View source for Saved by the Bell (2020 TV series)

{{short description|2020 American sitcom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                    = Saved by the Bell (Peacock) title card.png
| genre                    = [[Teen sitcom]]
| creator                  = [[Sam Bobrick]]
| developer                = [[Tracey Wigfield]]
| starring                 = {{Plain list|
* Haskiri Velazquez
* Mitchell Hoog
* [[Josie Totah]]
* [[Alycia Pascual-Peña]]
* Belmont Cameli
* [[Dexter Darden]]
* [[John Michael Higgins]]
* [[Elizabeth Berkley Lauren]]
* [[Mario Lopez]]
<!--Starring cast order is according to original credits (the pilot episode). Do NOT rearrange cast order, per MOS:TVCAST. -->
}}
| country                  = United States
| language                 = English
| num_seasons              = 2
| num_episodes             = 20
| list_episodes            =
| executive_producer       = {{Plain list|
* Tracey Wigfield
* [[Franco E. Bario]]
* [[Peter Engel]]
* [[Trent O'Donnell]]
}}
| producer                 = {{Plain list|
* Elizabeth Berkley Lauren
* [[Mark-Paul Gosselaar]]
* Mario Lopez
* [[Tiffani Thiessen]]
* Josie Totah
* {{nowrap|Aaron Geary & Ben Steiner}}
* Amy-Jo Perry
*[[Lark Voorhies]]
* Matt Murray
}}
| company                  = {{Plain list|
* Big Wig Productions
* [[Universal Television]]
}}
| composer                 = [[Jeff Cardoni]]
| theme_music_composer     = Scott Gale (performed by [[Lil Yachty]])
| cinematography           = Tom Magill
| editor                   = {{Plain list|
* Mat Greenleaf
* Jonathan Pledger
* Richie Edelson
* Jamie Nelsen
}}
| camera                   = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime                  = 24–31 minutes
| network                  = [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]
| first_aired              = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
| last_aired               = {{End date|2021|12|01}}
}}
'''''Saved by the Bell''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] developed by [[Tracey Wigfield]] that premiered on November 25, 2020, on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]. It is a revival to the [[Saved by the Bell|original television series of the same name]] created by [[Sam Bobrick]] and follows some of the same characters.
The entire main cast from the original ''Saved by the Bell'' series reprised their roles in the revival, with the exception of [[Dustin Diamond]] and [[Dennis Haskins]] as Screech and Mr. Belding, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/why-isnt-screech-on-saved-by-bell-reboot-47939379|title=You Won't See Screech on the Saved by the Bell Reboot — Here's Why|last=Prahl|first=Amanda|date=November 4, 2020|access-date=November 6, 2020|work=PopSugar|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106172841/https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/why-isnt-screech-on-saved-by-bell-reboot-47939379|url-status=live}}</ref> The series received generally positive reviews from critics, with praises going towards the performances of Hoog and Totah.
In January 2021, the series was renewed for a 10-episode second season which was released on November 24 and December 1, 2021. In May 2022, the series was canceled after two seasons.
==Plot==
The series is set 26 years after Zack and Kelly's wedding, with the main characters of [[Saved by the Bell|the original series]] reunited in their 40s and trying to navigate their lives. A new generation of students enter the Bayside High School, but conflicts arise as Zack Morris, now the [[Governor of California]], shuts down all the low income high schools in the impoverished districts and transfers the less fortunate students to wealthier and higher performing schools in the state's richer areas, including Bayside.
==Cast==
===Main===
<!--Main cast order is according to original credits (the pilot episode). Do NOT rearrange cast order, per MOS:TV CAST. In addition, new main cast members will be at the bottom of the list.-->
* Haskiri Velazquez as Daisy Jiménez,<ref name="MainCastNames">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-revival-everything-to-know/|title=Everything you need to know about the Saved by the Bell revival|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Rosey|last=Cordero|date=November 26, 2020|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126070055/https://ew.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-revival-everything-to-know/|url-status=live}}</ref> a smart, ambitious, and underprivileged sophomore who is excited at the prospect of attending Bayside High after her local school gets shut down<ref>{{cite web|title='Saved By The Bell': Peacock Rounds Out Lead Cast For Upcoming Reboot|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-lead-cast-reboot-1202842653/|first=Denise|last=Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 27, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203649/https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-lead-cast-reboot-1202842653/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Mitchell Hoog as Mac Morris,<ref name="MainCastNames"/> the handsome, charming, privileged son of Governor Zack Morris and Kelly Morris
* [[Alycia Pascual-Peña]] as Aisha Garcia,<ref name="MainCastNames"/> Daisy's fun-loving but ultracompetitive best friend and Bayside High's new starting quarterback
* Belmont Cameli as Jamie Spano,<ref name="MainCastNames"/> the not-so-bright captain of the Bayside football team and Jessie's sensitive man-child son
* [[Dexter Darden]] as Devante Young,<ref name="MainCastNames"/> a new student at Bayside who has a love for high school musicals
* [[John Michael Higgins]] as Principal Ronald Toddman,<ref name="MainCastNames"/> who took over Mr. Belding's role as the head of Bayside High.<ref name="tvonline-newprincipal">{{cite web|title=Saved by the Bell Revival: Meet Bayside High's Beleaguered New Principal|url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/17/saved-by-the-bell-revival-cast-john-michael-higgins-principal-toddman/|first=Michael|last=Ausiello|website=TVLine|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203551/https://tvline.com/2019/12/17/saved-by-the-bell-revival-cast-john-michael-higgins-principal-toddman/|url-status=live}}</ref> He originally attended Bayside High along with the original gang, even if none of them (apart from Lisa) remembers him.
* [[Elizabeth Berkley Lauren]] as [[Jessie Spano]], Jamie's mother and a school counselor at Bayside High. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, she's a ''[[New York Times]]'' best-selling author of parenting books, she gave [[TED Talks]] and was involved in politics. She is married to her struggling writer husband, René.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 23, 2020|title=Saved by the Bell's Elizabeth Berkley Talks Jessie's Single Mom Status|url=https://www.cbr.com/saved-by-the-bell-elizabeth-berkley-discusses-jessie-single-mom/|access-date=December 1, 2020|website=CBR|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124212856/https://www.cbr.com/saved-by-the-bell-elizabeth-berkley-discusses-jessie-single-mom/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Mario Lopez]] as [[A.C. Slater]], a physical education teacher and football coach at Bayside High
===Recurring===
* [[Mark-Paul Gosselaar]] as [[Zack Morris (Saved by the Bell)|Zack Morris]], a former Bayside High student who is now former [[Governor of California]] and Mac's father<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 29, 2020|title=The Saved By the Bell Revival Finally Has a Premiere Date|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1192949/the-saved-by-the-bell-revival-finally-has-a-premiere-date|access-date=September 29, 2020|website=E! Online|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203641/https://www.eonline.com/news/1192949/the-saved-by-the-bell-revival-finally-has-a-premiere-date|url-status=live}}</ref> He admittedly ran for governor as a way to get out of a $75 parking ticket and he later cut $10 billion in education funding from the state budget, which forces the closure of poorly funded schools, including Douglas High.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 27, 2020|url=https://www.cbr.com/saved-by-the-bell-how-zack-became-california-governor/|title=Saved by the Bell: How Zack Morris Became Governor of California|access-date=November 28, 2020|last=Vinney|first=Cynthia|work=CBR|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205064844/https://www.cbr.com/saved-by-the-bell-how-zack-became-california-governor/|url-status=live}}</ref> He is married to his high school sweetheart Kelly Kapowski.
* [[Tiffani Thiessen]] as [[Kelly Kapowski|Kelly Morris]], Mac's mother, Zack Morris' wife, and the [[First Ladies and Partners of California|First Lady of California]].<ref name="capacity" /> Zack and Kelly appear (uncredited) in the first, eighth and tenth episodes of the first season.
* [[Lark Voorhies]] as [[List of Saved by the Bell characters#Lisa Turtle|Lisa Turtle]], a fashion designer and former Bayside High student who now lives and works between Los Angeles and [[Paris]]<ref name="Lark">{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2020|title=Lark Voorhies Will Reprise 'Saved by the Bell' Role in Peacock Series|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lark-voorhies-saved-by-the-bell-1234819012/|access-date=October 29, 2020|website=Variety|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203636/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lark-voorhies-saved-by-the-bell-1234819012/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ed Alonzo]] as Max, a magician and the owner of The Max
* [[Tricia O'Kelley]] as Jade Huntington-Snell, a member of the Bayside PTA who advocates for the Douglas High kids to leave Bayside
* DeShawn Cavanaugh as Colt Cassidy, Jamie's friend who's also on the Bayside High football team
* Abraham Rodriguez as Spencer Buckley, one of the students at Bayside High
* Mariah Iman Wilson as Nadia, one of the students at Bayside High. Devante has a crush on her.
* Kellen Joseph as The Fish, star wrestler at Bayside High.
