ICarly


iCarly is an American teen sitcom created by Dan Schneider that ran on Nickelodeon from September 8, 2007 until November 23, 2012. The series stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor, and tells the story of Carly Shay, a teenager who creates her own web show called 'iCarly' with her best friends Sam Puckett and Freddie Benson, in the attic of her apartment loft with her older brother Spencer Shay. The web show quickly becomes an internet phenomenon and the trio must deal with their newfound fame, while also dealing with adolescence.
During the first five seasons, the show was taped at Nickelodeon on Sunset before relocating to KTLA Studios in Hollywood for the sixth and final season. It was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Children's Program five times. The series finale, "iGoodbye", aired on November 23, 2012.
Although the show received mixed reviews from critics, it became popular with audiences. The most watched episode was "iSaved Your Life", which aired January 18, 2010, to 11.2 million viewers; this is the second-most-viewed telecast in Nickelodeon history.

Plot

When Carly and her best friend Sam act funny at a school talent show audition, tech-savvy Freddie records it and posts it online without informing them. After seeing the girls' strong chemistry and banter, the online audience clamors for more, and the iCarly webcast is introduced. While battling normal issues of adolescence, Carly, Sam, and Freddie discover that they have also become online sensations as their show – which features talent contests, recipes, problem-solving, and random dancing – garners international accolades.
Carly lives in Seattle with her 26-year-old brother and guardian Spencer, and produces the show in a makeshift third-floor studio loft in their apartment. Their father, Steven Shay, is a U.S. Air Force officer stationed on a submarine and is often mentioned, but is only seen during the series' finale episode, "iGoodbye".
Exterior shots of the Shays' apartment building, Bushwell Plaza, are digitally altered images of the Eastern Columbia Building in Los Angeles.

Characters

Main

Development

iCarly is the fourth series created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon. Schneider originally wanted to make a new TV series starring Miranda Cosgrove; the original idea was that she play a normal girl who, in a twist of fate, gets cast to star in her favorite TV show, Starstruck. However, during a casual meeting in his den with his wife and his friend Steve, Schneider decided that it would be much better if Carly had her own show – a web show she could run herself and do whatever she wanted to do. In November 2006, Schneider threw out his Starstruck script and wrote a new pilot called iCarly during December. The pilot was shot in January 2007.
During production of Zoey 101, Schneider came up with the idea of the show and its name with his friend and producer of The Big Bang Theory, Steven Molaro. He was trying to think of a good title for the new series about kids who start their own web show. The pilot script followed a lead girl named "Sam" but the URL for iSam was already taken. Schneider tried other girl's names and bought the URL for iJosie, but eventually changed it to iCarly and enjoyed the name for the lead character. The names of the lead girls were then changed from Sam and Kira to Carly and Sam.

Last seasons

In late January 2011, while doing press for her North American Dancing Crazy concert tour, Miranda Cosgrove began telling news sources that she was looking forward to returning to Hollywood to begin filming a fifth season of iCarly. On January 27, 2011, Cosgrove told Cleveland Live News "We're getting ready to start the next season, right after the tour. I would be willing to do the show as long as people like it and as long as it works." On January 28, 2011, Reuters news agency also reported that Cosgrove was preparing to begin filming a fifth season of iCarly, and on February 3, 2011 Cosgrove told The Middletown Press, when speaking of the show and her co-stars Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress, "I've known them since I was little. I can't wait to get back. I'm really comfortable doing iCarly. It's like my home away from home." Cosgrove concluded her Dancing Crazy concert tour on February 24, 2011, and Jennette McCurdy finished her Generation Love mall tour on April 14, 2011. The entire cast did not even get together until the 2011 Kids' Choice Awards. Cosgrove confirmed that filming would resume shortly. At the 2011 Kids' Choice Awards, Jerry Trainor stated that filming would resume in May.
On April 14, 2011, Nickelodeon officially announced the fifth and final production season renewal of iCarly to begin in 2012 with the episodes airing later that year. These episodes would air as the show's sixth season due to the second season production of 45 episodes being split into two broadcast seasons. The third production season originally consisted of 26 episodes as ordered in early 2010; however, half that number was shot from May to September 2010 that aired as the show's fourth season. Dan Schneider then shot the next half in May to July 2011 which became a whole new season production that aired as the show's fifth season later that year. However, due to Miranda's leave for a tour on July 15, 2011, only eleven episodes were produced and the last two were held over and produced during filming of the show's final season.
The final season began on March 24, 2012 with a total of fifteen episodes produced. However, there was a four-month hiatus after six episodes of the season aired from March to June. "iShock America" was promoted as the start of the "final season" of iCarly, effectively splitting the season into two parts. The series ended on November 23, 2012 with the episode "iGoodbye".

