[ cheers and applause ] ♪ this is "nightline." >> juju: tonight, drake bell speaks out. the former child actor coming out of the shadows. >> because i was spending so much time, more so around him than i was my dad.

>> juju: revealing for the first time publicly that he was sexually abused by a dialogue coach for nickelodeon, a network producing a golden era of kids' tv with shows like "drake and josh." behind the scenes, allegations of a toxic work environment. >> you made stars, but you also broke a lot of people. >> juju: in hindsight, many saying a lot of the content like this scene starring ariana grande now seeming inappropriate. plus sisters in struggle. >> i lived kind of this hell. >> juju: "anchorman" star christina applegate and "the sopranos" jamie lynn siegler sharing a special bond as they each battle multiple sclerosis. >> i was being brought to set in a wheelchair. >> juju: supporting each other through the challenges. >> i didn't feel important enough or valued enough that anybody would still want me.

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business. it's not a nine-to-five proposition. it's all day and into the night. it's all the things that keep this world turning. the go-tos that keep us going. the places we cheer. and check in. they all choose the advanced network solutions and round the clock partnership from comcast business. see why comcast business powers more small businesses than anyone else. get started for $49.99 a month plus ask how to get up to an $800 prepaid card. don't wait- call today. >> juju: thanks for joining us. we begin with former child actor drake bell and other nickelodeon stars coming forward and sharing details about what they say was

the dark side of life behind the scenes of the juggernaut network and hitmaker. here's abc's eva pilgrim. >> reporter: drake bell coming out of the shadows. a shocking revelation for millions of nickelodeon fans. the details that follow, chilling. the former child star saying publicly for the first time in a new docuseries that he is the john doe in the 2003 sexual abuse case against a former dialogue coach for the kids' tv network. when you saw who the victim was? >> it broke my heart. i cried. >> hey, josh. >> hello, creature. >> reporter: bell, then nearing the height of his fame, was 15 when it all happened. >> he was a legend. to find out that he was being harmed -- >> brutally harmed. >> in the terrible way -- it

infuriated me. >> reporter: bell would go on to face charges of his own, convicted in 2021 for child endangerment. nickelodeon was the top-ranked cable network for at least 16 years. >> nickelodeon was huge. as a kid, you're watching nickelodeon and you're watching the disney channel. those were really the only two channels that were designed for kid viewership in mind. >> reporter: if you were a kid of the '90s and the early 2000s, you might remember "all that." ♪ all that ♪ >> reporter: and later teen sitcoms like "zoe 101" and "i, carley." >> hit it! >> reporter: the network launching the careers of teen mega stars like amanda bynes, jamie lynn spears, and ariana grande. but insiders say behind the scenes, some dark things were going on. allegations of gender

discrimination, toxic work culture, and sexual harassment examined by the upcoming docuseries "quiet on set: the dark side of kids tv." >> they hear that brian papp was a sexual predator. it made me wonder immediately about who was being hurt. >> it wasn't dealing with anybody on the shows or anything, right? >> it was a child actor. >> on one of our shows? >> yes. >> reporter: for drake bell, nickelodeon was where he shot to teen stardom as the star of his own series "drake and josh." >> you can't use a soda gun, you're not certified. >> i've got to be certified to do this? >> reporter: and before that, as a cast member on "the amanda show." ♪ it tasted like somebody's snot ♪ >> reporter: it was there, drake says that he first met brian peck, a dialogue coach who also

played the role of pickleboy on "all that." >> the crew was like our cool uncles we would hang around with. everybody's guard is down. you become comfortable with people. so for each season that i was on "all that," my mom made a scrapbook. and there's pictures of the cast, the crew. >> oh, there is a signature and message from brian. "hey, giovanni, what a sweetheart you are, you're a total pleasure to work with, thanks for always walking on my back, it really cut down on my chiropractic bills." >> reporter: drake says peck purposely isolated him from his father, who was also his manager at the time. >> i think brian got a sense that my dad was on the watch. and so he started to really drive a wedge between my dad and me. he started talking about how my dad's stealing my money. nobody likes that my dad owes

set, he's a real problem. i was believing it because he's been in this business for so long, he must know more than us. >> reporter: it was around that time that the abuse started. drake says until 2003 when he finally called police. in response to bell speaking out in the docuseries, nickelodeon saying in a statement, "we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward." that august, peck was arrested, charged, and later convicted of lewd acts with a child and oral cop ewe lation with a person under 16. he pleaded no contest. >> we found out at a stable read. there's no explanation, no nothing. just, okay. >> they didn't say anything to you guys? they didn't say, here are the details? >> it -- it was vague. and i found out bits and pieces

