As NBC-Universal-Comcast rolls out its new streaming service, Peacock, one of the attractions is a revival of one of NBC's most popular Saturday morning sitcoms.
Yes, Saved by The Bell is back.
This series follows up the original gang from 1989-93, and what they're doing now. Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, mixed-ish) is now the Governor of California in this iteration. I think viewers won't see him as a perfect sub for real-life governor Gavin Newsom, but...! A. C. Slater (Mario Lopez, Extra) has returned to Bayside High as a physical education teacher, with the sons of both Zack and Slater's ex, Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley) in his class. As of press time, it wasn't clear whether Tiffani Thiessen would reprise as Zack's wife, Kelly.
Perhaps spurred on by a partial cast reunion on The Tonight Show a while back, in which host Jimmy Fallon imagined himself as having attended Bayside, the new Bell will attempt again to establish some new stars, as the New Class era (1993-2000) apparently has been forgotten to the point where it doesn't air anywhere now. Me-TV has the rights to the classic era, but perhaps no further.
Here's a trailer:
Stay tuned.
6 comments:
Seriously. This is a real thing that's actually happening. This looks more like a Funny Or Die parody than a real show. I thought that Fuller House was scraping the bottom of the barrel. Do these actors really have nothing better to do than reprise roles that they played on kid shows thirty years ago?
Mind you, I was never a Saved By the Bell to begin with, but if this and a Punky Brewster "where are they now?" series is the best that the Peacock streaming service has to offer then hard pass. Wake me when HBO Max is available.
As I wrote, Lopez & Gosselaar have been busy ever since they left the original Bell in '93 (and that includes the College Years spinoff).
No sign of Lisa nor of Screech. In the case of the latter, this is likely due to actor Dustin Diamond being so toxic that no one wants to work with him, but I don't know. In any case, I liked to imagine that Screech became a boo-billionaire after graduating from Bayside High, and thus the uncool dork would get the last laugh on everybody!
I'd seen a headline someplace where Lark Voorhies (Lisa) had raised an issue over not being asked to be part of the new series. Gosselaar likely will split his time between the new Bell and mixed-ish over on ABC, assuming that returns for another season.
Didn't know Diamond had been released from jail. He crapped in his bed so he's stuck with the stink that comes with it. Shame really, as he was a decent comic actor and he was as much a part of SBTB as the rest of the original cast.
I wonder if they'll get Haley Mills (Miss Bliss) to make an appearance? I think it would be a good giggle if they did.
It actually makes sense that Zack became a politician and ultimately governor of CA! Half the fun would be seeing him put the world on a "timeout" to outwit his political rivals!
Unfortunately, this DOES look like a Funny Or Die skit. The mini reunion of the cast on Jimmy Fallon a few years back was way more satisfying than this trailer.
Reunions of shows like this are better suited as TV movies. After all, who do they make them for? Those who saw the series in its original run might enjoy it, but kids and teens who weren't even born when the show went off the air are likely NOT going to be the least bit interested.
Kids today don't even like Star Trek!!
It would be great, but I don't think the creative team on the new Bell, which includes a writer from 30 Rock, will remember Miss Bliss.
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