When fans think back on Saved by the Bell, they typically think about Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski. More specifically, they think about the on-and-off relationship that had fans invested before Ross and Rachel’s drama ever started. But not every SBTB fan was obsessed with Zack and Kelly back in the day; though, let's be honest, many were.

In fact, a whole slew of fans came out of the woodwork recently to talk about their Saved By The Bell TV crushes. While Zack Morris may have been the dreamy heartthrob most crushed on, that doesn't change his complicated legacy. Even Mark-Paul Gosselaar has apologized for certain problematic Zack Morris episodes and attempted to make Zack less of a jerk in the reboot. His bad boy behavior didn’t stop fans from obsessing over him, such as MagicalMysticalMyth, who had a “Mark-Paul wall” growing up, and CDTmom, who said:

However, not every fan was crushing on Gosselaar's character. For example, funonthebeach85 was clear about who they crushed on, saying, “Jesse. Kelly was overrated.” These were the fans who lost it when Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley recreated their classic Saved by the Bell dance. (I may have been one of those fans.)

So, who else might fans have been crushing on? The answer was the subject of heated debate among fans on Reddit. However, one fan, Laserdisc123, took issue with the list leaving out who they felt was a key character, saying, “This is Tori erasure.” This refered to new girl Tori, who temporarily filled in when Kelly and Jessie were missing due to behind-the-scenes contract issues. Several fans listed Lisa, Jessie, or even recurring guests such as Leah Remini.

Long before she was married to Doug and living in Queens, Remini played opinionated and sarcastic Stacy Carosi. And yes, she, too, was a temporary love interest of Zack’s. The actor enjoyed her episodes, although she has admitted that she was petrified when she first joined. Despite this and her limited appearance in a handful of beach-themed episodes, she left quite an impression on some fans, such as Top_bake-345, who said:

The fans who did crush on Zack or Kelly have pointed out two key aspects that drew them to the characters. For Zack, it’s his flawed nature, pointed out by Pawspawsmeow, who said, “I can fix him.” In fact, it was rare that Zack and the gang did the right thing. For Kelly, it’s how gorgeous and perfect they thought she was, calling her the only answer to the question. However, some fans didn’t feel a need to pick between any of the characters, such as New-Macaroon-4100:

Fans have never forgotten the A.C. Slater vs. Zack Morris debate. The two occasional frenemies were often competing for Kelly’s attention and one-upping each other’s schemes. This created an interesting dilemma for fans who often had trouble choosing between the handsome jock or the scheming charmer. This continued in the who had a crush on who conversation.

• nochickflickmoments: Slater, so much so, I was convinced my 6th-grade boyfriend looked like him. Looking back, he most certainly did not.
• xLAESOPx: I always had trouble choosing between Zack and Slater, but would probably always pick Zack in the end for whatever reason.
• mtdoubledubs: Zach. Always. And Mark Paul is still ridiculously good-looking.
• openurheartandthen: I had a huge crush on Slater. But in my older years, I’m super attracted to Mark Paul Gosselaar (at his current age).

The love for the show never truly died, and that’s why the reboot remains a must-watch for fans. However, the most surprising part of the debate is the lack of love for Screech, who had only one fan give him a shout-out.

There is a web series from Funny or Die called Zack Morris is Trash, which is dedicated to exposing Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Saved by the Bell fourth-wall-breaking character for the selfish, conniving, and time-freezing menace that he is. However, he is not all bad.

In fact, he and the rest of his close-knit group of friends at Bayside High School – namely Kelly Kapowski (Tiffany Thiessen), A.C. Slater (Mario Lopez), Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley), Samuel “Screech” Powers (the late Dustin Diamond), and Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) – have been known to defy expectations with the occasional mature decision on the beloved TV sitcom. See for yourself by revisiting some of the Saved by the Bell cast’s proudest moments.

Zack Chooses Jessie As His Dance Contest Partner

In the first episode of Saved by the Bell, "Dancing to the Max," Zack enlists Jessie's help to teach him how to dance for an upcoming competition so he can impress Kelly enough to be her partner. However, he decides to team up with Jessie after learning she was going to refrain from entering the contest since she is taller than most other men who want to partner with her and is afraid of getting made fun of. Kelly ends up partnering with Slater, but it is Screech and Lisa's original dance they call "The Sprain," that wins.

The Gang Shoots Its Own Anti-Drug PSA

In one of Saved by the Bell's many "very special episodes," "No Hope with Dope," the gang is at first excited to shoot an ad promoting a drug-free lifestyle with a famous actor, until they discover he is a user. Instead, Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) calls upon the help of a friend who works as a news anchor to help them shoot their own PSA.

Zack And Tori Deliver Mrs. Belding's Baby

In the Season 4 Saved by the Bell episode, "Earthquake!," the eponymous natural disaster breaks out at Bayside, causing Zack and Tori (Leanna Creel) to become trapped in an elevator with Mr. Belding's pregnant wife, Becky (Louan Gideon). When she starts to go into labor, it is up to Zack and Tori to help deliver the boy, who, as revealed in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, ends up being named Zack.

The Gang Tries To Save The Max

In "Save the Max," Mr. Belding relaunches the KKTY radio station, which the gang starts to work at in various on-air positions. When they discover that The Max might be going out of business, they use their radio program to help raise funds and keep the lights on at their favorite hangout spot.

Zack Creates A Private Prom For Him And Kelly

One of the most memorable and endearing couples in '90s TV history is Zack and Kelly, and an essential Saved by the Bell moment that spells out why comes from the Season 2 premiere episode, "The Prom." When Kelly is unable to go to the dance due to money troubles, her date, Zack, sets up their own celebration right outside the school, complete with a special meal and a slow dance that results in a tender kiss.

The Gang Put Friendship Over Business

In Season 1's "The Friendship Business," the gang's business class divides them into two different groups with the intention of becoming the most successful amateur entrepreneurs. The competitive nature of the project almost tears the friends apart until they learn to put their beef behind them and become partners instead.

Zack Helps Kelly Win Homecoming Queen

In "Cream for a Day," Zack comes close to ruining Kelly's chances of achieving her dream of being crowned Homecoming Queen, just like her mother, when he sells her a miracle acne product that, initially unbeknownst to him, temporarily turns the user's face maroon. However, that turns out to be one of the school's colors, giving him the idea to explain her complexion as a case of school spirit.

Screech Gives Up Being Valedictorian

In the Saved by the Bell series finale, "Graduation," Mr. Belding reveals that Bayside's valedictorian is Screech, who refuses to accept the honor, knowing that it is more important to Jessie. After learning her friend gave up the title for her, she finds a way to show her appreciation for him at the ceremony.

Zack Helps Jessie Get Off Caffeine Pills

One of the most famous "very special episodes" of Saved by the Bell is "Jessie's Song," in which Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills (which was originally speed in the script) in an attempt to juggle her many priorities. However, when Zack discovers her addiction, he not only refuses to let her take another pill but also refuses to let her sing for a special performance that could have potentially earned the gang a record deal. He put her health before his own success.

The Gang Helps A Homeless Family Around Christmas

In Saved by the Bell's two-part holiday episode, "Home for Christmas," Zack discovers that a girl working at the local department store, Laura, is the daughter of a homeless man he previously met. After Laura accidentally loses her job, Zack and the gang persuade her boss to give her a second chance, and he and his mother allow her and her father to stay with them until he can find a job.

The Gang Tries To Rescue Pond Animals

In Season 3's "Pipe Dreams," an oil spill breaks out on the Bayside campus, prompting Zack, Slater, and Screech to try to rescue the pond animals they adopted for a class project from the pollution. Unfortunately, they are too late, and Becky, a duck whom Zack had grown fond of, tragically passes away.

Zack Defends Screech From A Bully

At times, it seems unlikely that Zack and Screech would be such good friends, but it makes sense when you learn they have been tight since the characters originated in the precursor to Saved by the Bell, Good Morning, Miss Bliss. One episode of that Disney Channel sitcom saw Screech tormented by a merciless bully, and one of the few classmates who steps in to stand up for him is none other than Zack Morris.

The Gang Helps Zack Graduate

Just as Zack is about the graduate, Mr. Belding reluctantly informs him that he is one credit off and will have to go to summer school. Luckily, he comes up with a plan to get the gang to help him perform in Bayside's production of a ballet called Swan Pond, which ends up counting for the one credit he needs.

Zack Accepts Kelly's Feelings For Jeff

Zack and Kelly's romance eventually results in wedding bells, but there was a time when their relationship hit a snag in Season 3's "The Last Dance." After discovering that Kelly has developed feelings for her boss at the Max, Jeff (Patrick Muldoon), he maturely decides that it is best for them to break up.

Zack Helps With Lisa's Financial Troubles

An early Season 1 episode of Saved by the Bell sees Lisa overwhelmed after she racks up an unforgivably huge bill on her father's credit card by buying items that prove non-returnable. Coming to her rescue is Zack, who whips up a variety of ideas to help pay the difference, including selling off her clothes.

Slater Saves Zack And Kelly's Wedding

Before the Saved by the Bell franchise was revived in 2020 with Peacock's reboot, it came to a close (not counting Saved by the Bell: The New Class) with the 1994 special, Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. In it, Zack and Kelly decide to marry in Sin City and come close to tying the knot in a cheap wedding venue before Zack's parents suddenly appear and promise to help pay for a proper ceremony. Their dream nuptials would have never happened, however, if Slater had not called Zack's parents.

Zack Gets Nikki To Accept Her Love For Baseball

Not all of the characters from Good Morning, Miss Bliss returned for Saved by the Bell, such as Nikki (Heather Hopper), who was the central focus in the B-plot of an episode called "The Mentor." In it, Nikki is encouraged by Lisa to embrace her more traditionally feminine side when boys start making fun of her for being a talented baseball pitcher. However, Zack ends up being the one to encourage her to follow her passions and be herself.

The Gang Shows Their Appreciation For Mr. Belding

In Season 2's "The Fabulous Belding Boys," the gang meets Mr. Belding's brother, Rod (Edward Blatchford), who fills in as their substitute history teacher and immediately earns their admiration, much to the principal's dismay. However, after Zack discovers that Rod was planning to bail on the class' planned camping trip, he and the gang come to realize that they have the better Belding to spend it with.

The Guys Warn Kelly About Her Boyfriend's Infidelity

While the Season 3 episode "Fake I.D.s" begins with Zack, Screech, and Slater indulging in a troublesome act by faking their way into an 18-and-over club called The Attic, it leads to a heroic act on their part. The gentlemen spot Kelly's current beau, Jeff, mingling with another woman, prompting them to rat him out to their friend. This is an especially mature act for Zack, considering Jeff is the one who caused his break-up with Kelly.

The Gang Pulls A Fast One On A Con Artist

In Season 4's "Class Rings," Zack is put in charge of buying his graduating class' commemorative jewelry and believes he has found a great deal through a jeweler aptly named Gem Diamond (Gary Beach). However, when Zack and the gang discover he sold them phony merchandise, they decide to give him a taste of his own medicine and coerce him into giving them authentic rings.

Zack Dances With Wendy

In Season 3's "Date Auction," a plus-size student named Wendy (Judy Carmen) wins a date with Zack, who tries every trick he can think of to get out of it because of her looks. However, he eventually comes to realize how unfairly he was treating this young woman and, at a school dance, shares the last dance of the night with her.

Zack And Jessie Help Kristy Join The Wrestling Team

In a Saved by the Bell episode similar to the Good Morning, Miss Bliss episode involving Nikki's baseball career, a student named Kristy wants to be on Bayside's wrestling team, but is rejected for being a woman. Defending her honor are Zack and Jessie, who campaign for her ability to join her athletic team of choice regardless of her gender.

Zack Flips The Script So Jessie And Slater Can Kiss During A Play

In a Season 4 episode that I imagine Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda would enjoy, Bayside puts on a show reimagining a classic fairytale as a hip-hop-infused musical called Snow White and the Seven Dorks, for which Jessie, in the lead role, is meant to kiss Zack's royal character. After this causes Kelly and Slater to grow jealous, Zack decides to change the ending so that Jessie gets to kiss her beau, Slater, instead.

Zack Gives Screech The Chance To Win An Athletic Competition

In Season 2, Zack tries to get out of detention by joining a high school military program called the California Cadet Corps, which he quickly comes to regret. After forming an agreement with Lt. Chet Adams (Cylk Cozart) that he can leave scot-free if he wins an athletic tournament, Zack gives his geeky good friend Screech the chance to earn their team the gold, and the decision proves victorious.

Zack Drops His Class President Campaign For Jessie

In Season 1's "The Election," Jessie initially runs for class president unopposed before Zack shows interest in running, but only because the winner also gets a cross-country trip. However, he eventually comes to realize that the position and the power to improve life at school genuinely mean a lot to Jessie, inspiring him to step down from the race.

Screech Helps Violet Sing

Screech had a crush on Lisa that dated all the way back to the Good Morning, Miss Bliss days, but there was a time when Saved by the Bell gave him a different love interest in the form of Violet (Tori Spelling). In Season 2's "Glee Club," she has trouble finding the confidence to sing until Screech helps her.

Zack Votes For Kelly In The Malibu Sands Beauty Pageant

In "Fourth of July," an episode from Saved by the Bell's Malibu Sands story arc, Zack is appointed to be a judge for the resort's annual beauty pageant and his boss, Leon Carosi (Ernie Sabella), urges him to rig the event in favor of his daughter, Stacey (Leah Remini), whom Zack is also dating at the time. However, Zack also knows that Kelly is truly deserving of the title, and is in desperate need of the prize money that comes with it, inspiring him to follow his heart and vote fairly for his friend.

Zack Chooses His Friends And Bandmates Over Solo Success

Season 3's "Rockumentary," which features Casey Kasem in his second appearance on the show, is framed as a Behind the Music-style telling of how the gang's band, Zack Attack, acquires fame, but almost costs them their friendship when Zack is given the chance to fly solo. Of course, in the end, Zack chooses to be, reflecting the title of their signature song, "Friends Forever" with the gang... right before the episode is revealed to be a dream sequence. Still, a fantasy in which Zack chooses others over himself counts for something.

Zack Babysits Kelly's Baby Brother

Years before Zack raised a family with Kelly, Peacock's Saved by the Bell reboot introduces their son, Mac Morris (Mitchell Hoog) – he got some early practice in the original series with her infant brother. He turns out to be such a good babysitter that the baby's first word is "Zack."

Screech Accepts Zack And Lisa's Blossoming Romance

In Season 4's "The Bayside Triangle," an unexpected love connection begins to form between Zack and Lisa, which deeply upsets Screech. He eventually comes to accept the feelings that his best friend and longtime crush have for each other, but this episode is ultimately the only time Zack and Lisa's romance is even acknowledged.

Zack And Slater Team Up To Save Their Relationships

In "Breaking Up Is Hard to Undo," the unlikely trio of Zack, Slater, and Mr. Belding relies on each other to cope with their respective romantic troubles, but Zack and Slater, rightfully so, feel the need to get Belding off their backs. So, they discreetly help their principal win back his wife and then win back Kelly and Jessie by putting on performances representing how they should have acted in the moments that broke them up in the first place.

Zack Prevents Screech From Being Taken By The Government

In Season 2, Zack tries to pull a scheme by taking photos of Screech dressed as an extra-terrestrial to win a competition, but the façade ends up proving too convincing when the government threatens to take Screech away for experimentation. Eventually, Zack makes sure his friend is not taken away by coming clean about the prank and having his friends also dress as otherworldly creatures to prove it was all a hoax.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 12 of Found Season 2, called "Missing While Misidentified" and will be available streaming with a Peacock subscription.

Found returned to NBC after a week off in the 2025 TV schedule with a couple of cliffhangers to pay off on. Jamie seemingly turned up out of nowhere to reunite with Margaret, while both Gabi and Sir were carted off to jail by Trent. The main case of the week took place via flashback to Gabi's first days of keeping Sir trapped in her basement. This meant Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar facing off in that basement dungeon again, and the result was an episode so intense that I quickly understood why the actors were so excited about it.

The cast of Found walked the press red carpet at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta, with Arlen Escarpeta weighing in on Found replacing Law & Order: Organized Crime and Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar sharing their thoughts on being nominated for Critics Choice Awards. I took the opportunity to ask the two stars about the episode that was set to go back to the beginning for Gabi and Sir, and Hampton responded:

I hadn't yet seen "Missing While Misidentified" yet when I spoke with the stars at TVfest, but Hampton didn't hold back in hyping the episode and what made it stand out as her "favorite episode to shoot" so far. Gabi didn't have a great time while dealing with panic attacks and Sir already playing mind games just hours after arriving in her basement dungeon, but that's not the case for the leading lady. For his part, Mark-Paul Gosselaar agreed that "it's a great episode" and added that it's "very intense."

Of course, for Gosselaar, returning to the basement dungeon means some uncomfortable circumstances for Sir. For much of "Missing While Misidentified," he was even gagged and had to deliver a performance without being able to speak. So, what is it like for the Saved by the Bell alum to go back to that dungeon, after Sir had escaped at the end of Season 1? I asked that very question, and Gosselaar responded:

The episode ended with Sir in police custody, so Mark-Paul Gosselaar presumably won't be back in the basement dungeon for a while unless Found continues with flashbacks, but the twists at the end of the hour certainly suggest that he's not out of tricks. He swiftly took care of the charges against Gabi by refusing to make a statement incriminating her, so Gabi was free to reunite with the rest of the M&A team – and meet the teen who might be Jamie – before the final credits rolled.

Of course, this is Sir we're talking about, so Gabi pointed out that he didn't do it out of the kindness of his heart, and the episode ended with a zoom in on Sir's face in his prison cell with a creepy cover of Animotion's "Obsession" playing. It remains to be seen how Found will keep Sir in the mix now that he's behind bars, and I still want to know what's up with the boy who Margaret at least believes is Jamie.

Keep tuning in to NBC on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET for new episodes of Found, following Law & Order: SVU. The stars' excitement over Episode 12 doesn't mean that the intensity is going to lighten up moving forward, so I'm guessing that now isn't the time to start missing installments.

