Made by Maddie will not premiere later this month on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. as anticipated. Shadow and Act has learned that Nickelodeon has removed it from the schedule as they assess the situation following social media discourse that said the show was similar to Matthew A. Cherry’s Oscar-winning short, Hair Love.
In a statement sent to Shadow and Act, Nickelodeon states, “Made by Maddie is a show we acquired several years ago from Silvergate Media, a renowned production company we have previously worked with on other series. Since announcing the show’s premiere date this week, we have been listening closely to the commentary, criticism and concern coming from both viewers and members of the creative community. In response, and out of respect to all voices in the conversation, we are removing the show from our schedule as we garner further insight into the creative journey of the show. We are grateful to Silvergate Media for all of their work. And we hold Matthew A. Cherry and the wonderful and inspiring Hair Love in the highest regard.”
We reported earlier this week about users on social media calling out uncanny similarities between the show and Hair Love, including how both include a young girl with her parents, how the parents have the same natural hairstyles, how the young girl has a grey cat and more.
In an earlier statement to Entertainment Weekly, Silvergate Media CEO Waheed Alli said, “Made by Maddie is a preschool show about an 8-year-old girl who uses her fashion sense and design ingenuity to solve problems. Silvergate Media has been working on the series for the last five years and throughout the production has taken steps to ensure a diverse production team and an appropriate voice cast lending their expertise and talent. As creators ourselves, we have the utmost respect and admiration for Matthew A. Cherry and Hair Love, and our hope is that when people watch our show, they will see it is its own story with its own adventures.”
Made by Maddie is created Paula Rosenthal and production of the of the show for Nickelodeon Animation Studio is overseen by Eryk Casemiro, Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Preschool. The show was set to follow 8-year-old Maddie in New York City “as she uses her imagination and design ingenuity to turn every problem into a positive with the perfect fashion fix.”
Following Hair Love’s Oscar win and critical acclaim, a series based on the short, Young Love, was ordered at HBO Max. The show will expand on the world of Hair Love, “including millennial parents Stephen and Angela, their daughter Zuri and her pet cat Rocky – as they juggle their careers, marriage, parenthood, social issues, and multi-generational dynamics all while striving to make a better life for themselves.” Cherry is also under a first-look deal at HBO Max. Due to the parallels between the Nick. Jr show and Cherry’s work, some people seem to have confused Made by Maddie with one of his s upcoming projects.
More to come.
Photo: Nickelodeon / Sony Pictures Animation