* Corey Michael Bangi as Mason, one of the students at Bayside High
* Brandon Marcel as Greg, one of the students at Bayside high
* [[Cheyenne Jackson]] as René, Jessie's estranged husband and Jamie's father who is a struggling writer
* [[Patrick Thomas O'Brien]] as [[List of Saved by the Bell characters#Mr. Dewey|Mr. Dewey]], the Bayside High math teacher from the original series<ref>{{cite web|date=October 27, 2020|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-trailer-20201027-wat7vlf2nfbxvolamp2l4tdpgy-story.html|title='Saved by the Bell' trailer offers first Look at Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen in Peacock series|access-date=November 5, 2020|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|work=Chicago Tribune|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203554/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-trailer-20201027-wat7vlf2nfbxvolamp2l4tdpgy-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Matthew Sato as Gil Vatooley (season 2), Daisy's love interest
* [[Ariela Barer]] as Chloe (season 2), Aisha's love interest
===Guest===
* [[Selenis Leyva]] as Ms. Jimenez, Daisy's hardworking mother
* Courtney Lopez as Michelle, a woman whom Slater meets on a blind date and later starts dating
==Episodes==
===Series overview===
{{Series overview
| released  = y
| color1    = #FD59A0
| link1     = #Season 1 (2020)
| episodes1 = 10
| start1    = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
| end1      = start
| color2    = #06C8CD
| link2     = #Season 2 (2021)
| episodes2 = 10
| start2    = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
| end2      = {{End date|2021|12|1}}
}}
===Season 1 (2020)===
{{Episode table |background=#FD59A0 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |released=y |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 1
|EpisodeNumber2  = 1
|Title           = Pilot
|DirectedBy      = [[Trent O'Donnell]]
|WrittenBy       = [[Tracey Wigfield]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Douglas High students Daisy, Aisha and Devante are forced to transfer from their low-income high school to one of the most affluent schools in the state, Bayside High, after Governor Zack Morris closes Douglas High due to budget cuts. Bayside's new principal Ron Toddman, guidance counselor Jessie Spano, and physical education teacher A.C. Slater try to make the new kids feel as welcome as possible. At Bayside High, Daisy, Aisha and Devante meet students Mac, Lexi and Jamie. Aisha decides to try out for the football team. Slater inspires Devante to try out for the school musical. Daisy tries to run for class president but discovers that it's much harder for her to compete than the privileged Mac and Lexi, who both only want to become class president so they can have the best parking space. After realizing that the class president has real responsibilities, Mac and Lexi decide to help Daisy win.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 2
|EpisodeNumber2  = 2
|Title           = Clubs and Cliques
|DirectedBy      = Trent O'Donnell
|WrittenBy       = Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Devante and Lexi get the leads in the school musical. Devante struggles to fit in with Lexi and the other musical theatre kids. Slater tells Jessie that he's unsure if he should give Aisha a spot on the men's football team since he's worried she could get hurt. Jessie convinces him to put her on the team. Slater makes Aisha quarterback, which was previously Jamie's spot. Jessie struggles to tell her son, Jamie, that Aisha is better at football than him. Daisy's English teacher tells Daisy that she doesn't expect her to hand in the summer reading assignment, since she just transferred to Bayside High. Daisy feels like the teacher underestimates her and decides to do the assignment anyway. Mac, who didn't do the assignment, is now also forced to hand in the assignment the next day. Daisy tries to inspire Mac to prove their teacher wrong, but Mac instead convinces some of the parents that the book they're supposed to do the assignment on, Frankenstein, is racist. After Daisy reveals that she spent the whole night working on the assignment, Mac decides to (partly) do the assignment as well.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 3
|EpisodeNumber2  = 3
|Title           = The Bayside Triangle
|DirectedBy      = Katie Locke O'Brien
|WrittenBy       = Amy-Jo Perry
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = After thirty iPads are stolen from Mr. Toddman's office, the Douglas students realize that everyone suspects one of the Douglas students did it. Daisy and Aisha suspect that Devante did it. After a fight with Devante, Aisha decides to write a note that Devante did it and puts it in a suggestion box. She later realizes her mistake and tries to fix this but ends up incriminating herself. After Mr. Toddman discovers that the iPads were simply misplaced, he clears Aisha's name. Mac and Jamie both try to ask someone out, but don't seem to realize that it's the same girl, Pamela, they have their eye on. Lexi convinces Daisy that it's better to let them figure it out themselves. Daisy still tells them, after which the boys start a prank war to determine who will date Pamela. Mac is winning, but Daisy forces Pamela to choose one of the boys. Pamela picks Jamie. An upset Lexi reveals to Daisy that she has a crush on Jamie, who was probably never going to win from Mac and thus never going to date Pamela. After a speech from Slater, the boys decide not to let Pamela ruin their friendship.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 4
|EpisodeNumber2  = 4
|Title           = The Fabulous Birchwood Boys
|DirectedBy      = [[Kabir Akhtar]]
|WrittenBy       = [[Matt Warburton]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = As class president, Daisy is obligated to plan and organize the Harvest Dance for which the school has reserved a $10,000 budget. To cut costs Daisy tells Mr. Toddman his band, The Birchwood Boys, can play at the dance. Mac tells Daisy to only settle for the best things and plan the dance like she is 'a rich person'. She fires Mr. Toddman's band, which hurts his feelings. Daisy's new bossy attitude also causes all the volunteers to drop out, leaving Daisy to decorate the gym alone. Mac eventually convinces all the volunteers to come back and help decorate. Daisy also asks Mr. Toddman's band to still play at the dance. Lexi inspires Devante to take acting in the school musical more seriously and tell his other friends about the musical. Jamie takes Aisha to the Harvest Dance.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 5
|EpisodeNumber2  = 5
|Title           = Rent-A-Mom
|DirectedBy      = Daniella Eisman
|WrittenBy       = Aaron Geary & Ben Steiner
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Jessie tells Daisy she thinks Daisy's perfect for a summer leadership program in New York. Daisy is afraid to ask her mom's permission since she thinks her mom, who is always working, needs her to take care of her little brother during the summer break and isn't able to afford a babysitter. After Jessie leaves a message on her mom's answering machine, Daisy asks Mac and Lexi to help her think of a way to prevent Jessie and her mom from meeting. Mac and Lexi hire a professional actress to pretend to be Daisy's mom and set up a meeting between Jessie and Daisy's fake mom. When Jessie finds out that Daisy was lying and encourages her to tell the truth. Daisy finally tells her mom about the summer leadership program. Her mom promises that Daisy can go and that she'll figure out a way to make it work. Meanwhile, Aisha and Slater concoct a scheme to make the football team more competitive. Jamie reveals that he has feelings for Aisha. Jessie finds out her husband René intends to stay at his writers' retreat for six more months.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 6
|EpisodeNumber2  = 6
|Title           = Teen-Line
|DirectedBy      = [[Matthew A. Cherry]]
|WrittenBy       = Erin Fischer & [[Shantira Jackson]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = After all cellphones are confiscated at Bayside High, the students slowly start to go insane. Mac, who has two cellphones, starts charging students 25 cents per minute to use his second phone. Devante is accused of physical abuse by a high school theater critic named Tanner after Devante, Tanner and Lexi have a conversation regarding Tanner's negative review about the school musical. Tanner's mother, Jade, starts advocating for Devante's expulsion from the school. After Mac finds evidence that Tanner wasn't even at the high school musical performance, Lexi, Daisy and Mac confront Tanner and force him to convince his mother to back down. Aisha accidentally sends Jamie a voicenote saying that she could never date anyone as dumb as Jamie. When Jamie finds out, he's upset but quickly forgives her, and they start dating.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 7
|EpisodeNumber2  = 7
|Title           = House Party
|DirectedBy      = Angela Tortu
|WrittenBy       = Yamara Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Mac and Lexi hatch a scheme to break Aisha and Jamie up during Jamie's big birthday party. Jessie goes to visit René at the retreat. After Aisha gets upset at seeing how rich Jamie is, they have a fight. Lexi feels bad and convinces Jamie and Aisha to make up. She tells Mac that she has had a crush on Jamie for years. Daisy gets drunk for the first time and imagines she is on ''[[Euphoria (American TV series)|Euphoria]]''. Slater and Toddman go on a blind double date, where Slater meets a woman named Michelle, who he has an instant connection with. Jessie calls Slater to ask him if he is able to shut down the party and he immediately leaves his date. Instead of shutting down the party, Slater ends up partying alongside the students. However, after the police try to shut the party down and mistake Slater for a parent, he realizes he should act his age and sends everyone home. René and Jessie come back home. After seeing them together Slater texts Michelle to arrange a second date.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 8
|EpisodeNumber2  = 8
|Title           = The Todd Capsule
|DirectedBy      = Kabir Akhtar
|WrittenBy       = Tracey Wigfield & Beth Coyle
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Governor Zack Morris and First Lady Kelly Morris decide to visit Bayside during Homecoming weekend. Slater, Jessie, Zack and Kelly decide to dig up their old time capsule to reminisce about their time at Bayside. Mr. Toddman reveals that he went to high school with them and was even present during some [[Saved by the Bell|important moments]], including [[Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas|Zack and Kelly's wedding]]. All four of them admit that they don't remember him. They call their friend Lisa Turtle, who is now a famous fashion designer living in Paris. Lisa tells them she does remember Ron and that he indeed went to high school with them. They try to make it up to him by reforming the band Zack Attack (which Zack later realizes only became famous [[List of Saved by the Bell episodes#Season 3 (1991)|in a dream he had]]). After Toddman becomes the victim of one of Mac's pranks, Zack is able to convince Toddman that they were all pulling a prank on him and have known he went to school with them all along. Daisy and Lexi raise a lot of money for charity, but are shocked to discover that the money is instead being used by Jade to renovate Douglas High so all the transferred students can go back to their old school.