Network TV dramas remain immensely popular on the small screen into the 2025 TV schedule, but anybody who stays tuned into the awards circuit knows that the big wins usually go to either streaming or premium cable shows that don't produce 20+ episodes in a season. (Outlander is a notable exception as it's regularly robbed on the award circuit.) CBS' Matlock got a big win at the long-delayed Critics Choice Awards, however, with Kathy Bates beating out a competitor from Shōgun, which otherwise swept the major drama categories.

Given that the CCAs happened shortly after I spoke with Found's Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar about their nominations for their network TV show, I have to wonder: are network dramas making a comeback when it comes to critical recognition and awards?

Matlock's Big Win

Currently in its first season on CBS (available streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), Matlock earned two nominations for the 2025 Critics Choice Awards: Kathy Bates for Best Actress in a Drama Series and Skye P. Marshall for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. While Marshall lost to Moeka Hoshi for Shōgun, Bates beat out the competition to take the top prize for dramatic TV actresses. It's no wonder that the network was quick to celebrate the victory after the CCAs!

And as far as I recall, it’s been a while since a network TV drama was generating the kind of buzz to win a major category at a mainstream awards show. This Is Us was scooping up the trophies in its heyday, but that feels like quite a long time ago at this point. I’m of course not suggesting that streaming and premium cable shows don’t deserve recognition. I was happy to see Shōgun doing so well after its Golden Globes wins back in January.

But dang it, as somebody who watches and writes about network television on a regular basis, I can’t help but be excited to see those shows getting some love, and I shared precisely that recently with the stars of NBC’s Found.

How Shanola Hampton And Mark-Paul Gosselaar Feel About Their CCA Nominations

Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar star in the second season of Found, the intense NBC drama that earned the post-Law & Order: SVU time slot this season to replace Law & Order: Organized Crime. I was fortunate enough to speak with the cast on the red carpet of SCAD TVfest in Atlanta, shortly before the Critics Choice Awards took place. The Shameless alum was up for Best Actress opposite Kathy Bates, while the Pitch vet was in the running for the Best Supporting Actor trophy that went to Shōgun’s Tadanobu Asano.

The two Found stars play characters with a dynamic that’s complicated, to say the least, with Hampton’s Gabi seeking vengeance against Gosselaar’s Sir, who had abducted her when she was a teen. Gabi also uses her experience (and Sir’s expertise as her basement captive in Season 1) to find missing people as an adult, and it’s a compelling enough show that I was excited to see it getting some awards attention, even if not the win. Plus, witnessing the banter between the two stars was proof enough that they’re great actors to portray a much darker relationship on screen.

So, when I spoke with the pair at TVfest, I asked: How did it feel to get that kind of recognition when network TV doesn’t get all of the awards love it deserves? Shanola Hampton weighed in:

Kathy Bates getting a win on CBS doesn’t exactly translate to the Found stars getting the promotion from NBC, but the nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor were positive signs that recognition isn’t impossible just because a show doesn’t release on a streamer or air on a big-budget premium cable network for shorter seasons. Network TV dramas that combine procedural cases with serialized storytelling getting noms? I take it as a good sign for all dramas, and especially Found, after the Critics Choice Awards.

As for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, he echoed his co-star’s thoughts about their recognition, complete with a joke at the very end:

Fortunately, Found Season 2 isn’t nearly over yet, and the upcoming episode on February 13 should be a juicy one for both Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar as it turns back the clock to reveal exactly what happened in those first days after Gabi captured Sir and trapped him in her basement. In fact, Hampton told me that Episode 12 on February 13 was her "favorite episode to shoot," so fans will want to tune in at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. And, if you’re behind and need to catch up, just check out every episode so far with a Peacock subscription!

Interestingly, Matlock and Found both air on Thursday nights, although not directly in competition with one another. Matlock airs ahead of Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth on CBS, while Found airs after Mariska Hargitay’s Law & Order: SVU on NBC.

The phrase “former child star” is most often associated with someone who was famous when they were much younger, but is not quite as well-known — or, perhaps, does not even act anymore — as a grown-up. Yet, for every starlet who has risen and fallen, there are just as many who have beaten the odds and have gone onto bigger and better things as adults, like these beloved celebrities.

Macaulay Culkin

The first person you might think of when you think of “former child stars” could be Macaulay Culkin, who was on top of the world when he led the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. While his notoriety would slow in subsequent years, it is always a treat to see him show up in ensembles like the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic cast.

Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas was one of the most acclaimed young actors of his time with leading roles in 1985’s Witness, opposite Harrison Ford, and the underrated ghost story, Lady in White, from 1988. He has since made a living taking smaller roles in otherwise big movies like Inception and Babylon, plus he's shown up on TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds.

Jurnee Smollett

With an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Lovecraft Country, a scene-stealing role in DC’s Birds of Prey, and a stellar turn in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, Jurnee Smollett has established herself as one of the strongest talents of her time. However, that was already clear with her recurring role in Full House and her astonishing performance in 1997’s acclaimed Black horror movie, Eve’s Bayou, when she was still a child.

Jason Bateman

From his debut role on Little House on the Prairie to his years on the sitcom Valerie (which would become The Hogan Family), Jason Bateman showed great versatility as a performer in his younger years. He has upheld that reputation ever since, as seen by his Emmy-nominated work leading the Arrested Development cast and, later, the Ozark cast. His ability to shift from starring in funny movies like Horrible Bosses to dramas like Air is remarkable.

Dakota Fanning

Racking up more than 20 credits before she turned 10, Dakota Fanning was everywhere in the early 2000s — catching the attention of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg for War of the Worlds and holding her own against actors like Robert DeNiro in Hide and Seek. Save her age, nothing much has changed for the actor, who appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast and reunited with her Man on Fire co-star, Denzel Washington, in 2023’s The Equalizer 3.

Ryan Gosling

A 13-year-old Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mouseketeer, paving the way for him to star in back-to-back scary anthology TV shows for kids (Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps), lead Young Hercules, and more. Leading 2004’s The Notebook cast paved the way for him to be an action hero in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. On top of all that, he also earned Oscar nominations for Half Nelson and La La Land, and made us laugh as part of the The Nice Guys ensemble and the Barbie cast as Ken.

Brie Larson

After some faux ads on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show marked her debut at 9, Brie Larson went on to star in a family sitcom with the late Bob Saget (Raising Dad), was in a YA novel adaptation (Hoot), and she even had a singing career in her teens. Now, she is a comic book movie star (for appearing in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and playing the MCU’s Captain Marvel), and she has an Oscar for Room from 2015.

Kenan Thompson

On All That — Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live — one of the young cast’s most prominent breakouts was Kenan Thompson, who went on to co-lead his own kid-friendly sitcom with Kel Mitchell, aptly named Kenan & Kel. The Emmy winner went on to break the record for longest-running SNL actor and lead his own adult sitcom, Kenan.

David Krumholtz

After making his debut playing a child actor in 1993’s Life with Mikey, David Krumholtz became a prominent child actor with roles in Addams Family Values as Wednesday’s love interest and Tim Allen’s head elf, Bernard, in The Santa Clause. The crime procedural, Numb3rs, earned him greater recognition, leading to a career that includes lending his voice to Sausage Party, appearing in the Oppenheimer cast, and reprising Bernard on Disney+’s series, The Santa Clauses.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing a kid genius on Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, which he acknowledged when he later played himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Of course, the five-time Emmy winner is better known today as Barney Stinson from the How I Met Your Mother cast, Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and so much more.

Josh Brolin

At 17, first-time actor Josh Brolin immediately made his mark on pop culture as part of the Goonies cast in the role of Brand Walsh. However, he really got heads turning at 39 when he starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, No Country for Old Men. The son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin has an Oscar nomination for Milk and multiple comic book movie roles under his belt (Jonah Hex, MCU’s Thanos, and Cable in Deadpool 2), among other great achievements. 

Haley Joel Osment

After debuting in Forrest Gump and starring on The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Haley Joel Osment’s Oscar-nominated performance in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made him a sensation. He went on to earn leading parts in Pay It Forward and Steven Spielberg’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. More recently, Osment has been known to pop up in the most unexpected places — Kevin Smith’s Tusk, a guest role on The Boys, Netflix's animated fantasy series Dogs in Space, to name a few — but always with grand results.

Ethan Hawke

After debuting in Joe Dante’s Explorers at 15, Ethan Hawke only grew in prominence in his later teens and throughout his 20s by starring in Dead Poets Society, Reality Bites, etc. He went on to earn Academy Award nominations for Training Day and Boyhood. He completed Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy with 2013’s Before Midnight, became a Scream King with great horror movies like Sinister, and he's done a fair amount of work behind the scenes, too.

Abigail Breslin

Just four years after M. Night Shyamalan gave 6-year-old Abigail Breslin her big break with Signs, her role in the Little Miss Sunshine cast made her one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time. As she matured, so would her roles — such as a teenage murder suspect in Stillwater or a vigilante in the Accused cast for Fox.

Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik stole the show from the Big Bang Theory cast as Amy Farrah Fowler and later led Fox’s Call Me Kat in the title role. However, the Jeopardy! host’s status as sitcom royalty dates back to the ‘90s as the star of Blossom.

Brenda Song

Perhaps Brenda Song’s most iconic character is London Tipton from the Suite Life franchise — which is just one of the roles that made her a prominent Disney Channel star. Beyond the children’s cable giant, she was in one of the best David Fincher movies, The Social Network, led Netflix’s Secret Obsession, and had a main role in Hulu’s Dollface.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Despite being removed for disruptive behavior when making his show business debut on Romper Room at 3 years old (as he revealed to David Letterman), Leonardo DiCaprio went on to lead a winning child actor’s career that included a season on Growing Pains and an Academy Award nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Things would only get better as he grew up, earning even more Oscar nominations — and one win for The Revenant — and becoming as important to Martin Scorsese’s filmography as his This Boy’s Life co-star, Robert DeNiro, whom he reunited with in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams started out appearing on Sesame Street before landing the title role of Chris Rock’s autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris. Following an acclaimed indie comedy (Dear White People) and a recurring role on the Walking Dead cast, the actor became sitcom royalty again when he joined the Abbott Elementary cast, which earned him multiple Emmy nods.

Kurt Russell

Former Disney star Kurt Russell made his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, and he went on to play him in a made-for-TV biopic and Forrest Gump. Several great movie roles later, Russell is one of the top action heroes of all time, and now he's working with his family by joining the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cast alongside his son, Wyatt, who is playing his younger self.

Jodie Foster

After getting her start on TV at a very young age (the first gig being The Doris Day Show), Jodie Foster got a head start on the more mature roles she would become known for when she appeared in Taxi Driver at 14. The two-time Academy Award winner (for The Accused and Best Picture Oscar winner The Silence of the Lambs) would continue to work from both in front of and behind the camera.

Johnny Galecki

In 1989, 14-year-old Johnny Galecki appeared as Rusty in the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation cast, and he also starred in another holiday classic, Prancer. I would not be surprised if many did not realize that Leonard from The Big Bang Theory was the same actor, but they were likely more hip to that fact by the time he reprised his role from Roseanne, David Healy, on The Conners.

Miranda Cosgrove

Even with Jack Black in the lead, Miranda Cosgrove stole the show in 2003’s School of Rock, and she went on to do the same thing as the evil Megan in the Nickelodeon sitcom, Drake & Josh. One of her most notable credits as an adult was a Paramount+ exclusive revival of iCarly — another Nickelodeon show she led as a teen.

Keke Palmer

Her bombastic debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business made it clear that then-9-year-old Keke Palmer was a powerhouse talent. The Emmy winner would continue to demonstrate her skill as the lead of Akeelah and the Bee and much later in life as part of Jordan Peele’s Nope cast.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

While Zach Morris from the Saved by the Bell cast is still the role he is best known for — he even reprised it in a Peacock exclusive revival — Mark-Paul Gosselaar managed to prove his versatility in later years. He had a successful stint as a detective on NYPD Blue, played a rebellious lawyer on Franklin & Bash, and an abusive captor in NBC’s Found.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Before starring on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt made multiple TV appearances and starred in classic movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It. These days, he is best known for his many collaborations with Rian Johnson, his Golden Globe-nominated turns in (500) Days of Summer and 50/50, and running the creative collaboration platform HitRecord.

Sean Astin

Before playing the title role of Rudy and starring in the Lord of the Rings movies as Sam, Sean Astin was best known as Mikey in The Goonies. In addition to his accomplished voice acting career, one of his most celebrated roles as of late is Bob Newby from the Season 2 cast of Stranger Things — a show very much inspired by The Goonies.

Kirsten Dunst

After making her film debut in star-studded The Bonfire of the Vanities, Kirsten Dunst really made an impression at 12 playing a 70-year-old bloodsucker in Interview with the Vampire. Starring in the Spider-Man movies as Mary Jane Watson swung her right into the A-list and, in 2022, she received an Academy Award nomination for The Power of the Dog.

Kieran Culkin

With his roles in the Home Alone movies and in Steve Martin movies (both parts of Father of the Bride), it seemed like Kieran Culkin was on his way to the same level of stardom as his brother, Macaulay. However, it was not until later in life when he was thrice Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Succession cast that he became the star he was destined to be.

Selena Gomez

Before leading Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place made Selena Gomez a star, she got her start on Barney in the early 2000s. She now has two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her performance on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building cast and a Daytime Emmy nod for her Max original cooking show, Selena + Chef.

Elle Fanning

Before breaking out in the Super 8 cast, Elle Fanning’s claim to fame for a while was starring as a younger version of sister, Dakota, in I Am Sam and Taken. Now, she has an Emmy nomination for leading Hulu’s The Great, which is just one of the many Victorian-era roles she has played in more recent years.

Christina Ricci

For years, Christina Ricci’s performance in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family movies was the definitive iteration of young Wednesday Addams. The Yellowjackets cast member got to revisit those days with her supporting role on Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega in the lead this time.

Danica McKellar

Some of the most memorably endearing moments from the original Wonder Years involved Danica McKellar’s Winnie Cooper and her puppy love relationship with Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold. Romance is a big part of the actor’s career these days, primarily appearing in popular Hallmark movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Knowing the kind of career they would one day lead, I am sure these celebrities wear their “former child star” identities as a badge of honor.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 6 of NBC's Found, called "Missing While Addicted."

Gabi Mosely's secret is dangerously close to being discovered after the latest episode of Found, which delivered some reveals about her alcoholic father via flashback and clouded her judgment in the present. Stealing a thumb drive from Trent is seemingly going to backfire a lot more seriously than him being mad at her for a scene or two after finding out, and Lacey doesn't appear to be giving up on trying to find out what her mentor is hiding. The cliffhanger of "Missing While Addicted" set up what could be somebody making the discovery about Sir in Gabi's basement, and those final moments left me with one wish for the next episode in the 2023 TV schedule.

The case of the week seemed all wrapped up when Gabi had her final conversation with Sir of the episode, in which he responded to her accusation that he's a monster by shaking his chains and asking what that makes her. (While Found did rule out that he's a monster worthy of Law & Order: SVU, he's still not exactly a good guy.) That wasn't the end, however, as none other than Trent showed up at her home, looking on the verge of a breakdown with some bad news about the thumb drive and his boss: 

Although clearly nervous, Gabi opened her door and let Trent into her house, and Sir could hear them talking from the basement. Mark-Paul Gosselaar played the moment with his character looking furious, but the question is whether that anger will motivate Sir to try and alert Trent that he's being held captive or if he'll have some other plan in mind for however Gabi handles the situation. "Missing While Addicted" ended on his expression, and my immediate reaction was that I so hope that the next episode picks up exactly where this one left off. 

Yes, my wish is for absolutely no time jump between the end of "Missing While Addicted" and beginning of the next episode so we can see exactly what goes down with Trent in Gabi's house and Sir having the opportunity to raise the alarm. Installments so far haven't really carried over from the very end of one to the very beginning of the next, but this would be a great time for Found to do just that. I'm not sure how Gabi is going to get out of this one, and I'm sure looking forward to (hopefully) seeing it! 

That said, the promo for Episode 7 – called "Missing While Indigenous" – only gives away that Sir will have a part to play, and he appears to still be locked as tightly as ever in his basement cell. Take a look:

Interestingly, Trent also briefly appears in the promo, so he's either back on the job despite the suspension and pending investigation or he's assisting the team in his civvies. Based on the quick trailer, there's not much information to go off of for how the next episode will handle the aftermath of the cliffhanger, so I'll just have to keep hoping for Found to skip any kind of time jump. 

Keep tuning in to NBC on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET for new episodes of Found, following two hours of The Voice at 8 p.m. You can also revisit earlier episodes of the Shanola Hampton- and Mark-Paul Gosselaar-led drama streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the fourth episode of Found, called "Missing While A Pawn."

NBC's Found continues building on the twisted backstory between Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Gabi Mosely (Shanola Hampton) in the 2023 TV schedule, and the actors definitely delivered in "Missing While A Pawn." The latest episode added some new layers to their relationship, with a reveal about Sir that could help explain Gabi's decision to take him captive rather than turn him in. Gabi also dropped some comments that suggest that if she has a long-term plan for Sir, it could be one from which there's no coming back. 

The case of the week involved a 13-year-old boy going missing from a church, with Gabi recruiting Sir to help figure out why young Matthew seemingly went with the bad guys of his own free will. His insight helped her team find the teen before he could be trafficked, although another teen was shot and left comatose in the process. All in all, it wasn't Gabi's best day, made all the worse by what she was flashing back to throughout "Missing While A Pawn." And that brings us to Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character.

Sir Took Another Girl

The flashbacks continued to show Sir as a man who wasn't physically harming Gabi, but would deprive her of food for something as minor as her not reading the Shakespearean play he assigned her. When she finally did pick up his copy of Julius Caesar, she found a note in it that read:

I don't want to say that I called it last week that Gabi wasn't Sir's first kidnapping victim, but... I totally called it after a big hint in a small moment. After he caught Gabi frantically searching for more notes from Annie in the newest episode, he didn't bother denying that he'd taken somebody else captive before her. When she asked what happened to Annie, Sir all but snarled and said: 

Given that Gabi is still looking for answers about Annie in the present, it's safe to say that Sir's prediction that his previous kidnapped victim would never be found is accurate so far. His phrasing definitely sounds like he killed Annie, but I don't think fans should take that as the truth until a body is found or Gabi uncovers more details. 

