History of Saved by the Bell in Timeline
Saved by the Bell, a popular teen sitcom airing from 1989 to 1993, revolved around the lives of six high school students and their principal at Bayside High in Los Angeles. The show, a spin-off of Good Morning, Miss Bliss, balanced lighthearted humor with occasional explorations of social issues like drug abuse, homelessness, and gender equality. Its success established it as a flagship program in NBC's Saturday morning lineup and later, the teen-oriented TNBC block. The series featured a memorable cast, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen.
1986: NBC President Requests Pilot Episode
In 1986, Brandon Tartikoff, then-president of NBC, requested Peter Engel to develop a pilot episode for a new primetime series, "Good Morning, Miss Bliss." Inspired by his sixth grade teacher, Tartikoff envisioned a show centered around a teacher like Miss Bliss.
June 11, 1987: "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" Pilot Episode Airing
On June 11, 1987, the pilot episode of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" aired. Despite NBC's decision not to pick up the series, Tartikoff struck a deal with Disney Channel to air thirteen episodes, with the possibility of an additional seventy-seven.
1987: Mr. Belding's Character Development
Initially conceived as an older, humorless character for the pilot episode of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," Mr. Belding, played by Oliver Clark, underwent significant changes. When the show was retooled for the Disney Channel, the character was recast with Dennis Haskins, and Mr. Belding became significantly younger and more comedic.
1988: "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" Premieres on Disney Channel
In 1988, "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" premiered on Disney Channel. The show failed to gain a following and was soon canceled.
1988: Casting Kelly Kapowski
The casting of Kelly Kapowski came down to Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, and Jennie Garth. Tiffani-Amber Thiessen ultimately got the role because the producers felt that she had the perfect all-American girl appeal.
August 20, 1989: "Saved by the Bell" Premieres
On August 20, 1989, "Saved by the Bell" premiered on NBC in prime time. The show was targeted at kids and teens and focused on a group of high school friends and their principal at the fictional Bayside High School in Los Angeles.
1989: People Magazine Edits Dustin Diamond Out of Cast Photo
For an issue showcasing the "Saved by the Bell" cast 20 years later, People magazine used a 1989 cast photo but edited out Dustin Diamond.
1989: "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" Airs Final Episode
The final episode of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" aired in 1989 after Disney Channel decided not to order more episodes.
1992: "Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style" Premieres
In 1992, "Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style" premiered on NBC. The movie follows the six main teenagers as they vacation in Hawaii and get caught up in a plan to save a resort.
1992: "Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style" is Released
In 1992, "Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style" was released as a made-for-television movie. The movie follows the main characters on vacation in Hawaii.
1992: Harvey Comics Publishes Short-Lived "Saved by the Bell" Comic Series
Harvey Comics released a series of "Saved by the Bell" comics in 1992, which ran for seven issues but received generally negative reviews.
1992: Tori Scott is Introduced
After Tiffani-Amber Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley decided to leave the show, producers decided to introduce a new character, Tori Scott, played by Leanna Creel. They also decided to rely more on recurring characters.
May 22, 1993: "Saved by the Bell" Airs Final Episode
On May 22, 1993, "Saved by the Bell" aired its final episode in primetime. The series ran for four seasons and left a lasting impact on pop culture.
1993: "Bayside Madness" Novel Released
"Bayside Madness," one of the many standalone novels based on "Saved by the Bell," was released in 1993.
1993: Two Spin-off Series Premiere
1993 saw the premiere of two spin-off series: "Saved by the Bell: The College Years", following some of the characters to college, and "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," introducing a new group of students at Bayside High School.
1993: Saved by the Bell: The New Class Premieres
In 1993, NBC launched "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," a spin-off set at Bayside High with a new cast and the return of Dennis Haskins as Mr. Belding.
1993: "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" Begins Seven-Season Run
Premiering in 1993, "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2000, with Dennis Haskins remaining a constant presence throughout its run.
1993: Spin-offs Premiere Due to Show's Popularity
The popularity of "Saved by the Bell" led to the premiere of two spin-offs in 1993: "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" and "Saved by the Bell: The New Class."
1994: Dustin Diamond Returns to Bayside
Following the end of "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" in 1994, Dustin Diamond rejoined the franchise as Screech in "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," portraying Mr. Belding's assistant.
1994: "Computer Confusion" Novel Released
"Computer Confusion," the twelfth book in the series of "Saved by the Bell" novels, adopted a numbered order upon its release in 1994.
1994: "Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas" Premieres
"Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas" premiered in 1994 on NBC. This second film served as a series finale for both the original "Saved by the Bell" and "Saved by the Bell: The College Years."