''Note'': The original 1989 theme song is used in the [[title sequence]] of this episode.
|LineColor = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 9
|EpisodeNumber2  = 9
|Title           = All in the Hall
|DirectedBy      = [[Claire Scanlon]]
|WrittenBy       = Dashiell Driscoll & Marcos Gonzalez
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Daisy and Aisha try to find a way to keep the Douglas students at Bayside. Mac and Lexi realize that they care about Daisy, Aisha and Devante and decide to help them. Daisy tries to file some paperwork at city hall but is sadly too late. Devante and Mr. Toddman visit the newly renovated Douglas High, where Mr. Toddman calls Jade a 'greasy witch'. Jamie proposes to Aisha so she can live with him and stay at Bayside, which freaks her out. After Jamie realizes that Aisha doesn't seem to care as much for him as he does for her, they decide to break up.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 10
|EpisodeNumber2  = 10
|Title           = Showdown
|DirectedBy      = Trent O'Donnell
|WrittenBy       = Matt Warburton
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2020|11|25}}
|ShortSummary    = Students from all cliques band together to stage a school-wide walkout. Jessie realizes that René is never there for her and Jamie and decides to file for divorce. Slater apologizes to Jessie for always telling her to calm down and tells her that he now realizes that she was always right about questioning the school's decisions during their time as students. He promises to fight alongside her from now on. Lexi reveals to Jamie that she has feelings for him and he admits that he also likes her. They kiss just as Aisha, who has since realized that she does love Jamie as much as he loved her, walks in. The students are disappointed to find out that Zack intends to allow the Douglas students to be sent back because he is afraid of losing his re-election campaign. After Mac pleads with Zack, the latter relents and signs an executive order putting a three-year freeze on all school openings and closures, effectively keeping all Douglas kids at Bayside until graduation. As the students look forward to another carefree year at Bayside, Mac gets a notification alerting him to something called the '[[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus]]'.
|LineColor       = #FD59A0
}}
}}
===Season 2 (2021)===
{{Episode table |background=#06C8CD |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR=<ref name="TFC">{{cite web |title=Shows A-Z – Saaved by the Bell on Peacock |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/morning-show/listings/ |website=[[The Futon Critic]] |access-date=October 21, 2021 }}</ref>|released=y |country=U.S. |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 11
|EpisodeNumber2  = 1
|Title           = The Last Year Dance
|DirectedBy      = Daniella Eisman
|WrittenBy       = [[Tracey Wigfield]]
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = A year has passed since the end of season 1 and now the students are back at Bayside for their junior year. Daisy, in order to win student election, decides to host a dance with all the themes of events they missed in the previous year. Meanwhile, the adults remember their friend Screech, and help Jamie cope when Jessie decides to get a divorce.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 12
|EpisodeNumber2  = 2
|Title           = The Mac Tapes
|DirectedBy      = [[Matthew A. Cherry]]
|WrittenBy       = Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = When Coach Slater injures himself, multiple complaints from parents force Principal Toddman to ban football from Bayside. This causes Aisha to join wrestling, which she finds out she is not as good at as she wants to be. Meanwhile, Daisy gets a crush on the new vice president of the Bayside Student Council, Gil.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 13
|EpisodeNumber2  = 3
|Title           = 1-900-Crushed
|DirectedBy      = [[Claire Scanlon]]
|WrittenBy       = Aaron Geary & Ben Steiner
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = Lexi and Aisha's fight over Jamie disrupts the Teen Line phone-a-thon. Daisy tells Gil that she has a crush on him. Slater and Jessie cut school, to make up for the Cut Day that Jessie missed back in high school.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 14
|EpisodeNumber2  = 4
|Title           = The Substitute
|DirectedBy      = [[Trent O'Donnell]]
|WrittenBy       = Amy-Jo Perry
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = When Mac annoys a teacher to his breaking point, he quits Bayside. The plan goes awry when Zack becomes the new substitute, and Mac begins to feel inferior when all his peers pay attention to his father instead of him. To solve this problem, Mac attempts to come up with a scheme to get his father to lose his job at Bayside. Meanwhile, DeVante meets his new girlfriend Nadia's parents, but feels like a charity case when they give him a free car. Things get even worse when the car is accidentally dented by Spencer, and DeVante tries to hide it from Nadia.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 15
|EpisodeNumber2  = 5
|Title           = From Curse to Worse
|DirectedBy      = Heather Jack
|WrittenBy       = Chris Schleicher & Jen Chuck
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = Daisy tells her mother that she and Gil are dating. However, when her grandmother tells her that Gil is cursed, Daisy becomes fearful when she notices her academic performance slipping. At the same time, a trans girl is banned from the soccer team of a nearby school. Lexi is outraged, and over-ambitiously tries to write a play to end transphobia.
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 16
|EpisodeNumber2  = 6
|Title           = Wrestling with the Future
|DirectedBy      = Katie Locke O'Brien
|WrittenBy       = Yamara Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|24}}
|ShortSummary    = It's Career Week at Bayside, and Zack, Lisa and Kelly return to Bayside to help out. Each of the kids attempts to figure out their passion, while Kelly and Lisa encourage Jessie to date again after her divorce. However, they are unaware that Slater has realized he has romantic feelings for Jessie again, which spirals out of control when Zack bets Slater to tell Jessie how he feels.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 17
|EpisodeNumber2  = 7
|Title           = La Guerra de Aisha
|DirectedBy      = Maureen Bharoocha
|WrittenBy       = Marcos Gonzalez & Victoria González
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|1}}
|ShortSummary    = Aisha has a cultural identity crisis when a racist Spanish teacher tells her that she speaks "street Spanish." While Daisy remains passive to get an easy A, Aisha convinces her to stand up for what is right and decolonize their Spanish class. Meanwhile, Jamie tries to find out what his talent is for the Spirit Competition.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 18
|EpisodeNumber2  = 8
|Title           = The Gift
|DirectedBy      = [[Mark-Paul Gosselaar]]
|WrittenBy       = Dashiell Driscoll & Yedoye Travis
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|1}}
|ShortSummary    = Jessie tries to convince Kelly to apply to medical school and take the MCATs. Meanwhile, Lexi pressures DeVante to become a famous singer. DeVante meets with a record producer, who wants to sign him immediately. However, the one catch is that DeVante's manager tries to force him to drop out of school, leading DeVante to think about a difficult decision. In addition, Mac realizes he has feelings for Daisy. Lexi and Jamie attempt to stop Mac when he goes on a pranking spree to humiliate Gil in front of Daisy.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 19
|EpisodeNumber2  = 9
|Title           = Dancing to the Max
|DirectedBy      = Jamie Sheridan
|WrittenBy       = Beth Coyle & Erin Fischer
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|1}}
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber   = 20
|EpisodeNumber2  = 10
|Title           = Let the Games Begin
|DirectedBy      = [[Kabir Akhtar]]
|WrittenBy       = Chris Schleicher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|12|1}}
|ShortSummary    = After a long year, the spirit competition finally happens. Bayside and Valley's rivalry comes to a head when Principal Toddman tells them that Valley whispered something to Zack back in the 1990s which caused him to lose. Jamie finally discovers his special talent; Aisha debates over coming out to Daisy; Slater and Jessie grapple with their feelings after they kiss.
