As super-hit live-action sitcoms for kids go, Drake and Josh became a roaring favorite among viewers who tuned in mainly to enjoy the antics and wisecracks of the eponymous characters Drake Bell and Josh Peck. Playing the role of step-brothers on the show, the comic duo went on to wow audiences with wit, humour, and sentimental twists. While the characterization was clichéd (Drake was the heartbreaker musician and Josh the compassionate nerd) the boys made it work to their advantage.
Writer Dan Schneider wrote successful seasons of the show, which packed something for everyone; kids, teens, and grown-ups alike. Viewers sympathized with the characters and actually felt for them in several regards. Inspiring such attachment in a children’s sit-com was rare back in the day. Aside from a crude set of jokes, the show also contained multiple intelligent exchanges that made it a hit in more ways than one. It’s been more than a decade since the show called it quits, and our top 19 list of trivia and fan-facts pays homage to two of America’s favorite pop culture icons.
19 That’s Not Cool, Man
In the episode after the same name, a certain Puff Pepper from Peru saw our stars performing in a cooking contest, and looking to take home a plasma screen TV as the grand prize. Their secret ingredient turned out to be quite the palate-whopper, to say nothing of its mysterious value. In truth, the vegetable is officially defined as a rare Peruvian jungle pepper that has the potential to cause chapped lips and/or kidney failure. Talk about things getting hot in the kitchen. Not so strangely, the pepper’s more familiar name is aji chili pepper. To be candid, they are relatively common in the Caribbean and Peru and are more health-oriented than otherwise. This is probably a case of puffing up the pepper, eh, Drake and Josh?
18 Baby’s Day Out
The stars of the show are left babysitting a particularly important baby in the ‘Two Idiots And A Baby’ episode. A lot rests on that baby being taken good care of, which is how we all knew that the opposite would happen. The infant goes missing (!). The bratty babe goes on to give Josh and Drake a run for their sanity, even going so far as to pee on them. The fact that this is an actual baby makes this that much more real because the child did, in fact, go number one on the boys in that scene. Acting is a rewarding experience, but we can’t imagine the boys knew that was in their contract! Hopefully it was the last time they had to endure any horrible urine-based scenes.
17 The Almost-Reunion
Years after the show performed its finale, the titular stars met again under rather unusual circumstances (fans might even call it scandalous). Drake made mention to the Press that Josh hadn’t invited him to his wedding (!). There have been more than a handful of rumors detailing how the beloved co-stars have been planning a reunion, then this happens. His statements (especially to Hollywood Life and MTV) were mostly hush-hush hint-hint, but fans got the impression that a full-fledged reunion was in the pipeline. After the wedding dis-invite, chances are we might never get to see a grown-up version of Drake and Josh. It’s unfortunate, as we still feel that both young star’s have a lot to offer the entertainment world. Hopefully, things will change.
16 The Girl Who Lived
The ‘Really Big Shrimp’ episode has been a memorable and cherished one, and the final curtain-call for the show itself. Near the start of the episode, an outdoor sign blatantly shares a look-forward to the iCarly series; another jewel in the Nickelodeon chain. The sign read ‘Now She’s Carly’, but fans were naive to the possibility that Josh and Drake’s baby sister, Megan, would go on to star in iCarly as the titular character. It’s a kind of magic, really, scripting magic. It’s so awesome to see that the cast and characters were so popular that they inspired new series, even when theirs came to an end. If only iCarly had blossomed into something other than Sam and Cat.
15 Famous Before
Drake Bell and Josh Peck appeared in a show before their hit Nickelodeon sitcom aired in 2004. The boys had proven their stellar chemistry between 1999 and 2000 when they made repeat-appearances on The Amanda Show, which was essentially a sketch comedy series spinoff based on All That, and was created by the self-same Dan Schneider. The way the popular duo took to fresh and wacky characters made them a near-instant hit, which in turn, resulted in them getting prime screen-space together on Drake and Josh. Schneider wasted no time in scripting his hit following Amanda’s cancellation. The Amanda Show was fantastic in its own right, with plenty of sketch comedy and hilarious jokes, but we’re glad it made way for Drake and Josh.
