Drake Bell reveals Nickelodeon stars rarely receive 'residuals', calls industry 'corrupt'

Drake Bell reveals most Nickelodeon actors don’t earn residuals and describes the network’s system as exploitative.

Drake Bell is speaking out about the financial realities faced by many former Nickelodeon stars, shedding light on what he describes as a deeply flawed and exploitative system. In a recent appearance on The Unplanned Podcast, the Drake & Josh alum revealed that most actors from the network do not receive residual payments for reruns or streaming of their shows.

“That’s the perception of the world,” Bell said. “People think if you’re on TV, you’re rich. But that’s far from the case.” He explained that actors typically aim for 100 episodes so their shows can enter syndication—a threshold Drake & Josh never reached in its four-season run from 2004 to 2007. “That’s where the money comes from,” he said, adding that many Nickelodeon performers miss out entirely on residual income.

 

 

 

 

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Despite Drake & Josh currently airing marathons on multiple networks and trending on Netflix, Bell claims he sees no financial return. “I gotta figure out how to pay my rent this month,” he said. “And some fat cat with a cigar is sitting at the top of Viacom getting rich off child labor.”

Bell also condemned what he sees as systemic exploitation within the entertainment industry. “It’s a lot of evil, corrupt people,” he stated, suggesting that child actors are often left unsupported after their shows end.

Earlier this year, Bell publicly identified himself as a victim of abuse by former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck, a registered sex offender. His account was featured in the March 2024 docuseries Quiet on Set, which brought renewed scrutiny to the network’s past handling of child talent.