck. Peck, who is not related to Josh Peck, received a conviction for lewd acts with a minor and oral copulation with a person under 16. He served 16 months in prison. Bell said Brian Peck stayed on set during the pilot’s filming, stating, “The monster was there.”
Josh Peck said he only learned the full extent of Drake Bell’s trauma after watching the docuseries. “In watching the documentary at 38, as a father, as a grown-up, so much was revealed to me of what you had to go through,” Peck said. He also recalled asking Bell about Brian Peck during the show’s run and being told, “No, Brian’s a really bad guy.”
Bell said the investigation began after The Amanda Show ended in 2002 and before Drake & Josh began in 2004. He recalled filming while knowing Brian Peck was under investigation, stating, “I know that this guy’s about to get arrested.” Despite the abuse, Bell emphasized that filming the show was where he felt “comfortable and happy.”
Nickelodeon has stated that it investigates all formal complaints and remains committed to providing a safe workplace.
