Sam & Cat

Sam & Cat
Genre Teen sitcom
Created by Dan Schneider
Starring
Theme music composer Michael Corcoran
Opening theme "Just Fine" by Backhouse Mike
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 35 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Dan Schneider
Warren Bell
Jake Farrow (co-executive)
Robin Weiner (co-executive)
Producer(s) Christopher J. Nowak
Bruce Rand Berman
Location(s) Nickelodeon on Sunset
Hollywood, California
Camera setup Videotape (filmized); Multi-camera
Running time 23 minutes
Production company(s) Schneider's Bakery
Nickelodeon Productions
Distributor Nickelodeon
Broadcast
Original channel Nickelodeon
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original run June 8, 2013 – July 17, 2014
Chronology
Preceded by iCarly
Victorious
External links
Website

Sam & Cat is an American teen sitcom that originally aired from June 8, 2013 to July 17, 2014, on Nickelodeon. It is a crossover spin-off/sequel of both iCarly and Victorious. It stars Jennette McCurdy as Sam Puckett and Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine. The girls meet by chance during a bizarre adventure and become roommates, then start a babysitting business to earn extra money.

The series was picked up for 20 episodes on November 29, 2012. It began production in January 2013 and premiered on June 8, 2013. The first season was doubled to 40 episodes on July 11, 2013.[1]

At the Nickelodeon upfront meeting with advertisers on March 13, 2014, Nickelodeon programming president Russell Hicks stated that Sam & Cat had been renewed for a second season[2] and producer Dan Schneider told Adweek that it was for 20 episodes.[3] However, that month, other Nickelodeon sources stated that an official decision was yet to be made if the show will be renewed, leading to many cancellation rumors after Nickelodeon put the series on hiatus on April 3, 2014.[4] After airing 33 episodes, Nickelodeon released a promo stating two episodes remained to air.[5] On July 13, 2014, after a three-month production hiatus, Nickelodeon cancelled the series, having produced only 36 episodes of a 40 episode order.[6][7] Media outlets attributed the cancellation to a salary dispute between McCurdy and Nickelodeon, a feud between McCurdy and Grande, the leak of racy photographs of McCurdy, the rising musical career of Grande, and both actresses' desires to move onto other projects. The final episode aired on July 17, 2014 as a lead-in to the first Kids' Choice Sports Awards.[6][8][9][10]

Overview

Ever since Carly Shay moved to Italy, Sam Puckett has been touring the West Coast on her motorcycle and stops in Venice, Los Angeles. She witnesses Cat Valentine being thrown into the back of a garbage truck and rescues her. They become friends and Cat convinces her to become roommates after Cat's cheerful and supportive grandmother Nona moves to a retirement home called Elderly Acres. To make money rather than getting traditional after-school jobs, Sam and Cat form an after-school babysitting business called "Sam and Cat's Super Rockin' Funtime Babysitting Service" that leads them into a series of comical adventures. Besides Nona, other people involved in their lives are Dice, their next door neighbor who is notorious for aiding people for money; and Goomer, a dim-witted professional MMA fighter whom Dice manages.[11]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Special guest stars

One-time characters

Production

In August 2012, Nickelodeon announced that Dan Schneider, the creator of iCarly and Victorious, would be making a spin-off of both shows called Sam & Cat, and ordered the pilot episode.[11] The series was then picked up for 20 episodes in November, with the premiere planned for 2013. Production began in January 2013,[21] and on June 8, 2013, Sam & Cat premiered in the United States. Several weeks later, on July 11, Nickelodeon doubled the season one order of 20 episodes, to 40.[1] Filming was scheduled to resume in early September 2013 to finish the second half of the first season.[1]

Schneider originally aimed for a March 23, 2013, premiere of Sam & Cat, following the Kids' Choice Awards;[22] however, Nickelodeon intended for the show to make its debut in the fall.[23] On April 18, 2013, the show's two stars Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande, via Twitter, announced its premiere was set for June.[24]

Cancellation

On April 2, 2014, Nickelodeon announced the series would be on hiatus.[25] Although they insisted the series was not cancelled, many speculated that it was. This was due to a rumored dispute between McCurdy and the network, Grande's rising musical career, and both actresses desires to move onto other projects. On July 13, 2014, it was announced that the last episode will be "#GettinWiggy," which aired four days later.[6]

