Drake & Josh

***Drake & Josh*** is an American sitcom created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon. The series follows stepbrothers Drake Parker (Drake Bell) and Josh Nichols (Josh Peck) as they live together despite having opposite personalities. The series also stars Nancy Sullivan, Jonathan Goldstein, and Miranda Cosgrove.

After actors Bell and Peck previously appeared in *The Amanda Show*, Schneider decided to create *Drake & Josh* with them in starring roles. The series ran from January 11, 2004, to September 16, 2007, totaling 57 episodes and 4 seasons. It also had two TV films: *Drake & Josh Go Hollywood* (2006), and *Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh* (2008). The series' opening theme song, "I Found a Way", is written by Drake Bell and Backhouse Mike and performed by Bell.

## Plot

The series revolves around two stepbrothers, Drake Parker and Josh Nichols, who live in San Diego, California with Drake's biological mother and younger sister Megan; and Josh's biological father. Drake is a popular musician idolized by his schoolmates. Josh is a well-read student, but is clumsy and has trouble with his social life and dating. The two boys are often involved in comedic escapades and challenges while also handling an array of teenage problems.

## Production

Drake Bell and Josh Peck had previously acted together on *The Amanda Show*, created by Dan Schneider. Bell and Peck had differing personalities, which inspired Schneider to create a new show starring them as characters with traits similar to their own. An unaired pilot episode featured Stephen Furst as Walter Nichols, although he was busy with another project when *Drake & Josh* was picked up as a series, and Jonathan Goldstein was cast in the role instead. A house in Los Angeles' Encino neighborhood was used for exterior shots of the family's home, while interior scenes were shot on a sound stage at the Nickelodeon on Sunset studios in Hollywood. As of January 2005, Tribune Studios in Hollywood was also used as a filming location.

Production was put on hold in late December 2005, after Bell was injured in a car crash. Bell had filmed three episodes of the fourth season prior to the accident. Filming resumed in March 2006. The following month, Nickelodeon greenlit an additional seven episodes for the fourth season, and Bell and Peck also signed on to direct several episodes. With the extended season, filming was now expected to continue through July 2006. According to Schneider, the show ended due to a collective decision from the creative forces behind the show.

The profession of the family's mother and her name are never revealed on the show, although Schneider had written dialogue into the series finale that would have revealed her name as Audrey and her profession as a catering business. The scene was filmed, but Schneider ultimately chose to remove it during editing. Schneider said, "On the one hand, I thought it was funny to *finally* reveal it, so casually, in the *very last* episode – there was something ironic about that. But then I decided that, because fans always seemed to have fun trying to figure it out (what 'Mom's' name and job were), it would be better to 'keep the bit going' for eternity, by *never* revealing it in any episode.

## Possible revival

In March 2019, Bell announced that he and Peck were working on a *Drake & Josh* revival that would feature both of them reprising their roles. The proposed project will feature similar characters and scenarios in a more adult, funny way. At the time, Bell and Peck were in discussions with several networks about the project.