Episodes

Special episodes

Television film

On November 8, 2008, iGo to Japan, the film based on iCarly, premiered on Nickelodeon. It has also been broadcast divided in three-parts of second season that serve as the first film of the series. The television movie stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor. The film was directed by Steve Hoefer. The production of the film began in the spring of 2008, and lasted around 4 to 5 weeks. In the story, after the iCarly crew is nominated for "Best Comedy Category," Carly, Sam, Freddie, Spencer, and Mrs. Benson fly away to Japan to attend the iWeb Awards show. However, their trip soon turns into an adventure with many twists after meeting with their competing webshow hosts Kyoko and Yuki.

Crossover film

TitleTypeAir dateSynopsisViewers
"iParty with Victorious"Three-part specialJune 11, 2011Carly is happier than ever since she is now in a steady relationship with a boy named Steven, in which nothing goes wrong. He divides his time between his divorced parents in Seattle and Los Angeles. Unknown to the iCarly gang, Steven goes to Los Angeles where it is revealed that he is dating another girl named Tori Vega at the same time. However, Robbie Shapiro, posts a picture to TheSlap.com of Steven and Tori together. Sam immediately suspects he is dating another girl, leading the iCarly crew to head to Los Angeles on an adventure to set things straight after seeing an open invite online from Rex to a party by Andre Harris thanks to Kenan Thompson, where the gang meets with the Victorious gang.7.3

Broadcast

International

Worldwide, the series aired on Nickelodeon. In Canada, it premiered on October 8, 2007 on YTV and on November 3, 2009 on the original channel, and ended on December 1, 2012 on the former. In Australia and New Zealand it premiered on October 29, 2007 and ended on April 13, 2013. It premiered on March 8, 2008 and ended on April 5, 2013 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Pakistan it premiered on Nickelodeon Pakistan on March 11, 2011, and in India it premiered on TeenNick on January 23, 2013.

Syndication

The show has been frequently rerun on TeenNick since it ended its run on Nickelodeon.

Home media

Note: The season DVDs are released according to the five production seasons.
DVD TitleRegion 1DiscsEpisodesExtras
iCarly: Season 1, Vol. 1September 23, 200821–12, 16"Leave It All to Me" by Miranda Cosgrove
iCarly: Season 1, Vol. 2April 21, 2009213–15, 17–25Behind the Slime with the cast of iCarly; Behind-the-Scenes Extras; Pilot episode of True Jackson, VP
iCarly: Season 2, Vol. 1August 18, 2009226–38Featurette for The Making of "iGo to Japan" & Behind The Scenes with the iCarly Cast on Season 2!
iCarly: iFight Shelby MarxMarch 30, 20101"iFight Shelby Marx", "iDate a Bad Boy", "iLook Alike", "iCarly Awards"Special bonus episode: Pilot episode of Big Time Rush
iCarly: iSaved Your LifeJune 8, 20101"iSaved Your Life", "iQuit iCarly", "iThink They Kissed", "iTwins", "iMove Out"Behind the scenes with the cast of iCarly; iQuit iCarly window stunt; Meet Chuck; Favourite Birthday moments; Welcome to my boat
iCarly: iSpace OutAugust 31, 20101"iSpace Out", "iWas a Pageant Girl", "iEnrage Gibby", "iBelieve in Bigfoot", "iFix a Popstar", "iWon't Cancel The Show"Special bonus episode: Pilot episode of Victorious
iCarly: Season 2, Vol. 2January 4, 2011239–52Behind the Scenes with the Cast
iCarly: Season 2, Vol. 3April 5, 2011353–70Special bonus episode: Pilot episode of T.U.F.F. Puppy
iSaved Your Life – Extended Version
iCarly: The i <3 iCarly CollectionJuly 19, 20113Collection includes all of "iSpace Out", "iSaved Your Life", and "iFight Shelby Marx" DVDs released previously separatelySpecial bonus episode: Pilot episode of Big Time Rush. Behind the scenes with the cast of iCarly; iQuit iCarly window stunt; Meet Chuck; Favorite Birthday moments; Welcome to my boat. Special bonus episode: Pilot episode of Victorious
iCarly: The Complete 3rd SeasonAugust 30, 2011271–83Carly's Hot New Room Tour, Meet Sam's Mother, Archenemies profiles
iCarly: The Complete 4th SeasonJuly 10, 2012284–945 Bonus Episodes of How to Rock

Reception

Critical

iCarly received mixed reviews from critics but positive reception from audiences. Carey Bryson of About.com gave the show 2 1/2 stars, concluding "The show's comedic elements don't all rest on the irreverent, though, there are some clever storylines and even a few touching moments. Overall, the show has some great comedy, interesting stories, and fun actors." The show was awarded 3 stars by Common Sense Media reviewer Emily Ashby, who said that "he show isn't designed to be educational, per se, but young viewers will learn a bit about interacting with media."
Hollywood.com's Michelle Lee said, "Like the Lost fan rejecting every Lost-like show that came after it, I resented all of the shaky single-camera docu-style comedies that came after . Because, frankly, my favorite dead show did it better. I needed something completely different to break me out of my comedy funk and get me back on that horse. And it worked."

