I find it rather surprising how many positive reviews Saved by the Bell has received, overall, as I had been under the assumption that the show was almost universally hated. I've never really cared for the program; even as a child I could not quite understand the public's love of it. Watching the show as a kid, I was under the impression that the six main characters "ran" Bayside High School, with the faculty wrapped around their fingers. I never found the material to be that funny and I would raise an eyebrow at some of the plots' lack of realism. Returning to this show as an adult, I am no less baffled.
Please do not misunderstand, as I am all for nineties nostalgia. I grew up in that era. It only strikes me as odd that this program has survived into syndication along with its unsuccessful spin-off, while other worthy programs, such as 'Life With Louie,' 'California Dreams,' or 'Wonder Years' seem to have fallen by the wayside, occasionally revived but ultimately forgotten. I don't associate 'Saved By the Bell' with the good days of the nineties, as many others apparently do.
All I can really see is a show that appears to have been hurriedly put together without much thought with substandard performances by mediocre actors. Jokes delivered are often dead-pan and one-liners too often seem uncreative or not natural enough in their delivery. Compare the cast of SBTB's stilted performing with the almost flawless comedic work presented in the first two seasons of Nickelodeon's 'All That.' I don't doubt for a second that Josh Server, Kel Mitchell, and Lori Beth Demburg could wipe the television screen with Mark Paul Gosslar, Dustin Diamond, or Mario Lopez any day of the TV schedule's week, with the exact same material. OT, 'All That' is what I think of when I think of "nineties nostalgia," not 'Saved By the Bell.'
But, its not just the actors or the dialogue... the whole show seems so removed from real life that it is hard to accept it as quality entertainment. I understand that television sitcoms need not be too concerned with being "realistic" as, say, 'Law and Order,' but how are we supposed to relate to characters who are but stereotypical caricatures of high school clique-members? They are almost always compelled to "do the right thing," without ever questioning their actions. I am all for moralistic episodes, but in real life, when a kid finds a used "joint" in their school high school restroom, its no big deal and most likely they'll go on with their lives and stay the heck away from drugs, unlike Zack and Slater, who vow to hunt down the poor soul with the gall to smoke pot in their vicinity. None of the characters are relatable, nor does there seem to ever be a reasonable explanation for their actions.
For a person with severe depression or a person who is suffering great personal loss, 'Saved By the Bell' is a show for you, just like 'Full House' or 'Who's the Boss' is a show for you. It is light and not occupied with the harsh realities of the real world. But, for anyone else, I am surprised that the stilted performance by the actors and the frightening removal from reality has not set more viewers to changing the station, as I continuously find myself compelled to do.
Please do not misunderstand, as I am all for nineties nostalgia. I grew up in that era. It only strikes me as odd that this program has survived into syndication along with its unsuccessful spin-off, while other worthy programs, such as 'Life With Louie,' 'California Dreams,' or 'Wonder Years' seem to have fallen by the wayside, occasionally revived but ultimately forgotten. I don't associate 'Saved By the Bell' with the good days of the nineties, as many others apparently do.
All I can really see is a show that appears to have been hurriedly put together without much thought with substandard performances by mediocre actors. Jokes delivered are often dead-pan and one-liners too often seem uncreative or not natural enough in their delivery. Compare the cast of SBTB's stilted performing with the almost flawless comedic work presented in the first two seasons of Nickelodeon's 'All That.' I don't doubt for a second that Josh Server, Kel Mitchell, and Lori Beth Demburg could wipe the television screen with Mark Paul Gosslar, Dustin Diamond, or Mario Lopez any day of the TV schedule's week, with the exact same material. OT, 'All That' is what I think of when I think of "nineties nostalgia," not 'Saved By the Bell.'
But, its not just the actors or the dialogue... the whole show seems so removed from real life that it is hard to accept it as quality entertainment. I understand that television sitcoms need not be too concerned with being "realistic" as, say, 'Law and Order,' but how are we supposed to relate to characters who are but stereotypical caricatures of high school clique-members? They are almost always compelled to "do the right thing," without ever questioning their actions. I am all for moralistic episodes, but in real life, when a kid finds a used "joint" in their school high school restroom, its no big deal and most likely they'll go on with their lives and stay the heck away from drugs, unlike Zack and Slater, who vow to hunt down the poor soul with the gall to smoke pot in their vicinity. None of the characters are relatable, nor does there seem to ever be a reasonable explanation for their actions.
For a person with severe depression or a person who is suffering great personal loss, 'Saved By the Bell' is a show for you, just like 'Full House' or 'Who's the Boss' is a show for you. It is light and not occupied with the harsh realities of the real world. But, for anyone else, I am surprised that the stilted performance by the actors and the frightening removal from reality has not set more viewers to changing the station, as I continuously find myself compelled to do.