Ok, Don't judge me! Could have been the heat, or the fact I was tired at the end of a long holiday weekend, but I found myself watching last nights Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story! Was it most interesting about this is that I never really watched Saved By The Bell when it was on the air. I mean I remember when it aired, and maybe watching a scene or two (and that intro), but except for a short-lived, but rather beautifully intense crush on Mark Paul Gosselaar, the show held no interest.
Even my Gosselaar gushing wasn't based on the show, but more his shirtless images in teen magazines. The movie last night was surprisingly not that bad. The insults were minimal (except a quick slap at Jennie Garth, who missed out playing this Kelly, but went on to play another). I supposed Mario Lopez was not written as exceptionally gifted in the beginning, but they didn't dwell on any serious personality flaws in the cast.
The movie was mostly written from the view point of Dustin Diamond, also one of the films producers. I say mostly, as although they removed the forth wall now and again so the character could talk directly to the audience, there were other sections of the movie where it was impossible to be coming from his viewpoint. Dustin Diamond, and his Screech character, actually came off fairly sympathetic. I have always thought of him as a bit of a joke, especially after his porn attempt, but the movie really had me understanding how difficult it must have been to a part of this older and for the most part, beyond beautiful cast.
Not sure how much was completely true, but except for a few moments with Gosselaar, Diamond didn't seem to have any connection with the cast except for my Dennis Haskins (Principal Belding) and an extra whose motive for friendship was to further his own acting career. Diamond was also the only cast member to flow through 12 years, and all four incarnations of the show, starting with the 1988's Good Morning Miss Bliss through t=The New Class which ended in 2000. The show rise in the ratings, and attention it received came mostly due to it's two hunky star, leaving Diamond, and the female cast members, often left on the sidelines.
Behind the scene movies like this are usually fun, if not always accurate, and this one was really quite harmless. In fact, the only real offensive moments involved Zach (Dylan Everett) and his beyond fake looking wig. Other than that, there are far more offensive, and far less enjoyable, things on television to end your holiday weekend with.
Mario's meat
Gosselaar'gluteus maximus
