Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide Explained
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide was an American live-action situation comedy on Nickelodeon that debuted in the channel's Sunday night TEENick scheduling block on September 12, 2004 in The United States of America. The series' actual pilot episode aired on September 7, 2003 without many of the current version's main characters. The series finale television movie aired on June 8, 2007.
The visual effects were done by John Allison Inc., supervised by John Allison and Robin Snelson. The show is produced by ApolloProScreen GmbH & Co. Filmproduktion KG in association with Jack Mackie Pictures, its main executive producer and creator is Scott Fellows, the head writer for The Fairly OddParents, which is why in the short titled "Day Dreaming", which aired on February 5, 2005, Cosmo and Wanda appeared. Also there is a sketch of the Crimson Chin in Ned's notebook on an episode.The Wonder Years star Fred Savage is one of the show's directors. The other executive producers were Jörg Westerkamp and Bill O'Dowd. Rich Magallanes was the executive in charge of production.
Premise
Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide chronicles the wacky adventures of Ned Bigby (Devon Werkheiser) and his best friends Jennifer Mosely (Lindsey Shaw) better known as Moze, and Simon Nelson-Cook a.k.a., Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee) at James K. Polk Middle School. Ned breaks the fourth wall to share tips and tricks on navigating middle school or junior high hurdles.
Each 22-minute episode contained two 11-minute shorts, both of which deal with a subject about school life, each containing a primary plot and a secondary plot.
Locations
The show takes place at the fictional James K. Polk Middle School, in California (the flag can be seen in the school's entrance hall). The exterior of the school was filmed at La Mesa Junior High in Santa Clarita, California. The school is named after the 11th President of the United States James K. Polk. The school's colors are yellow and green, which is a constant theme through the school's interior.
During Season 1, all of the shows action took place at the school, and with the exception of one or two notable occasions, everything happened indoors. However, during Season 2, the shows producers decided they wanted more exterior scenes. So more outdoor shots were used, and on certain occasions, off school property all together.
Characters
Main characters
Ned is the main character who created the guide after walking into the girls bathroom in kindergarten. He is usually getting into trouble with his friends Moze and Cookie. Ned has been neighbors with Moze his whole life. His dream girl is Suzie Crabgrass, but in the movie/final episode, he and Moze kiss and start dating. His dream girl has to be funny, have a good smile and attitude. He usually turns to Gordy, the school's janitor, for advice on girls and guy stuff. At the end of the series, he starts dating Mosely.
Jennifer goes by the name of "Moze" because Ned called her that in first grade to avoid confusion from the other three Jennifers in the class. She was usually trying to break away from Ned and Cookie in the hope of getting a girl best friend in the early part of the show, season one mainly. She eventually became best friends with her worst enemy - Suzie Crabgrass. She eventually becomes friends with many people after becoming friends with Cookie and Ned. She is a volleyball jock and has set the most school records, including one for the most school records. She's usually the one Ned and Cookie come to for favors. At the end of the series, she starts dating Ned.
Simon goes by the name of Cookie. He is a computer nerd and is usually in some kind of crisis. He often uses his knowledge with technology to help himself and his friends. He has a motherboard in his locker, his pants double as a printer, and his glasses double as a computer display.
Recurring Characters
- Gordy - Daran Norris - The 40-year-old janitor at Polk almost never does his job. Although the school is normally not visibly dirty, he usually is crazy about capturing a weasel that lives in the school and helping Ned, Moze and Cookie with crazy activities. If there is a big mess to clean up, Gordy always gives the excuse (which is also his catchphrase) "I'll let the night guy get it".
- Suzie Crabgrass - Christian Serratos - Ned's crush and Moze's arch-enemy, but later best friend. Ned's dream girl since second grade and later his girlfriend. In the season finale she ends up dating Billy Loomer.
- Missy Hotty - Carly Casey- A girl at the school who is extremely fashionable and popular. However, she turns out to be a nasty person who cheats at most anything and will stop at nothing to get her way. She has a crush on Ned.