14 One Universe To Rule Them All
Dan Schneider has apparently been on a writing spree. His ‘universe’ includes hit shows like Zoey 101, iCarly, and Victorious. And, of course, Drake and Josh. It’s not unusual for characters from one show to appear in another (crossover-style) in different guises. This has rendered Nickelodeon a great channel for kids who love watching their favorite characters interact with their other favorites. Take Drake Bell, for instance, who appeared as his own super-hit character in Zoey 101 and Victorious. There are several curious ‘Easter eggs’ when it comes to these scenes, which are often relegated to the realm of fan theories than show trivia. Crossovers are a fantastic way to keep fans interested in each show and Dan Schneider is a master when it comes to crossover episodes.
13 That’s A Wrap!
Youth hasn’t seemed to stop these two from directing an episode each in the show. Josh Peck has been credited with yelling “action” for the ‘Battle of Panthatar’ episode (2007). Drake Bell sat in the big chair for ‘The Big Shrimp’ episode. Both were comedy jewels in the flagship series and went on to gain huge acclaim, further adding to the boys’ talent pools in show business. It was rather fun to see (in the former episode) the scene where Drake gifts the agitated birthday boy a Beatles album. The latter episode, on the other hand, gave us one of the most memorable closing chapters in TV history. Maybe the two will come together and co-direct a series in the future! We doubt it, but it’s nice to dream.
12 Okay, But Where Are Their Other Parents?
Viewers have always been on tenterhooks about the real identities of Josh and Drake’s parents, the biological version, that is. While it’s true that the characters have taught us to cherish the fact that family goes beyond blood, it has still left fans wondering. Both kids have witnessed their parents going through a divorce. Drake’s mother marries Josh’s father, and the two families thus unite. The show has a visible gap where the other two ‘real’ parents are concerned. It’s only a mildly sour point on the show, which otherwise showcases lasting family values sprinkled with a good dose of humor. Viewers wouldn’t have said no to a parental backlash, but Josh and Drake have proven to come out the better for wear (perhaps mainly because of their brush with divorced parents).
11 It’s Gamer Time
THQ (aka Toy Head Quarters, the American video game developer known for creating titles like Darksiders and Saint’s Row) took up the reins to make Josh and Drake into video game characters. Their initial release was exclusive to Game Boy Advance, and titled simply Drake and Josh. In this game, you get to play one of the titular heroes and embark on stealth missions, and other problem-solving ones. While frowned upon for being overly difficult, the game made up for that by way of cool graphics. Drake and Josh: Talent Showdown came next, on Nintendo DS, with story emphasis on teen-talent contests. You get to do just about anything to win the ‘Teen American Talent’ title. Highly interactive and funny, this game was also reasonably challenging.
10 Senile Sentiments
As average sitcoms go, Grandfathered entertained us with a few good laughs via a bachelor whose young son returns to set things straight. Josh Peck played the son, Gerald, and to make matters better for fans, Drake Bell made a guest appearance in ‘The Biter’ episode. You can certainly expect some nostalgic moments when these two share the same screen space (remember how obsessed Josh was with Oprah)? Grandfathered was ‘okay’ compared to Drake and Josh, which makes us wonder if the main characters’ appearance in the former made all the difference to ratings. They definitely still have chemistry on-screen so it’s not hard to believe that another Drake and Josh escapade would do well with the general public.
9 Curtain Call? No, Wait
Technically, the show wasn’t quite due for cancellation. While the final episode provided plenty of fan-satisfaction, viewers also believed that they were in for a few more seasons. There was enough script room and questions to ensure that. This is often the case when young stars grow up and wish to try their artistic hands at something more grown-up in Hollywood. Dan Schneider turned a bit sentimental about the 8-year span of time in which he worked with the show’s cast and crew. He also commented that there were sufficient episode for reruns and that the Nickelodeon network wanted him to indulge his excitement about scripting a new Miranda Cosgrove series for television.
8 Mommy Dearest
It seems that Dan Schneider is one of the more consistent writers in the TV circuit, owing in large part to his use of actors/characters from previous shows. Take Nancy Sullivan, for instance, who’s been a regular on The Amanda Show (also where Josh Peck and Drake Bell got their big break). He not only cast the boys in the hit TV show Drake and Josh but roped Nancy in to play their mom, Audrey. Josh and Drake are essentially bonded-brothers by way of divorced parents who remarried. With such a wide array of talented cast members to choose from, it’s no wonder Dan Schneider looks to inspiration from past shows. The entire cast for Drake and Josh was a riot.