|LineColor       = #06C8CD
}}
}}
==Production==
===Development===
On September 17, 2019, it was announced that a [[single-camera setup|single-camera]] revival of the series was in development for NBC's planned streaming service, [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]], with [[Tracey Wigfield]] serving as showrunner.<ref name="usatoday-sbtbrevival">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/09/17/nbc-streaming-service-offer-saved-bell-remake-peacock/2349958001/ |title=Time out! A 'Saved By the Bell' remake is coming to NBC's streaming service Peacock |last1=Jensen|first1=Erin|last2=Levin|first2=Gary |date=September 17, 2019 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=September 18, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203648/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/09/17/nbc-streaming-service-offer-saved-bell-remake-peacock/2349958001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Wigfield would also executive produce the show alongside [[Franco Bario]] and [[Peter Engel]], producer and executive producer of the original series, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-mario-lopez-elizabeth-berkley-take-it-to-the-max-to-mark-sequel-series-filming-video/|title="Saved by the Bell": Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley Take It to "The Max" to Mark Sequel Series Filming|last=Chang|first=Tom|date=January 12, 2020|website=BleedingCool|access-date=October 19, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203701/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-mario-lopez-elizabeth-berkley-take-it-to-the-max-to-mark-sequel-series-filming-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Funny or Die]]''{{'}}s Dashiell Driscoll, the executive producer of the web-series ''Zack Morris Is Trash'', was hired as a staff writer for the show,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/03/05/saved-by-the-bell-revival-preview-zack-morris-mark-paul-gosselaar/|title=Saved by the Bell Revival's Zack Is a 'Little Offensive, Not on the Right Side of Things,' Per Mark-Paul Gosselaar|last=Schwartz|first=Ryan|date=March 5, 2020|website=TVLine|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203614/https://tvline.com/2020/03/05/saved-by-the-bell-revival-preview-zack-morris-mark-paul-gosselaar/|url-status=live}}</ref> along with ''[[50 Central]]''{{'}}s Shantira Jackson, among others. On January 19, 2021, Peacock renewed the series for a 10-episode second season.<ref name="S2Renewal">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/saved-by-the-bell-renewed-season-2-peacock-1234676107/|title='Saved By The Bell' Renewed For Season 2 By Peacock|date=January 19, 2021|first=Denise|last=Petski|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=January 19, 2021|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119160131/https://deadline.com/2021/01/saved-by-the-bell-renewed-season-2-peacock-1234676107/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 4, 2022, Peacock canceled the series after two seasons.<ref name="Cancellation">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/saved-by-the-bell-canceled-peacock-1235016465/|title=''Saved By The Bell'' Canceled At Peacock After 2 Seasons|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first1=Peter|last1=White|first2=Rosy|last2=Cordero|date=May 4, 2022|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504225732/https://deadline.com/2022/05/saved-by-the-bell-canceled-peacock-1235016465/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Writing===
Executive producer and showrunner Tracey Wigfield developed the idea alongside Berkley and Lopez, who joined the show also as producers. Wigfield called it “a reimagining” of the original series, not a reboot. “While the original show was a Saturday morning show for kids, this is a single-camera, kind of edgier comedy. If you never saw the (original), it's just a funny show about high school in 2020”.<ref name="usatoday-trailer">{{cite web|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/08/10/saved-by-the-bell-see-trailer-peacocks-edgy-reboot/3337912001/|title='Edgy' 'Saved by the Bell' reboot to debut on Peacock just in time for Thanksgiving|last=Lawers|first=Kelly|date=August 10, 2020|website=USA Today|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203734/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/08/10/saved-by-the-bell-see-trailer-peacocks-edgy-reboot/3337912001/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Berkley noted that the new series would “maintain that heart with all of the humor”,<ref name="usatoday-trailer" /> appealing to both the new generation and the original fans. In order to maintain consistency with the original series, “time-outs” were included in the plot, along with fourth wall breaks, other Easter eggs and in-jokes. Wigfield encouraged her staff to watch the old episodes and "think about them through a 2020 lens."<ref name="herald_review">{{cite web|url=https://herald-review.com/entertainment/television/article_b218b890-c83e-515e-9283-3357ae93862a.html|title='Saved by the Bell' rings again -- with a new generation|last=Miller|first=Bruce R.|date=November 19, 2020|website=Herald-Review|access-date=November 19, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209022610/https://herald-review.com/entertainment/television/article_b218b890-c83e-515e-9283-3357ae93862a.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to his knowledge of the original show's storylines, writer Dashiell Driscoll was often the writers' room's advisor regarding trivia and story consistency.<ref name="Driscoll">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/bayside-high-has-become-saved-by-the-bell-writer-dashie-1845669796|title=Bayside High has become Saved By The Bell writer Dashiell Driscoll's Overlook Hotel|last=Colburn|first=Randall|date=November 17, 2020|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117123457/https://tv.avclub.com/bayside-high-has-become-saved-by-the-bell-writer-dashie-1845669796|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lopez stated that the way writers had set the characters to where they are now “was pretty clever”.<ref name="screenrat-mariolopez">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/saved-by-bell-reboot-mario-lopez-edgier-story/|title=Saved by the Bell Reboot Will Be Edgier & Is Shot on Film This Time|last=Guerrero|first=Bethany|date=August 3, 2020|website=Screen Rant|access-date=October 31, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203714/https://screenrant.com/saved-by-bell-reboot-mario-lopez-edgier-story/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Wigfield, Berkley was "very smartly protective of Jessie" in the way the character was conceived in the new series.<ref name="usmagazine-diamond">{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/saved-by-the-bell-revival-boss-on-dustin-diamond-cameo/|title='Saved by the Bell' Revival Boss: The 'Door Is Open' for Dustin Diamond to Appear|last=Longeretta|first=Emily|date=November 13, 2020|website=Us Weekly|access-date=November 14, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203615/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/saved-by-the-bell-revival-boss-on-dustin-diamond-cameo/|url-status=live}}</ref> "I wanted to remain true to the fact that Jessie was a bit ahead of her time. So I wanted to make sure that when we reconnected with her we understood what she actually has accomplished"<ref name="Variety-Wigfield">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-sequel-easter-eggs-slater-jessie-relationships-1234832456/|title='Saved by the Bell' Team on Subverting Expectations in Peacock Series But Not Making the 'Euphoria' Version|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|date=November 18, 2020|website=Variety|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118170156/https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-sequel-easter-eggs-slater-jessie-relationships-1234832456/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark-Paul Gosselaar publicly appreciated the fact that new Zack was "a little offensive and sort of not being on the right side of things".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/saved-by-the-bell-revival-zack-morris-is-trash/|title=Zack Morris Is Still Trash in Saved by the Bell Reboot Promises Mark-Paul Gosselaar|last=Dick|first=Jeremy|date=March 7, 2020|website=MovieWeb|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203618/https://movieweb.com/saved-by-the-bell-revival-zack-morris-is-trash/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The character of Mr. Toddman was written as a principal “constantly being pranked by his privileged students and yelled at by their entitled parents” but gets a second chance to make a difference when Bayside High “gets an influx of new, low-income students.”<ref name="tvonline-newprincipal" />
The production shutdown caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] forced the writers to change the three remaining teleplays and to simplify some details in order for the shooting to be viable for the new protocols. The writing team was reassembled for a couple of weeks in August and, according to Wigfield, most of the changes "was just stuff that we had to simplify or we couldn't shoot at the school anymore. Anything that took place at the gym or in the theater, or anything else in an actual school, we had to move to the lot. So we had to make some changes there."<ref name="vulture-wigfield">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/tracey-wigfield-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-interview.html|title=Saved by the Bell's Tracey Wigfield Wanted to Reimagine Bayside as a 'Bubble of Privilege'|last=Chaney|first=Jen|date=November 25, 2020|website=Vulture|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125200004/https://www.vulture.com/article/tracey-wigfield-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-interview.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A reference to the coronavirus was also added.<ref name="vulture-wigfield" />
===Casting===
Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez were initially announced as the only cast members of the original series to be reprising their roles<ref name="usatoday-sbtbrevival"/> and it was reported that they would also serve as producers on the show. [[Mark-Paul Gosselaar]] confirmed at the time that neither he nor his former co-star, [[Tiffani Thiessen]] had been officially approached.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/09/18/saved-by-the-bell-revival-mark-paul-gosselaar-tiffani-thiessen/|title=Saved by the Bell Revival Has Not Approached 'Governor' Mark-Paul Gosselaar or Tiffani Thiessen|last=Webb Mitovich|first=Matt|date=September 18, 2019|website=TVLine|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203645/https://tvline.com/2019/09/18/saved-by-the-bell-revival-mark-paul-gosselaar-tiffani-thiessen/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 17, 2019, it was reported that [[John Michael Higgins]] had signed on to play Mr. Toddman, Bayside High's newest principal.<ref name="tvonline-newprincipal" /> On January 6, 2020, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' reported that 18-year-old actress Josie Totah had joined the cast of the comedy as Lexi and that she would also be credited as a producer on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/peacocks-saved-by-bell-sequel-finds-lead-josie-totah-1266269/|title=Peacock's 'Saved by the Bell' Sequel Finds Its Lead in Josie Totah (Exclusive)|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|date=January 6, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203613/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/peacocks-saved-by-bell-sequel-finds-lead-josie-totah-1266269|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Saved by the Bell Revival: Champions' Josie Totah Cast in Peacock Series|url=https://tvline.com/2020/01/06/saved-by-the-bell-revival-cast-josie-totah/|author=Ryan Schwartz|website=TVLine|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=January 6, 2020|access-date=January 22, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115204112/https://tvline.com/2020/01/06/saved-by-the-bell-revival-cast-josie-totah/|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 24, 2020, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' announced that Dexter Darden had joined the cast as well in an undisclosed role<ref>{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-dexter-darden-cast-lead-peacock-reboot-1202840364/ |title= 'Saved By The Bell': Dexter Darden Cast In Peacock Reboot |last= Petski |first= Denise |date= January 24, 2020 |website= Deadline |access-date= March 9, 2020 |archive-date= January 29, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200129104655/https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-dexter-darden-cast-lead-peacock-reboot-1202840364/ |url-status= live }}</ref> and on January 27, Haskiri Velazquez, Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Belmont Cameli were announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-lead-cast-reboot-1202842653/|title='Saved By The Bell': Peacock Rounds Out Lead Cast For Upcoming Reboot|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=January 27, 2020|website=Deadline|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203619/https://deadline.com/2020/01/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-lead-cast-reboot-1202842653/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2020, it was confirmed that Mark-Paul Gosselaar would also be returning but only for three episodes due to his commitment as a series regular on ABC's ''[[Mixed-ish]]''. It was reported that Gosselaar would also be serving as an executive producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1117899-mark-paul-gosselaar-returning-as-zack-morris-saved-by-the-bell-revival|title=Mark-Paul Gosselaar Returning as Zack Morris in Peacock's Saved by the Bell Revival|last=Dela Paz|first=Maggie|date=January 10, 2020|website=Comingsoon.net|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203622/https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1117899-mark-paul-gosselaar-returning-as-zack-morris-saved-by-the-bell-revival|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2020, Gosselaar also confirmed that Tiffani Thiessen would be reprising her role in one episode.<ref name="capacity">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/01/09/saved-by-the-bell-revival-zack-kelly-returning/|title=Saved by the Bell Revival: Zack and Kelly Will Appear 'In Some Capacity'|last=Swift|first=Andy|date=January 9, 2020|website=TVLine|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203623/https://tvline.com/2020/01/09/saved-by-the-bell-revival-zack-kelly-returning/|url-status=live}}</ref> Thiessen later ended up appearing in three episodes of the first season. Both Gosselaar and Thiessen decided to go "[[Billing (performing arts)|unbilled]]" for their acting work and were merely credited as producers.