- Billy Loomer - Kyle Swann - The leader of a trio of bullies at Polk Middle School. He has a crush on Moze. Ends up dating Suzie Crabgrass.
- Jerry "Crony" - Matthew "Teo" Olivares - One of Loomer's friends, who aids him in bullying, with a penchant for fashion design.
- The Huge Crew- A girl group of bullies in the school led by Doris Trembley. They strongly dislike Billy Loomer and his friends, and they love Ned.
- Seth Powers - Alex Black - The clueless and basketball loving boy of Moze's dreams in the seasons 1 and 2, who suddenly became smart after going out with Evelyn Kwong. He is usually seen spinning a basketball.
- Coconut Head - Rob Pinkston - A geeky friend of Ned, Moze, and Cookie. No viewer knows his real name and nobody in school can remember his first name.. His nick name is based on his hairdo, which his mom gave him, which looks like a coconut.
- Master Timmy Toot-toot - An Asian boy who, hence his last name, has a series of strong flatulence problems and usually warns so by exclaiming "Toot toot!".
- Martin Qwerly - Tylor Chase - Another geeky friend of Ned, Cookie, and Moze. He's extremely optimistic and is always seen talking, usually insanely fast. He is also known to be super-duper positive and is Le-Forger as hinted. People usually cover his mouth during his fast talks or put up a cardboard cutout of themselves next to him and leave. He is the Class Vice-President.
- Le-Forger (Martin Qwerly) - A student at Polk who forges phony notes for students in exchange for a box of coconut Macaroons. He speaks in a fake French accent and uses a lighting effect in his "office" so that nobody can see his face.
- Claire Sawyer - The "future lawyer" of the school, who represents students at Polk.
- Lisa Zemo - Rachel Sibner - Another geeky, but good-natured friend of Ned, Cookie and Moze who undergoes a complete makeover in later episodes of the show. She is allergic to many things, including rap videos that exploit women. She had a crush on Cookie who found her creepy before her makeover and vies for her attention after it, competing with several geeky boys. She is the Class Treasurer.
- Coach Joy Dirga - She is the tough female coach/gym teacher who enjoys Star Wars and soap operas.
- Mr. Sweeney - Don Creech The "evil" science teacher, who Ned especially hates towards the beginning of the series (and vice-versa) but grows to like. Mr. Sweeney describes Ned as his worst and favourite student and helps him out in the show's finale.
- Spencer - Corbin Bleu - A student at Polk who is very good at acting. He speaks with an accent and dreams of being a Hollywood star.
- iTeacher - Mo Collins - The English teacher who "home teaches". She appeared in season 3 and appears on an iMac G4 using the school's wireless chat server. A student usually wheels her around on a cart when she wants to speak to a particular person.
- Principal Pal - John Bliss The former principal of the school and the new social studies teacher.
- "Dr." Wright - Meshach Taylor - The English teacher at Polk that Moze likes best. He later becomes the principal in Season three. He is also the school's cross country coach.
- Faymen Phorchin - Vinicius Machado Moze's crush, and later boyfriend in the third season until the episode "When You Like Someone Who Is Going Out With Someone Else", where he leaves to play Pro Soccer in Brazil.
- Vice Principal Crubbs - Hamilton Mitchell The Vice-Principal and exaggerated character spoof of Miami Vice. Crubbs is always keeping an eye on Ned. He is obsessed with flamingos, mini powdered donuts, and sunglasses. He used to be a cop. His catchphrase is "you're fired" and he usually aims to get students in trouble, especially Ned, Moze, and Cookie.
- Mr. Monroe - Jim J. Bullock - Mr. Monroe is Ned and Cookie’s Life Science and Health teacher, as well as being in charge of the Sewing Club.
- Dr. Xavier - Lusia Strus - Grade 8 Math teacher. She has a Russian accent, and loves romance novels. She likes Gordy, and is shown to wish to date him.
- Evelyn Kwong - Michelle Kim - Studious student who likes competition within her courses. At first she has a huge rivalry with Cookie but becomes initially interested in him after they accidentally kiss. Seth becomes smart after dating Evelyn.
