The eponymous Sam and Cat in happier times / (Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage)
The future of Nickelodeon’s hit series “Sam & Cat” appears to be in jeopardy, after only one season. Deadline is reporting that due to behind the scenes discord, the show is on “permanent hiatus” and anyone not working in post-production has been sent home. Sam and Cat, say it ain’t so!
The show, which brought together two titans of kid entertainment in Ariana Grande (“Victorious”) and Jennette McCurdy (“iCarly”), has been plagued by rumors that the two stars don’t like each other or Nickelodeon too much anymore. McCurdy has been at the network for an astounding seven years (she’s only 21 now), while Grande has been working for them for four. Someone should figure out what the average age is for child stars deciding they’re too old for a kiddie network.
Additionally, Grande’s music career has been a big success, which possibly contributed to her desire to bail on the show. Things really looked bad this weekend when McCurdy unfollowed Grande on her various social media accounts, which, as all denizens of this modern world know, is tantamount to a public declaration of war. (Though of course, a “source” says the two are getting along fine.) And she didn’t go to the Kid’s Choice Awards, the Nobels of children’s awards. She also accused Nickelodeon of unfair treatment in a series of tweets. Maybe she’s mad Grande’s music career has been better managed?
Regardless of any potential animosity between the two stars, the show’s 40 episode production schedule was also probably pretty grueling. And poor McCurdy has been having a rough time personally, with scandalous pictures of her popping up on the internet recently. Despite all of that, reps for the show are still saying Season 2 is a go. Although at this point, it sounds like only the ampersand in the title is interested in showing up.
Follow Lisa Weidenfeld on Twitter at @LisaWeidenfeld.
