While Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide was marketed as wholesome family entertainment, former cast members have revealed that things were far less innocent behind the scenes.
The Nickelodeon comedy aired from 2004 to 2007 and followed middle schooler Ned Bigby, played by Devon Werkheiser, alongside his best friends Moze (Lindsey Shaw) and Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee) at the fictional James K. Polk Middle School in California.
On screen, the trio portrayed inseparable friends navigating lockers, bullies and homework.
Off screen, however, relationships among the cast were more complicated.
Ned’s Declassified stars dated off camera
Werkheiser and Shaw eventually began dating in real life near the end of the show’s run in 2007.
The pair stayed together for more than a year after filming wrapped and have since remained on friendly terms despite their breakup.
Daniel Curtis Lee has also stayed close with his former co-stars, with the trio reuniting years later to co-host the Ned’s Declassified Podcast, where they revisit the show and share behind-the-scenes stories.
Lindsey Shaw reveals surprising dating history
During a recent podcast episode, Shaw opened up about her romantic history on set and made a candid confession that surprised both fans and her former co-stars.
“Dude, I ran through every Ned’s cast member before I landed on Devon,” Shaw admitted.
“Remember that?”
Werkheiser appeared visibly stunned by the revelation, responding with disbelief as he looked directly at the camera.
According to Shaw, she had also been romantically involved with Teo Olivares and Rob Pinkston, who played the memorable character “Coconut Head,” before ultimately dating Werkheiser.
Werkheiser reflected on Shaw’s popularity among the cast, saying she was “liked by all the guys,” prompting Curtis Lee to interject with a blunt remark that shocked both of his co-hosts.
The comment sent Werkheiser into laughter, while Shaw appeared momentarily stunned by the unexpected honesty.
Podcast clip sparks fan reactions online
A clip from the podcast quickly spread on TikTok, where fans flooded the comments with surprise – particularly over Shaw’s past connection to Pinkston.
“Wait she went out with Coconut Head?” one viewer wrote.
“Coconut Head too?!” another added.
“Dang, Coconut Head before Ned,” a third commented.
The truth behind Coconut Head’s iconic hair
Pinkston’s character was instantly recognizable for his bizarre bowl cut hairstyle – something fans have long debated over the years.
Pinkston later confirmed that the iconic look was actually a wig, not his real hair.
“That became the haircut, and then I was just so excited to be involved I thought, ‘sure, I’ll wear the wig,’” he previously explained.
He added that even his co-stars initially believed it was his natural hair, making the reveal just as surprising for them as it was for longtime viewers.