Gabi Doesn't Expect Sir To Be Found

For her part, Gabi was having an extremely tough trip down memory lane, triggered by the "Annie, are you okay?" lyric from Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" during karaoke night with the team. She was also on edge when Lacey brought up Sir, who – as far as she knows, anyway – has never been found. The details of how Gabi actually caught their former captor and locked him in her basement aren't clear just yet, but she said this when Lacey asked her friend if she thought he'd ever be found:

Unbeknownst to Gabi, her answer was phrased in a way that clued Lacey in that she was lying. While she was obviously hiding the truth about Sir, I don't think she was lying about thinking he'll never be found, which... is pretty dark. Whether it means that Gabi is planning on keeping him alive in her basement forever, she is planning on killing him someday, or she doesn't really have a long-term plan at all, Shanola Hampton's performance suggested that her character meant what she said about Sir. 

Personally, I'm very curious about why Gabi seemingly never told anybody about Annie. Surely if she'd reported Sir's first victim to the authorities, Lacey would know about it, right? Or did she somehow manage to report Annie's disappearance and also protect Lacey from it? Does she think she'll only get answers if she keeps Sir in her own custody and searches for Annie herself?

We'll have to wait and see if we get answers on that front, but "Missing While A Pawn" struck me as Shanola Hampton's best performance yet as leading lady of Found. Gabi's frustration was building just beneath the surface throughout the episode, until she was pushed too far and started screaming, crying, and smashing dishes to let her feelings out. Then, she calmed down and started reviewing Annie's case again, because she couldn't give up.

Hampton crushed it from start to finish, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't rewind that scene with Gabi's breakdown on the first floor of her home while Sir shouted for her from the basement. I've been impressed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar all season, but Hampton was the standout of Episode 4 for me. Keep tuning in to NBC on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET for new episodes of Found, or stream them next day with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of new drama Found on NBC.

After a great deal of promotion from NBC, new drama Found has finally premiered with Shameless alum Shanola Hampton in the lead role of Gabi Mosley, who heads a crisis management team that specializes in finding those who nobody else is looking for. The series premiere showed the team in action, as well as how they interacted with local law enforcement for a very solid hour of television. What helped to set it apart from other crime-related dramas was the performance of Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who has me hooked on the new show after one particular scene. 

With Found premiering not too long after the Saved by the Bell alum opened up about nearly quitting acting, I'm particularly relieved that Shanola Hampton has him as a scene partner. So, let's get into why Mark-Paul Gosselaar might have left the entertainment industry, and how Found got off to a strong start!

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Almost Quit Acting

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is a familiar face for plenty of people across decades of television, known for his iconic performance in Saved by the Bell as well as more serious roles in shows like ABC crime drama Will Trent, Fox's The Passage, and the cancelled MLB-based drama Pitch. Speaking at the recent Saved by the Bell panel at 90s Con Tampa (via People), the actor explained how he felt when Pitch was cancelled by Fox after just one season in 2017:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar played catcher Mike Lawson in the drama that starred Kylie Bunbury as the first woman to play for Major League Baseball. Following the cancellation, he seemed hopeful for the show to be rescued, but that ultimately never happened. Fortunately for fans, quitting the industry ultimately didn't happen either, and now he is back in primetime in a very new and very different role. 

How He Hooked Me On Found

I was already optimistic about Found based on the first looks of Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, and definitely looking forward to seeing Mark-Paul Gosselaar in action. Still, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from his role as Sir, who kidnapped Gabi as a child and forced her to read books and recite scripts at dinners with him during her captivity. I mostly knew MPG from Saved by the Bell and Pitch, and he definitely wasn't abducting children as Zack Morris or Mike Lawson. 

The Will Trent co-showrunner explained how Gosselaar has a knack for making unlikable characters more likable, but Sir is a far cry from the ABC drama's Paul, who was a bully at his worst instead of a twisted criminal. While Found's first glimpses of Sir in the series premiere showed that the actor could play the character in full villain mode with two young girls in captivity, it was his final scene that really showed that this show has something special with MPG and Shanola Hampton. 

Gabi keeping Sir locked in her basement and using him as a resource for locating other kidnap victims was already given away by the promos for Found, but seeing the full scene completely in context was a chilling way to end the episode and pay off on the clues she was dropping throughout the episode. Plus, the shift from seeing Gabi triumphantly finding Camilla to the reveal that she pulled it off because of Sir's insights left me ready to rewind ASAP. 

The whole ensemble was interesting as well, with the reveals of how each member of Gabi's team has a personal motivation to help find the people who nobody else is looking for. Given that Found premieres in a 2023 TV season that's short on scripted dramas due to the WGA writers strike, the timing couldn't be better for a launch. 

After all, The Irrational got off to a strong start as another new NBC scripted show and has already shown Jesse L. Martin in action. As for what's next for Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Shanola Hampton as Sir and Gabi... well, keep tuning in to NBC on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET for new episodes of Found.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is returning to primetime this fall as star of NBC's chilling new drama Found. The show stands out already as one that was able to complete episodes before the WGA writers strike brought many series to a standstill, and he won't exactly be channeling his Saved by the Bell character for it. Now, with the days counting down until Found arrives in the 2023 TV schedule, I find myself flashing back to an interview with ABC's Will Trent co-showrunner, who shared lots of love for Gosselaar for his ability to play characters who aren't always the most lovable.

What Will Trent's Co-Showrunner Said About Mark-Paul Gosselaar

I spoke with Will Trent co-showrunner Dan Thomsen prior to the WGA writers strike earlier this year at SCAD TVfest in Atlanta about the ABC show that was still in its first season at the time. After he shared how the Will Trent stars had a head start on their bond, the conversation shifted to Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who would appear in four episodes. When asked how casting the actor happened, Thomsen explained: 

While The Passage ran on Fox for just one season (although it earned a spot on our list of most disappointing TV cancellations of 2019) before coming to a premature end, it was enough that star Mark-Paul Gosselaar inspired the Will Trent showrunners to cast him for their newest project. 

The Fox series concerned a post-apocalyptic vampiric future, so the similarities to Will Trent (and Found, for that matter) only go so far, but Gosselaar fit right into the new ABC show. He had a key role in the case of the Will Trent pilot as Paul Campano, and it might not have worked with any different actor, as Dan Thomsen went on to explain:

Dan Thomsen went on to point out that "Paul was a bully, Will was the bullied," which meant that he needed an actor who could make the character who bullies the title character into a more likable character. I would say that it worked, because I certainly enjoyed what Paul brought to the show by the end. The co-showrunner elaborated: 

It remains to be seen if Will Trent can bring Paul Campano back now that Mark-Paul Gosselaar is on the verge of debuting as part of a different show on a different network. The ABC series was renewed ahead of the finale delivering a great cliffhanger, so it will be back with or without Paul... whenever the strikes allow production to start. As for where you'll be able to find MPG, get ready to change the channel to NBC!

How Mark-Paul Gosselaar Is Returning To TV

The Will Trent alum may need all of his talents for turning unlikable characters into compelling characters, because he's definitely not playing one of the good guys for NBC's Found! The show centers on Gabi Mosely, a public relations specialist played by star/producer Shanola Hampton who leads a crisis management team. The team specializes in finding people who have gone missing and have been forgotten. Gabi was once one of those missing and forgotten due to being kidnapped as a child... and that's where Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Sir comes in. 

Sir kidnapped Gabi when she was young, which motivated her to pursue the career that she has... and also to keep him locked in her basement. While everybody will have to wait until the show premieres on Tuesday, October 3 in NBC's fall premiere schedule, a first look gives a preview of both characters and what appears to be a twisted and chilling dynamic. Check it out:

The show looks like it will touch on some sadly true-to-life stories when it comes to the more than 600,000 people reported missing every year in the U.S., more than half of which are people of color. In addition to Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Found features Kelli Williams, Brett Dalton, Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta and Karan Oberoi. 

Found will premiere on NBC on Tuesday, October 3 at 10 p.m. ET, which places it directly behind a new episode of The Voice. With the singing competition in its 24th season, the two series aren't exactly within the same genre. Still, any new show would be lucky to hold on to viewers who never miss an episode of The Voice, and airing on Tuesdays could be good for Mark-Paul Gosselaar's newest TV endeavor. 

Plenty of icons from the ‘90s reunited at ‘90s Con Tampa over the weekend, including the cast of Boy Meets World. With Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong among the cast that appeared at the convention in Florida, they documented fun moments on social media. The trio even had a run-in with ‘90s icon Mark-Paul Gosselaar while also making jokes about how much he looks like Dawson's Creek's James Van Der Beek.

The Saved By the Bell star recorded an episode of the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast, Pod Meets World, over the summer. While Gosselaar admitted that he does sometimes get mistakenly "recognized" for Boy Meets World instead of his own show, he said that he would deliberately send his friends memes of James Van Der Beek since he thinks that’s the closest in terms of similarity. Between the long names, starring roles on teen shows, and resemblance, Gosselaar and Van Der Beek might as well be twins. 

Fishel, Friedle, and Strong met up with Gosselaar at ‘90s Con and posted a photo to Instagram where they said they were “thrilled” to meet Van Der Beek, and it was great:

It’s definitely great to see all four of them together since it’s like worlds colliding. What makes it even funnier is that people may not know what the caption means unless they listen to Pod Meets World. Whether you're in on that podcast joke or not, though, can anybody really deny the resemblance between the former Boy Meets World star and former Dawson's Creek star? 

The run-in with Gosselaar is made even better by the fact that Fishel, Friedle, and Strong shared a photo with Van Der Beek the previous week while promoting the Saved By the Bell star’s episode. Given the fact that Gosselaar's episode also dropped at the beginning of the month and then ‘90s Con happened a couple weeks later, it was perfect timing. 

What would really make things better is if the Dawson’s Creek star ended up as a guest on Pod Meets World as well! It would also be a dream if he and Mark-Paul Gosselaar met up at one of these conventions so fans could do a double take. It’s something that I think the world needs. At least fans can have the interaction with the Boy Meets World crew, which is better than nothing.

Despite being a Boy Meets World podcast, Pod Meets World has brought on a number of stars that weren’t on the TGIF series. Along with MPG, the podcast welcomed Full House's Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber, both separately and together, to promote their own rewatch podcast, How Rude, Tanneritos! Melissa Joan Hart was also on an episode, and it just brought back all of the ‘90s feels. He may not be in Hollywood anymore, but hopefully James Van Der Beek appears on an episode soon to continue that nostalgia.

If you want to revisit these lookalikes' iconic characters, you can find Dawson's Creek streaming with a Max subscription and the Saved by the Bell revival with a Peacock subscription. 

Saved by the Bell was a TV staple for many kids growing up in the ‘90s, with episodes airing after school in syndication for years after the series ended in 1993. The hijinks pulled by Zack Morris and his Bayside classmates have lived in infamy over the decades — largely because of what a terrible person Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s character appears to be in hindsight. In fact, that’s the whole focus of the Funny or Die series Zack Morris Is Trash, and even Gosselaar has admitted that some of the episodes crossed the line of exaggerated reality, becoming problematic. He addressed a couple of them recently, and I’d have to agree that “trash” is a pretty good descriptor.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar went on the Pod Meets World podcast, hosted by Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle of Boy Meets World fame. It was there that he discussed rewatching Saved by the Bell for his own podcast, Zack to the Future, and realizing how “problematic” some of the episodes actually were. He told his fellow actors (via Deadline): 

The episode was “The Lisa Card,” and it was actually one of the first episodes Mark-Paul Gosselaar dissected with Zack Morris Is Trash creator Dashiell Driscoll on their rewatch podcast. As the actor mentioned, they even included a disclaimer at the beginning of the Zack to the Future episode to clarify that by speaking about the episode they weren’t condoning Zack Morris’ behavior in charging students $1 to kiss Lisa (Lark Voorhies).

On Pod Meets World, the veteran actor also discussed the infamously troublesome episode “Running Zack,” in which the bleached-blond teenager dressed in full traditional Native American garb, complete with a headdress and "war paint" on his face, and stood in a stereotypical pose. The actor admitted to being uncomfortable seeing that, saying: 

His sentiments echoed the 2021 episode of Zack to the Future, in which Mark-Paul Gosselaar said he “cringed” when he saw his character dressed as what Dashiell Driscoll called a “racist caricature.” The hosts invited actor and comedian Tatanka Means on the show to provide context about why Gosselaar’s portrayal was so hurtful, and the actor concluded that such an episode would not happen today “for good reason.”

One good thing that comes from rewatching old media like this and talking about it on a public platform is that we’re able to identify things that were wrong in the past and examine why problematic themes like the ones on Saved by the Bell were able to happen. This hopefully allows us to see what has changed over the years and what still needs to change in order to prevent further hurt. Because no matter how beloved the '90s sitcom may be, there’s no denying that examples like the two above are incredibly innapropriate.  

One of the biggest joys for yours truly at the latest ‘90s Con in Hartford, CT was the panel lovingly focused on Saved by the Bell, with Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez as the stellar trio of guests. And while much of the panel (and the event at large) was dedicated to looking back at the decade in question, the SBTB squad took a few minutes to talk about their current and future projects. Which sadly don’t include Season 3 of the superb Saved by the Bell revival, which was maddeningly canceled last year by Peacock.

Up next for Elizabeth Berkley is the HBO drama The Idol which has already made the controversy rounds this year over sexed-up content claims. That might come as quite a shock to longtime fans of the actress, who counts a Melissa & Joey appearance and a Hallmark Christmas movie among her last handful of acting roles. Sure, she’s got Showgirls on her resume, but she already poked fun at that within Saved by the Bell itself. In any case, here’s what she had to say about joining the new show from Johnny Depp’s daughter Lily-Rose Depp and the Guiness World Record-breaking musician The Weeknd. 

Considering The Idol still doesn’t have a premiere date locked down, having been largely revamped from the ground up when Euphoria’s Sam Levinson took over directing duties from Amy Seimetz, it’s understandable that Elizabeth Berkley couldn’t say too much about what viewers can expect to see beyond what the teasers have already shown us. Speaking of, here’s the latest one that HBO put out into the world, though I couldn’t spot the Saved by the Bell vet in there anywhere. 

For now, we’ll just have to be patient while waiting to see what role Berkley took on for her first big HBO role — she was in a multi-episode stint for Showtime’s The L Word — while coming up with our own theories about just how gritty the new project will be compared to Bayside’s high school silliness. 

Elizabeth Berkley On Working With Mark-Paul Gosselaar Again

It was actually before she brought up The Idol when Elizabeth Berkley took a second to reflect on and regret Saved by the Bell not returning for another season. More specifically, she turned to former co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar to pointedly compliment him and voice her wishes for them to team up again at some point. Here’s how she put it:

It was the Season 2 installment “The Gift,” in which Jessie talked to Kelly about applying to medical school regardless of anyone else’s thoughts, that Mark-Paul Gosselaar served as a director for Peacock’s Saved by the Bell. Prior to that, he’d only directed two other TV episodes — one episode of Franklin & Bash and one of Murder in the First — so it might be a bit before the next one comes around, and it’ll take some very special planning for Berkley to be involved. But that doesn’t mean we can’t hope for it just as much as she is. And hey, if Franklin himself Breckin Meyer wanted to get involved as well, the more the merrier!

MPG echoed her thoughts about it being a really great experience, while also restating how disappointed he was that the show was canceled. As great as it is that both seasons can be streamed over and over again with a Peacock subscription, I just want to spend more time with Zack, Jessie and all of the new characters like Daisy and Lexi.

Everybody can get so excited, so excited, and mayyyybe so scared for the upcoming debut of The Idol when it hits the 2023 TV premiere schedule.

Saved by the Bell returned back in 2020 with a revival that centered on a new cast of Bayside High students, with enough appearances from original series stars and ‘90s references to deliver all the nostalgia that millennials could want, even though one notable character never appeared for a sad reason. Now, shortly following the series winning its first award, it has been cancelled after running for two seasons on Peacock, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar wasted no time in sharing his feelings after the news broke. 

In the Saved by the Bell revival, Mark-Paul Gosselaar reprised his iconic role of Zack Morris, who became governor of California as an adult and sent the son he shares with longtime love Kelly Kapowski to – where else? – Bayside High. He didn’t appear in every episode, but Zack was still a key element to the very premise of the Peacock series, and the actor's disappointment with the cancellation undoubtedly carries a lot of weight with fans. The actor took to Twitter to share his feelings about the end of the show, posting:

Although there is no sign that Saved by the Bell could follow in the footsteps of shows like Manifest and Lucifer and get a second life on another platform, fans can at least take some comfort in seeing that Mark-Paul Gosselaar is also disappointed and has so much respect for the people involved in making the show at Peacock. Deadline, which broke the bad news, reports that the cast and crew learned about the cancellation on May 3 before it was announced publicly on May 4. 

The revival featured almost the entire original cast at some point or other as adults, although Dustin Diamond didn’t appear before he passed away in early 2021. The second season did find the opportunity to pay tribute to Screech and delivered some fun reunions, even though the focus on this version of Saved by the Bell was on the kids. There are no details currently available about why Peacock decided to cancel Saved by the Bell, as the first season reportedly did well, but a spokeswoman for the streamer said: 

A silver lining is that at least Saved by the Bell wasn’t the kind of show that ended its seasons on life-or-death cliffhangers, so Season 2 didn’t close on anybody’s life in jeopardy. If you want to revisit the first and now only two seasons, you can find them streaming with a Peacock subscription. The NBC Universal streamer is also the home of the original SBTB, The College Years, and both TV movies. 