- The Scoop - Vincent Martella - The school's journalist and photographer. Appears mostly in the first season.
- Mr. Chopsaw - Dave Florek - The school woodshop teacher. He has an unnatural obsession with woodworking and sometimes acts like he is "attracted" to the shop tools.
- Mr. Combover - Steve Bannos - The choir and music appreciation teacher. He also runs the school plays. He's known for liking the arts and classical music artists like Mozart and Beethoven, as well as having unusual facial hair that runs round the side of his face.
- Dr. Lowe - Fred Stoller - A character that does many jobs at Polk. He is seen as a bus driver and a study hall advisor, and sometimes seen as the school's psychiatrist.
- Lunch Lady - Loni Love - A lunch lady who can see the future in the beans. Her predictions always come true but not in the expected ways.
- The Weasel - A weasel that runs around the school.
DVD releases
Two DVD releases have been made for the series
- TEENick Picks, Volume 1 - features "Guide to: Computer Labs and Backpacks" (Season 1, Episode 9)
- Special Field Trip Edition - features the telecast and "Guide to: Dismissal and The School Play" (Season 3, Episode 4)
Potential spinoff
Werkheiser has stated that he has signed a development contract with Nickelodeon for a spin-off that would cover his character's adventures in high school. The series has not been given the green light by Nickelodeon.[1]
In Other Countries
- In
Canada, the show airs on Family at 7:20 am on the weekends & at 10:00 pm on weekdays.
- In the United Kingdom, Nickelodeon UK airs the show at various times including 7am and 3pm (Hour later on Nick Replay).
France recently acquired the rights to air the show in France (new, blank templates for the tips in the show were created by Jack Marx and Joshua Allison for the foreign airings). - In
Spain the shows title is translated to Manual de Supervivencia Escolar de Ned (Ned's School Survival Manual).
- In
Chile and all the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, the shows title is translated to Manual de Sobrevivencia Escolar de Ned (Ned's School Survival Manual) and is broadcasted by Nickelodeon Latin America. From March 29 to March 30, 2008, the channel aired all the episodes in a 30 hour marathon. The show was dubbed by Dint, a Chilean dubbing company.
- In
Brazil, the show title changed to Manual de Sobrevivência Escolar do Ned (Ned's School Survival Manual) and Season 3 was released there. Nickelodeon Brazil airs the show Mondays-Fridays at 8:00-8:30pm.
- In
Germany and 
Austria, it becomes Neds ultimativer Schulwahnsinn (Ned's Ultimate Madness of School) and it airs daily at 3:15 p.m. on Nick (Germany).
- In
Italy, it becomes Ned - Scuola di Sopravvivenza (Ned - School of Survival).
- In the United Arab Emirates it is shown on Nickolodeon Middle East, and is also premiered on Ejunior.
- In France it becomes Ned ou comment survivre aux études (Ned or How to Survive School).
- In
Israel it airs on Nickelodeon-Israel from Sunday to Thursday. It is called there Madrich Hahisardut Shel Ned (Ned's Survival Guide).
- In
Ireland it broadcasts on RTÉ Two.
- In South Africa it broadcasts on Ktv Mnet'
- In
The Netherlands, it becomes Ned's Survival Gids (Ned's Survival Guide).
- In
New Zealand it broadcasts on Nickelodeon daily, and was used to screen on Saturday mornings on TV 3. However, it was recently replaced by The Spectacular Spider-Man.
- In the
Philippines, it airs on TEENick.
Series directors
Series writers
- Scott Fellows (4 episodes)
- Rick Groel (4 episodes)
- Lazar Saric (4 episodes)
- Eddie Guzelian (3 episodes)
- Frank Berin (2 episodes)
- Mike Preister (6 episodes)
External links
Notes and References
- http://devonwerkheiser.com/blog.html Blog - Devon Werkheiser
- http://imdb.com/title/tt0405576/fullcredits#cast "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" (2004) - Full cast and crew