from other people. >> did you know it was a child actor? >> i had suspicions. it wasn't confirmed. until i saw the doc. >> reporter: despite the conviction and being on the sex offender registry, peck still managed to find work. >> may i help you? >> reporter: as a character on "the sweet life of zach and cody" broadcast by disney, the parent company of abc news. disney telling "nightline" that peck was never on set and had absolutely no interaction with any cast or crew, including minors, and that when they learned about his conviction, they terminated him immediately. drake says that abuse put him on a path of self-destruction. he faced two duis, and in 2021, pleaded guilty to attempted child endangerment for inappropriate online activity with a minor. the golden era of kids' tv was in no small part a result of one of nickelodeon's top-level

executives, dan schneider. >> i keep the kid audience, which so far we're doing really well, i consider the other stuff gravy. >> dan schneider really grew to be one of the biggest names in hollywood because he really had found what studio execs felt like was this really smart formula for capturing a young audience. >> reporter: giovanni samuels and brian hern worked closely with schneider in 2002 as cast members on "all that." what was it like working for dan schneider? >> you're asking the two black children on a nickelodeon set -- >> we were overlooked. >> yeah. >> i respect dan's creative mindset. >> yeah, sure. >> creative genius. you made stars, but you also broke a lot of people. >> reporter: "quiet on set" includes allegations schneider was a bully and created a toxic work environment.

what do you think of those criticisms of him? >> i think there's a lot of accuracy. i've seen the monster that they've portrayed him as. i've seen the sweet guy. >> it's 50/50, for me. and he is at aniny. he's a really nice guy. but there is that dark side. >> reporter: one segment of "on-air dare," ryan was covered in peanut butter then licked by dogs. >> my "on-air dare," i was saying, "i don't like this." >> i don't like this, i don't, gross. >> to see that is -- >> to voice it. >> to have voiced it. >> to be ignored. because, oh, it's funny. >> yeah. is it? was it funny? >> was it? >> was it even funny? >> reporter: who was it funny for? >> right. >> wasn't for me. >> reporter: in hindsight, many fans of nickelodeon are finding some references inappropriate for children. and what some consider sexual

innuendo in old scenes. >> i'm thirsty! >> i think the re-examination is wholly important because we have to figure out how not to let something like this happen again. >> reporter: schneider and nickelodeon eventually parted ways in 2018. a spokesperson for schneider told abc news his scripts went through multiple layers of executive approval and that parents and caregivers of child actors were always on set during filming, adding, dan expected and asked a lot from his teams, but he also knows some people did not have a positive experience, and he is truly sorry for that. >> the takeaway from "quite on-set" is there shouldn't be quiet on set. let's be loud. >> the biggest thing i'm going to say is, your childhood is going to be a little tainted after watching it, but i hope that it helps you protect the next group of kids that comes up. >> yeah.

>> juju: our thanks to eva. in a statement about alleged behaviors on past production sets, nickelodeon tells abc news, while it, quote, cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, it investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience, end quote. the documentary series "quiet on set: the dark side of kids tv" premieres on sunday on id. coming up, sisters in struggle. christina applegate and jamie-lynn sigler supporting each other as they team up to battle ms and looking to help others. ♪ ♪ i got the power of 3.

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christina applegate and jimmy lynn sigler have formed a powerful and unique bond as they each battle ms. now the actors are teaming up and looking to help others. abc's robin roberts tells us how. >> i live kind of this hell. i mean, i'll be honest. my daily life is kind of [ bleep ]. and i'm alone. sorry i keep cussing. it's very hard, i'm a doeser these days. >> it's okay, you're allowed. >> reporter: little allowances. giving herself grace. all a part of christina applegate's new reality. living with multiple sclerosis.