For some viewing options that you can look forward to in the coming weeks and months, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule, and don’t forget to swing by our rundown of important TV finale dates for when the biggest shows still on television will end for the 2021-2022 TV season.

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Leah Remini is a star in her own right these days, known for her longtime role as Carrie Heffernan on The King of Queens, as well as her work as an activist against the Church of Scientology. But, back in 1991, Remini had only a handful of small acting jobs on her resume when she accepted the role of Stacey Carosi on Saved by the Bell. Stacey was the boss’ daughter during Saved by the Bell’s Malibu Sands episodes, where the gang worked at a beach club for the summer, and Stacey struck up a romance with Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Zack Morris.

The beach episodes of Saved by the Bell came later in the series’ run — after Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez and the rest of the gang were already well-established as teen idols. Leah Remini talked to Gosselaar on his podcast Zack to the Future about how intimidating it was to join the cast, especially in the role of Zack’s girlfriend.

It’s sad to know that Leah Remini felt like that next to Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, especially because fans of Saved by the Bell actually welcomed Stacey as a new love interest for Zack — a strange and surprising phenomenon in a world that, to this day, worships at the shrine of Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski. But, it’s also totally understandable that Remini was nervous to join the established cast. She was still fairly new to acting, and I mean, I wouldn’t want to be the girl who comes after Tiffani-Amber Thiessen either; who wasn't in awe of her face?

It’s crazy to think that Leah Remini was only in six episodes of Saved by the Bell. Stacey Carosi’s summer romance with Zack Morris lives in infamy, which is probably in part due to the chemistry the couple shared on the screen. Remini even told Mark-Paul Gosselaar that she’s still recognized as Stacey Carosi more than any other role she’s played since.

Season 1 of the Saved by the Bell follow-up series is streaming now on Peacock, and while we’ve seen the return of many of our favorites from the series’ original run, Stacey Carosi has had no reason to grace the halls of Bayside High — which might be a good thing, if she wants to avoid an awkward encounter with Governor Zack Morris and his wife, Kelly Morris.

But, who knows? Maybe Mac Morris will take a summer job at Malibu Sands one of these seasons. The original Saved by the Bell episodes can be streamed on Peacock and Hulu, and be sure to check out our 2021 Summer TV schedule for more to watch.

The entertainment world was faced with some very sad news yesterday, as Dustin Diamond, who was widely known for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers in the Saved by the Bell franchise, has passed away. It was recently reported that the actor had been hospitalized and later diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, and he sadly succumbed to his illness at the age of 44. Since Diamond’s passing, a number of actors have paid tribute to him and, now, his fellow Saved by the Bell alums like Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen are honoring their late co-star.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar played Dustin Diamond’s scheming but caring on-screen best friend, Zack Morris, and the two would work closely together on three different incarnations of Saved by the Bell. In a Twitter post, Gosselaar called Diamond a “comedic genius” and saluted his former co-star:

Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed everyone’s crush Kelly Kapowski, also took to social media to honor Dustin Diamond. The actress previously sent well wishes to Diamond when his diagnosis was made public, and she expressed sadness over the news of his passing:

Like Thiessen, Saved by the Bell star Mario Lopez also sent love to Diamond while he was in the hospital. Upon hearing of Diamond’s death, Lopez took to Instagram to share a tribute:

Elizabeth Berkley, who stars alongside Lopez in the recent SBTB reboot, sent her condolences as well. In an Instagram post, she expressed gratitude in having been able to work with Dustin Diamond and posted a few photos of the late actor in his famous role:

Many Saved by the Bell fans undoubtedly know that over the course of the show, Screech sought after the affections of Lark Voorhies’ popular and trendy Lisa Turtle. While Lisa would get annoyed by Screech’s efforts, the relationship between Diamond and Voorhies was different. In a statement to EW, the actress reflected on Diamond fondly and sent her condolences to his family:

Although Screech could never woo Lisa, Dustin Diamond’s character did find another love on the show in the form of Tori Spelling’s Violet. After learning of Diamond’s passing, Spelling posted a lengthy Instagram message in which she beautifully paid tribute to “1st onscreen love”:

Ed Alonzo, who portrayed The Max’s magician owner Max, also paid tribute to Diamond on social media. In his post, he included a vintage image of him and a young Diamond on the show:

It’s been truly nice to see the love that’s been shown to Dustin Diamond and his loved ones during this time. While Diamond and his castmates weren’t always on the best of terms in the years after the show ended, they still appear to have plenty of love for him and each other. Any Saved by the Bell fan would tell you it looks like the cast members truly are “friends forever.”

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Dustin Diamond during this difficult time.

In my eyes, one of the most creatively successful TV revivals in recent years was definitely Peacock's modern-day take on Saved by the Bell, which delivered on all the expected high school hijinks (and callbacks) while also updating the humor to reflect current social norms. One of the more unexpected changes involved Zack Morris' patented world-freezing Time Out power being transferred to Haskiri Velazquez's lead character Daisy Jiménez, as opposed to Zack and Kelly's son Mac Morris, as portrayed with blonde perfection by Mitchell Hoog. And Velazquez has the perfect idea for how to reconcile that character-shifting change in Season 2, which you can read lower.

After Saved by the Bell debuted on Peacock, where it has become the most popular original series on the still-growing streaming service, CinemaBlend had the pleasure of talking to Haskiri Jiménez. During our talk, I asked the actress about any conversations that were had about transferring Zack's reality-bending powers to Daisy instead of to Mac, and here's what she told me:

By all means, considering Daisy is essentially the main character in this iteration of Saved by the Bell, with Mac in more of a passenger-seat role, it definitely made sense for her to be the one who could freeze all the other characters. Plus, she uses her Time Outs in ways that call attention to what's happening around her, as opposed to Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Zack usually using them when his plots are failing and he needs to buy time. I can't help but feel like Mac would full-on take advantage of people in their suspended states if he had those powers, assuming he didn't already inherit them from his Governor father and is just keeping them a secret from the outside world.

Though Mark-Paul Gosselaar did make a few appearances throughout the Saved by the Bell revival's first season – along with Tiffany Thiessen as his beloved fictional wife Kelly – Zack wasn't seen utilizing his Time Out power, so it's worth questioning whether he even still has it or not. If he does, though, Haskiri Jiménez has a hilariously excellent way for the show to bring it back in Season 2, which Peacock officially ordered up this week. In her words:

Assuming the entire universe wouldn't collapse in on itself if that moment actually did happen, it would potentially be one of the coolest Saved by the Bell moments of all time. Especially if they then tried to test the limits of their Time Out powers to see how widespread their functionality is. Today, The Max, but tomorrow, the entire world! [Cackles evilly while rubbing hands together.] Ahem. Or, you know, something more small-scale.

Haskiri Jiménez gives a lot of credit to showrunner Tracey Wigfield and the Saved by the Bell writers for finding a way to give Daisy her Time Out abilities in a way that didn't disrespect longtime fans, and also didn't make it feel like they were being stripped away from Zack in any way. Here's hoping Season 2 will give fans an even deeper (and weirder) look into how those powers manifested, both within Daisy and within Zack. Was Max's magic involved? We need answers, people!

Saved by the Bell's first season is available to stream right now on Peacock, as are all the seasons of the original series from the '90s. While waiting to see where things go next with Season 2, be sure to stay current with our Winter and Spring TV premiere schedule to see all the new and returning shows that will be popping up soon.

Like few TV revivals before it, Peacock's Saved by the Bell reimagining not only invokes the elements that made the original series enjoyable, but also expands upon them with sharp humor and topical storytelling. The new series should also win some kind of an award for all the amazing and clever callbacks to moments both big and small from the Saturday morning hit, even if one of those references sparked an amusing Internet debate over whether Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Zack Morris is the true biological father of Mitchell Hoog's Mac Morris.

Attentive viewers no doubt remember the moment in the season finale when Tiffany Thiessen's Kelly Morris (née Kapowski) answered her son Mac's father question by nervously saying, "You're not Jeff's," which was a reference to Patrick Muldoon's short-lived Saved by the Bell character Jeff Hunter. For those unaware, Jeff was briefly the manager of The Max who was arguably already too old for Kelly when she rebounded into his arms after breaking up with Zack. Though their relationship basically went nowhere after he was caught cheating on her with someone over 18, the name-check was enough to raise suspicions over whether or not she got back together with him long enough to get impregnated with his child. (A plot more suited for Muldoon's time on Days of Our Lives, no doubt.)

When CinemaBlend recently spoke with Saved by the Bell's new star Mitchell Hoog, I asked what he thought about the fan fervor surrounding potential questions about who his character Mac's real father is. Here's what the actor bemusedly told me:

Had Kelly's "Jeff" joke come up in an earlier episode, or with a different context, it might not have led quite as many fans to theorize how Mac might not be Zack's biological son. But Mac was rounding out a pretty interesting character journey as Saved by the Bell's first season came to a close, with his entire outlook on life having been affected by Daisy and the other Douglas High students. Mac eventually came to realize that even though his dad is a charismatic AF governor, Zack is also kind of a major flake, leaving Mac with unresolved feelings. It definitely wasn't the time for his shoulda-known-better mother to add fuel to the father fire by bringing up Jeff.

Speaking of that maternal figure, Kelly's longtime portrayer Tiffani Thiessen also shared her thoughts on the paternal debate, and didn't waste any breath on Jeff-related speculations. Here's how she put it to EW:

I mean, even if Mac and Zack didn't share the same head of immaculately blonde hair – which was not easy for Mitchell Hoog to pull off at first – to assume that Jeff is Mac's father is to assume that someone as angelic and perfect as Kelly Kapowski would be capable of such an adulterous affair and subsequent scandal. #NotMyKelly!

Does all of that convince everyone, or are there still some fans who think that Jeff might have played a part in Mac's conception? Let us know in the poll below and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more exclusive Saved by the Bell coverage. When you're not rewatching the full season on Peacock, or one of the streaming service's other worthy originals, head to our 2021 Winter and Spring TV premiere schedule to see all the new and returning shows popping up in the near future.

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Spoilers ahead for Peacock's Saved by the Bell revival.

The Saved by the Bell revival has no right to be so good, and yet it is. The series updates the beloved '90s sitcom for a new generation of viewers and it isn’t afraid to take shots at its original storylines, be it Zack’s inappropriate bikini calendar to the ridiculous amount of times the students pranked Mr. Belding and got away with it.

The Peacock revival is very much its own thing, but that doesn’t mean that the new Saved by the Bell doesn’t get nostalgic now and again throughout the season. The series references everything from the iconic “Barbara Ann” dance to Tori Scott. There are simply far too many nods to the original sitcom to keep track of, but here are 13 of the best throwback references to the '90s Saved by the Bell.

13. Malibu Sand Beach Resort Gets A Nod

In the very first episode of the Saved by the Bell revival, the students of Bayside High School set up two different sign-up sheets for the volleyball team. The first was for a regular old league and the second was the "Resort Sand" volleyball team, a sly nod to the original series’ Malibu Sands Beach Resort and the team Zack and his friends joined while working there.

12. Slater Dating A Princess

When Jessie’s dad was getting remarried, the entire crew was invited to his wedding in Palm Springs. In the two-part episode, Slater met and became smitten with Christina, the princess of Liechtenstein. When he and the rest of the original friends group brought up all the locations they visited in the revival, Slater was simultaneously in awe and perplexed that he ended up going out with royalty. High school was wild!

11. Daisy Using Zack’s Giant Cell Phone

This may be one of the funniest references to the 90s sitcom. When Daisy is discussing cell phones, she says that her mom doesn't want her having the new ones so she's resorted to giving her daughter the bulky, giant cell phone that is no longer in use. Yes, it was the very same one that belonged to Zack himself and it was a bit of clever writing that the phone was worked into the storyline as an actual reference to cell phones.

10. Zack Attack’s Friends Forever

When trying to convince Principal Toddman that he was always the original characters' friend (he wasn't), the gang dressed up in glitzy costumes to sing "Friends Forever" as the band Zack Attack — a band Zack presumably dreamed up during a fake music documentary featuring the late Casey Kasem. He’s also referenced as having hosted all the events at The Max, including a dance competition that Lisa and Screech won.

9. Slater Dances To "Barbara Ann”

One of the many memorable moments from the original sitcom was when Slater, Screech, and Zack dance to The Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann.” When Slater is tasked with breaking up a party in the revival, he joins the students instead and turns on “Barbara Ann” to get things going. He even admits to having the old costumes in his trunk. Slater also shows off his famous dance skills to convince the kids that he can, in fact, bust a move.

8. No One Remembers Tori Scott

Tori Scott was the (random) new student who seemingly replaced Kelly and Jessie during their senior year at Bayside. In the Saved by the Bell revival, Zack Morris is convinced that the Douglas High School students keep things fresh at Bayside, just like Tori once did. However, Kelly doesn’t remember her at all and it’s a great in-joke because Kelly and Tori never did cross paths.

7. Zack Doing Swan Lake To Graduate

When Zack and Kelly returned to Bayside for the alumni dinner, they got super nostalgic with Slater and Jessie. At one point, Zack mentions the fact that he had to perform in the school’s production of Swan Lake to graduate on time. Naturally, Zack wondered why he even had to do Swan Lake to pass, but that’s Bayside for you.

6. Jessie Being Caffeine Free For 30 Years

The running gag in the Saved by the Bell revival is Jessie being caffeine free for 30 years since the incident in the original series that led to her taking caffeine pills to study. Jessie doesn’t drink coffee (something her husband forgot) all because she was previously hooked on the pills. Fun fact: it was originally supposed to be speed that Jessie was addicted to, but NBC execs didn’t approve.

5. I'm So Excited, I'm So Scared

Jessie’s big freakout from the original Saved by the Bell is so iconic that Elizabeth Berkley even paid homage to it when she was on Dancing with the Stars. The revival hasn’t forgotten about it either and pays tribute to the moment in a fun way. However, now that Jessie is a published author in-universe, the title of her book is hilariously called, I'm So Excited, I'm So Scared… of Becoming a Parent.

4. Screech And Kevin The Robot

In the early days of Saved by the Bell, Screech had a very smart robot named Kevin (he even shaved). Though he disappeared from the show, the revival makes mention of both Screech and Kevin living in the International Space Station to explain the former’s absence. At least Screech has some company with him in space!

3. The NBC Promo About Drugs

This '90s reference couldn’t go unmentioned. In the original sitcom, the students of Bayside joined real-life NBC Chairman Brandon Tartikoff for a promo that ended with the famous “There’s no hope with dope” line. Zack makes a reference to this moment by bringing up Tartikoff in the revival.

2. Slater’s Heritage Gets A Nod

The original Saved by the Bell was diverse in a sea of shows that weren’t, but Slater’s Mexican-American background never came up until Saved by the Bell: The College Years, at which point Zack dismissed it because he’d always thought that Slater was Italian. In the revival, Dexter tells Slater that it must’ve been hard for him to navigate being Latinx in high school. Slater thanked him for saying that because no one ever brings that up.

1. Kelly Brings Up Ex-Boyfriend Jeff

Kelly Kapowski briefly dated Jeff, the manager of The Max, back in high school. Their relationship even broke up Zack and Kelly for a while. In the revival, Kelly brings up Jeff to Mac and suspiciously makes it sound like Zack may not be his father (which is impossible considering the timeline of events and how much Zack and Kelly are still very into each other). But, hey, I guess Jeff should be happy that Kelly remembers him at all.

Catch all of the references to the '90s sitcom in the Saved by the Bell revival, which is now available to stream on Peacock. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our fall TV guide and our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

Of all the TV shows from the '80s and '90s that were ripe for reviving in 2020, I cannot say that Saved by the Bell would have been at the top of my list. As much as I obsessed over the original series and the College Years spinoff – I wasn't into The New Class, admittedly – I didn't think the overtly goofy Saturday morning high school comedy would mesh well with self-awareness and other modern comedy tactics. But I will happily admit that I was wrong on all counts, and Peacock's Saved by the Bell revival is better than I ever could have imagined.

Redeveloped for streaming audiences by former 30 Rock and Mindy Project writer and producer Tracey Whigfield, Saved by the Bell is a splendid mix of those aforementioned comedies' clever and quirky humor combined with an updated approach to the topics that the original series covered: school cliques, school events, friendships, romances and "very special episode" topics. I'd even say the new episodes are more hilarious than anything else in this franchise, but let's explore the reasons why the new Saved by the Bell is a must-watch experience for old-school fans.

Seeing The O.G. Saved By The Bell Cast Together Again

This is definitely the biggest no-brainer of the bunch, since so many Saved by the Bell fans have been clamoring for a proper reunion ever since Zack and Kelly got married in Vegas. (And yes, that Tonight Show reunion sketch from 2015 only whetted our appetites for more.) Thankfully, the Peacock revival utilizes series regulars Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley in smart ways as Coach A.C. Slater and guidance counselor Jessie Spano, and also makes the most out of recurring returners Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Governor Zack Morris, Tiffany Thiessen as his First Lady, and Lark Voorhies as the living-elsewhere Lisa Turtle. Yes, it's always strange to see teen characters as full-on adults and/or parents, but this is the best possible version of that weirdness, and even seeing Ed Alonzo's Max made everything feel like home.

All The Classic Saved By The Bell References

In 2020, nothing about a callback to a '90s joke referencing a pop song from 1965 (by way of a 1983 Tom Cruise movie) should be successful, but you're damned straight the new Saved by the Bell's "Barbara Ann" dance scene is upper-echelon nostalgia. And that's basically the revival in a nutshell. The ten-episode season is PACKED with verbal and visual nods and easter eggs from the original series, from long-gone characters such as Leanna Creel's Tori Scott and Dustin Diamond's Screech himself, who gets an update tied to his robot Kevin, which ruled. My favorite, though, is Jessie's heightened reactions to anything involving caffeine.

