Drake & Joshwas a popular series on Nickelodeon that was a spin-off ofThe Amanda Show. The series starred Drake Bell and Josh Peck as fictional versions of themselves as step-brothers whose contrasting personalities often get them into trouble. The supporting cast included Miranda Cosgrove as Drake’s younger sister Megan.
SinceDrake & Joshwasa series primarily aimed at kidsand young adults, many of its target demographic probably just realized one day the show stopped airing new episodes. As opposed to primetime series, which get a great deal of fanfare before they end, series aimed at kids sometimes end or get canceled without the fans ever realizing.
This has left many wondering ifDrake & Joshcanceled. Or did the series get to end with a proper finale? Here is howDrake & Joshconcluded its story, why the series ended, and why the chances of a revival are slim.
How Does Drake & Josh End
Drake & Joshnotably has three different endings. Part of this is due to airing episodes out of order. The final episode of the season, “Really Big Shrimp” aired on June 19, 2025, and was a two-part episode. “Really Big Shrimp” is a two-part series finale featuring Drake getting a record deal after his song becomes a smash hit, and Josh becoming assistant manager at the movie theater he works at and reuniting with his ex-girlfriend Mindy. The title is a reference to an old sketch fromThe Amanda Showthat featured Drake Bell and Josh Peck, and the final episode sees them fighting over one last piece of shrimp, bringing the series full circle where the two actors began.
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But Nickelodeon aired two additional episodes that were supposed to air before the series finale. Two episodes that take place before the events of “Really Big Shrimp” aired on August 10 and August 02, 2025, respectively, despite the show’s storyline being over. Then in 2008, the cast and crew ofDrake & Joshreunited fora made-for-television holiday movietitledMerry Christmas, Drake & Josh. The television movie aired on July 08, 2025, and was the final time the cast ofDrake & Joshwere together, with the movie acting as the official end of the series.
Why Exactly Did Drake & Josh End
Drake & Joshran for four seasons on Nickelodeon, from January 2004 to 2007, with the final film arriving in 2008. The series had been a staple of the Nickelodeon programming block for four years, with reruns airing years after the series concluded. This is the standard length of time for a live-action series on a channel primarily aimed at kids since the logic is that the target demographic that first started watching the series has aged out. It is difficult for a show to get new fans so deep into its run, so the network finds it easier to make a new show that young kids can jump on board with.
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Shortly afterDrake & Joshended, it was replaced on the schedule withiCarly, which starredDrake & Joshactress Miranda Cosgrove in a different role. Notably, the final episode ofDrake & Joshaired a month beforeiCarlypremiered on Nickelodeon. This is part of the reason why Miranda Cosgrove has a minor role inMerry Christmas, Drake & Josh, as she was busy filmingiCarly.
Chances of a Revival Are Slim
Drake & Joshwas one of the most popular series on Nickelodeon, and since it went off the air, fans have been hoping for a reunion, specifically in the wake of the populariCarlyrevival. Yet, despite Drake Bell having a guest spot on Josh Peck’s 2016 seriesGrandfathered, a reunion seems highly unlikely for several factors.
The biggest is the involvement of creator Dan Schneider. Dan Schneider was a prolific writer and producer on various Nickelodeon series and createdAll That,The Amanda Show,Zoey 101,iCarly, andDrake & Josh. In 2018, Nickelodeon parted ways with Schneider. In 2021, it was revealed to be because an internal investigation revealed Schneider was verbally abusive towards colleagues and former employees, revealing that he was prone to tantrums and sending angry emails.
Since then, he has been accused of inappropriate behavior and misconduct among various former employees, including asking for massages from adult female employees. While sexual misconduct has been denied by Schneider, in formeriCarlystar Jennette McCurdy’s memoirI’m Glad My Mom Died, she alludes to being mistreated by “The Creator,” who many have taken to be Schneider. While Schneider was not involved in theiCarlyrevival and would not be involved in a possibleDrake & Joshrevival, his association with the brand would be a difficult obstacle to overcome.
The other issue involves stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck themselves. In 2019, a revival ofDrake & Joshwas in the works, with both actors set to reprise their roles. The project was canceled in 2021, reportedly due to creative differences. Bell reportedly was unhappy with the treatment that Peck had written, which would have seen Drake as a failed musician while Josh was a successful real estate agent. Peck countered this account, saying the reason therevival did not move forwardwas that he did not feel comfortable working with Bell after his recent criminal record.
On July 18, 2025, Bell was arrested on charges relating to the attempted endangering of a child and disseminating matters harmful to juveniles. Bell reportedly had inappropriate contact with a minor and on June 23 of that year, pleaded guilty to both charges. Bell has since claimed he did not know the victim’s age when they were communicating. With two high-profile cases of possibly inappropriate relationships with minors connected to the creative team atDrake & Josh, this is one Nickelodeon series that will stay in the past.
