Saved By The Bell Season 1 Episode 1 Cast

Alright, alright, alright. Let's talk Saved by the Bell. Specifically, the very first episode.

The Usual Suspects (and My Hot Takes)

We meet the core crew. Zack Morris, the charming schemer. Kelly Kapowski, the ultimate California girl. And Screech, well, Screech is Screech.

Zack, oh Zack. He’s supposed to be the cool guy. The smooth talker. But honestly? Sometimes I found him kinda annoying.

Hear me out! All those schemes? They often backfired spectacularly. Maybe I just appreciate a good underdog more.

Don't get me wrong, Mark-Paul Gosselaar was great. But Zack's character could be a bit much.

Kelly! America's sweetheart. Every guy had a crush. Every girl wanted to be her.

Tiffani Thiessen played her perfectly. Kind, pretty, and just a little bit sassy.

But…was she too perfect? Just a thought.

Okay, Screech. The show wouldn't be the same without him. The loyal, if somewhat odd, friend.

Dustin Diamond brought so much energy to the role. He was the ultimate comic relief.

But let's be real, some of his antics were a little...intense. Especially looking back now.

Enter A.C. Slater. The new kid in town. And suddenly, Zack's world is shaken.

Mario Lopez gave us a character we all secretly crushed on. Jock, but with a heart of gold (mostly).

Did anyone else think Slater was instantly cooler than Zack? Just me?

Lisa was the fashion-forward friend. Smart, stylish, and never afraid to speak her mind.

Lark Voorhies brought so much style. She was always rocking the best outfits.

Sometimes, I wished they'd given her more storylines. She deserved more screen time!

And of course, we can't forget Mr. Belding. The principal who was always one step behind.

Dennis Haskins was perfect as the perpetually exasperated principal. He dealt with so much chaos.

Secretly, he kind of enjoyed the chaos, didn't he?

The pilot sets the stage. We get the main conflicts. Zack's schemes, Slater's arrival, and the general high school shenanigans.

It's a bit cheesy? Sure. Is it filled with 90s nostalgia? Absolutely.

But it's also undeniably fun. It reminds us of simpler times.

So, did the pilot get everything right? Maybe not.

But it introduced us to characters we grew to love (or love to hate). And that's what really matters.

Saved by the Bell. It will remain a guilty pleasure for years to come. I can't wait for my next re-watch!