See What the Nickelodeon Stars Are Doing Now
Can you guys believe that it’s officially been more than nine years since Sam & Cat ended? Yep, the iconic Nickelodeon shows — aired its final episode on July 17, 2014, and we can’t believe how fast time has flown by!
In case you forgot, the hilarious show took characters from two of our favorite series, and brought them together for one of the most epic spin-offs in history! It starred Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett from iCarly, and Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine from Victorious. When the two girls meet by chance, they quickly become best friends. They decide to move in together and start their own babysitting business in an attempt to earn extra money. Naturally, the two of them make a seriously hilarious duo, and they embark on a ton of adventures and stir up lots of trouble together.
Once the show came to an end, Ariana looked back at her iconic character and opened up about what playing Cat meant to her in a lengthy Facebook post.
“When I was younger, people loved Cat so much I used to pretend to be more like her. It took me a long time to be brave enough to separate myself and show people how different we actually are,” she wrote in July 2014, per The Hollywood Reporter. “I think that’s honestly because I admire her so much. Her appreciation for life and everybody she encounters. Her passion and genuine excitement for the little things that most people dread like school projects and work. She always saw negative obstacles as opportunities to make things good.”
The actress explained that she “will always hold Cat near and dear to my heart.”
“I know she seems like a simple, daft character (and she is) but she played such a huge part in my life,” Ariana added. “One of my favorite things about Cat was that she never lost her sense of wonder. As we grow up we become more and more jaded and fearful of how we come across. We hold back a little more, protect ourselves a little more and although Cat goes through the same ridicule as anybody else does growing up, she never changed or lost her childlike wonder. … To me she is actually a lot smarter, stronger and braver than all the rest of us.”
Cat Valentine will definitely live in our hearts forever! Scroll through our gallery and see what the cast of Sam & Cat is up to now.
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Ariana Grande Played Cat Valentine
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Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Ariana Grande Now
Ariana went on to become one of the biggest superstars in the world! She’s dropped five studio albums, which contained a ton of bops that have been streamed by millions of people. She’s also sold out multiple world tours, appeared in the NBC broadcast of Hairspray Live! and made headlines for her high-profile relationships. Ariana married Dalton Gomez in May 2021.
She’s set to play Glinda in the upcoming movie musical adaptation of Wicked Part 1 and Wicked Part 2.
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Jennette McCurdy Played Sam Puckett
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Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Jennette McCurdy Now
Sam & Cat was just the beginning for Jennette. She went on to star in Little B—hes, Pet and Bling, What’s Next For Sarah?, Between and Adam and Wiley’s Lost Weekend.
In 2018, the actress made her debut as a film director with a short film titled Kenny. However, she announced in 2021 that she had officially quit acting.
Jennette released her New York Times best-selling book I’m Glad My Mom Died in August 2022, which detailed her career as a child actress and her complicated relationship with her abusive mother who died in 2013. Following the massive success of her novel, the former Nickelodeon alum signed a two-book deal with Penguin Random House. Go Jennette!
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Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Cameron Ocasio Played Dice
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Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Cameron Ocasio Now
Cameron continued to act after Sam & Cat. He starred in a few TV shows and movies, including Commando Crash and Love Magical. He starred in the 2021 film Project Pay Day.
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John Shearer/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Zoran Korach Played Goomer
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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Zoran Korach Now
Zoran did not slow down after Sam & Cat. He appeared in NCIS, Scorpion, The Millers, Gotham, Training Day, Donna On the Go, The Brave, The Adventures of Kid Danger, Love Sonia, Weird City, Burning Dog, L. A.’s Finest and more. He also continued his role as Goomer in Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger.
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Emily Skinner Played Chloe
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Shutterstock
Emily Skinner Now
Emily has come a long way since Sam & Cat ended! She went on to play Amber in Andi Mack. She also starred in Blood Ransom, Crown Lake, Total Eclipse, Secrets in the Water and #FBF.
Sam & Cat Cast: Where Are They Now?
Sam & Cat was worlds colliding as the fan-favorite Sam Puckett from iCarly and Cat Valentine from Victorious teamed up to take on the world. What resulted was plenty of shenanigans that were all too familiar for a Nickelodeon sitcom. The series debuted in 2013 and ran for 35 episodes.
Sam & Cat picks up where iCarly left off, with Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove) moving to Italy with her father and Sam (Jenette McCurdy) driving off into the night on her motorcycle. After a long road trip and finding herself in Los Angeles, Sam witnesses a strange girl get accidentally thrown into a garbage truck. After saving her, the thankful Cat (Ariana Grande) invites Sam to come to her Nona’s house. From there, the two decide to become roommates and open up an after-school babysitting service.
