"Sam & Cat's" Future is Uncertain Amidst Behind-The-Scenes Drama

[JamesG]

Future of Nickelodeon Series "Sam & Cat" In Limbo Amidst Behind-The-Scenes Drama
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
March 31, 2014


Nickelodeon‘s comedy "Sam & Cat" has been a runaway success by any measure.

The series, from proven hitmaker Dan Schneider, brought together two popular characters from two popular Nick series – "iCarly’s" Sam Puckett and "Victorious‘" Cat Valentine — played by two of the network’s best-known stars and best friends, Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, respectively.

The series has been a ratings hit, quickly becoming Nickelodeon’s highest-rated series. In July, only a month into "Sam & Cat’s" run, Nick doubled its freshman order from 20 to 40 episodes. Its hourlong January 18 episode drew 4.8 million total viewers and ranked as Nick’s highest-rated telecast with kids 6-11 in two years.







But as "Sam & Cat" is wrapping production on its 40-episode first season, there is no word on Season 2 — a very unusual development for such a successful series.

There has been talk about discord on the set, with emotions running high and McCurdy and Grande sometimes showing up late. The grueling, 40-episode shoot has been taxing on everyone. Additionally, McCurdy had been going through a difficult time in her personal life for the past six months and recently had to deal with the leak of racy photos, while Grande’s music career has taken off a big time.

Both have been at Nickelodeon for a long time, McCurdy for more than seven years and Grande for more than four. Both are entering adulthood, and word is both feel constrained at kids-focused Nickelodeon and are ready to move on.







I hear things came to a head last week when the show came close to a shutdown. Then this past weekend, McCurdy publicly accused Nickelodeon of unfair treatment. She also fueled speculation about a rift with longtime best friend Grande by un-following Grande on social media and not joining her co-star at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, where both were nominated for favorite TV actress.

(Sources close to the situation note that McCurdy and Grande are still getting along fine.)



"Sam & Cat" was a big winner, taking Favorite TV Show, Favorite TV actress (Grande) and Schneider receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

McCurdy took to Twitter to explain her absence from the awards show, which she had been scheduled to attend. “I was put in an uncomfortable, compromising, unfair situation (many of you have guessed what it is) and I had to look out for me,” she wrote.

“I chose to not go because sticking up for what is right and what is fair is what my mom taught me is ALWAYS the most important thing. I want to thank those of you who have reached out with kind words of support, McCurdians and Arianators alike. No matter who or what you support, I believe in supporting fairness first.”



She later clarified her decision to boycott the awards had nothing to do with the release of the photos.

“It has to do with how Nickelodeon treated me,” she said. “That’s all.”







The behind-the-scenes issues have complicated Nickelodeon’s decision how to proceed with the series. I hear there is a Season 2 production start date penciled in for later this year, but a renewal decision still appears to be a toss-up.

“We are wrapping up what was an unusually long production cycle of Sam & Cat, and everyone is understandably tired,” the network said in a statement. “We are going into our production hiatus next week which will give everyone on the show a much needed rest.”

While Nick brass still hope for another season of "Sam & Cat", they also have lined up potential reinforcements, greenlighting three new live-action comedies earlier this month, including the 20-episode "Henry Danger" from Schneider.

http://www.deadline.com/2014/03/futu...-scenes-drama/

[TMC]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2487090/...4095#227834095

Ariana's behavior sounds very typical of someone who has developed a big ego. She arrives late to the studio to make Jennette wait and to show off that she has higher status than Jennette does because of her music career.

Nick needs to dump this show and move on.

http://forums.televisionwithoutpity....#entry16436538

Well, given the fact that the network barely has any live-action show worthy of that name, it's not too hard to look good in comparison.

On another note, I hadn't even realized that Nickelodeon had doubled the episode order for season 1. Which means, in turn, that the cast & crew had no opportunity to renegotiate their contracts between seasons, as is usually the case, and possibly get a pay raise out of it. That probably doesn't help the overall morale.

[TMC]

http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/02/jennet...-ariana-grande

Jennette McCurdy is reportedly ticked off that she makes way less than co-star Ariana Grande.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#Xa0UIxv3cHTyyAYz.99

[JamesG]

Update - 4/2/14

The behind-the-scenes drama on "Sam & Cat" is not subsiding. I hear the show has been put on a “permanent hiatus” a few episodes early, with everyone on the crew let go except for those working in post-production.

http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/futu...-scenes-drama/

[robyrob]

man, they just need to give Gibby his own show, maybe even bring back Crazy Steve (awesome seeing his cameo in the SuperPsycho episode)

[comedyfreak]

Typical greedy network!! They should have treated Jeanette better she has been with the network longer than Grande.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Originally Posted by robyrob

man, they just need to give Gibby his own show, maybe even bring back Crazy Steve (awesome seeing his cameo in the SuperPsycho episode)

They were given the option, but Nick didn't pick up the pilot.

Nickelodeon has a lot of problems nowadays, don't they?

[retrofan05]

This show was very poorly conceived from the beginning. The premise made no sense at all. Two polar opposite high school students that don't even know each other move into together and start a baby sitting business? What?

[TMC]

http://okmagazine.com/get-scoop/aria...sam-cat-drama/

"I just wanted to address this one rumor in particular because I am NOT making more money than my costar, nor do I think I should be,” she wrote on Twitter last night. "So we can all move on and get out of our heads that this was a money thing cause I don't play like that at all. I am, have always been and always will be about equality and fairness.”


Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#JmpmWBa6X6ChgpCx.99

[irehtman]

I think Arianda Grande should be the main star of her own new show and let Jeannette McCurdy lose her acting job.

[TMC]

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-li...797#i148621,p1

The dress rehearsal sketch did not make fun of “Sam & Cat,” but “Zap!” is a sketch about a drug-addicted Nick cast starring Nickelodeon alum Kenan Thompson.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#2QgPU4lUghv3CeEg.99

[ChrisFergusonFl]

There is so much drama revolving around Arianda Grande, and I respect what Drake Bell said about her not being old enough to appreciate things.

Best wishes,
Chris Ferguson

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-li...797#i148621,p1

The dress rehearsal sketch did not make fun of “Sam & Cat,” but “Zap!” is a sketch about a drug-addicted Nick cast starring Nickelodeon alum Kenan Thompson.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#2QgPU4lUghv3CeEg.99

That show Zap is a parody of PBS show ZOOM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unW4GOJw4ro&hd=1

[king of comedy]

Come on Nickelodeon!! Let Sam and Cat go!! It is trash.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Come on Nickelodeon!! Let Sam and Cat go!! It is trash.

At this point, it's pretty safe to say that Arianna Grande at least, doesn't really need Sam & Cat or Nickelodeon as a whole to boost her career. I think part of Nickelodeon's problem is that they wasn't spent enough time creating or promoting new stars beyond or outside the iCarly/Victorious franchise.