Kel Mitchell has shared his perspective on working with Dan Schneider, revealing that the atmosphere of All That shifted when Schneider took the helm.
In a recent episode of the Baby, This is Keke Palmer podcast, Mitchell recounted his journey from a young dreamer in Chicago to a star on Nickelodeon in the ’90s. While discussing his career, he highlighted his time on Kenan & Kel and the joy he found in making people laugh. However, his experience on All That became complicated due to the industry’s “political landscape.”
Kel Mitchell Describes Tensions on Set
Keke Palmer asked Mitchell about his thoughts on the Quiet on Set documentary, which examines misconduct allegations at Nickelodeon. Mitchell mentioned discussing the documentary with his co-star Kenan Thompson, noting that it did not reflect their experiences. Despite this, he provided insight into his interactions with Dan Schneider, a key figure at Nickelodeon who has faced allegations of inappropriate behavior.
“The vibe of the show started to change a little bit,” Mitchell said, explaining how things shifted when Schneider became the head writer after Brian Robbins left. “Me and him kind of bumped heads a little bit. I remember we had a big argument on set. He was like, ‘Let’s go over here to this room right here, in this closet.’ He closed the door, and he just took off, yelling all this wild stuff.”
Mitchell, reflecting on his position as an older member of the cast, felt he had to make a choice. “Either we are going to fight or I’m going to leave,” he said, ultimately deciding to leave the confrontation.
Kenan Thompson’s View
Kenan Thompson also addressed the allegations against Schneider during an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show. Although he expressed support for those affected, he clarified that his experience was different.
“It’s tough for me because I can’t really speak on things that I’ve never witnessed,” Thompson explained. “All these things happened after I left, and Dan [Schneider] wasn’t really involved with Kenan & Kel. Our paths didn’t overlap much outside of All That.”
Thompson acknowledged the importance of the documentary for bringing necessary accountability. “It’s a good thing that the doc is out, and it’s putting things on display that need to be told for accountability’s sake. But it’s tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place, and I have fond memories of my co-stars. So, to hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that, it’s really tough.”
Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson offer contrasting yet complementary views of their time at Nickelodeon. Mitchell’s direct conflict with Schneider and Thompson’s largely positive memories highlight the complexity of their experiences on the network.