The New Saved By The Bell Teen Cast Members Are A+

Thankfully, Tracey Whigfield and her creative team didn't cast the new Saved by the Bell to match the original character dynamics beat for beat (b-b-b-b, go Bayside!), and embraced a more diverse cast. Haskiri Velazquez's intelligent, inquisitive and non-schemy Daisy is a solid choice to take over Zack's central role, and she shares a rivalrous-yet-amicable friendship with Mitchell Hogg's hyper-privileged Mac Morris, who is a chip off the blonde, egotistical block. Alycia Pascual-Peña provides another grounded character as the tradition-breaking Aisha, with Dexter Darden bringing some sardonic distance as the musical-loving Devante. Rounding out the bunch is transgender actress Josie Totah as the self-obsessed (yet charismatic) reality TV star Lexi Haddad-DeFabrizio and Belmont Cameli as Bayside's football captain Jamie Spano, who may be my favorite absolute dumbass to hit TV in quite a few years. There are no weak links here, even when it comes to the side characters.

John Michael Higgins' Toddman Is A Great Replacement For Mr. Belding

The younger generation isn't the only awesome addition to Saved by the Bell's revival, with the always excellent John Michael Higgins portraying Bayside's principal Ronald Toddman. (His "backstory" arc is worthy of many chef's kisses.) While Dennis Haskins' Mr. Belding was a lovable cornball scapegoat for Zack's schemes, Mr. Toddman is more a victim of his own downward-spiral luck as opposed to being bamboozled by students, though that does happen, too. Arguably best known for his hilarious roles in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, Higgins is a natural comic actor that can sell completely awkward moments that other actors would falter in, and Mr. Toddman experiences plenty of them.

Diversity And Real-World Issues Are Handled Gracefully And Hilariously

While the original Saved by the Bell featured various PSA-esque episodes about topics like drugs and drunk driving, the Peacock revival far more naturally works topical issues into its storylines without stereotypical schmaltz and melodrama. After all, the basic premise is about a mostly Black student body being forced to transfer to a rich white school, and all of the issues that derive from that (both legitimate and Mac Morris-created). We have Daisy tackling problems regarding school politics and Aisha facing criticisms for joining the football team, and it's a breath of fresh air for Lexi's transition to be part of the plot without making things uncomfortably controversial. Similar to situations concerning mixed-race relationships, Bayside students embrace it all, and Saved by the Bell handles everything appropriate and, when applicable, quite hilariously. (Well maybe not everything, but most things.)

Seeing New Sides Of Classic Saved By The Bell Locations

Out of everything that happened in the new Saved by the Bell episodes, I honestly think I was most shocked by how the Peacock series crafted full sets for the show's iconic locations, such as the main Bayside hallway and The Max. Since multi-cam sitcoms tend to only build sets without the so-called fourth wall, Saved by the Bell fans had no idea what Bayside's front doors looked like or, as seen above, that the back wall of The Max featured a long counter with cushioned stools that further played up its diner aesthetic. Not to mention how weirdly awesome it is to see new exterior shots of Bayside and The Max.

Peacock's reimagined Saved by the Bell revival is currently streaming all ten Season 1 episodes on the service now, so hurry up and watch them all so you can then take your time in rewatching them over and over, just like you did with the original series! In the meantime, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 TV guide to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Saved by the Bell is still finding new audiences thanks to its availability streaming, but it's been a while for star Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The original series ended back in 1993, and The College Years not that much later in 1994. That is a good 25+ years ago, and Gosselaar finds it a “little bit torturous” to revisit old episodes.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is taking a peek into his past by watching old episodes of Saved by the Bell for the cleverly-titled podcast, Zack to the Future. It is a team-up between Gosselaar and Dashiell Driscoll, a writer on the upcoming Saved by the Bell reboot/revival heading to Peacock. On watching the episodes, Gosselaar told Variety:

I have always understood why many actors do not like to watch themselves. Mark-Paul Gosselaar has used the time to constructively criticize his work, which I feel is admirable. Plus, it is excellent homework for Gosselaar, who will reprise his role as Zack Morris for Saved by the Bell’s revival, after all.

It was up in the air at one point, despite Zack’s pretty central role in the revival’s plotline. Zack is the Governor of California. Yes, you read that correctly. Eventually, everything worked out for Mark-Paul Gosselaar to reprise his signature role. Gosselaar’s connection to all things Saved by the Bell is even stronger now thanks to the Zack to the Future podcast.

Why did Mark-Paul Gosselaar agree to do the podcast? Was it to learn how to make Zack less of a jerk in the Saved by the Bell revival? Gosselaar had previously said that's something he aims to do while reprising the role. Or does Gosselaar want to refresh his memory ahead of the reboot/revival? On why he agreed to do the podcast, Gosselaar said:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is ready for the blast from the past because this podcast is doing something different. Gosselaar mentions the hugely successful re-watch podcasts, which includes The Office’s Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s Office Ladies. For Gosselaar, his chance to re-watch old episodes for a podcast is something new that he's embracing.

It turns out the actor has not watched the teen sitcom staple until now. On that note, Mark-Paul Gosselaar shared another surprising detail about his relationship with Saved by the Bell. Gosselaar insists that he does not remember much of anything when it came to filming the NBC comedy, and it is not the first time he has said as much.

Thank goodness the episodes are still available to watch, so Mark-Paul Gosselaar does not have to rely on his memory. Saved by the Bell’s reboot/sequel series does not have a premiere date yet. You can watch the original on Hulu. Fingers crossed that the new show ends up on this fall’s schedule for Peacock.

Longtime fans of Saved by the Bell are more than aware of Zack Morris' tendency to be rude or offensive, as is actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who even apologized for one episode in particular. With the Saved by the Bell reboot on the way, many are already wondering if Zack will still possess his same arrogant and somewhat jerky attitude. Well, it looks like Gosselaar is trying to tone things down just a bit for this version of Zack Morris.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who was originally thought not be appearing in the Saved by the Bell reboot was able to make a way in his busy schedule to reprise his role for the upcoming sequel series on NBC's Peacock streaming service. Now, Gosselaar is opening up about his approach to the character. Among the things he's hoping to change is how Zack carries himself. On revitalizing the character, Gosselaar told ET:

It's going to take more than getting Zack’s blond hair back for Mark-Paul Gosselaar to ease back into his Saved by the Bell character. Speaking of which, Gosselaar showed off his look as Zack circa 2020 just last month and believe it or not, Gosselaar told ET he didn't have to dye his hair this time around.

When it comes to actually playing the character, Mark-Paul Gosselaar seems to be taking him more seriously, but has Zack really grown up at all? The first trailer for the Saved by the Bell reboot did not reveal much on that front, as Zack was utterly absent from it. This is mostly due to the fact that Gosselaar wasn't able to shoot much before the show shut down production. Thankfully, fans did catch a glimpse at Zack’s good friends -- Slater and Jessie.

In the Saved by the Bell reboot, we find that a lot has happened for Zack since the events of the original series. Not only are he and Kelly Kapowski married with a son. With this, one also has to wonder what the state of Zack and Kelly’s marriage is, as there have been some ominous teases regarding their future.

On a professional level, the Saved by the Bell reboot has unleashed the biggest surprise. When it picks up, Zack Morris is the governor of California. Yes, you read that correctly. Whoever voted for Zack, clearly took his campaign promises very seriously. Although, he has apparently gotten into hot water for some of his more recent decisions.

On a more personal level, I just wonder if Zack was able to be less enough of a jerk to keep Kelly as his wife, who will be played by the returning Tiffani Thiessen. So far, Mark-Paul Gosselaar has revealed that the two will be in one or two episodes together, which means we may not get too deep into weeds of their relationship status... right now.

So who else is ready to meet Zack and Kelly’s son and find out what has become of the Morris marriage? While not all of the original cast will be returning for the new series, it'll be interesting to see what Zack, Slater, Kelly, and Jesse are like in 2020.

Here is hoping there is a Season 2, and we can get some guest appearances from a few more veteran characters. The Saved by the Bell reboot is slated to premiere on NBCUniversal’s Peacock at some point this year and, while you wait for Zack to ring your bell again, check out this spring’s premieres.

Saved by the Bell is back! The first trailer for the upcoming streaming revival does not hold back, giving fans a glimpse at one of the original series' most prevalent couples, Mario Lopez's A.C. Slater and Elizabeth Berkley's Jessie Spano. The pair are together again, and that is not all, as fans get to see Jessie’s son and learn some interesting information about what has happened since the original series ended.

In a world where Zack Morris is the Governor of California, anything can happen. (Well, except for a Screech appearance.) The Saved by the Bell revival trailer gives fans a fantastic look at A.C. Slater, who remains active in the happenings of Bayside High. Now a gym teacher at the school where his athleticism was utilized, Slater's career seems to be working for him, and he seems pretty happy.

Check out Slater and Jessie Spano catching up in the trailer below:

There was a lot of awesome activity to geek out over in this trailer, so it is time to get right to it. First up, the Saved by the Bell revival will premiere on NBCUniversal’s upcoming and affordable streaming service – Peacock. Now that you know where you can watch it let it be known that a release date is still pending.

Now for the moments that fans of Saved by the Bell's original run will want to know about. Based on the trailer, it does not seem like Slater and Jessie’s romance actually survived into 2020. The two are shown talking to each other as if reminiscing after a long break and not talking as if they spent the previous few years together.

I will admit, I am a bit sad over the potential development. Slater and Jessie were a great couple, in my opinion. I wonder what happened and who the father of Jessie’s son will turn out to be. Also, could they be together now, even though the son is possibly for another person? So many questions! Thankfully, Saved by the Bell will be ringing with answers in the near-ish future.

Some past first looks at the Saved by the Bell revival hinted at Slater and Jessie spending some time together, though it wasn't clear how personal or romantic that time might be. Hopefully, if both are single, they can find their way back to each other. Of the original cast, only Jessie and Slater are shown in the trailer, with Slater figuring into it the most.

In some other compelling news from the revival’s first trailer, we get our first good look at the son that Kelly and Zack conceived, whose name is Mac. Slater mentions having dated Mac's mom, after having fought over her, which makes it pretty clear he is talking about Kelly, whose actress Tiffani Thiessen is set to appear in the Saved by the Bell revival. That said, Zack and Kelly’s current relationship status is still something of a mystery.

Noticeably absent is Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, and Dustin Diamond, who starred as Screech Powers. Voorhies recently spoke out about being ignored for the Saved by the Bell revival. Time will tell if the show eventually incorporates Voorhies’s Lisa, who was a key cast member in the original series, and obviously the only one who would still have any fashion sense in 2020.

A while back, the original series’ executive producer had given a not-so-positive update about Zack and Kelly’s marital status after the show ended. Whatever their current relationship is, Kelly and Zack’s son Mac does get a bit of wisdom from Slater in the Saved by the Bell revival. Apparently, Mac and Jamie Spano will have their own rivalry.

As for Zack Morris, he is brought up but not actually seen in the revival’s first trailer. That does not mean you should give up on seeing him eventually popping up in a promo for the revival. After initially seeming to not be a part of it, Mark-Paul Gosselaar will appear on the series despite his busy schedule.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar has the blonde locks to prove he will be back as Zack at some point. While absent from the revival’s first trailer, Zack’s presence looms large, thanks in part to his son, Mac. Apparently, he is picking up where his dad left off at Bayside High. This leads to the aforementioned clash with Jessie Spano’s son, Jamie. Maybe they're clashing over who gets to start singing "Barbara Ann" first, in this direct nod to the original series.

As someone who avidly watched the original series, I can see where the Saved by the Bell revival will have lots to enjoy for older generations, as well as a lot to offer viewers who are totally new to the world of the series. The only thing that is missing is the multi-camera approach utilized by the original. I would have liked it if the revival had kept that, but it's understandable that today's teens are more in tune with single-cam shows.

The Saved by the Bell reboot does not have a precise release date yet. It is supposed to bow on NBCUniversal’s Peacock sometime this year (2020), but we'll have to wait and see if that plan stays the same. While waiting on homeroom, check out this spring’s premieres.

Zack is back! Mark-Paul Gosselaar first started playing Zack Morris in the late 1980s on Good Morning, Miss Bliss and then -- famously -- on Saved by the Bell. He returned to the role in the mid-'90s for TV movies, a sequel series, and a spinoff episode. But it's been a long time since Gosselaar has been Zack and he looks a lot different now. For one thing, he's 46. Oh and not blonde. But that can be easily fixed for the Saved by the Bell revival, as MPG just showed fans.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is very new to Instagram and only has three posts so far, starting on March 1, 2020. Here on March 11, he posted an update on his transformation back into Zack for the Saved by the Bell revival coming to NBC's streaming service, Peacock:

Whoa, that surfer 'do! I guess that is how Zack Morris might look today, but the process probably wasn't complete when MPG shared that pic. The synopsis for the Saved by the Bell revival noted that Zack Morris is somehow governor of California now. Is that how the guv would look? Maybe.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is reportedly going to be in three episodes of the Saved by the Bell revival, and he recently noted that Tiffani Thiessen would be in "an episode or two" with him as Zack's wife Kelly Kapowski-Morris.

Their limited involvement is said to be due to conflicting projects, like Mark-Paul Gosselaar's series regular role on the ABC Black-ish spinoff Mixed-ish. Speaking of that, one of MPG's other Instagram posts is a wrap photo for Mixed-ish Season 1:

He certainly looks different from Zack Morris in that pic! The Saved by the Bell revival will also bring back original cast members Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater) and Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie Spano). There will be some other surprising returns, but apparently not Lark Voohries as Lisa Turtle, which understandably hurt her feelings. John Michael Higgins also stars as the new Bayside High principal, replacing Mr. Belding.

According to the official synopsis for the Saved by the Bell revival, Zack Morris is now the governor of California and he lands in hot water for closing too many low-income high school. When he suggests sending the affected students to the highest-performing schools in the state, including Bayside High, the influx of new students “gives the overprivileged Bayside kids a much-needed and hilarious dose of reality.”

Stay tuned for a premiere date for the Saved by the Bell revival. NBCUniversal and Comcast's Peacock streaming service debuts April 15 on Comcast's Xfinity X1 before its national launch on July 15, 2020.

Minus that late night reunion sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and that redonk Lifetime movie, Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski haven't shared any scenes together since 1994's TV movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. That will all change soon thanks to NBC's new streaming service Peacock, which is reviving Saved by the Bell for 2020 audiences. Of course, knowing about Zack and Kelly's return to TV doesn't really tell us how much of the coupling fans are going to see.

Thankfully, Zack himself Mark-Paul Gosselaar shed a little light on the matter, although his answer probably won't provide all the satisfaction that longtime fans are hoping for. When asked to clarify how much we'll see his Zack alongside Tiffani Thiessen's Kelly Kapowski-Morris, Gosselaar said:

Just one or two episodes? For the biggest power couple in Saturday morning TV? Perhaps Mark-Paul Gosselaar's answer to TVLine might not be so disappointing if we knew that the Saved by the Bell revival was only meant to last two or three episodes, but we already know it'll last longer than that.

By all means, it's possible that scheduling snafus could work themselves out to allow both Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar to pop up in Peacock's Saved by the Bell more often. But for now, we can only anticipate limited appearances.

At least it's already confirmed that Zack and Kelly are still together as a married couple, and the show doesn't seem like it'll be focused on showcasing their drama. My money is still on Zack proving himself to be a jealous doofus during at least one point, even if it won't be Mario Lopez's Slater also vying for her affection.

While Tiffani Thiessen is busy filming the younger-skewing Netflix comedy Alexa & Katie, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is one of the stars of ABC's mixed-ish, a spinoff of the hit sitcom black-ish. While Gosselaar's gig is more timely, in that the episodes' weekly filming schedule is structured accordingly, Netflix almost exclusively films entire seasons of shows in one fell swoop, since the majority of their premieres contain all of a season's episodes. So it was possibly a little trickier for Thiessen to dip out in order to make her Kelly cameo happen.

At this point, Mark-Paul Gosselaar has been tapped for three confirmed appearances in Saved by the Bell, which he's also serving as executive producer on. He says he's only read the scripts for Episode 1 and Episode 8 so far, though, so he can't speak to anything that goes down in the middle six episodes.c

Which means he can't speak to how the new Saved by the Bell will drop any mentions for other beloved characters. It's already been confirmed that Elizabeth Berkley's Jessie Spano will be involved, as will Mario Lopez's A.C. Slater. But what about Lark Voorhies' Lisa Turtle or Dustin Diamond's Screech Powers?

Both Lark Voorhies and Dustin Diamond have voiced their issues with any Saved by the Bell projects moving forward without anyone contacting them about making appearances. It's certainly possible that producers could get in touch, though Diamond's sketchy past (involving his co-star-trashing memoir, his sex tape and his legal issues) may keep him from ever returning to Bayside in the future.

For the new iteration of the show, Zack Morris will be the governor of California (since shit floats uphill in this universe), and he'll be in trouble over too many low-income schools getting closed in the area. His plan is to send the ousted students to the state's highest-performing schools, which means Bayside High gets a slew of new students that will provide much-needed reality checks to the pampered Bayside students.

Some of the new faces fans can expect to see are MItchell Hogg as Zack's son Mac Morris, Belmont Cameli as Jessie's son Jamie Spano, Josie Totah as sharp-tongued cheerleader Lexi, Haskiri Velazquez as new student Daisy, and Alycia Pascual-Pena as Daisy's best friend Aisha. Taking over for Mr. Belding as Bayside's principal will be frequent Christopher Guest collaborator John Michael Higgins, though there's no sign of whether Dennis Haskins will pop by for a Belding cameo.

Saved by the Bell fans can watch Zack and Kelly together at least one more time when the Peacock revival hits streaming at some point later this year.

Hey, hey, hey what is going on in the land of the Saved by the Bell reboot? After it was announced that NBC was eyeing a revival of everyone’s favorite high school sitcom for its new streaming service, Peacock, it was revealed that not all the original cast members had been asked to return. That included series star Mark-Paul Gosselaar. This was surprising. However, there’s actually a pretty good reason for why Gosselaar wasn’t approached to reprise his role as Zack.

