Gabriel Iglesias Apologies To Katt Williams For Wearing A Dress On Nickelodeon’s All That
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Gabriel Iglesias joined Nickelodeon's 'All That' in 1999/2000, filling the void left by Keenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell.
- ❖His ability to perform character voices, including a girl's voice, was key to his casting, despite being 24-25 years old among 12-17 year olds.
- ❖He earned $3,500 a weekend on 'All That', a significant jump from his $300-400 weekend standup earnings.
- ❖Iglesias was fired from 'All That' after suffering a concussion on set, hitting his head on a beam while wearing a cheerleader costume and wig.
- ❖Nickelodeon pressured him to sign a waiver absolving them of responsibility for his injury, threatening his job if he refused, then fired him anyway.
- ❖This experience led him to refuse participation in any 'All That' reunion shows.
Insights
1Early Career Break & Income Shift
Gabriel Iglesias's casting on 'All That' in 1999/2000, replacing Keenan and Kel, dramatically increased his income from $300-400 per weekend as a standup to $3,500 per weekend as a cast member.
I went from being a comic on the weekends making, I don't know, maybe $3 400 on the weekends if I if I hit a bunch of clubs and stuff to all of a sudden I'm I'm I'm a, you know, cast member on all that. And I was making about 3,500 a weekend.
2Talent Intimidation & Professionalism
Iglesias, despite being older, was intimidated by Amanda Bynes's exceptional poise, confidence, and professionalism on set, even at a young age (11-12 years old).
I remember, uh, attending a live Nickelodeon event and she was hosting it and I felt like she must have been maybe 11 or 12 years old and the amount of poise and confidence that she had hosting with a microphone... she's she's such a pro. So when I actually got to meet her, even though I was older, I was very intimidated by her.
3Exploitative Industry Practices Post-Injury
Nickelodeon fired Iglesias after he sustained a concussion on set while in costume, but only after coercing him to sign a waiver absolving the network of responsibility, threatening his job if he didn't comply.
They sent someone there to, uh, with a clipboard to get me to sign a waiver saying that that that Nickelodeon's not responsible for the fact that I got injured on the set... And I'm like, well, what if I don't? And they're like, 'Well, you're probably going to get fired.' And so I'm like, they threaten me with that and then I sign it and then they me anyway.
Bottom Line
A major network like Nickelodeon used job security as leverage to force a cast member to sign a liability waiver immediately after an on-set head injury.
This reveals a harsh reality of the entertainment industry where corporate legal protection can override talent welfare, even for a serious medical incident.
For new talent, understanding contract clauses related to on-set injuries and seeking independent legal counsel, even for minor roles, is critical to protect themselves from potentially exploitative practices.
Lessons
- Always understand the terms of employment, especially regarding liability and injury, in high-risk environments like entertainment sets.
- Be wary of signing waivers under duress, particularly after an injury, and seek legal counsel before agreeing to terms that absolve employers of responsibility.
- Recognize that early career breaks, while financially beneficial, may come with hidden costs or ethical compromises from employers.
Notable Moments
Iglesias secured his role on 'All That' by demonstrating character voices, including a girl's voice, which producers found appealing for the show.
This highlights the specific, often quirky, talents that can lead to unexpected career breaks in entertainment.
Iglesias recounts hitting his head on a beam while in a cheerleader costume during a live show outro, being knocked unconscious, and then being transported to the hospital in full costume, followed by his family and friends.
This moment underscores the chaotic and public nature of on-set accidents, particularly when involving live audiences and the unique indignity of being injured in a comedic costume.
News stations arrived at the hospital believing Enrique Iglesias was injured, not realizing it was Gabriel Iglesias in a skirt.
This comedic mix-up illustrates the unexpected media attention that can arise from celebrity-adjacent incidents, even for a relatively unknown actor at the time.
Quotes
"They sent someone there to, uh, with a clipboard to get me to sign a waiver saying that that that Nickelodeon's not responsible for the fact that I got injured on the set... they threaten me with that and then I sign it and then they me anyway."
Q&A
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