Two actors that appeared in a non-descript 1980’s sitcom series have become the royalty of children’s television today. The series was Head of the Class and the two actors are Brian Robbins and Daniel J. Schneider.
Brian Robbins played “bad boy” Eric Mardian (the kid with a mullet) on Head of the Class. Robbins’ current production company, Tollin/Robbins, is responsible for the current TV series Smallville and One Tree Hill. In addition to movies, Tollin/Robbins have also produced on TV:
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Arli$$
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The Nick Cannon Show
- Birds of Prey
- I’m With Her
- Head of the Class cast with Brian Rollins (center top) & Daniel Schneider (lower left)
But Rollins’ credentials in children’s television programming pale when compared to his Head of the Class series co-star, Daniel J. Schneider, who by some accounts is considered the king of the medium. Schneider was the “fat computer wizard,” Dennis Blunden, in the 1986 TV series.
Schneider, currently, has the kind of relationship with his network, Nickelodeon, that Dick Wolf and his Law & Order franchise have with NBC. And in my opinion, Schneider, is much more successful in that regard because his shows are designed to have, as he says, “10 year olds and 40 year olds laughing together.” This is no small tasks.
Schneider’s company, Schneider’s Bakery, which was spun off from Tollin/Robbins, has produced:
- Kenan & Kel
- The Amanda Show
- What I like About You
- All That
- Drake & Josh
- Zoey 101
- iCarly
- Victorious
Most importantly, his cast and crew are as loyal to him as he is to them. If you appear in one of his shows as a guest or as a supporting character, you have a real good chance of appearing in another one of his vehicles later. Both Drake Bell & Josh Peck appeared on The Amanda Show before getting their own series, Drake & Josh. Both Jerry Trainor and Miranda Cosgrove were on Drake & Josh before getting their own series, iCarly (in fact, Drake Bell sings on the opening theme song for iCarly along with Miranda Cosgrove). Victoria Justice was on Zoey 101 before getting her own vehicle, Victorious.
Schneider has had a stable of writers who have written for all of the shows he’s produced and have been with him since his company started. This means that his stories are predictable, but they are also recyclable. A plot that was in Zoey 101 will show up in Victorious with minor tweaking enabling a new audience to enjoy a story that may actually be several years old.
It is ironic to me that the show, Head of the Class, which was intended as a comeback vehicle for Howard Hesseman of WKRP in Cincinnati fame, would be the launch vehicle for two minor characters who would rule children’s television 30 years later.