Why Jennette McCurdy Isn’t In ‘iCarly’ Reboot? Jerry Trainor Explains

Fans of the Nickelodeon show, iCarly, were eagerly awaited the release of the reboot, which premiered on June 17. The show’s revival follows current nostalgic trends, with the Friends reunion and Fuller House finishing its fifth season. Still, some fans couldn’t help but feel that the absence of Jennette McCurdy, who played Carly’s tough best friend Sam, would affect the overall quality and storyline of the beloved series.

In the show, Sam has gone off to lead her own life in Los Angeles. This isn’t far from the truth as McCurdy quit the entertainment industry and now runs a podcast on mental health. She revealed that, while acting, she suffered from an eating disorder, brought on by a difficult relationship with her mother and the pressure to look a certain way on screen. Jerry Trainor and Nathan Kress, who play Spencer and Freddie respectively, have both discussed where Sam is and how they feel about filming without McCurdy.

Trainor said, “She’s decided to move on and we’re super proud of her and super happy for her and we miss her. She’s very much a part of our family in this world.”

While Sam’s absence is addressed on the show, Trainor said that they don’t dwell too much on it, as they’re trying to “respect where Jennette McCurdy is in her life.”

Trainor also mentioned that the situation is not wholly negative.“It has given us the space to introduce new characters, to have new voices, and to go in, I think, directions that are unexpected and might be welcome,” he said. One example of this is Carly’s newest best friend, Harper, played by Laci Mosley.

iCarly fans everywhere can take comfort in the fact that spunky Sam Puckett is very much alive in the iCarly universe. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll get a reunion.