In early 2020, [[Lark Voorhies]] explained that she was not initially invited to be part of the show's reunion as well as other cast members events while appearing on television for the first time in years on ''[[The Dr. Oz Show]]'' to discuss her mental health issues.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/02/18/saved-by-the-bell-star-lark-voorhies-hurt-about-reboot/4793931002/|title= 'Saved by the Bell' star Lark Voorhies says she feels 'slighted and hurt' about not being a part of reboot|last= Ali|first= Rasha|date= February 18, 2020|website= USA Today|access-date= October 9, 2020|archive-date= November 15, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203659/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/02/18/saved-by-the-bell-star-lark-voorhies-hurt-about-reboot/4793931002/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=February 18, 2020|first=Dino-Ray|last=Ramos|title=Lark Voorhies Responds To Being Excluded From 'Saved By The Bell' Revival: "I Feel A Bit Slighted And Hurt"|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/lark-voorhies-dr-oz-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-peacock-1202862454/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 31, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203657/https://deadline.com/2020/02/lark-voorhies-dr-oz-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-peacock-1202862454/|url-status=live}}</ref> During an interview in September 2020, Lopez stated that Voorhies would indeed be guest-starring as Lisa Turtle,<ref name="WD">{{cite web|url= https://www.womansday.com/life/entertainment/a34110281/mario-lopez-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|title= Mario Lopez Says The 'Saved by the Bell' Reboot Will Have the Perfect Balance of Nostalgia|last= Piña|first= Christy|date= September 25, 2020|website=Woman's Day|access-date= October 9, 2020|archive-date= November 15, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203648/https://www.womansday.com/life/entertainment/a34110281/mario-lopez-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|url-status= live}}</ref> and NBC officially announced Voorhies' involvement with the series the following month.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 29, 2020|first=Rosy|last=Cordero|title=Time out! Here's your first look at Lark Voorhies' surprise return in Saved by the Bell revival|url=https://ew.com/tv/lark-voorhies-returns-saved-by-the-bell-exclusive-first-look/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203711/https://ew.com/tv/lark-voorhies-returns-saved-by-the-bell-exclusive-first-look/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Allegedly, [[Dustin Diamond]] publicly expressed disappointment for not being invited to reprise his role of Screech Powers in the new series, as the only cast member who had been featured as a leading character in every previous incarnation of ''Saved by the Bell''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/02/26/saved-by-the-bell-revival-screech-dustin-diamond-not-returning/|title=Saved by the Bell's Dustin Diamond Says You Can't Do a Proper Revival Without Screech — Watch Video|website=TVLine|first=Ryan|last=Schwartz|date=February 26, 2020|access-date=August 31, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203723/https://tvline.com/2020/02/26/saved-by-the-bell-revival-screech-dustin-diamond-not-returning/|url-status=live}}</ref> The character of Screech, however, was referenced throughout the show's first season.<ref name="WD" /> Tracey Wigfield stated that the role of Screech, despite being mentioned, "wasn't tied to any of the new characters or anything" in the first season but that the door was open for Diamond to appear in future seasons.<ref name=ref name="usmagazine-diamond" /> Diamond died on February 1, 2021, after having revealed he had [[small-cell lung carcinoma]] just a few weeks earlier, precluding any future appearances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dustin Diamond, 'Saved by the Bell' Actor, Dies at 44 |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/dustin-diamond-dead-saved-by-the-bell-screech-1234897484/ |date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=Variety |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205084532/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/dustin-diamond-dead-saved-by-the-bell-screech-1234897484/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2020, it was announced that [[Dennis Haskins]] would not be reprising the role of Mr. Belding in the first season of the new series.<ref name="everything">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-revival-everything-to-know/?did=583278-20201123|title=Everything you need to know about the Saved by the Bell revival|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|quote=Beloved principal Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) and Zack's high school best friend Samuel 'Screech' Powers (Dustin Diamond) are not part of the revival.|date=November 23, 2020|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210134446/https://ew.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-revival-everything-to-know/?did=583278-20201123|url-status=live}}</ref>
Actors Troy Fromin and [[Matt Kaminsky]], who had appeared in the original show as Ox and Russian chess player Peter Breschnev respectively, made brief appearances as different characters: Fromin played the second man in line in the episode ''All in the Hall'', while Kaminsky appeared as a delivery man in ''The Bayside Triangle''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-zack-governor-time-capsule-screech-kelly-jeff-ox-1234838740/|title='Saved By The Bell' Boss on Zack's Political Style, Kelly's Jeff Joke, That Original Series Cameo and More Burning Questions|website=Variety|first=Turchiano|last=Danielle|date=November 25, 2020|access-date=December 1, 2020|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130125520/https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-zack-governor-time-capsule-screech-kelly-jeff-ox-1234838740/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rich Eames and Scott Gale, the music composers of the original show, made a cameo appearance together as part of the Birchwood Boys band.
===Filming===
Due to their involvement as producers during the pre-production process, both Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley had to cancel their appearances at the Steel City Con in [[Monroeville, Pennsylvania]], originally scheduled on December 7–8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/local/monroeville/final-steel-city-con-of-the-year-set-for-early-december-weekend/|title=Final Steel City Con of the year set for early December weekend|last=Divittorio|first=Michael|date=November 20, 2019|website=TribLIVE|access-date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203655/https://triblive.com/ccpa/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The first table read was held at [[Universal Studios]] on December 17, 2019, as announced by both Berkley and Lopez on their [[Instagram]] accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://onwithmario.iheart.com/content/2019-12-17-details-first-table-read-for-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-goes-down/|title=DETAILS: First Table Read For 'Saved By The Bell' Reboot Goes Down!|date=December 17, 2019|website=Onwithmario.iheart.com|access-date=October 13, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203710/https://onwithmario.iheart.com/content/2019-12-17-details-first-table-read-for-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-goes-down/|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout pre-production, DVDs of the original series were available in the production office for the young actors to watch, if needed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-who-are-the-new-students-at-bayside-high.html/|title='Saved By the Bell': How the Reboot Changes Bayside High In 2020|last=Topel|first=Fred|date=October 27, 2020|website=CheatSheet|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203650/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-who-are-the-new-students-at-bayside-high.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Filming officially began on January 10, 2020, with Lopez giving fans a first look of the new series with a video of Berkley, [[Ed Alonzo]] and himself shooting their first scene at ''The Max'' diner,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/mario-lopez-shares-first-look-drops-hints-about-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-1202828023/|title=Mario Lopez Shares First Look & Drops Hints About 'Saved By The Bell' Reboot|last=Bennett|first=Anita|date=January 11, 2020|website=Deadline|access-date=October 31, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203625/https://deadline.com/2020/01/mario-lopez-shares-first-look-drops-hints-about-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-1202828023/|url-status=live}}</ref> built at Universal Studios. The pilot, shot in 7 days, wrapped on January 20.