U.S. television ratings

The pilot episode debuted on Nickelodeon September 8, 2007, to an audience of 4.1 million viewers, followed by the second episode "iWant More Viewers" on the same day with 3.9 million viewers. The most watched episode is "iSaved Your Life" which aired January 18, 2010, to 11.2 million viewers which is also the second most viewed telecast in Nickelodeon history. On June 9, 2012, iCarly had the lowest viewership of a premiere ever, with only 2.4 million viewers.

Awards and nominations

In 2010 and 2011 debuted the Kids Choice Awards Latin America, Kids Choice Awards México and Kids Choice Awards Argentina. These awards are new.
iCarly was part of these awards because the series still did not finish until 2012.
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef.
20082008 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20082008 UK Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite Kids' TV ShowiCarly
20082008 UK Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite Female TV StarMiranda Cosgrove
20082008 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave Comedy ShowiCarly
20082008 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave International TV StarMiranda Cosgrove
2008Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young ActressMiranda Cosgrove
2008Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young ActorNathan Kress
2008Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young ActressJennette McCurdy
2008British Academy Children's AwardsInternationaliCarly
2008Casting Society of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series ProgrammingSharon Chazin Lieblein
Leah Buono
Krisha Bullock
20092009 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20092009 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActressMiranda Cosgrove
20092009 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave Comedy ShowiCarly
20092009 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave International TV StarMiranda Cosgrove
2009Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2009Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ComedyMiranda Cosgrove
2009Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: ComedyJerry Trainor
2009Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV SidekickJennette McCurdy
2009Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Show: ComedyiCarly
2009Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young ActorNathan Kress
2009Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young ActressMiranda Cosgrove
2009Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young ActressJennette McCurdy
2009Young Artist AwardsOutstanding Young Performers in a TV SeriesMiranda Cosgrove
Nathan Kress
Jennette McCurdy
Noah Munck
2009British Academy Children's AwardsBAFTA Kid's Vote: TViCarly
2009Casting Society of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series ProgrammingKrisha Bullock
20102010 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20102010 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActressMiranda Cosgrove
20102010 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave TV ShowiCarly
20102010 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsLOL AwardMiranda Cosgrove
Nathan Kress
Jennette McCurdy
Jerry Trainor
Noah Munck
20102010 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave TV StarMiranda Cosgrove
20102010 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsBig Kid AwardJerry Trainor
2010Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2010Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ComedyMiranda Cosgrove
2010Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingiCarly
2010Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young ActressMiranda Cosgrove
2010Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young ActorNathan Kress
2010Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actor 13 and UnderJoey Luthman
2010Young Artist AwardsOutstanding Young Performers in a TV SeriesMiranda Cosgrove
Nathan Kress
Jennette McCurdy
Noah Munck
2010Hollywood Teen TV AwardsTeen Pick Actor: ComedyNathan Kress
2010Hollywood Teen TV AwardsTeen Show Pick: ComedyiCarly
2010Kids' Choice Awards Mexico 2010Favorite ShowiCarly
2010Kids' Choice Awards Mexico 2010Favorite International Character FemaleMiranda Cosgrove
2010Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2010Favorite TV ShowiCarly
2010British Academy Children's AwardsBAFTA Kid's Vote: TViCarly
2010Casting Society of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series ProgrammingKrisha Bullock
20112011 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20112011 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActressMiranda Cosgrove
20112011 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV SidekickJennette McCurdy
20112011 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV SidekickNoah Munck
20112011 UK Kids' Choice AwardsNick UK's Favourite ShowiCarly
20112011 UK Kids' Choice AwardsNick UK's Funniest PersonJerry Trainor
20112011 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave TV ShowiCarly
20112011 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsFave TV StarMiranda Cosgrove
20112011 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsLOL AwardJennette McCurdy
2011Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2011Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or SpecialEpisode: iStart A Fan War
2011Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special Episode: iStart A Fan War
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Show: ComedyiCarly
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ComedyMiranda Cosgrove
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: Female Scene StealerJennette McCurdy
2011Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingiCarly
2011Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young ActressMiranda Cosgrove
2011Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actress 10 and UnderAshley Switzer
2011Gracie Allen AwardsOutstanding Female Rising Star in a ComedyMiranda Cosgrove
2011People's Choice AwardsFavorite Family TV MovieEpisode: iPsycho
2011Youth Rocks AwardsRockin' Ensemble Cast iCarly
2011Kids' Choice Awards Mexico 2011Favorite International ShowiCarly
2011Kids' Choice Awards Argentina 2011Favorite TV International ShowiCarly
2011Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2011Favorite TV ShowiCarly
2011Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2011Character FunnySpencer Shay
2011Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2011Character FunnySam Puckett
2011Casting Society of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series ProgrammingKrisha Bullock
20122012 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20122012 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActressMiranda Cosgrove
20122012 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV SidekickJennette McCurdy
20122012 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV SidekickNathan Kress
20122012 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV SidekickJerry Trainor
2012Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actress: ComedyMiranda Cosgrove
2012Television Critics Association AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Youth ProgrammingiCarly
2012Young Artist AwardsBest Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress 17–21Victoria Justice
2012Hollywood Teen TV AwardsFavorite Television ActressMiranda Cosgrove
2012Hollywood Teen TV AwardsFavorite Television ShowiCarly
2012Writers Guild of AmericaChildren's - Episodic & SpecialsEpisode: iLost My Mind
2012Producers Guild AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2012Kids' Choice Awards Mexico 2012Favorite International ShowiCarly
2012Kids' Choice Awards Argentina 2012Favorite TV International ShowiCarly
2012Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2012Favorite TV ShowiCarly
2012British Academy Children's AwardsInternationaliCarly
2012Casting Society of AmericaOutstanding Achievement in Casting - Children's Series ProgrammingKrisha Bullock
Jennifer Treadwell
2013Producers Guild AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
20132013 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ShowiCarly
20132013 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActressMiranda Cosgrove
20132013 Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite VillainReed Alexander
20132013 Australian Kids' Choice AwardsAussie's Fave Nick StarJennette McCurdy
2013Kids Choice Awards México 2013Favorite International TV ShowiCarly
2013Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2013Favorite TV ShowiCarly
2013Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2013Favorite International CharacterMiranda Cosgrove
2013Meus Prêmios Nick Brazil 2013Favorite International CharacterJennette McCurdy
201365th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2014Producers Guild AwardsOutstanding Children's ProgramiCarly
2014ANMTVLA AwardsBest Children Series in 2013iCarly
2014ANMTV Brazil AwardsBest child and adolescent series exhibited in 2013iCarly

