History of Saved by the Bell in Timeline
Saved by the Bell is a teen sitcom that aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993, following a group of friends at Bayside High School in Los Angeles. Created by Sam Bobrick as a spin-off of Good Morning, Miss Bliss, the show stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Dennis Haskins, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, and Mario Lopez. While primarily comedic, the series occasionally addresses serious social issues like drug use and homelessness. It was a flagship series for NBC's TNBC lineup and targeted towards kids and teens, typically airing on Saturday mornings.
1986: Development of Good Morning, Miss Bliss Pilot
In 1986, Brandon Tartikoff asked Peter Engel to develop the pilot for a new prime time series, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, inspired by Tartikoff's sixth grade teacher. Sam Bobrick wrote the episode and the cast included Jonathan Brandis, Brian Austin Green, and Jaleel White.
June 11, 1987: Pilot of Good Morning, Miss Bliss Airs
On June 11, 1987, the pilot for Good Morning, Miss Bliss aired, but NBC chose not to pick up the series. Tartikoff made a deal with the Disney Channel to air thirteen episodes of the series in prime time after the show was completely retooled.
1987: Mr. Belding's Character Rewritten and Recast
In 1987, Mr. Belding's character in Good Morning, Miss Bliss, originally portrayed by Oliver Clark, was rewritten to be younger and funnier. Dennis Haskins was cast for the retooled role.
1988: Good Morning, Miss Bliss Aired
Good Morning, Miss Bliss aired from 1988 to 1989.
1988: Tiffani-Amber Thiessen Auditions for Good Morning, Miss Bliss
In 1988, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen impressed casting director Engel during auditions for Good Morning, Miss Bliss, ultimately securing the role of Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell.
August 20, 1989: Saved by the Bell Premieres on NBC
On August 20, 1989, Saved by the Bell premiered on NBC in prime time. The teen sitcom, created by Sam Bobrick, was targeted at kids and teens and was later broadcast on Saturday mornings as the flagship series in NBC's TNBC lineup.
1989: Good Morning, Miss Bliss Ended
Good Morning, Miss Bliss ended in 1989 due to failing to pick up a following and doing poorly in the ratings. Disney had already decided against ordering more episodes by the time the last episode aired.
1989: Cast Photo Used
In August 2009, a cast photo from 1989 of the cast of Saved by the Bell was edited to remove Dustin Diamond and used on the cover of People magazine.
1992: Saved by the Bell Comic Series Published
In 1992, Harvey Comics published a short-lived Saved by the Bell comic series consisting of seven issues. The comic was not well-received.
1992: Production of Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Approved
In 1992, NBC approved the production of the feature-length made-for-television Saved by the Bell film, Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style, to air in prime time.
1992: Additional Episodes Ordered and Tori Scott Created
In 1992, Saved by the Bell received an order for eleven additional episodes, leading to the creation of a new character, Tori Scott, played by Leanna Creel, after Thiessen and Berkley decided to leave.
1992: Release of Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style
In 1992, Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style was released. It was a TV movie.
May 22, 1993: Saved by the Bell Airs Final Episode
On May 22, 1993, the final episode of Saved by the Bell aired in primetime on a Saturday night. The series, which ran for four seasons, starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, Dennis Haskins, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, and Mario Lopez.
1993: NBC Decides to Extend Franchise with Saved by the Bell: The New Class
In 1993, NBC decided to extend the Saved by the Bell franchise with a new show, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, set at Bayside with a new cast of characters.
1993: Saved by the Bell Spawns Two Spin-off Series
In 1993, Saved by the Bell saw the release of two spin-off series: Saved by the Bell: The College Years, a primetime series, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class, a Saturday morning series.
1993: Saved by the Bell: The New Class Premieres
In 1993, Saved by the Bell: The New Class, a spin-off of the original series, premiered.
1993: Bayside Madness Release
In 1993, at least five Saved by the Bell novels had already been published the previous year, before Bayside Madness was released.
1993: Premiere of Two Spin-offs
In 1993, two spin-offs of Saved by the Bell premiered.
1994: Commissioning of Second Saved by the Bell Film
Following the cancellation of Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1994, NBC President Warren Littlefield commissioned a second film to serve as a series finale for both Saved by the Bell: The College Years and the original show. The story features Zack, Kelly, Slater, Screech, and Lisa traveling to Las Vegas so Zack and Kelly can elope after their parents disapprove of their impending marriage.
1994: Dustin Diamond Reprises Role in The New Class
Following the cancellation of Saved by the Bell: The College Years in 1994, Peter Engel asked Dustin Diamond to reprise his role as Screech in Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
1994: Collier Books Introduces Numbered Order
In 1994, Collier Books introduced a numbered order (including numbers on front covers) starting with book 12, Computer Confusion.
1994: Release of Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas
In 1994, Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas was released. It was a TV movie.
April 11, 1995: Soundtrack CD and Cassette Tape Released
On April 11, 1995, a CD and cassette tape soundtrack for Saved by the Bell was released, containing songs used throughout the series.