7 The Comic Scene
Drake Bell has made it as big as his co-star in several instances, especially and including, lending his voice to comic-adaptations. If Marvel’s animated Spider-Man sounds awfully familiar to you, and you’re an avid fan of Drake and Josh… go ahead, put two and two together. Drake has enjoyed being the voice of Peter Parker in several animated features involving Spider-Man (Avengers Assemble, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H). He has even given his spidey senses a swing in the video games Disney Infinity 3.0 and Marvel Heroes. Josh Peck, on the other hand, has also enjoyed time on the comic scene. He’s given his voice in Danger of the Ooze (video game) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the animated series, where he was the voice of Casey Jones).
6 Read All About It
A novelization of the successful show created its own niche in the literary market when Scholastic took up the reins and printed the adventures of Drake and Josh. Written by Laurie McElroy (who’s also famous for penning books based on Hannah Montana and iCarly) a set of seven books were released, which drew inspiration not just from the show’s episodes but also the TV movie Drake and Josh Go Hollywood. Book titles include ‘Alien Invasion’, ‘Blues Brothers’, and ‘Kid Trouble’. The best part about the show being novelized is that the written word is based on the script, not solely the episode, and fans have found some interesting tidbits when they turned the pages of D&J’s published versions.
5 A Little Birdy Told Me…
This point is just itching to encourage an online keyboard war. The fact that such an instance actually happened proves us right. Word came over the grapevine that Joshua Peck didn’t invite Drake Bell to his wedding (September 2017), and the internet exploded with pop-culture fanatics and trolls going head-to-head about the whos, wheres, whys, whynots, and whatevers. Talk about physical comedy and slapstick, a script in its own right was writing itself on the internet. But it turns out that the whole thing was a minor misunderstanding. Tweets rushed in displaying photos of the famous duo (Josh is now 30 years old and Drake is 31) hugging it out and closing the file on a rather unexpected moment. And you thought weddings are boring!
4 One Shrimp To Rule The Network
It’s shuddering to think that the show might never have happened if the two boys didn’t earn as many laughs as they did doing the shrimp scene on The Amanda Show. A throwback to this very scene was referenced in Drake and Josh’s final episode aptly titled ‘Really Big Shrimp.’ The world witnessed their unmatched chemistry, a moment that soon birthed a brilliant pop-culture favorite. Imagine what Nickelodeon might have lost if only Dan Schneider did not decide to cast the comic pair in a show all their own. Script writing and show design is important, but Drake and Josh shows us that actors and actresses can make all the difference in how popular a show becomes.
3 Master Of The Charts
At one time, during the show’s final season to be precise, Drake and Josh enjoyed super-high TV ratings. To date, Nickelodeon’s ‘Really Big Shrimp’ episode (the final one in the show) holds status as being the most-watched live-action episode on the network (6 million viewers, enough said). Breaking their own record, the ‘Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh’ TV-film went on to gain even higher ratings when it aired in 2008. It’s been fifteen years, the record remains unbroken, and the show itself has become Nickelodeon’s highest-rated live-action sitcom. If you haven’t seen the show, go watch it! It will be clear why it broke this record (and why the record has yet to be broken since!).
2 A Real Artist
The show’s characterization of Drake has him in the shoes of an aspiring rock star. A guitarist capable of making girls swoon, Drake seems to have taken to his role quite seriously. He’s been recording and releasing his music on the side as well, and been at it since the mid-2000s. The songs in the show were his own genuine compositions. The memorable theme ditty, ‘Found A Way’, is a Drake-original. The songs are on a par with popular numbers by the Jonas Brothers. Drake’s best include titles like ‘Girls Next Door’, ‘Highway To Nowhere’, ‘Makes Me Happy’, and ‘Down We Fall’. Drake Bell came out with albums It’s Only Time (2005) and Telegraph (2006), which contained all the hit pop-rock soundtracks after his own heart.
1 A Star-Studded Affair
Several top-end kids-show stars made it big after performing cameos on the sets of Drake and Josh. Not that the show is a good luck charm and all, this is merely an interesting fan-fact. Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars fame played Hazel, Drake’s date in the ‘Theatre Thug’ episode. One of Jake’s more adoring fangirls was Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl fame who appeared in the ‘Two Idiots and a Baby’ episode. Then you have the super-popular Vanessa Hudgens who lip-locked with Drake in the ‘Little Sibling’ episode (she went on to star big in High School Musical alongside Zac Efron). A memorable crossover episode occurred in ‘Honour Council’ where Emma Roberts played her Unfabulous character Addie Singer. Julia Roberts’s niece went on to earn name and fame in follow-up projects like We’re The Millers, Scream Queens, and the acclaimed The Blackcoat’s Daughter.
