The Unauthorized Saved By Bell Story

Hello All,

When you were growing up did you have your go to show or channel to watch when you were home sick from school? Well I did, it was TBS, it had re runs of Friends, Everyone Loves Raymond and whole bunch of other '90s shows but favorite was always Saved by the Bell.

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For those of you who didn't watch old sitcom and aren't an 80's 90's teen the show follows six friends as they navigate their way through high school. These friends include Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselar NYPD Blue, Franklin & Bash), Screech (Dustin Diamond, author), Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies Fire & Ice, How to be a Player), Kelly (Tiffiani (Amber) Thiessen Beverly Hills 90210, While Collar) and Jessie (Elizabeth Berkley Show Girls). The show dealt with comedic story lines and hard hitting story lines like when Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills.

Although the sets were simple and the stories could get corny I loved the show and would watch it every time I was sick. I knew it wasn't the best of the best when it came to shows but I would watch every chance I would get and that is true to this day. If I was flipping through the channels and saw it now I would watch in heart beat.

So, last night when Grace and I were flipping through the channel we hit Lifetime that was playing there made for TV movie, The Unauthorized Saved By the Bell story. And I knew I had to watch it! This movie was made with only the help of Dustin Diamond and based on a tell all book written by Diamond called Behind the Bell. 

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Although I had heard about the book and all the crazy things Diamond said happened behind the scene I felt this movie went with the tamer side of things, that is if its anything the reviews I've heard of Behind the Bell. 

The movie starts out with a young Dustin Diamond (Sam Kindseth) audition for the part of Screech on Good Morning Miss Bliss, which originally aired on Disney Channel. This series last barely a season and was the first time the show would be cancelled. Dustin along with Mark-Paul (Dylan Everett, Degrassi) and Lark (Taylor Russell) were the only Saved by the Bell cast members on this show.

Diamond (Kindseth) and Mark-Paul (Everett) on the set of Good Morning Miss Bliss
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The show then got a new life when it was moved to NBC to go along with the Saturday morning cartoon line up. Which is when they brought in the other big names Mario Lopez (Juilian Works), Elizabeth Berkley (Tiera Skovbye) and Tiffani Amber Thiessen (Alyssa Lynch). The movie then followed them through the 4 years series run from the "first day" when Dustin realized that he would never really be friends Mark-Paul who had matured since their time on Good Morning Miss Bliss through Graduation Day.

Lark (Russell), Mark-Paul (Everett). Tiffani Amber (Lynch), Mario (Works), Elizabeth (Berkley) and Dustin (Kindseth)
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Although we got glimpse into Paul-Mark, Mario, Elizabeth, Lark and Tiffani Amber's life on and off set. We saw mainly the trials that Dustin went through. From experiment with Pot and vodak, from being used for his position in Hollywood.

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Although this is probably true of every TV show we saw how out of real life situation were put into the story lines of  show. From Mario and Elizabeth's flirtmance to the love triangle between Mark Paul, Lark and Tiffani Amber (#TeamZally Zach & Kelly's ship name?). Most of all the fact that Dustin didn't quite fit in with the rest much like Screech in the show.

Lark (Russell) and Mark-Paul (Everett)
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When I started to watch movie I was slightly worried that seeing the behind the scenes would ruin the love I have for these characters but it didn't. I still love the show and now knowing that not everything was perfect behind the scene didn't change anything. 

Were you a Saved By the Bell fan? Did you watch the movie? Did it change anything for you? Let me know!