The role of Toplin was similar to a character named Freddie that Schneider was looking to cast on "iCarly". Schneider had been so impressed with Kress' performance that he remembered him, and about 6 months after filming his small role on "Drake & Josh", Kress was called in to audition for the role of "Freddie" shortly after his fourteenth birthday. After several rounds of auditions, Kress was invited back for a screen test with Miranda Cosgrove and Jennette McCurdy and a couple of days later he was notified that he had landed the role of "Freddie". Although "iCarly" would not premiere until the fall of 2007, the decision was made to cut Kress' scenes with Miranda Cosgrove out of the "Drake & Josh" episode that had started it all, in order to avoid any potential confusion among the young Nickelodeon viewing audience.