1994: "Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas" is Released
In 1994, "Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas" was released. This second film served as a series finale for both the original series and "Saved by the Bell: The College Years."
April 11, 1995: "Saved by the Bell" Soundtrack Released
On April 11, 1995, a soundtrack featuring music from the "Saved by the Bell" series was released on both CD and cassette tape.
1995: "Kelly's Hero" Novel Released
Published in 1995, "Kelly's Hero" marked one of the earlier instances where the "Saved by the Bell" novels, at least by Boxtree Ltd, featured a numbered order on the book covers.
2000: "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" Ends
"Saved by the Bell: The New Class" aired its final episode in 2000, concluding the spin-off series after seven seasons.
2000: "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" Ends
In 2000, "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" aired its final episode, marking the end of an era for the franchise.
2004: "Saved by the Bell" Reunion Tele-Films DVD Release
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! The UnMusical!" premiered, marking the first iteration of the Saved by the Bell parody musical.
April 9, 2006: Adult Swim Announces Saved by the Bell Special
Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block announced a two-week special airing of "Saved by the Bell" starting April 17, 2006.
April 19, 2006: Adult Swim Makes Joke Announcement About Saved by the Bell Revival
Adult Swim jokingly claimed that "Saved by the Bell" was back in production on April 19, 2006, later revealing it as a prank.
August 7, 2007: "Saved by the Bell" TV Movies DVD Release
On August 7, 2007, Lionsgate released the two feature-length "Saved by the Bell" TV movies on DVD in Region 1.
March 27, 2009: Jimmy Fallon Launches Saved by the Bell Reunion Campaign
Jimmy Fallon initiated a campaign on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" to reunite the cast of "Saved by the Bell" on March 27, 2009, leading to a partial reunion with most of the main cast.
June 8, 2009: Partial Saved by the Bell Reunion on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"
Several "Saved by the Bell" cast members, excluding Tiffani Thiessen and Dustin Diamond, reunited on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on June 8, 2009, marking one of the few times members of the original cast appeared together after the show ended.
August 2009: "Saved by the Bell" Cast Reunites for Photo Shoot, Excluding Dustin Diamond
The cast of "Saved by the Bell," except for Dustin Diamond, reunited in August 2009 for a People magazine photo shoot.
2009: Dustin Diamond Publishes "Behind the Bell"
Dustin Diamond released his book "Behind the Bell" in 2009, offering an unflattering look at his time and experiences on the show.
February 10, 2010: "Saved by the Bell" Season One DVD Release
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" DVD Release
On March 13, 2012, Lionsgate, distributed by Alliance Films, released "Saved By The Bell: The Complete Collection" on DVD in Canada. The 13-disc set featured all episodes of the series and the two TV movies.
2012: "Bayside! The Musical!" Returns to NYC
After a hiatus, the musical returned to New York City in 2012 at the Kraine Theatre. The show featured a revised script and a new cast.
September 2013: "Bayside! The Musical!" Opens in New York City
An unauthorized parody of "Saved by the Bell," titled "Bayside! The Musical!," opened at Theatre 80 in New York City in September 2013.
November 5, 2013: "Saved by the Bell" Complete Series DVD Release
On November 5, 2013, Lionsgate released a complete-series set of "Saved by the Bell" on DVD in the United States. While the set did not include the reunion movies, it featured bonus commentaries.
March 2014: Lion Forge Comics Debuts New "Saved by the Bell" Comic
March 2014 saw the debut of a new "Saved by the Bell" comic under Lion Forge Comics' ROAR Comics imprint, offering a modernized take on the original series.
September 1, 2014: "The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story" Premieres
Lifetime aired "The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story" on September 1, 2014.
February 4, 2015: "Saved by the Bell" Cast Appears on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"
On February 4, 2015, the cast of "Saved by the Bell," minus Lark Voorhies and Dustin Diamond, appeared in a skit on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."
October 16, 2018: "Saved by the Bell" Complete Series DVD Re-release
On October 16, 2018, Shout! Factory re-released the complete "Saved by the Bell" series on DVD in Region 1. Unlike previous releases, this set included season four in its entirety and bonus features, such as episode commentaries.
September 2019: Initial Cast Announced for "Saved by the Bell" Revival
Initially, only Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez were confirmed to reprise their roles in the "Saved by the Bell" revival as of September 2019.
September 17, 2019: "Saved by the Bell" Revival Announced for Peacock
Announced on September 17, 2019, a single-camera revival of "Saved by the Bell" was in development for NBC's streaming service, Peacock.
January 2020: More Original Cast Members Confirmed for "Saved by the Bell" Revival
By January 2020, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen joined Elizabeth Berkley and Mario Lopez in the "Saved by the Bell" revival, with other original cast appearances still uncertain.