1995: Boxtree Adds Numbers to Front Covers
In 1995, Boxtree added numbers to its front covers at least as early as book 10, Kelly's Hero, which it published.
2000: Saved by the Bell: The New Class Ends
In 2000, Saved by the Bell: The New Class aired its final episode.
2004: Contender Entertainment Releases Reunion Tele-films on DVD
In 2004, Contender Entertainment Group released the two Saved by the Bell reunion tele-films on DVD in the UK.
2005: Bayside! The UnMusical! Debuts
In 2005, Bayside! originally debuted under the title Bayside! The UnMusical!
April 9, 2006: Adult Swim Announces Saved by the Bell Special
On April 9, 2006, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim announced that Saved by the Bell would air at midnight as a two-week special starting April 17.
April 19, 2006: Adult Swim Announces Production of Saved by the Bell
On April 19, 2006, Adult Swim posted on their website that Saved by the Bell was back in production. The announcement was exposed as a joke a week later.
August 7, 2007: Lionsgate Releases Saved by the Bell TV Movies on DVD
On August 7, 2007, Lionsgate Home Entertainment released the two Saved by the Bell feature-length TV movies on DVD in Region 1.
March 27, 2009: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Launches Reunion Campaign
On March 27, 2009, NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon launched a campaign to reunite the cast of Saved by the Bell, gaining support from fans and cast members.
June 8, 2009: Mark-Paul Gosselaar Reprises Role on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
On June 8, 2009, Mark-Paul Gosselaar reprised his role as Zack Morris on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, promoting his show Raising the Bar and performing "Friends Forever" with The Roots.
August 2009: Cast Reunion Photo Shoot in People
In August 2009, the cast of Saved by the Bell reunited for a photo shoot in People magazine. Dustin Diamond was not invited due to strained relationships.
2009: Behind the Bell Published
In 2009, Dustin Diamond published Behind the Bell, an inside story of the show's cast and crew from his perspective. The book painted an unflattering portrait of his colleagues and their alleged backstage behavior, with some claims being refuted and questioned.
February 10, 2010: Shock Entertainment Releases Season One on DVD
On February 10, 2010, Shock Entertainment released Season One of Saved by the Bell on DVD in Australia.
March 13, 2012: Saved by the Bell: The Complete Collection Released on DVD in Canada
On March 13, 2012, Lionsgate released Saved by the Bell: The Complete Collection on DVD in Canada. The 13-disc set features all 86 episodes of the series as well as the two television films.
2012: Bayside! Reopens at NYC's Kraine Theatre
In 2012 Bayside! reopened at NYC's Kraine Theatre with a revamped script and new cast.
September 2013: Bayside! The Musical! Opens
In September 2013, Bayside! The Musical!, an unauthorized parody of Saved by the Bell, opened at NYC's Theatre 80. The musical, written and directed by Bob and Tobly McSmith, was named a New York Times Critics' Pick and has been extended 6 times.
November 5, 2013: Lionsgate Releases Complete-Series Set in the United States
On November 5, 2013, Lionsgate released a complete-series set of Saved by the Bell in the United States, which does not contain the reunion movies but includes some bonus commentaries.
March 2014: New Saved by the Bell Comic Premieres
In March 2014, Lion Forge Comics' ROAR Comics imprint premiered a new Saved by the Bell comic, serving as a modern update set during the gang's freshman year of high school. It premiered alongside ROAR's adaptation of Punky Brewster.
September 1, 2014: The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story Airs
On September 1, 2014, The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story aired on Lifetime.
February 4, 2015: Cast Appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
On February 4, 2015, Haskins, Gosselaar, Lopez, Berkley and Thiessen participated in a Saved by the Bell skit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, while Voorhies and Diamond did not appear.
October 16, 2018: Shout! Factory Re-releases Complete Series on DVD
On October 16, 2018, Shout! Factory re-released the complete Saved by the Bell series on DVD in Region 1, including season four in its entirety, and featuring commentaries by Russell Dyball, Peter Engel, Dustin Diamond, Dennis Haskins, and Lark Voorhies.
September 2019: Gosselaar and Thiessen Initially Not Approached for Revival
In September 2019, Mark-Paul Gosselaar stated that he and Tiffani Thiessen were initially not approached to reprise their roles in the Saved by the Bell revival series.
September 17, 2019: Revival Series Announced for Peacock
On September 17, 2019, a single-camera revival of Saved by the Bell was announced for NBC's Peacock streaming service, with Tracey Wigfield as showrunner. The series centers on a new group of Bayside High students, and involves California Governor Zack Morris's plan to send lower-income students to high-performing schools.
January 2020: Gosselaar and Thiessen Confirmed for Saved by the Bell Revival
By January 2020, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen were confirmed to return in some capacity for the Saved by the Bell revival, joining previously announced cast members Berkley and Lopez.
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