Nostalgia Friday and Saturday: Saved By The Bell Versus Reality, A Two Part Analysis

The reason why I write this post is because joesportsfancom inspired me to do so. Go figure someone else in this world loves Saved by the Bell the way that I do. Yessir, I tivo it everyday. And everyday, I come home and sit down to watch an episode of thinking, "What happened to quality, classic shows like this?"

With the cast, you had a nice array of friends, opposites who somehow managed to be the best of friends.

-Zack Morris was the trouble-maker entrepreneur, the 'thinker' of the group who never studied but managed to get the top SAT scores out of all his friends. When his friends were in a bind, he was the one plotting a way out. Go Zack go! He was charming, always getting the ladies, and always going to detention.

-A.C. (Albert Clifford) Slater was the jock, who wasn't that much of a jock in my eyes. Sorry folks, he was never that dreamy despite those nice dimples and muscles. His pants always threw me way off, and the hair...YIKES! I did like how he always called Jessie 'mama' though....Oedipus complex?

-Samuel 'Screech'Powers, oh poor Screech. In reality he was 3 years younger than everyone else. So he fit his role well: outsider, nerd, just didn't fit in. He was always chasing after Lisa, and it was funny as hell when he dressed up as MJ (Michael Jackson not Jordan) thinking she would find the same sexiness in him. Screech sexy? Better yet, Michael Jackson, sexy? This show was way before our time. But I applaud Screech, taping ears to worms...that was awesome. And I must admit, I was excited when I heard he was going to write a tell-all book, "Behind the Bell."

And the ladies...

-Kelly Kapowski, oh how beautiful you were. A family girl with a million siblings, a waitress who fell for your cute college manager at the Max, then fell for the professor when you went off to college.

-Jessie Spano-I don't even want to get started on her. She's the type of girl you see at Berkeley but way taller. (Funny how her last name is Berkley too...haha!) Competitive, well-informed about current events, cute, but annoying as all hell. That's why I say she went to Berkeley. If it were 1989, I'd say to her, "Get over yourself and calm your ass down." BUT hey, don't think I hate her. I don't. I'm glad she was a feminist, someone's got to stand up for the ladies!

-Lisa Turtle was the coolest. Yeah, she was the spoiled shopaholic BUT one tough gal, who I know would have been able to take on Jessie. I figure the girls owe her a lot; summer at Malibu Sands wouldn't have been the same w/o being housed at her beach house. She had matchmaking skills, advice to give, and gossip to spread. And Zack, her family totally sponsored you in the ATV race so you could unsuccessfully prove yourself to Stacy Carosi and her bf from the East Coast.

And the adults.

- Richard Belding was the authority figured adult of the group. And when I say authority figure, I mean he let the kids do whatever they want. Manufacture pasta sauce in the home ec lab? Sure, go ahead! Let Zack rig the school theme song competition. No problemo! Did this guy ever really do his job?? He did seem rather cool though, wouldn't mind having him as my principal.

- Max was the owner of the Max, the local hangout place of the gang. He had weird hair and pedophile vibe about him. Never trust an owner of a diner who does magic, kids.

Wow, amazing how I know all this stuff about characters from a hit 80s/90s show.

Anyhow...this was going to lead me to a story...but I guess that'll have to wait. The topic next time: how corny was the rivalry between Bayside and Valley High??

Keep in mind:
First. Pacific Palisades...oohhh...intimidating!

Chess: Screech against Peter, Valley's new Russian exchange student. Calling him the Commie and that's why we're 'Russian' you. Losing confidence after losing a beret. Woopdy dooo Screech. "No matter how big or small we are....we're all the same size on the chess board." With so many tricks up their sleeves, Zack dressed up as the Russian. Slater says "call it a hunch but i think Screech is gonna kick that commie's butt!" Ha! Great episode..but wow...over a chess game?

Prank wars: Mascots stolen. Zack and Slater cry to Mr. Belding after Valley vandalizes their school.

Wrestling: Ninick, the guy whose muscles are flabby as all hell is up to wrestle Slater. Slater temporarily gives up wrestling for cooking so Zack can't win a dirtbike. Dang.




Part 2 coming tomorrow....