Controversy

In March 2014, Jennette McCurdy became the subject of scandal after the leak of some racy photos. McCurdy later skipped the 2014 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, where Sam & Cat won "Favorite Show" and Ariana Grande won "Best Actress." McCurdy said that Nickelodeon was treating her unfairly and that was the sole purpose for her absence.[26] On April 2, 2014, despite reports of a second season and with 4 episodes yet to be produced, Nickelodeon abruptly put the series on hiatus. Rumors were that McCurdy and Grande were having problems with the network over their salary, with McCurdy accusing Nickelodeon of paying Grande more money. However, they only stated that the hiatus was planned and said the series was not cancelled.[27] However, on July 13, 2014, Nickelodeon announced that, after only one season, the series was cancelled.[28]

For months in between, rumors of a feud between Grande and McCurdy ran high, and still do after the series' cancellation.[29] However, McCurdy stated in a 2015 interview with E! Online: "I just feel that Ariana and I were and are extremely close and extremely like-minded in a lot of different ways, and then sort of as the show dissolved everybody wanted to find some sort of hidden meaning in our relationship and some like drama, and I think we butted heads at times but in a very sisterly way. Like she knows me so well and I know her so well that I think it was unfortunate that things got misconstrued."[30]

Reception

Ratings

The pilot episode debuted on Nickelodeon June 8, 2013, to an audience of 4.2 million viewers.[31] The second episode, one week later, drew 2.6 million viewers.[32] The most watched episode is "#TheKillerTunaJump: #Freddie #Jade #Robbie," which aired January 18, 2014, to 4.8 million viewers;[33] the second most watched episode is the pilot (4.2 million), while the least watched is "#SecretSafe" (2.0 million, on October 5, 2013).[34] In the United Kingdom the series premiere delivered 340,000 viewers, the most for that week. The Halloween episode premiere on October 26, 2013 brought 210,000 viewers staying in the same place.[35]