The Saved by the Bell revival had already tapped Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez to return as Jessie Spano and A.C. Slater, respectively. Several years after the end of the show, Slater is now working as a sports coach and Jessie is a guidance counselor. They’ll be appearing in the revival in a parental capacity as well. Yet, Mark-Paul Gosselaar previously mentioned that none of the cast had been approached about being in the revival, including Gosselaar’s onscreen wife, Tiffani Thiessen’s Kelly Kapowski.

According to a recent report by TMZ, sources close to the revival confirmed that Mark-Paul Gosselaar hadn’t been asked to return because he was already contracted to appear in ABC’s black-ish prequel spinoff, mixed-ish. Last season, Gosselaar had been a series regular on the Fox series, The Passage, though the show was canceled after just one season.

It wasn’t long after The Passage that the actor booked mixed-ish, where he’ll be playing Paul Johnson, the father of Tracee Ellis Ross’ black-ish character, Rainbow “Bow” Johnson. It’s obvious Gosselaar’s a busy guy, which explains why NBC hadn’t approached him about playing Zack before. Still, the actor could return to the Saved by the Bell revival. That is, if his schedule actually lets him juggle both shows at once.

Prior to this update, Mark-Paul Gosselaar had expressed surprise that the revival was already so far along. The updated version of Saved by the Bell sounds like it’ll follow a similar outline like that of Disney’s Girl Meets World, the revival spinoff of the beloved ABC show, Boy Meets World. Saved by the Bell is looking to feature the beloved original characters in some capacity, but will largely center around the new kids at Bayside High.

Of course, we’re ready to hear confirmation that Gosselaar will be back as Zack Morris because, get this, his character is now the Governor of California. Who would’ve thought Zack would grow up to be a politician? Additionally, it would be weird not to have him on the show in some capacity, especially considering how much of an important role he plays in the show's plot.

In the spring, four of the six stars (minus Lark Voorhies and the estranged Dustin Diamond) got together for a dinner and posted the reunion pictures to Instagram. Fans were thrilled. Maybe if Mark-Paul Gosselaar comes back for the revival, there can finally be confirmation about whether Zack and Kelly stayed married.

The Saved by the Bell revival doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but it’s set to premiere on NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which will launch its streaming service in April 2020. If you’re looking for other shows to watch before then, check out our complete guide to Fall TV’s new and returning shows.

It turns out that not all of Saved by the Bell’s cast got approached for the revival. Earlier this week, the news that the sitcom would be making a comeback was announced. Front, center and already set to star are Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie) and Mario Lopez (Slater). But, what about the rest of the cast?

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack Morris, on the NBC comedy, offered insight into why you did not see his name among the cast list. The actor revealed that he was not even asked about it. He went on to share that he believes he is not the only Saved by the Bell star to not get contacted. Regarding revival talks, Gosselaar told TMZ:

Interesting. What makes Mark-Paul Gosselaar not being contacted about the revival all the more strange is how integral his character is in the Saved by the Bell sequel series’ plot. Not only is Zack heavily referenced. He also gets a significant promotion. In the revival, Zack Morris is the Governor of California. Yes, the Zack Morris.

Given that info, you would think that those behind the Saved by the Bell revival would have contacted Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Maybe they are just taking their time? But, Gosselaar already has a show he is starring in; the actor will be in ABC’s upcoming black-ish prequel spinoff, mixed-ish. Despite not being contacted to star in the Saved by the Bell revival, Gosselaar told Variety:

I'm not sure what he means about leaving himself and other original cast members out being related to "the business side of things," but given what Mark-Paul Gosselaar is saying, even he is surprised by how advanced production on the Saved by the Bell revival is now. In 2015, the cast (including Gosselaar) reunited for a bit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Four years later, an actual revival is really happening!

Back in April, Mark-Paul Gosselaar joined his Saved by the Bell co-stars: Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley for a reunion-type dinner. A, not entirely surprising, development considering that it is known that at least two of the show’s stars have maintained a long-running friendship.

When it came time to approach Saved by the Bell cast members for the revival, those in charge somehow skipped over Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, and the rest of the cast. Gosselaar only named Thiessen in his aforementioned comment, and fans will recall that Gosselaar and Thiessen memorably portrayed Bayside High students, Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski.

Their characters were also the subject of Saved by the Bell’s most tumultuous coupling in Zack and Kelly. Their future post-finale is still a matter of speculation. One of Bayside High’s on-again-off-again couples that will be back is A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano. Stay tuned to find out what happens next and if anyone else joins them!

A premiere date for the Saved by the Bell reboot has not been set yet. When the revival does make its debut, it will do so on NBCUniversal’s upcoming streaming service – Peacock. In the meantime, there are plenty of fall premieres to keep you entertained until the bell rings.

By now, you’ve probably heard NBC is rebooting Saved By The Bell for its new streaming service entitled Peacock. I’m not sure the world was clamoring for more Bayside Hijinks (see what I did there?), but now that the show is on the table, I’m interested in seeing what the gang is up to. Let me just hop on over to the press release and see what’s going on. It looks like Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley are both coming back, and I see Zack Morris’ name there. Seems he’s now… wait, what? Governor?

Yup. Apparently Zack Morris turned all those skills he used to direct address the camera toward a career in politics, and things have gone pretty well. Or at least they were going pretty well until he closed too many low income schools, and now, in an effort to make things right, he’s sending those kids to Bayside to hang out with a new generation of students.

I’m sure there are a lot of people who are a lot smarter than me churning out think pieces on that unexpected premise; so, I’m going to hold off on commenting there. You can make up your own mind. What I do want to talk about, however, is Zack Morris apparently being the freaking Governor of California. What the hell happened here?

Let’s take a step back. Despite routinely not taking life seriously or applying himself, Zack is a pretty smart guy. He got more than 1500 on his SATs and somehow even got into Yale (he doesn't end up going). He’s proven over and over again that he’s very good at manipulating people. His moral compass is suspect at best, and he’s an excellent public speaker. Those are all skills that are very helpful in the world of politics. So, from that angle, I can really buy him as a politician.

Unfortunately for Zack Morris, he also possesses one skill that is uniquely horrible for politics: a complete inability to focus on anything for a sustained period of time. He’s in a band. He runs cross country. He plays basketball. He obsessively chases girls. He’s in ROTC, and he repeatedly prioritizes hanging out over all of his other commitments. He’s one of the most wishy-washy, as the wind blows characters in TV history. So, from that angle, I don’t see how he could focus on anything, let alone politics long enough to gradually build himself up to the point where he’d win a governorship. Then again, maybe he got there by some kind of unconventional means.

Hilariously, none of this may matter anyway. Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar hasn’t officially signed on for the reboot, and since he’s a lead in Mixed-ish, he might not even be able to appear on the show. If he does, it’ll probably only be for brief and occasional appearances, though I bet he tries given he's reportedly still close with the major cast members in real life.

I don’t know. My initial reaction was to laugh out loud, but the more I think about it, the more I’m contorting my brain to accept this as a reasonable occupation for Zack. What do you think? Are you on board? Vote in the poll below and let us know your thoughts…

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This August will be a big one for anyone who has ever called someone "preppie" or performed Zack Attack songs at karaoke, with Saved by the Bell turning 30 years old. To celebrate the occasion, four of the main cast members – Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley – all met up for dinner, accompanied by their spouses. It appeared to be quite a cute and happy get-together, and I think it'd be a fantastic set-up scenario for a Saved by the Bell revival special.

First, let's champion all the former co-stars before conceptualizing their potential TV return. This is one of the most ageless TV casts known to man, and everyone is looking predictably great all grouped together around a restaurant table. Granted, Mark-Paul Gosselaar's dark beard is something that would have looked surreally alien on Zack Morris' face, but his eyes and smile could easily take viewers back to Bayside's halls.

Two of the main Saved by the Bell "kid" stars were absent from the dinner, with Dustin "Screech" Diamond and Lark "Lisa" Voorhies nowhere to be seen during the communal dinnertime. Voorhies largely backed away from her acting career in the 2000s, with arguably her most notable roles hitting in How High and the Robot Chicken episode where she reprised her SBTB role. She'd previously declined to take part in the planned reunion on The Tonight Show in 2015.

It's not so surprising that Dustin Diamond wasn't around for this pic, since he hasn't been close with the others in years. Diamond had some legal problems in recent years, not to mention penning the 2009 tell-all Behind the Bell, which shed unflattering light on the alleged behind-the-scenes behavior of Diamond's co-stars. Just about everything has been refuted, of course, and Diamond later "confessed" that it was written by a ghost writer. Just as he claimed he wasn't in his own sex tape.

In any case, the limited reunion dinner was still a success for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley. Here, Lopez shared an amusing video laying out how the meal went.

Now, as far as a pitch for a Saved by the Bell reunion special goes, I'd like to offer up the seemingly simple idea of Zack, Slater, Kelly and Jessie all doing the the same thing that their portrayers did. Reuniting for an evening together, possibly with respective life-mates, would be an interesting way for these characters to return in evolved ways without, say, needing Zack to scheme an entire population into following his bidding.

They could have conversations about past hijinks they regret and past romances they look back on fondly, possibly with old clips getting shown. Little convo would likely get devoted to the actual education they got at Bayside; even if Jessie tried to do it, Zack would probably shut that shit down.

Not that any potential Saved by the Bell reunions would absolutely need to take place in a restaurant. The point would and should just be to introduce circumstances for the characters' lives to realign with one another, as opposed to coming up with the scheme of all schemes for Zack to attempt pulling off. I just want to see what these people are like as genuine adults.

Quite often, concepts for modern TV revivals are basically just beat-for-beat reproductions of the series' original formats, with some minor updates. Murphy Brown, Roseanne (turned The Conners), and even CBS All Access' The Twilight Zone makes intentional callbacks to the franchise's flagship. That couldn't happen, however, with Saved by the Bell's central characters, who'd all graduated Bayside High at the end of the initial series' run, ahead of the College Years and New Class spinoffs, as well as the TV movies.

In fact, if those follow-up projects are still considered canon within the Saved by the Bell-verse, then Zack and Kelly might still be married. And Mr. Belding might STILL be suffering through another multi-year span getting hijacked by one of Bayside's craftiest slackers, although I'd prefer to see him get introduced as the gang's waiter for the reunion dinner. "Hey, hey, hey! What is being ordered here?"

Fans' love for Saved by the Bell has never completely died, but recent years have seen pop culture embracing the former Saturday morning series in different ways, such as that pop-up diner, that bonkers Lifetime original movie, Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins' NFL-related cameos for Fox, and more.

Arguably the biggest highlight, which is admittedly unfavorable to Saved by the Bell itself, is the Funny or Die web series Zack Morris Is Trash. Each short-form episode offers editorialized recaps of SBTB episodes while pointing out the endless number of ways in which Zack is a monster to the friends, family and strangers around him. (Such as that time he sold untested zit cream that made people's faces turn maroon, and then blamed Kelly for applying some after he sold it to her.)

As a parting piece of proper "make yourself feel old" wisdom tied to Saved by the Bell's upcoming anniversary: the entire cast could realistically have had children of their own that would have already graduated from Bayside by now. After picking your jaw up off the ground, be sure to rewatch the teen shenanigans in all of their glory by streaming episodes on Hulu.

Pitch premiered back in fall 2016 as a baseball show starring Kylie Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, telling the story of young pitcher Ginny Baker who becomes the first woman to play in the Major Leagues. The ten-episode first season won Pitch a loyal band of fans, but not enough fans for Fox to decide to renew the series, and it was axed in 2017. Now, against all odds, Pitch could get some extra innings in the form of a revival.

Yes, nearly two years after being officially cancelled, Pitch has a chance at returning to the small screen. In an era of television that has seen big-name showrunners jump ship from their networks for deals elsewhere, like Netflix, Disney's 20th Television is reportedly looking to keep This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman on board. THR reports that 20th TV is considering a revival of Pitch for Fogelman, who is the co-creator and an executive producer of Pitch. Considering Pitch never got that rumored farewell, fans must be thrilled at the news.

Maybe the cancellation was more of a rain delay than a forfeit after all! There are no details about when this revival could move forward or if it will officially move forward at all, but Mark-Paul Gosselaar has already weighed in via social media. Here's what he has to say via tweet about possibly reprising his role as catcher and San Diego Padres captain Mike Lawson:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who revealed that he was afraid his new Fox show would face a similar fate to Pitch, is apparently on board with Pitch returning to the airwaves! It does make me wonder if he'd have to choose between Pitch and The Passage if The Passage scores a renewal, but hey, if Fox keeps both Pitch and The Passage running for only ten episodes or so, maybe he could have time for both!

Leading lady Kylie Bunbury hasn't shared her thoughts on the possible revival yet, but Dan Fogelman himself shared a cryptic tweet that seems to indicate talks are happening about more Pitch. Take a look:

Hey, who wouldn't love an office in the Padres' stadium in sunny San Diego? Dan Fogelman's tweet is hardly a confirmation that Ginny, Mike, and Co. are on the way back to television, but it's sure encouraging! Should the cast start getting back in baseball shape?

All of my reasons why Pitch needed to be renewed stand true for why Pitch needs to be revived, so I know my fingers are going to be crossed for the foreseeable future that the show returns to Fox. Hey, Gotham is ending, so maybe that frees up a spot in Fox's primetime lineup for Pitch!

For now, check out our midseason TV premiere schedule for some viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future.

The heart and soul of The Passage is the father/daughter-like relationship between Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Brad Wolgast and Saniyya Sidney as Amy Bellafonte. They carry the show on their chemistry. Gosselaar is now a 44-year-old father in real life, and he's in a perfect position to give advice to his 12-year-old co-star. He started modeling when he was only 5, and appeared in several commercials and TV episodes before creating the character of Zack Morris on Good Morning, Miss Bliss in the late '80s and bringing Zack to the now iconic '90s show Saved By the Bell.

Saniyya Sidney told TooFab some of the wise advice Mark-Paul Gosselaar has given her on The Passage set:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar would know about being a kid in the industry, although he recently admitted he doesn't remember too much of his time on Saved by the Bell.

MPG is a fun guy and a big jokester, Saniyya Sidney added. She said the fact that he has two daughters of his own makes it easy and comfortable to talk to him, because he can relate. She knows the chemistry between their characters is special, and it was important for them to build a relationship off-screen too.

You can also see their playful relationship in some of their Twitter banter, including this praise from MPG to Saniyya after last week's episode:

Saniyya Sidney is doing a fantastic job in the lead role of Amy Bellafonte. Her take on the character from the books is clever, funny, loving, guarded -- just everything, a true three-dimensional human it's easy to root for. She already has a lot of acting experience under her belt from Fences, Hidden Figures, the 2016 Roots remake, and American Horror Story: Roanoke. One can imagine the sky is the limit for her future, and she's in good company with MPG there to show her what to do -- and what NOT to do -- as she grows up in the entertainment industry.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar has talked about loving The Passage but worrying it may suffer the same one-season-and-done fate of his 2016 TV show Pitch. He knows people need to watch the show each Monday night for the Fox show to get good ratings, and the producers have also suggested it's better not to wait to binge the whole season.

The Passage continues Season 1 tonight (Monday, February 25) with "You Are Like The Sun," airing at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. It's one of the many shows now airing in midseason 2019.

"Once bitten, twice shy," as they say, and it's probably twice as true for a show kinda sorta about vampires. Mark-Paul Gosselaar is now starring as Brad Wolgast on The Passage, Fox's truly impressive new dystopian series based on the novels by Justin Cronin. Gosselaar is clearly excited to be on the show, but he's also wary after feeling this same excitement for another show you may or may not remember -- Pitch. He thought he had it made with that Fox series, and his heart was broken when it was cancelled after one season. Could it happen again? That's his fear, as he explained.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar told Collider he sees similarities between Pitch and The Passage, and that understandably has him worried that The Passage could also be a one-and-done show if fans don't turn out. The first episode aired last Monday, January 14 and had 5.23 million viewers and a 1.3 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo. Pitch -- which also premiered in a 9 p.m. timeslot, although on a Thursday -- started with 4.23 million viewers and a 1.1 rating.

So The Passage is already off to a slightly better start than Pitch, but it's also a slow-burn mystery show. Some fans may be tempted to binge all the episodes at once. But Mark-Paul Gosselaar knows they need to keep people watching Monday nights for the duration if they want to get those ratings and live on for another season.

As Mark-Paul Gosselaar explained, his Pitch experience was a double-edged sword. He really thought the unique and promising Major League Baseball show had everything it took to be a long-lasting series. And then -- poof -- it was gone.

Dan Fogelman, who created Pitch, has a hit with This Is Us, but sometimes you swing and you miss. It may be especially frustrating for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who shot to fame on the fun but clearly less ambitious sitcom Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993. He said he doesn't even remember much about making Saved by the Bell, but it was clearly a huge hit. Will The Passage be able to get that kind of success?

Fox is not shy about cutting shows that don't measure up in the ratings. Last year it suffered the wrath of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Lucifer fans -- never mind fans of my beloved The Exorcist. The first two shows were picked up by other outlets, at least, so it's possible that in the worst-case scenario that The Passage doesn't find an audience on Fox, it could be picked up by, say, Netflix.

For now, The Passage airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox as one of the many midseason 2019 shows worth watching.

Social media is once again aflutter with the #10YearChallenge, in which people post pictures of themselves from a decade previous in order to show off how hot, different, etc. one used to be. (Or how hot, different, etc. one is now, compared to ten years ago.) Former Saved by the Bell co-stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez ain't got time for mere mortal challenges like that, and posted their own SBTB-inspired 30-Year Challenge photo.

If someone had told me that Mario Lopez had taken the picture on the left at home just minutes before driving up to the Extra studio in order to meet up with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, I think I would only have reached a "mild suspicion" about that statement not being correct. Because geez, he does not currently look 30 years older than his teenaged self. He probably stayed away from those dangerous caffeine pills.

As seen above, Mario Lopez and Mark-Paul Gosselaar basically recreated a 1989 promo pic for Saved by the Bell, in which the latter's Zack Morris is standing alongside the former's A.C. Slater. The two characters were begrudging friends or mild enemies, depending on what the storyline called for, but the actors themselves have maintained an absolutely friendly relationship in the decades since Saved by the Bell was an ongoing hit.