Unlike the original series (that was almost-completely directed by one single helmer, Don Barnhart), the new show was scheduled to be directed by different directors for different episodes. [[Primetime Emmy Award|Primetime Emmy-winner]] [[Kabir Akhtar]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elevenpictures.com/credits.php|title=Kabir Akhar Credits|website=Eleven Pictures|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203730/http://www.elevenpictures.com/credits.php|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Academy Awards|Academy Award-winner]] [[Matthew A. Cherry]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-matthew-a-cherry-director.html|title='Hair Love' Creator Matthew A. Cherry Announces He's Directing an Episode of 'Saved by the Bell' Reboot|last=Mowatt|first=Robyn|date=March 3, 2020|website=Okayplayer.com|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203740/https://www.okayplayer.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-matthew-a-cherry-director.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Daniella Eisman<ref>{{cite web|url=https://daniellaeisman.com/full-episodes|title=Daniella Eisman - Director|website=Daniella Eisman|access-date=October 28, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203706/https://daniellaeisman.com/full-episodes|url-status=live}}</ref> were among the new directors hired to helm each episode. The series was shot using [[single-camera setup]] and without a live studio audience, unlike the original, [[Multiple-camera setup|multi-camera]] sitcom.<ref name="screenrat-mariolopez"/>
Since the original sketches were lost, production designer Joseph Lucky had to use screenshots and pictures as references in order to recreate the iconic original sets, including the school's hallway, Mr. Belding's office and The Max. "Trying to mimic someone else's work isn't as easy as it seems, so the challenge there for me was to actually get it right and then to put my touches on it", Lucky said to ''Variety''.<ref name="setdesign-variety">{{cite web|title=How 'Saved by the Bell's' Production Designer Recreated Iconic Sets While Adding Modern Upgrades|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-bayside-high-max-production-design-1234822389/|first=Danielle|last=Turchiano|website=Variety|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120190105/https://variety.com/2020/tv/features/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-bayside-high-max-production-design-1234822389/|url-status=live}}</ref> For the textures and design elements of the new sets, Lucky took inspiration from [[Piet Mondrian]]'s work "for additional flare" and the red color of the lockers (originally used only in the first two seasons of the show) was chosen to complement the maroon in the Bayside logo.<ref name="setdesign-variety" /> Exterior scenes were shot in several locations in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]] and [[Los Angeles]], including the [[Universal Studios]] backlot.
On March 13, 2020, production was halted due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]] during the pre-production of episode 1.08, before Gosselaar, Thiessen and Voorhies could film their scenes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Becoming Zack Morris Again (Exclusive) |url=https://www.etonline.com/mark-paul-gosselaar-on-becoming-zack-morris-again-for-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-exclusive-145007 |website=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |date=April 16, 2020 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203657/https://www.etonline.com/mark-paul-gosselaar-on-becoming-zack-morris-again-for-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-exclusive-145007 |url-status=live }}</ref> With three episodes left to be filmed, the series eventually resumed production on August 17<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=August 17, 2020|title='The Conners' Starts Production On Season 3 As Comedies Begin Return With COVID Safety Protocols|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-conners-starts-production-season-3-comedies-begin-return-covid-safety-protocols-saved-by-the-bell-1203015179/|quote=Elsewhere in comedy, I hear Peacock/Uni TV's Saved by the Bell series reboot resumed production last week after being shut down due to the pandemic in March.|website=Deadline|access-date=August 24, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203709/https://deadline.com/2020/08/the-conners-starts-production-season-3-comedies-begin-return-covid-safety-protocols-saved-by-the-bell-1203015179/|url-status=live}}</ref> and wrapped five weeks later, in mid-September 2020.<ref name="hollywoodreporter-wigfield">{{Cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Mickey|date=November 24, 2020|title=Tracey Wigfield on Showrunning Peacock's 'Saved by the Bell' Reboot and Rethinking Writers Rooms|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tracey-wigfield-on-showrunning-peacocks-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-and-rethinking-writers-rooms-4093673/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124140729/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tracey-wigfield-on-showrunning-peacocks-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-and-rethinking-writers-rooms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jirak|first=Jamie|date=December 16, 2020|title=Saved by the Bell Reboot's Mitchell Hoog Reveals Story Changes Were Made After Pandemic Shutdown|url=https://comicbook.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-mitchel-hoog-reveals-story-changes-were-made-pandemic-shutdown/|website=ComicBook|access-date=December 17, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217033112/https://comicbook.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-mitchel-hoog-reveals-story-changes-were-made-pandemic-shutdown/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On May 4, 2021, Mario Lopez told Yahoo! Entertainment that the show's second season would feature a tribute to Dustin Diamond, saying: “We’re planning something special we haven’t gotten into yet.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ryder|first=Taryn|date=May 4, 2021|title=FMario Lopez says Dustin Diamond tribute will happen in 'Saved by the Bell' reboot: 'We're planning something special'|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mario-lopez-dustin-diamond-tribute-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-202249555.html|website=Yahoo|access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512001007/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mario-lopez-dustin-diamond-tribute-saved-by-the-bell-reboot-202249555.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
After a series of virtual table readings,<ref name="peplemag2021-berkley">{{Cite web|last=Chung|first=Gabrielle|date=May 27, 2021|title=Elizabeth Berkley Teases 'Sparks' Between Jessie and Slater in Season 2 of Saved by the Bell Reboot|url=https://people.com/tv/elizabeth-berkley-teases-sparks-between-jessie-slater-season-2-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|website=People|access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609141106/https://people.com/tv/elizabeth-berkley-teases-sparks-between-jessie-slater-season-2-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|url-status=live}}</ref> filming for Season 2 officially began on Monday, June 7, 2021, at Universal Studios, as shared by Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley in their social media.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chung|first=Gabrielle|date=June 10, 2021|title=Friends Forever! Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley & Mario Lopez Reunite on Saved by the Bell Set|url=https://people.com/tv/elizabeth-berkley-mario-lopez-mark-paul-gosselaar-film-season-2-of-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|website=People|access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611192322/https://people.com/tv/elizabeth-berkley-mario-lopez-mark-paul-gosselaar-film-season-2-of-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Release==
The show was originally set to be released over the summer. When production for the last three episodes were delayed amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the release date was pushed back to November 25, 2020.<ref name="SeriesPremiere">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-premiere-date-peacock-1234586681/|title=Peacock Sets November Premiere Date For 'Saved By The Bell' Reboot|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Alexandra|last=Del Rosario|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929150323/https://deadline.com/2020/09/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-premiere-date-peacock-1234586681/|url-status=live}}</ref> All ten episodes were released exclusively on Peacock Premium, with only the pilot being available to stream for free in the platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://decider.com/2020/11/24/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-peacock-how-to-watch-online/|title=How To Watch Peacock's 'Saved By The Bell' Online|website=Decider|first=Josh|last=Sorokach|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119145205/https://decider.com/2020/11/24/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-peacock-how-to-watch-online/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second season was released on November 24, 2021.<ref name="S2Premiere">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-season-2-premiere-teaser-1234855079/|title='Saved By The Bell': Peacock Sets Season 2 Return; Original Cast Reunites For Real In Teaser|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Rosy|last=Cordero|date=October 13, 2021|access-date=October 13, 2021|archive-date=October 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013155656/https://deadline.com/2021/10/saved-by-the-bell-peacock-season-2-premiere-teaser-1234855079/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Marketing===
On April 15, 2020, Peacock released the first official teaser for the series, featuring scenes from the first seven episodes of the show<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/peacock-watch-teaser-trailers-brave-new-world-saved-by-the-bell-punky-brewster-psych-2-lassie-come-home-ap-bio-angelyne-1202909711/|title=Peacock Trailers: 'Brave New World', 'Saved By the Bell', 'Punky Brewster', 'Psych 2', 'A.P. Bio', 'Angelyne' & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 15, 2020|date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115204643/https://deadline.com/2020/04/peacock-watch-teaser-trailers-brave-new-world-saved-by-the-bell-punky-brewster-psych-2-lassie-come-home-ap-bio-angelyne-1202909711/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was followed by a second teaser launched on August 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://ew.com/tv/watch-elizabeth-berkley-knock-caffeine-pills-out-students-hand-new-teaser-saved-by-the-bell/|title=Watch Elizabeth Berkley smack caffeine pills out of student's hand in new Saved by the Bell teaser|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 24, 2020|date=August 10, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203707/https://ew.com/tv/watch-elizabeth-berkley-knock-caffeine-pills-out-students-hand-new-teaser-saved-by-the-bell/|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 27, 2020, an official trailer featuring Gosselaar and Thiessen was released.<ref>{{cite web|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra|url=https://deadline.com/video/saved-by-the-bell-trailer-peacock-bayside-high-mario-lopez/|title='Saved By The Bell:' Peacock's First Trailer Gives Fresh Look At Updated Bayside High|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=October 27, 2020|date=October 27, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203654/https://deadline.com/video/saved-by-the-bell-trailer-peacock-bayside-high-mario-lopez/|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, Peacock released a first-look promotional still of Lark Voorhies back in character.