Saved by Zack Morris and A.C. Slater
Before the debut of his version of Late Night on NBC, I was never a big fan of Jimmy Fallon. But the dude has had some killer ideas, so far. And the best, in my opinion, was the idea he raised at the end of March alongside special guest Dennis Haskins: a Saved by the Bell reunion.
Dude, if you grew up in the late 80s and early 90s and you didn’t watch this show, then I want to hear from you. Saved by the Bell was a flippin’ institution. And yes, I was pretty obsessed with it.
As I sit here and try to figure out who my favorite character was though, I am having a hard time. I’m a geek, so I’m supposed to identify most with Samuel “Screech” Powers, but, while Dustin Diamond’s character did amuse me, I never liked him as much as I liked Zack and Slater. I knew that I’d never be Zack or Slater (and that I didn’t really want to be either of them) but they, y’know, felt more like actual characters and less like cartoons.
Okay, that last part was bullshit. I’m just making stuff up now. But, seriously: I did identify more with the two dudes who I would never be like than the dweeb that I was probably similar to in more ways than I’d ever want to admit. Why is that? I don’t really know.
Maybe it had something to do with Zack and Slater being like the two sides of my conflicted soul, one half always trying too hard to be cool and coming off like an asshole, and the other half playing it super-cool and seeming super-cool in the process.
Uhm, yeah… so, uh… who were your favorite characters on Saved by the Bell? What was your favorite episode?
Next: Kelly Kapowski and Jessie Spano
Comments On This Article
Jeremy Couturier says:
SBTB was 90210 with training wheels. When Kelly showed up later as Brandon Walsh’s pot smoking cousin my guilty pleasure-o-meter went off the charts. Fav character: Mr Belding the groovy Colonel Klink of Bayside High.
E. Christopher Clark says:
Ah, but Bell predates 90210 by about a year. What about that? :-P
Jeremy Couturier says:
I’m just saying SBTB was a lighter half-hour version of 90210, which was easy on my teen brain. Also Bell featured actors who were actually my age instead of 30 years olds that were on 90210. It was some good 90s cheese that it was....
Bethany says:
I loved me some A.C. Slater. He was sooo cool, with his mullet, his tucked in shirts, and his knowledge that your hands go at 10 and 2 when you drive the mini car/cart around the halls of Bayside High.
One of the most memorable episodes has to be the one where Jessie got crazy on pills. I think there was an unusually large amount of spandex involved, and some insane dance moves...?
As much as I loved SBTB, though, I have to say, my heart is with the original school-based bromance: Cory and Shawn from Boy Meets World. By the end of the show, they were blatant about the somewhat inappropriate (yet adorable) man love, whereas Zack and Slater kept it in the closet. For shame!
Brendan says:
Yeah, but you can’t top Scrub for over the top bromance.
Back on topic, I was always a Zach fan. I tend to relate to the overconfident cocky types. I had trouble with him when they wrote him as a dick, though.
And I’m right there with you on the Kelly shows up at the Walsh’s
thing. I lost my mind when that happened.
‘B’
E. Christopher Clark says:
Interesting stuff. Here’s another question for you: did anyone watch any episodes of Saved by the Bell: The College Years? I was all over that one. I watched it every week, as faithfully as I watch Lost now.
Jillian Tremblay says:
Admittedly, I have seen every single episode of SBTB from its days as “Good Morning Miss Bliss” through “the College Years” with Professor Lasky and Cal U. Then there were the summer episodes with Mr. Carosi ("Pumba" as we all really know him) and a pre-Kevin James Leah Reahmni. I myself am fond of the horridly wonderful specials such as “SBTB: Hawaiian Style” and the Vegas wedding where we see a breif appearance by blonde Showgirl favorite Jesse Spano. It’s safe to say I’ve geeked out in a bad way to the bell.
I have to say though, you are correct, Screech is sub par as a character and there was that whole season with Tori (the one with Spelling herself and then the leather jacket-wearing wonder). They clearly never stood at the edge of tomorrow.
Jillian says:
Apologies for the typos. I clicked add when I meant to preview and edit. English geek, that I am.
Rudy Sims says:
I was once invited to the wedding of someone I hardly knew based on my knowledge of Saved By The Bell trivia. This is a show that continues to bring people together.
E. Christopher Clark says:
@Jillian - I totally forgot that Pumbaa was on Saved by the Bell pre-Lion King. What a nifty nugget of info!
I never saw the wedding episode, sadly, but I’m pretty sure that I saw everything else, including the Good Morning, Miss Bliss episodes. Definitely have to find and check out the wedding episode now.
@Rudy - Did you enjoy the wedding?
Angela says:
Brendan
Top bromance? Clearly you haven’t seen Boy Meets World.
Brendan says:
No, I have. I still vote Scrubs.
E. Christopher Clark says:
I’m with Brendan on this one, Angela. I haven’t seen Boy Meets World, but the bromance between Turk and J.D. on Scrubs has never and will never be equaled.
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