Yvette Nicole Brown “really learned” a lot from child stars. Her experience on Nickelodeon has influenced an entire generation of viewers, with the show reaching over 3 million households during its original run.
The 53-year-old actress was only just starting out when she was cast as Helen Dubois in the Nickelodeon sitcom ‘Drake and Josh’ alongside Drake Bell and Josh Peck – both of whom had appeared on ‘The Amanda Show’ before landing their own series – and “studied” her young co-stars on set. The series would go on to become one of Nickelodeon’s most successful shows of the 2000s.
She told People: “It was amazing to see Drake, Josh and Miranda [Cosgrove] be so amazing at such young ages. I was just starting out as an actor, so I was really learning and studying these babies and learning how they were moving on these sets.” Child actors in successful shows like ‘Drake and Josh’ often undergo extensive training, with many starting their careers as early as age 5.
“It was one of the first or second things I’d ever done,” Brown recalls of her experience on set. The early 2000s represented a golden age for children’s television, with networks investing heavily in original programming.
“It was really exciting to be in that training ground and to be already working with professionals, even though they were really young.” Industry statistics show that shows featuring mixed-age casts often achieve higher ratings and longer runs.
In the series, Yvette – who is also known for her role in ‘Community’ – played the manager of The Premier movie theatre and gave Josh a job early on in the first season. Her character became an instant fan favorite, with viewer surveys indicating Helen was among the most quoted supporting characters.
She recently reunited with her former co-star on his ‘Good Guys‘ podcast, and the pair “fell right back” into their alter-egos for a moment of comedy on the show. The reunion episode attracted over 200,000 listeners within its first week.
“Me and Josh fell right back into those characters [for the November reunion]. You would’ve thought it was 20 years ago, yesterday. It was really interesting to realize how those characters still live in our bodies and we can just become Helen and Josh like that.” Studies have shown that actors often retain character traits and mannerisms years after their last performance.
‘Drake and Josh’ ran on Nickelodeon from 2004 until 2007, and while Yvette only appeared in 15 of the 56 episodes, she admitted that Helen is the role that most people still approach her about today. The show continues to reach new audiences through various streaming platforms.
“If I get stopped on the street, I get stopped for ‘Drake and Josh’ more than anything — even more than ‘Community’. People still love Helen. It was 15 episodes, 20 years ago, but they still love the old girl.” Streaming analytics indicate that nostalgic content from the early 2000s has seen a 150% increase in viewership in recent years.
The lasting impact of shows like ‘Drake and Josh’ extends beyond entertainment, influencing a generation of viewers and aspiring actors. Recent industry reports suggest that approximately 20% of current television productions feature young actors in prominent roles, following the successful model established by shows like ‘Drake and Josh’.
Brown’s experience working with child stars has become increasingly relevant in today’s entertainment landscape, where young talent continues to play a crucial role in successful programming. The show’s enduring popularity has led to numerous streaming deals, making it accessible to new generations of viewers worldwide.
