Overview

• During a July 2 appearance on The Unplanned Podcast, Bell revealed that child actors on Nickelodeon receive only a single payment with no residual checks for syndication or streaming reruns.
• He contrasted this system with adult sitcoms such as Friends and Seinfeld, whose casts continue to earn millions annually from syndication.
• Bell said the lack of residuals contributed to his 2014 bankruptcy and ongoing financial strain despite Drake & Josh marathons on Netflix and cable channels.
• He accused Nickelodeon executives of profiting indefinitely from child labor through what he called a flawed and exploitative compensation structure.
• Bell’s disclosure follows scrutiny ignited by the Investigation Discovery docuseries Quiet on Set, renewing calls for contract reforms to secure young performers’ long-term earnings.