Unlike its predecessor shows, Sam & Cat did not have a long life on television. Production initially began for a 20-episode run, but after a 4.2 million viewer debut, Nickelodeon ordered an extra 20 episodes shortly after. The show did have its fans, however. It won the 2014 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards for Favorite TV Show and was nominated for Choice Comedy TV Show for the Teen Choice Awards. While it did not have as long of a run, the fan-favorite team-up entertained until the end. But the big question on everyone’s minds is where the cast is now. Let’s take a look.
Jennette McCurdy
Nickelodeon
Jennette McCurdy has been the talking point of Hollywood in recent years due to certain controversies coming to light. The young actress had been working in the industry since 2000 when she made appearances on shows such as Malcolm in the Middle, Zoey 101, and Law and Order SVU. Her debut as Sam Puckett in iCarly was her most notable role. The part would earn her a nomination for 2009’s Teen Choice Award for Favorite TV Sidekick. McCurdy would reprise her role as Sam in Sam & Cat, but that’s when things started to get dicey from the outside.
After the cancelation of Sam & Cat, McCurdy launched the online show What’s Next for Sarah?, which was based loosely on her life. Afterward, she starred in the 2015 Netflix drama series, Between. After the series was not renewed for a third season, McCurdy quit acting and has been pursuing a different career, writing.
Related: Why Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat Ended
In 2022, she published the memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died with thunderous success. The book detailed the heartbreaking experiences of her life, her relationship with her mother, and the rocky experiences she had acting for television. Since the book’s release, multiple fellow Nickelodeon stars have spoken up in support of McCurdy, including co-star Miranda Cosgrove and Drake & Josh star, Josh Peck. Due to the success of the memoir, McCurdy has signed on for a seven-figure deal for her debut novel. She has also expressed hope for directing after releasing her first short film, Kenny, in 2018.
Ariana Grande
Nickelodeon
Ariana Grande played opposite of McCurdy as the lovable but dimwitted Cat Valentine. After landing a role in the Broadway musical, 13, Grande made her television debut with Victorious. The role skyrocketed Grande to the world of teen idol-dom, but her heart was always in music. Grande continued to train her vocal range while simultaneously working on the show, appearing in the Victorious albums.
In 2013, Grande released her debut solo album, Yours Truly. The album topped the US Billboard 200. Since then, she has quickly climbed the social ladder and won numerous awards. She won a Grammy in 2016 for Best Pop Vocal Album and again in 2021 for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her Rain On Me duet with Lady Gaga.
As for her acting career, she is bringing it together with her love of music. She is starring as Glinda in the upcoming two-part film adaptation of the musical Wicked. The first film is set to debut on Christmas 2024.
Cameron Ocasio
Nickelodeon
Playing Sam & Cat’s slick (but also sweet) neighbor, Dice, was Cameron Ocasio. Ocasio was no stranger to television by the time he stepped onto set. The young actor’s career started in 2011 when he not only appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but also played the role of Young Kevin in the short film Caught. Ocasio would appear in several films over the years, including 2012’s Sinister. After Sam & Cat, he would make appearances on other Nickelodeon programs such as the 2014 and 2015 Kids Choice Awards and the 2014 game show, Webheads.
Maree Cheatham
Nickelodeon
Playing the loving and caring Nona was Maree Cheatham, who has a long history in both television and film. She made her grand debut on television in 1965 in what is considered her biggest role: Marie Horton in the soap opera Days of Our Lives. She has reprised the character several times throughout the show’s impressive 14,430-episode run (before moving to Peacock). Cheatham also made several appearances in various sitcoms and series such as Hawaii Five-O, The Nanny, Columbo, and Scrubs. As for film, she’s appeared in Beetlejuice, Labor Pains, and Letters to God. Her latest appearance was in the Disney Channel comedy series, Bizaardvark.
Related: Victorious: 10 Songs You Forgot Were Awesome
Zoran Korach
Nickelodeon
Playing the eccentric Goomer, a professional MMA fighter with a childish personality, was Zoran Korach. Korach is another cast member who started out on Days of Our Lives, first appearing in 2003 as the character Jennings. The actor has since made appearances in various TV series such as True Blood, Bones, and Graceland. After his run on Sam & Cat, Korach would reprise his role in the Nickelodeon shows Henry Danger, The Adventures of Kid Danger, and Danger Force.
Ronnie Clark
Nickelodeon
Rounding out the reoccurring cast is Herb, the homeless-looking individual who turns out to have a lot of money. Ronnie Clark has been acting since 2008, starting out in various short films. His first jump to television was in an episode of Awake in 2012. Following Sam & Cat, he made appearances in shows like Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt?, Workaholics, and Just Roll With It. Like Korach, he would reprise his Sam & Cat role for Henry Danger and The Adventures of Kid Danger. Recently, he has made appearances in shows like Our Flag Means Death and Quantum Leap.