Time for another buddy pic!

While it would be perfectly acceptable for the two former co-stars to have some social media fun after randomly waxing nostalgic about Bayside High, this featured a more professional setting. Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed up as a guest on Extra to talk to Mario Lopez about the new Fox supernatural drama The Passage, on which Gosselaar plays a lead.

The actor's presence is probably the only thing that could possibly connect The Passage with Saved by the Bell, too. The new series, which is based on Justin Cronin's novel series, deals with secret medical experiments, vampires and other high-minded elements that would confuse the bejesus out of Mr. Belding. It's not exactly the kind of show that would allow for an easy-peasy Mario Lopez cameo, since that would threaten to derail the seriousness, but I'd still welcome it.

Also getting in on the share-ful excitement, Mark-Paul Gosselaar posted a video to his Instagram page he took on the Today set, in which Mario Lopez drops an amusing surprise F-bomb.

Recently, Mark-Paul Gosselaar revealed that he hadn't really kept up with any sentimental memories about his time filming Saved by the Bell, and that he didn't remember much in the long run. (Not even all those musical moments?) Which means we probably can't ask him about his younger self's shirt, the one with all the clocks on it. Who can we ask, though, because WTF is that shirt?

Mario Lopez can be found on leading the team on Extra on a daily basis, though he had a couple of scripted parts in 2018 on shows such as Jane the Virgin and the animated series Elena of Avalor. Meanwhile, Mark-Paul Gosselaar can be found trying to keep the world safe on The Passage, airing Monday nights on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you don't know what else is hitting primetime soon...it's all right, 'cause you're saved by our midseason TV schedule.

Like many book-to-screen adaptations, Fox's The Passage will be making some changes to its source material. Fans of Justin Cronin's book series may be wondering what alterations are in store for the adaptation. Explaining how the television series will modify the story, The Passage's Mark-Paul Gosselaar had this to say:

According to what Mark-Paul Gosselaar told Collider, The Passage is paving the way for multiple seasons to tell its story. Transitioning a book into a TV show is quite an undertaking and Gosselaar makes a salient point. Television is the right place to tell an epic story.

Given the wealth of pages to draw from, it seems as though The Passage will take its time unraveling the trilogy's first installment. This should be a good move that will keep the TV show from running out of its source material too quickly.

The pace at which it unfolds the books' story is not the only change The Passage has made. How much you will see Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character, Brad Wolgast, is another. Gosselaar explained how The Passage will deal with his character's arc, saying:

It is a change from the books that fans of the Saved by the Bell star are likely to welcome. It sounds as though The Passage will flesh out the story explicitly missing from the novels. Mark-Paul Gosselaar did not reveal how the show intends to keep his character around.

Based on what fans of the novels can take from what Mark-Paul Gosselaar has revealed so far, they do know a lot. For one, that Season 1 will adapt the first book's opening quarter, with some of the later novels' relevant information sewn in.

If that pacing were to hold, The Passage could spend three more seasons on the first book alone. Meaning the entire show could theoretically unfold over twelve seasons. It is an ambitious notion that speaks to the need for a lot of long-term planning.

The minds behind The Passage still have time to sort out all the details. The popular book series has seen its share of changes from how it was originally supposed to be adapted. As you may have guessed from Mark-Paul Gosselaar's first quote or known beforehand, The Passage was initially set to be brought to the screen in film form.

As a character-based story, The Passage should benefit from the finessed effect of being told on television. There is a lot of rich story that a movie would have had to skip through. A TV show will not have to make those sacrifices for time.

Fans will have to tune in to see what other book-to-TV changes get made and how they are handled as the series continues. The Passage airs right after The Resident at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. They are among a strong slate of new content awaiting viewers throughout the midseason year.

For the first half of the 1990s, there were few TV characters as ruthless, duplicitous and downright chaotic as Saved by the Bell's central teen heartthrob Zack Morris. While many fans can remember every one of Zack's schemes by heart, The Passage's Mark-Paul Gosselaar doesn't exactly fit into the same category. According to the actor, his Saved by the Bell production days have largely dropped out of his memory bank over the years. In his words:

I can't be the only person who's downright shocked by that admission, right? (Well, not the unimpressed kids thing.) After all, one would assume that most young actors leading an NBC series would desperately want to keep all of those memories intact, whether they would be about certain acting advice, specific scenes, or one-of-a-kind experiences with co-stars. But for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, stockpiling those memories just wasn't as imperative.

Of course, Mark-Paul Gosselaar was around 15 or so when he landed Disney's Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was reworked into Saved by the Bell for NBC. From 1989-1994, Gosselaar played Zack Morris for 14 episodes of Miss Bliss, 86 episodes of Saved by the Bell proper, four installments each of the Hawaiian Style and Wedding in Las Vegas offshoots, and 19 episodes of Saved by the Bell: The College Years.

That's a whole hell of a lot of Zack memories to get crammed into a five-year stretch, so perhaps it's not a mystery why much of those episode shoots have been excised from Mark-Paul Gosselaar's brain. Plus, he's kept up a healthy acting career in the meantime, with projects like Franklin and Bash and Pitch that likely took over his Saved by the Bell mind-space.

Promoting his new Fox show The Passage on a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live, Mark-Paul Gosselaar confessed that he and his Saved by the Bell co-stars don't really make that much money off of the hit teen comedy these days. Yes, despite the fact that it remains a winner for syndication, as well as a draw for Hulu subscribers. Here's how the actor put it.

Nothing too sarcastic about that last thought, but it doesn't look like Mark-Paul Gosselaar is altogether upset about not having many memories or dollar bills to show off from his Saved by the Bell tenure. After all, he's got a new show on Fox that's based on Justin Cronin's popular quasi-vampire series of The Passage novels, so he's not lacking for jobs to keep himself busy.

But if he wanted to find something fun to spend his time with, Mark-Paul Gosselaar could do worse than watching the shortform series Zack Morris is Trash, which is a brilliant look at just how morally corrupt the blonde teen was during his Bayside years. Maybe he could watch with his real-life buddy, former co-star Tiffany Thiessen, and she could maybe help his memory out a little. (For the record, he does remember enough to be regretful about one particular SBTB episode.)

Be sure to check out Mark-Paul Gosselaar's new starring turn on Fox's The Passage, which kicks off on Monday, January 14, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Don't forget about all the other new and returning shows hitting the midseason TV schedule, either.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is on his way back to Fox with a brand new show, and it already looks like it couldn't be more different than his previous (and sadly, short-lived) project at the network. He'll star in The Passage, based on a novel trilogy of the same name, and it promises to be a wild ride. A trailer for the new series gives a glimpse of what's to come. Take a look!

The trailer was intense enough in the first portion when it only seemed like the story would center on Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character as he tried to protect an innocent young girl from nefarious figures. Well, the "nefarious figures" part seems to be entirely accurate, but the second chunk of the trailer proves that the characters have more to fear than just regular bad guys. Vampires will be in the mix, and that innocent young girl appears to have powers of her own.

The Passage stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar as a federal agent given the responsibility of bringing a young girl to a secret medical facility, called Project Noah, as a test subject. The girl, Amy Bellafonte, clearly doesn't have much of a say in the matter at first, as she refers to herself as "being kidnapped." She also clearly doesn't have anybody she can count on, although she's smart to enough to realize that something is off when FBI Agent Brad Wolgast comes to pick her up.

Amy is used to being picked up by social workers, and always women. Wolgast is neither. Nevertheless, instead of delivering her to Project Noah to become a lab rat, Wolgast becomes determined to protect Amy, and that apparently entails going on the run with her. The scientists will likely stop at nothing to get their hands on her, as she seems to possess certain abilities. Why that qualifies her to be the test subject for a dangerous virus with the potential to cure all disease remains to be seen.

While the idea of Project Noah wanting to find a way to cure all disease sounds noble, the virus also has the potential to wipe out the entire human race, and the testing project undoubtedly would not be kind to Amy. The trailer doesn't explain her abilities, but the original description of the series stated that Amy has the psychic ability to communicate with "virals," which is the Passage name for vampires.

The Passage will premiere on Fox on Monday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET. Given its premiere slot in midseason, The Passage has a pretty solid chance of winning an audience. Although networks have taken to adding shows with new episodes to their midseason slates more in recent years, there is still often a shortage of new TV options in the period. Perhaps The Passage will be a bigger hit for Mark-Paul Gosselaar than the dearly-departed Pitch.

We'll have to wait and see. If you can't stand waiting until January to get a taste of the Passage story, you can check out the book trilogy by Justin Cronin. Although the show will undoubtedly take liberties with the source material, as all adaptations must, reading the books could be a fun way to pass the time. Alternately, you can find some viewing options on our fall TV premiere guide.

Fans of Justin Cronin's popular sci-fi trilogy The Passage are likely eager for updates on the planned adaptation for the story. It was originally supposed to be a movie, but has since been shifted to a TV show, which was recently ordered to series by Fox. We've put together as much information as we could dig up on the topic.

What Is The Passage?

Published in 2010, The Passage is the first book in a trilogy by Justin Cronin, which follows the start of an apocalypse triggered by government experimentation that leads to a vampire-like outbreak. The story begins with the start of that mayhem, then jumps decades ahead to what's left of humanity as they attempt to maintain some semblance of civilization and avoid death or infection by terrifying virals. More on that in a bit.

Wasn't The Passage Supposed To Be A Movie?

Yes, The Passage was originally lined up to be made into a movie. As of 2011, Matt Reeves was signed on to direct, and a script was in the works. As it often takes years to develop a book to the screen, it's not entirely surprising that updates were few and far between. At some point, the status of the adaptation's medium changed. Back in May 2016, author Justin Cronin mentioned in an interview that the planned Passage movie was actually being eyed for a "major television event" through FOX studios. And, from what Cronin says, it sounds like he thinks TV is the right format for the story.

So, The Passage Will Be A TV Show?

Actually, yes. In November 2016, Fox gave The Passage a pilot production commitment, and while that pilot didn't see the show getting to air the following television season, it clearly intrigued those at Fox. That pilot was retooled, with some cast and character changes, and reshot. This is the pilot that got The Passage a spot in the Fox lineup for sometime during the 2018-2019 TV season. Friday Night Lights' Liz Heldens and Felicity co-creator Matt Reeves are among the executive producers, along with David W. Zucker and Ridley Scott (through Scott Free Productions. Reeves is also on board to direct.

When Will The Passage Air?

This could change at any time, but, right now, Fox is planning to begin airing The Passage at some point in the fall of 2018.

Each pilot was presented to Fox, and those at the network then had to decide whether or not they wanted to move forward with it. Given the sci-fi and post-apocalyptic elements, budget was likely a big factor in Fox's decision as to whether or not to send this adaptation to series. Luckily for fans of the book trilogy, Fox decided, upon watching the revised pilot, that the project was right for its fall lineup.

What Is The Passage About?

The book begins at the start of the end of the world as we know it. A government experiment leads to a vampiric viral outbreak, which drastically depletes the population. Cut to the future, a century or so later, when humanity is clustered together in random places, trying not to get attacked by virals (the people who were turned by the virus). At the heart of the story is a girl named Amy, who could be the key to saving humanity. Other characters factor in, and Cronin takes his time to fill us in on their backgrounds throughout the books.

And, that's about as specific as I'll get on the plot. By the pilot's description, it sounds like the concept of the show would be similar or the same as it is in the book. Of course, there's always a chance (a likely one) that character, timelines and other subplot elements will be adjusted to suit the adaptation. These things are rarely page-for-page adaptations, after all. Fans of Justin Cronin's trilogy have gotten lucky again, because May 2018 actually brought us a trailer for the new show, and, from the looks of it, this adaptation will be a bit different. Take a look:

Is The Passage Better Off As A TV Show?

Honestly, I think it is. The Passage author Justin Cronin takes his time in introducing new characters and laying out their stories to give us a sense of who they are, and what motivates them. A TV series would ideally give Liz Heldens and the other writers the opportunity to pay a relatively similar amount of attention on the characters, so that the series can be a thriller, a horror, and a story of human survival all at once.

Who Will Star In The Passage?

If you're eager to learn who's lined up for the key roles, we've got you covered. In the pre-rampant virus time period, Bradford Wolgast, the FBI agent tasked with tracking down young Amy and bringing her in, is played by Pitch and Saved by the Bell vet Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Amy is portrayed by Saniyya Sidney of Fences, Hidden Figures and American Horror Story. The series has also cast Brianne Howey as Shauna Babcock, Vincent Piazza as Clark Richards, Emmanuelle Chriqui as Dr. Lila Kyle, Jamie McShane as Dr. Tim Fanning, Zach Appelman as Agent Phil Doyle, Caroline Chikezie as Dr. Major Nichole Sykes and Henry Ian Cusick as Jonas Lear.

A lot has changed since the original Saved by the Bell went off the air in the early '90's. One of the things that has stayed the same, however, is the tight-knit relationship between some members of the show's cast. Among those tight bonds is the one shared by former co-stars and onscreen love interests Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen. The latter, who played Kelly Kapowski, shared what has kept her and Gosselaar so close after all of these years, saying:

When it comes to fictional TV friendships, few shows can say they have Saved by the Bell beat. So it is not entirely surprising that arguably the closest of those on-screen relationships translated into something just as meaningful off-screen. The half-hour comedy showcased the relationships between six friends as they navigated the highs and lows of high school, with those highs and lows profoundly connected to Zack Morris' unique traits as a friend and boyfriend. Based on what Tiffani Thiessen shared with People, it sounds like Mark-Paul Gosselaar is a much better friend than Zack.

Relationships between co-stars can be tricky. Thankfully, Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar have managed to navigate 30 years of friendship without any obvious fallouts. Given the former co-stars are so close, a reboot of Saved by the Bell does not sound like it would be a difficult thing to bring into existence. While Thiessen and Gosselaar's friendship is still going strong, you have to wonder about Kelly and Zack's relationship. The two eloped in Las Vegas in a TV movie that aired in 1994, and would have presumably had the most beautiful and perfectly coifed children in all of California.

Tiffani Thiessen's Kelly was often at the center of arguments between Zack his buddy Slater, the teen boys' portrayers have encountered no such feud. In fact, the pair also spend time together in real life. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez both enjoyed a Los Angeles Chargers game together during the latest NFL season, and the heartthrobs shared a picture from the sidelines on social media, which you can see for yourself below.

While fans would love to see the Saved by the Bell cast unite for a reboot of the beloved sitcom, they will have to rely on these smaller interactions between the cast to get them through. You can currently catch Tiffani Thiessen on the Netflix sitcom Alexa & Katie, which has already been renewed for a second season. And even outside of an episode of Thiessen's Cooking Channel series, here's hoping Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar star together in something again. Even if they are not playing Kelly and Zack, it would be a neat treat for Saved by the Bell fans.

As of last year, you can no longer watch Saved by the Bell on Netflix, but don't get too sad, because the good news is that every season of the O.G. Saved by the Bell is currently streaming on Hulu. While the comedy is not on Amazon Prime or Netflix, you can find out what other shows those streaming services will have to offer in the not-too-distant future. Check out our guide to Amazon Prime and Netflix's 2018 premiere schedule, as well as our summer premiere schedule for the future of primetime.

Though an intensely loyal fanbase existed for the freshman series Pitch, that group was just too small for Fox to renew the drama, and it was canceled after one season. While those fans are surely sad to see it go, maybe they'll have some comfort to discovering that some Pitch actors are already landing on their feet. Mark-Paul Gosselaar already has another Fox project lined up, but it doesn't have much in common with baseball. The Saved by the Bell vet has signed on as a lead in the genre-heavy The Passage, which will find the actor combating a vampire apocalypse.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is set to star in the new pilot The Passage, which is being dubbed as a "character-driven thriller" set in the middle of a post-apocalyptic journey. The story is told in two distinct timelines: the present, where the planet has become overrun with once-human monsters known as "virals" who drink blood; and in flashbacks, which tell how the virals came to exist. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the central character is a 10-year-old girl named Amy, who not only has the psychic ability to communicate with the virals, but she may just hold the key to saving the human race.

For The Passage, Mark-Paul Gosselaar will play FBI agent Brad Wolgast, who is charged with bringing a young Amy to Project Noah, a government medical research facility that -- surprise-surprise -- is ultimately responsible for creating vampires. Project Noah tested a drug on 12 death row inmates that turned them into lethal killing machines, in an effort to make counterterrorism weapons, you see. However, the drug also has the unintended side effect of unlocking psychic abilities in the test subjects, which they quickly use to manipulate their caretakers. Project Noah decides that they need to experiment on children --for their less-developed brains -- and thus Wolgast is assigned to escort Amy to them. Wolgast isn't down with child abduction, though, and soon goes on the run with Amy, an army constantly on their tail. How's that for a pilot synopsis?

Fans may also be pleased to know that Mark-Paul Gosselaar isn't the only Pitch star joining The Passage. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. vet BJ Britt (who played Will Baker on Pitch) joins the vampire thriller as Peter, a weary young man who works to make the tough calls and save the human race from the virals. The Passage also stars Saniyya Sidney (Hidden Figures), Genesis Rodriguez (Time After Time), Brianne Howey (Scream Queens), and Jennifer Ferrin (Hell on Wheels). The pilot has some big names on the creative side, too, with Liz Heldens (Friday Night Lights) writing the pilot, and Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) executive producing alongside Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker.

The Passage was given a pilot order back in January but has been subsequently pushed to possibly a midseason bow. The pilot is expected to begin filming in Atlanta this month. While waiting to hear more from what we can expect, check out our summer premiere schedule for all the shows that are definitely hitting the air soon.

TV has produced an almost countless number of romantic couples whose milestones and hardships were shared by obsessive fans. That kind of thing didn't happen often on Saturday mornings programming, though, which is just one more reason Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski were the match made in heaven for young people in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But when asked if Zack and Kelly would still be married today, teen sitcom mastermind Peter Engel gave an observation that will likely send a lot of people to drinking (malts at the Max).