<ref>{{cite web|last=Countryman|first=Eli|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lark-voorhies-saved-by-the-bell-1234819012/|title=Lark Voorhies Will Reprise 'Saved by the Bell' Role in Peacock Series|website=Variety|access-date=October 29, 2020|date=October 29, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115203736/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lark-voorhies-saved-by-the-bell-1234819012/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On July 29, 2020, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Dashiell Driscoll launched ''Zack to the Future'', a weekly podcast available on [[Podcasts (software)|Apple Podcasts]], [[Spotify]], [[Entercom]]'s [[Radio.com]] and other platforms. Every week, Gosselaar and Driscoll dissected one episode from the original series' first run, "analyzing iconic show moments and discussing “never-before-heard stories” from the set with featured guests".<ref>{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/mark-paul-gosselaar-will-break-down-every-saved-by-the-bell-season-1-episode-in-a-new-podcast-1234715193/|title=Mark-Paul Gosselaar Will Break Down Every 'Saved by the Bell' Season 1 Episode in a New Podcast |website=Variety|access-date=December 2, 2020|date=July 23, 2020|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725021326/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/mark-paul-gosselaar-will-break-down-every-saved-by-the-bell-season-1-episode-in-a-new-podcast-1234715193/|url-status=live}}</ref> Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen, [[Breckin Meyer]], Ed Alonzo, Bennett Tramer (writer of the original series) along with Allyson Thurston and Jennifer Schelling (who played the Zeffirelli Twins from 1989 until 1991) were among the special guest stars of the podcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zack-to-the-future/id1524292915|title=Zack to the Future Podcast|website= Apple Podcast|access-date=December 2, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119044758/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zack-to-the-future/id1524292915|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 15, Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez were presenters at the [[46th People's Choice Awards]] ceremony, where host [[Demi Lovato]] dubbed their appearance "a ''Saved by the Bell'' reunion".<ref name="LATimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-11-16/peoples-choice-awards-2020-best-moments|title=Watch the 5 must-see moments from the 2020 People's Choice Awards |last=Carras|first=Christi|date=November 16, 2020|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 16, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116225236/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-11-16/peoples-choice-awards-2020-best-moments|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described their moment as a "must-see",<ref name="LATimes" /> also because award receiver [[Jimmy Fallon]] gave his acceptance speech on mute via [[Zoom Video Communications|Zoom]]. On November 16, Peacock launched a free ''Saved by the Bell'' channel including the [[Saved by the Bell|original series]], the two TV movies ''[[Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style]]'' and ''[[Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas]]'' and the spin-off series ''[[Saved by the Bell: The College Years]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/peacock-saved-by-the-bell-channel-revival-1234613888/|title=Peacock Launches 'Saved By The Bell' Channel Ahead Of Revival Premiere|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=November 13, 2020|website=Deadline|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115204235/https://deadline.com/2020/11/peacock-saved-by-the-bell-channel-revival-1234613888/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following day, the main cast described their feelings on returning to Bayside High in a featurette video exclusively debuted by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'''s official website. In the video, actor Dexter Darden made it clear that there were "no laugh tracks" in the new show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-stars-reflect-on-returning-to-bayside-high/|title=Saved by the Bell Stars Reflect on Returning to Bayside High for Reboot: 'It Blew My Mind'|last=Mauch|first=Ally|date=November 17, 2020|website=People|access-date=November 17, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117201811/https://people.com/tv/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-stars-reflect-on-returning-to-bayside-high/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 18, Peacock unveiled the new theme song, an updated version of the original one performed by rapper [[Lil Yachty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/saved-by-bell-theme-song-new-lil-yachty/|title=Saved By the Bell's New Theme Song By Lil Yachty Is Certainly Something|last=Labonte|first=Rachel|date=November 18, 2020|website=Screen Rant|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118210304/https://screenrant.com/saved-by-bell-theme-song-new-lil-yachty/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 25, the day the show premiered, original cast members Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen were guests on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Nick-Kroll-The-Original-Cast-of-SAVED-BY-THE-BELL-and-More-to-Appear-on-THE-TONIGHT-SHOW-STARRING-JIMMY-FALLON-20201125|title=Nick Kroll, The Original Cast of SAVED BY THE BELL and More to Appear on THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON|date=November 25, 2020|website=BroadwayWorld|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125195138/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Nick-Kroll-The-Original-Cast-of-SAVED-BY-THE-BELL-and-More-to-Appear-on-THE-TONIGHT-SHOW-STARRING-JIMMY-FALLON-20201125|url-status=live}}</ref>
A three-day marathon of the original episodes aired on [[E!]] starting on Friday, December 11 at 12 p.m. The marathon included the [[United States|U.S.]] television premiere of the new show's pilot, that aired on December 13 at 9 p.m.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1218101/how-to-watch-e-s-saved-by-the-bell-marathon-and-the-peacock-reboots-pilot|title=How to Watch E!'s Saved By the Bell Marathon—and the Peacock Reboot's Pilot|last=Ray|first=Alyssa|date=December 12, 2020|website=E!|access-date=December 12, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212045733/https://www.eonline.com/news/1218101/how-to-watch-e-s-saved-by-the-bell-marathon-and-the-peacock-reboots-pilot|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Critical response===
For the series, [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported an approval rating of 76% based on 42 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10.The website's critical consensus reads, "Though the intended grade isn't always clear, ''Saved By The Bell''’s capable cast of newcomers make Bayside's halls their own in a reboot that's smart, self-aware, and seriously funny."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=saved_by_the_bell_2020|title=Saved by the Bell|type=tv|season=1|access-date=November 24, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the series a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 16 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic|id=saved-by-the-bell-2020|title=Saved by the Bell|type=tv|season=1|access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref>
[[Alan Sepinwall]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described the series as a "clever recontextualization by Wigfield, acknowledging that some of the antics that seemed adorable in the Nineties were actually awful". He thought that it was "a bold choice not only to treat Zack as an outright villain, but to cast his doppelganger of a son in the same light" but on the other hand, being the series also addressed to the original fans, it wasn't "the safest choice to rub their noses in Zack having been a monster all along." He praised Totah's "very funny and utterly natural" performance but noted that "the grand unified field theory behind what Wigfield's attempting makes more sense than, say, the weird blend of sitcom antics, soap plot-twists, and faux documentary realism of the short-lived ''BH90210'', but it doesn't quite hang together."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/saved-by-bell-fresh-prince-reunion-reboot-review-1092213/|title=Nostalgia Nation: How 'Saved By the Bell' and 'Fresh Prince' Revivals Pass and Fail|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120052305/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/saved-by-bell-fresh-prince-reunion-reboot-review-1092213/|url-status=live}}</ref> Samantha David-Friedman of ''Attractions Magazine'' appreciated the "always-hilarious" John Michael Higgins and noted how the show, despite being a comedy, addressed "more complicated issues like financial disparity, racial profiling, and the complex social challenges faced by modern teens." She described the series as "the perfect mix of new and old" and that "the only thing missing so far" was Screech.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/review-peacock-saved-by-the-bell/|title=Review: Peacock gets an A+ for 'Saved by the Bell|last=Davis-Friedman|first=Samantha|website=Attractions Magazine|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118175920/https://attractionsmagazine.com/review-peacock-saved-by-the-bell/|url-status=live}}</ref> Margaret Lyons of ''[[The New York Times]]'' appreciated the "quick and funny" series and the "strong performances from the new cast" but criticized "the moments of friction [...] from the adult characters grafted in from the original". She called Zack and Kelly "vacuous and awful" but commended the overall product as a "good" and "wholesome revival".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/television/saved-by-the-bell-review.html|title='Saved by the Bell' Review: This Time, It's Actually All Right|last=Lyons|first=Margaret|website=New York Times|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124191810/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/television/saved-by-the-bell-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Alex Maidy of ''[[JoBlo.com]]'' was more negative in his review, giving it a 4 out of 10 vote and describing it as "one of the worst shows of 2020." Maidy criticized the series for not having "idea who its target audience is" and for being "poorly written", although he highlighted the "decent cast" and described the roles of Daisy, Aisha and Devante as "far more interesting characters than they deserve to be."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/saved-by-the-bell-tv-review|title=Saved By The Bell (TV Review)|last=Maidy|first=Alex|website=JoBlo.com|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118150237/https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/saved-by-the-bell-tv-review|url-status=live}}</ref>
Also negative was Charles Bramesco's review for ''[[The Guardian]]'', who disliked the work of the "pretty bad [young] actors" and criticized the "laziness" of the writing ("About every third joke lands, and that's a generous estimate"). He recognized that Wigfield had "good sense to realize that a show set at a moneyed SoCal high school cannot avoid the question of income inequality and how it trickles down into the public education system" and that the project "needed a justification for its own existence beyond nostalgia for the first Bush administration, and notwithstanding its many other flaws, Wigfield has smartly managed that much." He gave the show a 2 out of 5 rating and added that "the relative praise of 'for a Saved by the Bell reboot, it's pretty good!' has been fairly earned.  Still, a show about the subtle patronization of lowered expectations shouldn't be aspiring to little more than exactly that."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/nov/24/saved-by-the-bell-review-self-aware-reboot-isnt-quite-smart-enough|title=Saved by the Bell review – self-aware reboot isn't quite smart enough|last=Bramesco|first=Charles|website=The Guardian|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124161735/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/nov/24/saved-by-the-bell-review-self-aware-reboot-isnt-quite-smart-enough|url-status=live}}</ref> Jamie Jirak of ''Comicbook'' appreciated the episodes and called the series a "perfect blend of laughs, nostalgia, and social awareness". She also described the series as "the best attempt at reviving a sitcom we've seen" and added that it was "absolutely worth a Peacock subscription." She praised the "excellent use of A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano", the cast's "great work" and the "solid writing."