Sam & Cat has a special place in the world of Nickelodeon sitcoms. Starting with Drake & Josh, the network has developed a habit of transitioning from one show to another, establishing a shared universe of television characters. Sam & Cat was meant to be a jumping point for both the cast members of Victorious and iCarly, but sadly did not land enough episodes as either of their predecessors. However, the show did have its place in the lives of those who starred in it, and those who loved watching.
Sam & Cat (movie, 2013)
Publication Author Author
Viewed 5669 times
Drama / Comedy / Family /
Sam & Cat (originally titled Sam & Cat) starring Jennet McCurdy and Ariana Grande is an American teen movie.
The series was produced by Nickelodeon Productions and Schneider’s Bakery. The script belongs to world celebrity Dan Schneider. He was the creator of such hits as “Happy Together”, “Kenan and Kel”, “Victoria – the Winner” and others.
Content
- 1 Creation of the sitcom
- 2 BFF fight
- 2.1 Interesting facts
- 3 Summary 90 018
Making a sitcom
episodes. Implementation began in January 2013. The series first aired on Nickelodeon on June 8, 2013. Due to the popularity of the series, already in July the number of episodes was revised and increased to forty. But, due to the conflict between the actresses, the world saw only 32 episodes, and the channel announced the closure of the project. Although a second season was planned, fans never got to see it. The duration of each episode is 23 minutes.
BFFs quarrel
Nickelodeon fans were thrilled because the first roles in the series were taken by actresses: blonde Jennet McCurdy (iCarly) and dark Ariana Grande (Kat) . And that “Sam and Cat” is a continuation of their favorite series about the adventures of two cheerful girlfriends.
In 2014 Sam & Cat won the Kids’ Choice Awards. But, only Ariana Grande came to the presentation, and Jeannette McCurdy ignored this event.
Later it turned out that Jennet had been arguing with Nickelodeon for several weeks. It turned out that the role of the actress was paid much lower in comparison with Ariana. The conflict also spilled over into the relationship of the two friends. When actress Ariana Grande received the prestigious People’s Choice Awards, they stopped talking altogether. In this regard, the project was decided to be closed and no longer developed.
The series tells about the acquaintance of two girls who become best friends. The actresses decide to start their own business and start providing babysitting services. Girls get into various comical and curious situations.
Interesting facts
- Actress Ariana Grande is a very naive and a little narrow-minded girl who constantly finds herself in comic situations. In life, the actress is a very serious and purposeful person.
- The show was scheduled for June 8 not by chance, in the United States this day is National Best Friends Day.
- Jennette McCurdy is not only a professional actress, but also a singer of her own country songs. The actress dedicated her album “Homeless Heart” to the deceased comrade Cody Waters (Cody Waters). Twenty percent of the sale of the album went to the Cody Charitable Foundation.
Results
Nickelodeon was accused of sexualizing Ariana Grande when she starred in children’s shows
Daria Melnikova
16 August 2022 16:25
9 0006 Ariana Grande’s fans have accused Nickelodeon of “sexualizing and infantilizing” the artist during her participation in the children’s series “Victorious”. They started talking about this after the revelations of the former colleague of the star Jennette McCurdy, which she made in her memoirs “I’m glad my mother died. ”
The book details her difficult and traumatic relationship with her mother, as well as on-set abuse and exploitation at the hands of Nickelodeon and producer Dan Schneider.
She claimed that during the filming of iCarly, the producer forced her to drink alcohol to relax, massaged her shoulders against her will, and forced her to re-shoot her first on-screen kiss seven times, which was also her first kiss ever. According to McCurdy, she felt she was sexualized and photographed in a bikini while trying on a wardrobe.
Many fans were shocked by the children’s show star’s revelations. A number of users believed that Grande also became a victim of Nickelodeon during the filming of the series “Sam and Cat” and “Victorious” spin-offs of “iCarly”.
A previously posted selection of scenes featuring Grande as Cat on the now-defunct TheSlap network site, which was launched by Nickelodeon at the same time as the Victoria Victorious sitcom, surfaced on Twitter. It published exclusive footage with characters outside the series.
“Let’s not forget that Ariana herself is a victim of Dan Schneider’s creepy behavior. That’s why she doesn’t talk about the role of Cat Valentine anymore. They sexualized and infantilized her,” the Veronasfilms Twitter account commented on the video.
In the video, Grande, at the age of 16, acts out various scenarios in which there is a sexual connotation. So, in the video, she puts her big toe in her mouth and sucks it, tries to squeeze juice from an oblong potato with groans, puts her fingers in her mouth, pours water on her chest and face while the camera shoots her from above.
“Just for fun, I’m going to say three sentences that no one has ever said before in the history of mankind. Sentence number one: “Oh man, my tongue is stuck between that hamster’s fingers.” You see, this could never happen, because the tongue is that swinging thing in the back of your throat, ”the artist says, putting her fingers in her mouth.
Also tweeted an excerpt from the series, in which Grande’s character is being shot at by a mob of men with water pistols while she is wearing only a bikini and short shorts.