Broadcast

The series airs on Nickelodeon worldwide. It premiered in Canada on August 12, 2013 on YTV and on September 7, 2013 on the original channel.[36] The show previewed on September 1, 2013 and premiered on October 14, 2013 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[37] It previewed on September 30, 2013 and premiered on October 7, 2013 and October 11, 2013 in New Zealand[38][39] and Australia,[40][41] respectively. In Southeast Asia it started airing on October 19, 2013.[42]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 ANMTVLA Awards Best Children Series in 2013 Sam & Cat Nominated[43]
ANMTV Brazil Awards Best child and adolescent series exhibited in 2013 Sam & Cat Nominated[44]
2014 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite TV Show Sam & Cat Won[45]
Favorite TV Actress Ariana Grande Won[45]
Jennette McCurdy Nominated[46]
2014 Teen Choice Awards Comedy TV Show Sam & Cat Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Mexico International Program Favorite Sam & Cat Won[47]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Nickelodeon's 'Sam & Cat' Doubles Season 1 Order". Hollywoodreporter.com. November 17, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  2. "Sam Thielman" (March 14, 2014). "Nickelodeon's Jim Perry Is Courting More Adult Advertisers". Adweek. Retrieved March 20, 2014. Sam & Cat has been renewed, per programming president Russell Hicks
  3. "Sam Thielman" (March 13, 2014). "Live tweeting at Nick upfront by Adweek staff writer". Twitter. Retrieved July 14, 2014. 20-ep order for a new series from Sam & Cat dude Dan Schneider
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (March 31, 2014). "Future Of Nickelodeon Series ‘Sam & Cat’ In Limbo Amidst Behind-The-Scenes Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  5. Nick website (July 2, 2014). "Sam & Cat: Next Saturday @ 8pm!". NICK. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Andreeva, Nellie (July 13, 2013). "Nickelodeon’s ‘Sam & Cat’ To End Run After One Season". Deadline.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  7. Kaplan, Don (2014-04-01). "Jennette McCurdy's sexy selfie lands her in hot water with Nickelodeon's hit show 'Sam & Cat'". NY Daily News. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. TV Series Finale (July 12, 2014). "Sam and Cat cancelled, no season two". TV Series Finale. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  9. N., Philiana (July 13, 2013). "Nickelodeon Cancels 'Sam & Cat' After Behind-the-Scenes Drama". Thehollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  10. Yahr, Emily (July 13, 2013). "‘Sam & Cat’ canceled after one season: Where did it all go wrong?". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Nordyke, Kimberly (November 29, 2012). "Nickelodeon Greenlights Spinoff of 'iCarly,' 'Victorious'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  12. "Dice from Sam & Cat". Nick.com. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  13. "Nona from Sam & Cat". Nick.com. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  14. "Sophia Grace and Rosie interview Sam & Cat! Episode Clip | Nick Videos". Nick.com. May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  15. "Sophia Grace & Rosie Rafts". YouTube. February 18, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  16. "Sam & Cat Season 1 Episode 11 - RevengeOfTheBritBrats". Zap2it. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  17. Schneider, Dan (January 18, 2014). "FUN FACTS! Sam & Cat: #TheKillerTunaJump". DanWarp.
  18. Lewis, Casey. "Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande on New Nick Comedy 'Sam & Cat'". TeenVogue.com. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  19. Bibel, Sara (June 26, 2013). "Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams to Reunite on Nickelodeon's 'Sam & Cat'". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  20. "Kel Mitchell Returns To His Nickelodeon Roots On 'Sam And Cat' This Fall". Huffington Post. July 22, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  21. Schneider, Dan (November 30, 2012). "Sam & Cat is a GO!". Dan Schneider. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  22. "Jennette McCurdy and Jade at McCurdicon - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  23. Kondolojy, Amanda (February 26, 2013). "Nickelodeon Renews 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' and Announces New Series 'Breadwinners', 'The Haunted Hathaways' & More". Nickelodeon press release via Zap2It. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  24. "'Sam & Cat' Premiere Date Announced By Ariana Grande And Jennette McCurdy". Huffington Post. April 18, 2013.
  25. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nickelodeons-sam-cat-goes-hiatus-693018
  26. http://www.teen.com/2014/03/30/celebrities/jennette-mccurdy-kids-choice-awards-ariana-grande-feud/
  27. http://www.ew.com/article/2014/04/02/nickelodeon-sam-cat-cancellation-rumors
  28. http://deadline.com/2014/07/sam-cat-wont-cancelled-nickelodeon-803466/
  29. http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/know-your-beef-ariana-grande-vs-jennette-mccurdy-vs-andre-drummond/
  30. http://www.eonline.com/news/633761/jennette-mccurdy-addresses-ariana-grande-feud-we-butted-heads-at-times-but-in-a-very-sisterly-way-watch
  31. "Nickelodeon's 'Sam & Cat' Debuts at Number One, Net's Biggest Live-Action Launch in Three Years". TVbytheNumbers. June 11, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  32. "Ratings - Saturday's Cable Ratings: NBC Sports Network Tops Charts with Stanley Cup Finals". TheFutonCritic.com. June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  33. Bibel, Sara (January 21, 2014). "Nickelodeon's 'Sam & Cat' Special Scores 4.8 Million Total Viewers". Zap2it.com. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  34. "Ratings - Saturday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: College Football Snares Top Spots". TheFutonCritic.com. October 5, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  35. "Top 10 Programmes". BARB. February 16, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  36. "YTV Canada Inc. | YTV Fast Forwards to Fall with Eight Side-Splitting New Series". Newswire.ca. June 27, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  37. "SAM AND CAT PREMIERES MONDAY, 14TH OCTOBER". Viacom Press. September 4, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  38. "Nickelodeon Greenlights Additional 20 Episodes Of Top-Rated Comedy Sam & Cat". Prnewswire.com. July 11, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  39. "Nickelodeon Schedule | Ariana Grande | Ariana Grand | Victorious Nick | Victoria Justice". Nickelodeon.com.au. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  40. "Nickelodeon Shows | SpongeBob SquarePants | SpongeBob Episodes | Games SpongeBob". Nickelodeon.com.au. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  41. "Watch the EPIC new episode of N-View!". N-View. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  42. "Watch free Sam & Cat online videos including full episodes and clips only on Nick Asia". Nick-asia.com. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  43. Por Luis Beltran Romero. "ANMTV Awards: Revelada la lista de ganadores - Anime, Manga y TV". Anmtvla.com. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  44. "ANMTV Awards: melhores animes, animações e séries de 2013". Anmtv.xpg.uol.com.br. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  45. 45.0 45.1 "KCA 2014". Nickelodeon. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  46. "2014 Kids’ Choice Awards Nominees Announced:". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  47. Marie Palma F (September 22, 2014). "Lista de ganadores de los Kids Choice Awards México 2014" (in Spanish). starMedia. Retrieved September 25, 2014.

External links