Drake Bell and Josh Peck starred together on the Nickelodeon show for four seasons
 |
| Josh Peck and Drake Bell on 'Drake & Josh' (left); Josh Peck and Drake Bell recording 'Good Guys' (right). Photo: Nickelodeon; Courtesy of Dear Media / Good Guys |
Drake Bell and Josh Peck, who starred together in hit Nickelodeon comedy series Drake & Josh, are reuniting for the first time since the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV premiered in spring 2024 on Investigation Discovery/Max to talk about their time on the show, their lives as child stardom and the bombshells the documentary revealed.
In a preview of the March 24 episode of Josh's Good Guys podcast shared by People, which he hosts alongside Ben Soffer, Josh and Bell opened up about their time working together on Drake & Josh and what it was like to be Nickelodeon child stars.
Drake and Josh and Ben (Part 1) | Josh Peck
Today, we’re sitting down with Drake Bell for the first time in nearly 20 years to have the conversation we never had. In Part 1, we revisit our time filming Drake & Josh, reflect on the laughs, the magic, and the darker moments that were never spoken aloud.
We talk about what it was like growing up on set, the complicated truth of our friendship, and how trauma, misunderstanding, and silence shaped the years that followed. Drake opens up about what he endured behind the scenes and how that experience impacted our relationship, the show, and his life.
We’re proud to share this episode with you. And stay tuned for Part 2.
[00:00] Reuniting
[00:47] Creating an Iconic Theme Song
[08:17] Encountering Justin Bieber and Twitter Drama
[18:45] Exploring Friendship Dynamics
[19:40] Bonding Through Comedy
[22:23] Returning to Set During Abuse Investigation
[26:15] Reflections on Youth and Adult Perspectives
[27:29] Finding Out Through the Documentary
[36:59] Christian Comedy and Chicken Enchiladas
[46:42] Responsibility and Accountability
[56:23] Unpacking Working as a Child Actor
[57:16] Navigating Fan Perceptions and Personal Realities
[1:01:33] Nostalgia and the Magic of On-Set Chemistry
Soffer, 32, and producer Olivia Meade spoke on the podcast about the “completely eye-opening” experience of watching Quiet on Set. Soffer said it “never at all clicked” that Josh and Bell, both 38, were also kids.
 |
| Drake Bell recording the 'Good Guys' podcast. Courtesy of Dear Media / Good Guys |
“You're not an adult, but you're being treated like an adult and you're with adults,” Soffer said. Meade added, “I can’t imagine losing those formative years, or giving such responsibility and pressure at that age when you are just beginning to figure out bits and pieces of who you are and how you interact with other people.”
Josh said it’s complicated because the show is beloved by fans who grew up watching it but was hard for him to go through. He explained, “You know what the show means to everyone. You know that the moments that were great were great, and we were incredibly lucky to get to do this thing that we loved.”
“But there's also the truth of everything you went through and everything that was an experience for a kid that was unacceptable in so many ways and you’ve got to wrestle with this,” he said. “I remember people would ask me about the show, and I would say, ‘Well, I lost a hundred pounds and had to get sober at 21. Did I seem happy?’ Like, it’s a bit of a sign."
 |
| LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Actor Josh Peck (L) and Drake Bell (R) attend Drake Bell's album release party for "Ready Steady Go!" at Mixology101 & Planet Dailies on April 17, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic |
Drake & Josh premiered in 2004 and ran for four seasons on Nickelodeon. Bell and Josh played stepbrothers (who shared the same first names as the actors playing them), with Miranda Cosgrove as Drake’s younger sister. Before the show, Josh and Bell also starred together on the network's The Amanda Show alongside Amanda Bynes.
In Quiet on Set, Bell talked about being sexually assaulted by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck (no relation to Josh) when he was 15. Brian pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 and performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old in connection with the case. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender. At the time, Bell was not revealed as his victim.
Speaking to People on March 17, Bell revealed that the documentary airing was “a really nice weight lifted.”
“It's a roller coaster of emotions,” he said. “I don't want to sugarcoat it and make the message, ‘Hey, all you got to do is just tell somebody and get your story out and when you wake up the next day, it's going to be gone and everything's going to be fine and you're going to walk through life without any pain or sorrow or sadness!’ It's always going to be there, but it's a lot nicer getting support.”
The new episode of Good Guys premieres Monday, March 24. The second half of Bell’s interview will appear in the Thursday, March 27, episode.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Drake and Josh and Ben (Part 2) | Josh Peck
In Part 2 of our sit-down with Drake Bell, we pick up right where we left off—unpacking everything that came after the show ended. From personal regrets to private reconciliations, we reflect on the years apart, the moments that shaped us, and how we finally found our way back to friendship.
We talk openly about what drove us apart and what’s bringing us back together. Drake shares unbelievable stories—playing a private concert in Switzerland for eight kids, becoming a children’s menu icon in Mexico, and his surreal trip to Brunei with Pamela Anderson. But he also opens up about the real stuff: going to rehab, becoming a father, learning to survive—and then choosing to live fully.
We revisit our shared past with fresh perspective and a whole lot more grace. It’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s hopeful—and it’s the closure we didn’t know we needed.
We love this episode. We love Drake. And we hope you feel the love too.
Stream Non-Stop Flight HERE: https://ffm.to/qbkmzba
Leave us a voicemail here:
https://www.speakpipe.com/goodguys
Chapters:
[00:00] Reflections on the Podcast Experience
[01:18] Fame and Growth After a Kids' Show
[10:57] A Surreal Shopping Adventure
[13:02] Adventures in Switzerland and Brunei
[16:11] Celebrity Encounters
[17:32] The Surprise of a Luxurious Gift
[18:09] Future Travel Plans
[20:26] Exciting Tech and Fond Memories of Collaboration
[23:52] Navigating Public Struggles
[26:00] Finding Connection and Purpose in Recovery
[31:26] Navigating Trauma and Connection in Recovery
[37:30] Recollections of Amanda Bynes
[40:14] Parenting and Public Spaces
[40:54] Conversations on Relocation, Friendships, and New Projects
