( EW.com ) -- After personal photos of Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy leaked online , rumors surfaced that Nickelodeon was canceling the show â€ ” a hit spinoff that 's drawn big ratings for the kid-centric channel . ( An hourlong special that reunited various characters from Sam & Cat 's precedessors , Victorious and iCarly , was watched by an audience of 4.8 million in January . ) Nickelodeon , however , says these whispers are n't true . According to the network , Sam & Cat is simply taking a scheduled production hiatus . `` We are wrapping up what was an unusually long production cycle of Sam & Cat , and everyone is understandably tired , '' a Nickelodeon rep said in a statement . ( Sam & Cat 's mammoth first season numbers 40 full episodes . ) `` We are going into our production hiatus next week which will give everyone on the show a much-needed rest . '' The next episode of Sam & Cat is scheduled to air April 12 on Nickelodeon . See the original story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
The network says the show is safe . Personal details of star McCurdy are online . The next episode will air on April 4th .