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-review-prefect-blend-laughs-nostalgia-social-awareness/|title=Saved by the Bell Reboot Review: The Perfect Blend of Laughs, Nostalgia, and Social Awareness|last=Jirak|first=Jamie|website=ComicBook|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118175412/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-review-prefect-blend-laughs-nostalgia-social-awareness/|url-status=live}}</ref> Angela Henderson-Bentley of ''[[The Herald-Dispatch]]'' found the show to be more intense than the original: "This is not the same ''Bell'', nor does it even try to be. And I honestly think that's why it works. There are lessons at the end of each half-hour, only now they feel much deeper and more important than they did in the 1990s."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/angela-henderson-bentley-saved-by-the-bell-returns-to-bayside/article_cf55bff6-7a80-5667-9f47-72d3ea33eb2d.html|title='Saved By the Bell' returns to Bayside|last=Henderson-Bentley|first=Angela|website=Herald-Dispatch|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119185156/https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/angela-henderson-bentley-saved-by-the-bell-returns-to-bayside/article_cf55bff6-7a80-5667-9f47-72d3ea33eb2d.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Detroit News]]''’ Adam Graham gave the series a ''B'' score and defined the "progressive" show as "a throwback that looks forward, embracing the past while living in the now" able to show "that you can teach the old school some new tricks." He also appreciated the art direction ("the set is lovingly recreated in sharp detail").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/11/24/review-clever-saved-bell-reboot-old-school-new-tricks/6405601002/|title=Review: Clever 'Saved by the Bell' reboot is old school with new tricks|last=Graham|first=Adam|website=Detroitn News|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124185244/https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/11/24/review-clever-saved-bell-reboot-old-school-new-tricks/6405601002/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Rob Owen of the ''[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]'' felt that tonally, "the new ''Bell'' rings cheekier and more meta than any previous iteration" but that "Daisy's tendency to break the fourth wall to confer with viewers produces some chuckles, but after a while the gimmick wears thin." He praised Josie Totah's performance ("she steals focus in every ''Bell'' scene she's in) and dubbed her "the most original element" in the show. Having seen only three episodes, Owen added: "More writing like [Totah's lines] and this ''Bell'' might be worth saving".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/aande/tv-talk-saved-by-the-bell-enrolls-a-new-class/|title=TV Talk: 'Saved by the Bell' enrolls a new class|last=Owen|first=Rob|website=TribLive.com|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119134638/https://triblive.com/aande/tv-talk-saved-by-the-bell-enrolls-a-new-class/|url-status=live}}</ref> Candice Frederick of ''[[TV Guide]]'' gave it a 2.5/5 score in her mixed review. She described the updated versions of the original characters as "funny" (dubbing Elizabeth Berkley's Jessie as "smart and ambitious") but found it hard to understand if the show was aimed for the original fans, for the new generation, or if it was just a satire of itself. "If it's all of those things, ''Saved by the Bell'' is having way too much fun to make any of these statements very well."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-review-peacock/|title=Saved by the Bell Review: Bayside Reopens With a New, Thin Coat of Self-Awareness|last=Frederick|first=Candice|website=TV Guide|date=November 18, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119022913/https://www.tvguide.com/news/saved-by-the-bell-reboot-review-peacock/|url-status=live}}</ref> Judy Berman of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' approved Velazquez' "effervescent" performance and described Totah as "the strongest performer in the franchise" but wasn't convinced by Wigfield's too "pessimistic depictions of systemic inequality" pushed to "the verge of [triviality]" and ultimately dubbed the show "a punchy, intermittently inspired, well-intentioned mishmash".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5913902/saved-by-the-bell-review-peacock/|title=Only '90s Kids Will Understand How Depressing It Is to Watch Peacock's Saved by the Bell Revival|last=Berman|first=Judy|magazine=Time|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=November 23, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123171704/https://time.com/5913902/saved-by-the-bell-review-peacock/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The second season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.2/10 based on 5 reviews.<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=saved_by_the_bell_2020|title=Saved by the Bell|type=tv|season=2|access-date=November 24, 2021}}</ref>
===Controversy===
The series sparked controversy over its references to [[Selena Gomez]]'s 2017 kidney transplant. In the series' sixth episode "Teen-Line", two jokes were made regarding the identity of the artist's kidney donor (who was in fact her close friend, [[Francia Raisa]]). The jokes drew backlash from fans, who perceived them as offensive and disrespectful; the phrase "Respect Selena Gomez" trended on [[Twitter]]. [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]], [[Universal Television]], and the show's executive producers subsequently issued a statement, "We apologize. It was never our intention to make light of [Gomez]'s health. We have been in touch with her team and will be making a donation to her charity, The Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at USC."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/selena-gomez-saved-by-the-bell-fans-backlash-kidney-transplant-1234841654/|title=Peacock Removes 'Saved by the Bell' Jokes About Selena Gomez's Kidney Transplant|last1=Oganesyan|first1=Natalie|last2=Shafer|first2=Ellise|website=Variety|date=November 28, 2020|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128233707/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/selena-gomez-saved-by-the-bell-fans-backlash-kidney-transplant-1234841654/|url-status=live}}</ref> The scenes were subsequently removed from the show by Peacock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/selena-gomez-kidney-references-removed-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|title=Saved by the Bell Reboot Removes Controversial Selena Gomez Kidney References After Outrage|last=Chiu|first=Melody|website=People|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130233939/https://people.com/music/selena-gomez-kidney-references-removed-saved-by-the-bell-reboot/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominee
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| rowspan="4" | {{center|2021}}
| [[32nd GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series|Outstanding Comedy Series]]
| ''Saved By The Bell''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2021/04/08/glaad-media-award-tv-winners-list/ |title=GLAAD Media Awards 2021: ''Star Trek: Discovery'', ''I May Destroy You'' and ''Schitt's Creek'' Among TV's Winners |work=[[TVLine]] |date=April 9, 2021 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414200532/https://tvline.com/2021/04/08/glaad-media-award-tv-winners-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[2021 Imagen Awards|Imagen Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actor – Television (Comedy)
| [[Mario Lopez]]
| {{nominated}}
| rowspan="3" align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imagen.org/2021/08/36th-annual-imagen-awards-nominations-announced/ |title=36th Annual Imagen Awards Nominations Announced |date=August 2, 2021 |website=Imagen Foundation |access-date=April 18, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814074630/https://www.imagen.org/2021/08/36th-annual-imagen-awards-nominations-announced/ }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |Best Supporting Actress – Television (Comedy)
| [[Alycia Pascual-Peña]]
| {{nominated}}
|-
| Haskiri Velazquez
| {{nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | {{center|2022}}
| [[12th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series|Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]]
| [[Josie Totah]]
| {{nominated}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://criticschoice.com/2021/12/television-nominations-announced-for-the-27th-annual-critics-choice-awards/ |title=Television Nominations Announced for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards |date=December 6, 2021 |website=The Critics Choice Association |access-date=December 9, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208233711/http://criticschoice.com/2021/12/television-nominations-announced-for-the-27th-annual-critics-choice-awards/ }}</ref>
|-
| [[33rd GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Awards]]
| Outstanding Comedy Series
| rowspan="2" |''Saved By The Bell''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/33/nominees |title=The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards |publisher=[[GLAAD]] |date=2022-01-21 |access-date=2022-01-22 |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309141800/https://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/33/nominees |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Imagen Awards]]
| Best Primetime Program – Comedy
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imagen.org/2022/08/imagen-awards-film-television-nominees-announced-celebrating-latino-excellence-for-37-years/ |title=Imagen Awards Film & Television Nominees Announced Celebrating Latino Excellence for 37 Years! |website=The Imagen Foundation |date=August 15, 2022|accessdate=November 24, 2022}}</ref>
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
{{Saved by the Bell}}
{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series}}
{{Peacock (streaming service)}}
[[Category:2020 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2021 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2020s American high school television series]]
[[Category:2020s American single-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:2020s American teen sitcoms]]
[[Category:American sequel television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Peacock (streaming service) original programming]]
[[Category:Saved by the Bell]]
[[Category:American television series about teenagers]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 2020s]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Television productions postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]