Other media

Music

and Nickelodeon Records have released an eponymous soundtrack for the show, entitled iCarly. It includes the theme song and four original songs by Miranda Cosgrove, several tracks by guest artists, and cast dialogue. A follow-up soundtrack, titled , was released January 24, 2012.

Website

The iCarly.com website when accessed outside the show contained many promotional videos by the cast, as well as content created and sent in by viewers. Other features on the site included characters' blogs, pictures from the set, songs, games, and comments from viewers. Many fictional websites from this show redirected to this page. For example, zaplook.com, splashface.com, ToonJuice, craigsmix.com, nevelocity.com, GirlyCow.com, WebFlicks.com, RadioDingo.com, PillowMyHead.com, AggressiveParenting.com, SamPuckett.com, TheValerieShow.com, SendMeaSack.com, Beavecoon.org, NeverWatchiCarly.com, iSnarly.com, SprayYourChildren.com, WhatsWrongWithMyBody.com, and any other website mentioned on the show redirected to that page. icarly.com now just redirects to the nick.com iCarly information page.

Video games

An animated PC hidden object game, iCarly: iDream in Toons, was released by Nickelodeon on their Nick Arcade. Jerry Trainor is the only actor from the cast who lends his voice to the game, the rest of the characters' speech being dubbed with typing sounds on a keyboard.
On May 13, 2009, Nickelodeon announced they had reached an agreement with Activision to produce an iCarly video game for the Nintendo DS and Wii. The game was released October 28, 2009. The cast lent their voices in the videogame. A sequel, , was released on November 16, 2010 for the same platforms.
On January 11, 2010, the official iCarly Facebook page announced the release of an application called "Sam's Remote" exclusively for iPhone and iPod Touch. This app consists of Sam's remote, which she uses on live casts of iCarly in the show, where one pushes different buttons and they make silly sound effects. Available through the iTunes App Store for $1.99 download.

Spin-off series

Two spin-off series have been proposed as pilots for Nickelodeon, and were both announced during the network's presentation at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on August 3, 2012.
The first is Sam & Cat, which would pair Ariana Grande from Victorious and Jennette McCurdy together in a traditional "buddy sitcom" setting as their characters, Cat Valentine and Sam Puckett. The pilot suggests they will be roommates who launch a babysitting business for income. The show was picked up by Nickelodeon on November 29, 2012, and premiered on June 8, 2013. The series was cancelled on July 13, 2014 with the final episode airing on July 17.
The second proposed spin-off featured Noah Munck's character Gibby Gibson into a self-titled sitcom named Gibby where the character works at a recreation center as a mentor to four middle school students. The series was not picked up.