Shot through the heart, and Peter Engel is to blame! I'll admit that I haven't spent every day of my adulthood caressing a pillow that has "Z + K = 4EVR" on both sides of it, and statistics show us that marriages are more inclined to break down than remain intact over time, but there's nothing about common sense that's going to lift me up from the floor. Not even someone calling a radio station and requesting Zack Attack's "Did We Ever Have a Chance?" (Watch that here, because love.)

It's mildly disgusting that it's been a whopping 22 years since Zack and Kelly got married in Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas (though not as disgusting as it would have been if Tori showed up). As we've seen from some of Saved by the Bell's cast members themselves, real life can be...troubling, to say the least...so maybe it's legit that Zack and Kelly weren't in possession of what it took to make it into their 40s as a loving pair. I bet Mr. Belding can be blamed for some part of it, though.

It was technically TV veteram Sam Bobrick who created the Saved by the Bell prototype Good Morning, Miss Bliss, but he soon retired, and it's Peter Engel's name that fans are more familiar with seeing on the show's opening and closing credits. He was there through The College Years and the TV movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas, as well as The New Class, which was the last time Mark-Paul Gosselaar played Zack in live-action outside of appearances on Jimmy Fallon shows.

And if it seems like you've been hearing more Saved by the Bell stories than normal in the recent past, it's because Engel recently released his autobiography I Was Saved by the Bell: Stories of Live, Love and Dreams That Do Come True. That's where the real story behind the caffeine pill episode was shared, along with other intriguing tales from that era. Maybe we can all talk about the book after we're done petitioning Kelly's dad to get her and Zack back together after he finds a new job. For what it's worth, here's what Engel told TVLine the main characters would be doing today.

Hard to comment on any of that without bringing out the scrapbooks, so we'll pass. You can currently watch Mark-Paul Gosselaar in a squatting position on Fox's baseball drama Pitch, while Tiffani Thiessen wrapped the second season on her Cooking Channel show Dinner at Tiffani's earlier this year. And if you didn't know it, Gosselaar and his wife appeared on that show's Season 2 finale, and - spoiler- they liked the food.

Fall TV premiere season 2016 introduced a plethora of brand new series into the primetime lineup, and there was the usual mixture of sitcoms, legal procedurals, and reboots. One show that stood out from the rest with a truly unique premise was Pitch on Fox, which tells the story of the first female pitcher to make it to the major league. Unfortunately, Pitch doesn't have solid enough ratings that fans can expect a second season at this point, and actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar had this to say about whether or not he is betting on a Pitch Season 2:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar's optimistic words in his chat with TVLine have to come to a relief to any fans who have grown accustomed to seeing him in all his bearded glory as San Diego Padres catcher Mike Lawson. He may not have any sway over whether or not the show actually gets a second season, but it's a good sign that he feels confident enough to plan a workout routine with his co-stars. Assuming that Fox does give Pitch an order for Season 2, we can count on seeing Mike Lawson, Blip Sanders, and Ginny Baker in similarly good shape.

Of course, an actor showing enthusiasm for his job isn't enough to guarantee that his show will stay on the air. Despite critical claim and a stamp of approval from the PTC, ratings for Pitch haven't been anything special. The series premiere drew a decent 1.06 rating in the valuable 18 - 49 demographic and attracted 4.2 million viewers, but the rating hasn't scored above a 1.01 since the second episode, and the viewership has been dropping on a weekly basis. The numbers just aren't good enough to make Season 2 a sure thing.

Luckily, they're also not bad enough to knock Pitch out of the running for a renewal. Although viewership has continued dropping over the past few weeks, the ratings in the 18 - 49 demographic have remained more or less steady. Critics enjoy it, and it does well with DVR viewing. Throw in the fact that the show has already won a loyal and vocal following, and Fox could have more than enough reasons to give the show a second season. If execs need any extra reasons, they can always check out the #RenewPitch tag on Twitter to see fans sharing pleas for why the show deserves more.

Hopefully Fox will come out with some good news for those fans sooner rather than later. Tune in on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET to see what's next for Ginny, Mike, and the rest in Pitch Season 1, and join me in crossing my fingers that Pitch won't be one of the shows to be cancelled this season.

We've all done things that we regret, correct? From relationships to dinner choices to hair styles, life is not always meant to take the most ideal route, something fully understood by Saved by the Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar, whose hairdos as Zack Morris are incapable of inspiring remorse. There's one particular episode of the high school comedy that doesn't sit so well with him, 1990's "Running Zack," and he gave an amusing apology for it in a recent interview.

Pat yourself on the back if you are the kind of Saved by the Bell fanatic that already had it in mind that "Running Zack" would be the episode in question. (Incidentally, patting one's back qualifies as a dance contest entry at The Max.) And note that Mark-Paul Gosselaar wasn't randomly and arbitrarily issuing an apology for the episode, as this was a segment of an EW interview called "Watch This/Sorry About That," for which he got to promote his current work on Fox's well-received drama Pitch by balancing it with a pop culture blight from his past. He could have said ALL KINDS of things, given all that was seen during Saved by the Bell's run (as well as other parts of his career), but this was a solid answer.

"Running Zack" obviously wasn't the greatest episode of Saved by the Bell, and everything came across as super hokey even without thinking of the inherent cultural insensitivity. (Saturday mornings have not always been the best times for children to get "messages.") It's perhaps most notable for featuring one of the final performances from veteran Native American actor Dehl Berti, who died in 1991. Berti was solid as usual, though he did die in the episode, as Gosselaar put it, "without explanation." Thank goodness they didn't go full-face with the makeup or anything, and Screech wasn't wearing a Washington Redskins jersey; Dustin Diamond has gone on to do other not so great things.

Saved by the Bell fans are going to relive another one of that show's worst moments, which also happens to be one of its best, when Mark-Paul Gosselaar makes an appearance in animated form on Family Guy. The scene being recreated is, of course, the one where Jessie goes nutso on caffeine pills and gives The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited" a musical ad-lib on par with "More cowbell." Magic.

A Saved by the Bell reunion outside the realm of late night talk shows (such as this one) just isn't going to be in the cards, which is probably fine, since an adult Zack Morris likely wouldn't be any better at nailing life. But you can still catch Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Pitch on Thursday nights on Fox.

Television is a medium that has seemingly no limits in the ways in which it can create pop culture wormholes. One of the latest and greatest examples will come in the form of a Family Guy episode from its fifteenth season, which will dedicate a gag to a truly iconic scene from the always reference-worthy Saved by the Bell. Amazingly enough, actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar himself will be reprising the role of Zack Morris for the scene.

Which scene are we talking about? Only one of the greatest moments ever put to film that arguably should have been burned to ashes immediately afterward: Jessie's infamous "I'm So Excited" mental breakdown. Given how bizarre and beloved it is, one has to wonder why Family Guy hasn't referenced it ad nauseam, Conway Twitty-style. (The show has, after all, gone to darker places for its cutaways.) Perhaps that will change in the future, and we're keeping an ear to our giant phones to hear about Gosselaar joining Family Guy full-time.

Here's what executive producer Richard Appel told TVLine about putting it together.

Of course it's going to be Stewie as the presumed pill-popper. The Griffin baby has had his share of intoxicants over the years, and he's also the most on-edge character in this show, so it only makes sense. And we all know it couldn't be done with Meg, because in the original, Mark-Paul Gosselaar's Zack sympathetically stops Jessie and hugs it out with her, and no one would want to hug it out with Meg.

There was a time when Saved by the Bell's stars weren't too eager to embrace those early years in their respective careers, but that has changed for the most part, as evidenced by that spectacular reunion on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, along with a couple of other awesome situations. And it makes a lot of sense for an animated version of Saved by the Bell to happen in some form, since it doesn't require the actors to be on camera. It might not make sense to put all of my energy into wishing that concept into existence as a full TV series, but do it, I must, since an official revival won't happen.

Now, without further ado, let's pretend like we're strung out on caffeine pills and find our musical centers.

Not since the Simpsons crossover have I anticipated a Family Guy episode this alarmingly. It's unclear when this episode will arrive, but Family Guy will debut Season 15 on Sunday, September 25, at 9 p.m. ET. To see when you can get excited and scared about everything else coming to TV later this year, check out our fall premiere schedule.

American Ninja Warrior has managed to be so compelling because the course is so incredibly difficult. Even the fittest of fit individuals have trouble even coming close to beating the course, and many contestants have made the attempt over and over again. Still, that hasn’t deterred a few celebrities from attempting the course, and recently former Saved By The Bell actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar gave the tough activity a shot. It could’ve been way worse. You can see him crush the first part, below, before his big fail comes later in the course.

This week, American Ninja Warrior gave the actor a shot at attempting the incredibly difficult challenge. Honestly, this first video of the actor attempting the sloped wall is pretty impressive. A lot of athletic people still wouldn’t be able to make that run and get over the top of the wall, so Mark-Paul Gosselaar is no slouch. However, his success is rather short-lived.

Just a few short seconds later, the actor attempted the trapeze portion of the course. Although he took his time swinging in order to try and get to the next obstacle, he didn’t manage to grab on and fell into the water. Gosselaar called it an “epic fail” on his Instagram page. And since failures are almost as fun to watch as seeing someone succeed, we’ve included that embed below, as well.

This isn’t the first time that a celebrity has attempted to do the course, but it is one of the best ones we’ve seen in a while. A couple of years ago, Mom stars Anna Faris and Allison Janney attempted a version of the course that The Ellen Show put together for them. It wasn’t as difficult as the real thing, but watching Allison Janney crush it out was one of the best things we’ve seen.

If you’d like to see some real athletes attempt the incredibly difficult course, you don't have too much longer to wait. American Ninja Warrior is expected to return to the schedule on Wednesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET, only on NBC. In addition, you can check out what other shows are returning to the schedule this summer with our upcoming TV premiere schedule.

We live in a day and age when a lot of former TV shows are making their way back to television. A lot of these remakes, reboots and spinoffs have made their way to Netflix, as the streaming platform offers ample opportunity to remake a show exactly the way the actors and creator want to. Recently, we caught up with Mark-Paul Gosselaar during a Q&A at the Gasparilla Film Festival and asked the longtime TV actor if there are any of his big projects he’d love to see return via a streaming platform. His answer might surprise you...

If the cast and the showrunner are all on board to reboot the former TNT drama, Netflix should just shell out and go for it, right? OK, OK. We all know the negotiations for bringing back a TV series can be difficult if both parties aren’t on the same page. Plus Franklin & Bash closed shop way back in 2014 and the actors and creative team have moved on to new projects in the time since. We also know no actual negotiations are happening at this point, but a lot of people were fans of the fun legal duo and would probably revel in the chance to see the two pals back on the small screen again.

Although fans would be excited about the return of Franklin & Bash, a revival might be good news for more than just the original fans. Mark-Paul Gosselaar also says there is a reason that Netflix would be a better home for the legal drama.

While I don’t think any of us need any more Entourage in our lives, the point Mark-Paul Gosselaar made during his promotion for new movie Precious Cargo is that Franklin & Bash was a great bromance on TNT, but it could have been darker or edgier on another network. It could have been gutsier. It could have taken more chances… you get the point. Netflix offers a unique opportunity to reinvent a series—which is how programs like Longmire have become edgier after moving to the streaming service. It’s a concept that may not work for all reboots--Fuller House is similar to Full House for instance—but it’s pretty cool that Netflix is giving showrunners and actors way more creative freedom than most other TV networks.

While no Franklin & Bash reunion is in sight, we do know what else Netflix has coming up.

Photo courtesy of GIFF 2016.

For those wondering if TNT’s cancelation of Franklin and Bash last year was going to keep former Saved by the Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar off of our TVs for an extended period, take comfort in knowing that isn’t the case at all. NBC has ordered up its first comedy pilot of the 2015-2016 season, the Gosselaar-starring sitcom People are Talking. We’ll have to wait and see if that title will actually apply to the show itself.

People are Talking will center on two very different couples who also happen to be neighbors and best friends. Due to their closeness, they are constantly and obsessively picking life apart in every way possible. According to THR, race and sex will get some of the general focus, with specific attention given to whether the new babysitter is a porn star or not. (Man, I hate when I have that problem.) Should People are Talking get picked up to series, we can expect the conversations to be no holds barred in nature.

Gosselaar already has a co-star for People are Talking in Tone Bell, who will play the male in the neighborly couple. This will be Bell’s first leading role, though he’s had some pretty meaty regular parts on the short-lived comedies Whitney and Bad Judge. He’s got some great comedic chops, so it’ll be great to see him front and center.

People are Talking is being put together by TV vet DJ Nash and Hollywood producer Will Packer. Nash wrote and produced for such shows as ’Til Death and Traffic Light before creating last year’s one-season comedy Growing Up Fisher with J.K. Simmons, and he’ll serve as the showrunner for this pilot. Packer’s name became synonymous with success in 2012 with Think Like a Man, which he followed with a string of recent big screen hits, including Ride Along and The Wedding Ringer. He’s got Ride Along 2 and Straight Outta Compton in the pipeline, as well as the upcoming small screen remake of Uncle Buck. Directing the pilot is Pam Fryman, who was behind the camera for nearly 200 episodes of How I Met Your Mother, and a large handful of Two and a Half Men episodes, among other things.

Somewhat surprisingly, this will be the latest in a line of multi-camera comedies for NBC, joining Undateable and One Big Happy. Expect to hear more about People are Talking’s future in the coming months.

The past year has been an incredibly rich one for fans of Saved by the Bell. (Not a sentence one has to form very often.) It all reached an apex of sorts on The Tonight Show, which featured Jimmy Fallon taking a trip back to his high school days at Bayside, specifically the day when he told friends Zack, Kelly, Jessie and Slater that he was leaving. It’s pretty much the best thing since Saved by the Bell.

Nothing dredges the depths of post-modernism more gleefully than a Saved by the Bell sketch with the original actors commenting on their careers after SBTB. Beyond just a guilty pleasure, this is “scraped off of the electric chair pleasure,” as we watch Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins don their old duds and essentially perform the hits for Jimmy Fallon and his audience. As soon as Bayside’s main hall shows up, with the walls covered in episode-specific posters, my face locked into a permagrin. And then Zack walked out, and the crowd screamed for like twenty minutes or something. Time doesn’t work the same in this universe.

From the costumes to the props to the jokes, there was nothing imperfect about this. The theme song gets a reference. Slater’s grin is as shit-eating as ever, and he’s wearing tearaway clothes for impromptu dance numbers. Lopez and Berkley don’t look like they’ve aged past Saved by the Bell: The College Years (which also gets a reference).

Fallon’s career and missed chances with Nicole Kidman gets joked about. ”I’m so excited!” and Zack Attack show up. And there was no better quote on TV on Wednesday than this.

This was definitely better than the Saved by the Bell Lifetime movie, although that was amazing in its own special way. Watching these actors just settle right back into the roles that launched them into different orbits, it’s more fulfilling than actually seeing them return for an hourlong reunion special. You can’t get the giant mobile phone joke into a modern-day version.

Fallon recently brought back some TV nostalgia with his take on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme. Are we going to get a Beverly Hills 90210 reunion next? Is it too soon for Freaks and Geeks?

Former Saved By The Bell star Mark-Paul Gosselaar has already been a father for more than a decade, but now, he’s got another little one to look after. The star and his beautiful new wife Catriona McGinn welcomed in their first child together, a little boy, and his third overall on Monday, and by all accounts, the delivery couldn’t have gone better.

Here’s what Gosselaar told US Weekly…

As for the little guy’s name, he will be known as Dekker Edward Gosselaar, which is original enough without being too ridiculous. That’s the key with celebrity names. Most famous people aren’t big fans of handles like Greg or Bruce, but there’s a big difference between working a little outside the box and picking something that’s straight up ludicrous. This name walks that line perfectly, and one would imagine Dekker will love it moving forward.

Gosselaar was married to his first wife, Lisa Ann Russell, for fourteen years. They had two children together, ten-year-old Michael and seven-year-old Ava, but unfortunately, the union didn’t work out. They were officially divorced back in 2011, and not long after, Gosselaar began seeing McGinn, while his now ex-wife got together with Jeff Probst. A wedding followed last summer, and now, the two have become even more like a modern family.

Pop Blend’s sincerest congratulations go out to Gosselaar, McGinn and their entire immediate and extended families. Having a baby requires a ton of work, an unlimited source of patience and plenty of resources, but with enough determination, these two will come out the other side. In fact, there’s no reason to think they won’t be wonderful parents.

We will keep you updated if the Franklin & Bash star speaks on the record.

These days, Mark-Paul Gosselaar can be found playing the Bash-end of TNT's legal dramedy Franklin & Bash, but with the show on hiatus and poised to return for a third season, Gosselaar appears to have room in his schedule for a guest appearance or two. That includes a spot in tonight's season premiere of Don't Trust the B---- In Apt. 23, as well as a guest appearance in another one of ABC's Tuesday night comedies.

As EW previously reported, the former Saved by the Bell star is set to appear in tonight's premiere episode of Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, playing himself, much in the way James van der Beek regularly does in the comedy. Malcolm in the Middle's Frankie Muniz will also appear in the comedy when it makes its second season debut on ABC this evening. But Gosselaar's not done with ABC's Tuesday night line-up. This week, EW reports that the actor is set to appear in Happy Endings, playing Max's new roommate Chase in Episode 10 of the third season.

Gosselaar is suited up for his regular gig on Franklin & Bash these days, as he stars alongside Breckin Meyer as two friends and streetwise attorneys working at a prestigious law firm. Prior to F&B, Gosselaar starred in the short-lived Raising the Bar. And between legal dramas, he managed to squeeze in a guest spot on Weeds that had him showing Nancy a good time (to put it mildly). While F&B has its humorous elements, Gosselaar's ABC guest spots should give him the opportunity to really show off his sense of humor once again. I'm particularly excited to see how he represents himself in tonight's Don't Trust the B, but the Happy Endings spot also has a lot of potential to be legendary! He follows in the footsteps of Fred Savage as a beloved celeb from the 80s/90s who made an appearance on the ABC comedy.