for the actress beloved since her role on "married with children." >> do you think for one second i'm going to -- >> reporter: quietly coping out of the spotlight. >> right now i'm isolating. that's kind of how i'm dealing with it is by not going anywhere. because i don't want to do it. it's hard. >> reporter: this year she's stepping out again ahead of a new podcast after having hollywood on their feet for her at this year's emmys. ♪ you can't have one without the other ♪ >> reporter: were you able to take in the moment, the standing occasion? >> i actually kind blacked out. people said, "you were so funny." i don't even know what i said. >> you're totally shaming me with disability by standing up. it's fine. okay. >> reporter: and now sitting beside applegate as we spoke and holding her hand the entire time, jamie-lynn sigler, best known for her role as mode dough in "the sopranos." >> dad, how come you didn't

finish college? >> i had that semester and a half at seton hall. >> i was so happy for her moment at the emmys. i was like, please just remember how great you are. but also respect what she's going through. because she's also just been through a lot. >> reporter: what they're both going through, ms, a degenerative autoimmune disease. now they're teaming up and sharing their story each week like never before. >> you're really eavesdropping on an intimate conversation. you're also listening to a podcast of two women that are really being there for each other and getting to know each other. >> reporter: for more than 40 years, christina applegate has starred in some of america's favorite film and tv shows from "married with children" to "anchorman." >> i said, your hair looks stupid. >> reporter: and most recently, "dead to me." >> what i was i supposed to say to him? "i'm sorry my son sweetly gave

you the bird"? >> when you were diagnosed, you were in the middle of your show? >> my symptoms started in early 2021, tingling in my toes. by the time we started shooting in the summer, i was being brought to set in a wheelchair. i needed -- sorry. needed someone to help me get there. >> reporter: jamie received her diagnosis at age 20 in the midst of filming "the sopranos." for more than 15 years, she kept her ms a secret. >> my focus when i worked was getting through the day, not being found out. i didn't feel important enough or valued enough that anybody would still want me. but now i'm at this place where the next thing i do, i don't want to hide this. like, why can't i just be me in this body? >> it was torture, you were tortured by doing that. >> yeah. >> i won't let you. >> it makes you feel like something's wrong, and there's nothing wrong with me, i'm not broken. >> reporter: ms is a disease with no cure, but a strong

community. bringing the two women together. how have you helped each other? just seeing you right now, how you are together. i mean, how? >> she's doing this because i have the tremors. >> it's because i love her. having somebody to talk to about the intimate details of this disease and what you're dealing with was -- i didn't realize how badly i needed that. >> she keeps me going. and if not for her, i really honestly don't know. >> reporter: and now the two women gearing up for the launch of their new podcast "messy" about their public journeys with ms. >> we're messy. life is messy. and so, you know, there was no other name for this podcast. >> no. and also, "m" and "s" are in it. >> reporter: even with someone to lean on, ms can be especially challenging. symptoms can include trouble with coordination, speech difficulty, vision loss, and even paralysis. >> when i got sick, 40 little

christina applegates, like jabba. i didn't want to go any high where. i'm still dealing with that. it's not a weight thing. i don't feel -- i'm not comfortable. because it's not me, the person that i've been for 50 years. >> reporter: are you still in a grieving process? >> uh-huh. i'm not putting a time stamp on it. >> as heartbreaking as it is to struggle physically, it's given me a perspective and an appreciation that i just know i wouldn't possess without it. my hopes for her and for us through this journey, especially with this podcast, is that people can witness two people trying to figure that out. >> reporter: as the pair proclaim at the end of each podcast episode, "and so it is." >> and so it is, guys. and so it is. >> i've been playing a character called christina for 40 years.

it's kind of my coming-out party. this is the person i've been this whole time. >> after we recorded our first episode and listened to it, the first thing i did was call her. and i was like, "i am so excited for people to get to know this christina." >> reporter: christina applegate, it's nice to finally meet you. >> yes, yes. >> yeah. >> reporter: nice to finally meet you. >> juju: our thanks to robin. up next, tote mania and why these shopping bags are suddenly all the rage. if advanced lung cancer has you searching for possibilities, discover a different first treatment. immunotherapies work with your immune system to attack cancer. but opdivo plus yervoy is the first combination of 2 immunotherapies for adults newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread, tests positive for pd-l1, and does not have an abnormal egfr or alk gene. opdivo plus yervoy is not chemotherapy, it works differently. it helps your immune system

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♪ >> juju: finally tonight, the hottest bag of the season isn't chanel, gucci, or hermes. the must-have bag is now this mini tote from trader joe's. they retill for less than $3 but resellers can grab hundreds on ebay or facebook marketplace. the totes have sold out in stores, but don't despair, a trader joe's spokesperson says they'll soon be back in stock.