One of the most popular hit shows of the '90s, teens couldn't get enough of Saved by the Bell, the Saturday morning series about the coolest kids at Bayside High. Everyone wanted to be friends with Zack, Slater, Kelly, Jessie, Lisa, and Screech as they navigated the rigors of high school and adolescence. For some fans, the show defined a generation, and now 30 years after its debut, it's still popular as ever thanks to success in syndication and streaming services.
Looking back on the wacky adventures of the Bayside gang, fans have become acutely aware of the unique time capsule they're a part of. Zack's pranks, the outrageous fashion choices, and the overall mentalities of the students at the time have become the stuff of meme legend. Whether fans still love Saved by the Bell or love to hate it, they'll fine these memes funnier than Screech getting struck by lightning.
Mr. Belding, get it?
In the words of Zack Morris, Bayside High was the home of "books, babes, and...Belding," specifically Principal Belding, who made it his life's pursuit to prevent Zack's schemes from destroying the school with a quick, "Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?!"
Mr. B wasn't always Zack's nemesis, however. Sometimes he bonded with him, Slater, and Screech, forming a close-knit circle whenever Kelly, Jessie, and Lisa were fed up with their antics. It took fans a long time to notice that Belding was a version of "bell-ding."
Best friends forever?
Zack and Slater were best friends throughout most of the series, but unlike Zack's relationship with Screech, his relationship with Slater was more of a rivalry. Slater was real competition for Zack when it came to Kelly Kapowski, and him getting his license before Zack compounded that fact.
Zack framed Slater for stealing the training car assigned to their Driver's Ed class, all because he was worried Slater would take Kelly on rides before he could get his license, too. Zack ruined Slater's accomplishments out of jealousy, when he should have been excited that someone in their group could be the DD.
Slaters gonna slate
As much as A.C. Slater was considered a stereotypical jock with a tough guy personality, he could be empathetic and sensitive when he wanted to be. He would never have gotten the attention of the strong-willed Jessie Spano if he remained a "sexist pig" for the whole series.
Slater didn't sweat garnering ridicule when he opened himself up, especially in the Season 2 episode "Breaking Up Is Hard To Undo," when he put his pride aside to win back Jessie's heart with a choreographed dance routine at the Max.
The truth is out there
Screech had little choice but to go along with Zack's crazy schemes, exchanging his pride for a pass to hang out with the most popular kid in Bayside. The alternative — spending time with the nerds — was too horrible for Screech to contemplate, so he submitted to his best friend's whims, like dutifully appear in Zack's student film about vicious aliens.
When Zack broke the school camera he used to shoot the film, he had to sell pictures of Screech to a trashy tabloid to make enough money to replace it. Zack was also surprised to find out the government wanted to dissect Screech for the sake of Earth's safety, despite the fact that he'd yelled at Screech for being "unconvincing" in his portrayal.
Time out
Along with other popular '90s shows like Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Saved by the Bell was the series that defined a generation of adolescents as it chronicled the trials and tribulations of popular teens at Bayside High. Even after it ended in 1993, Saved by the Bell inspired several sequels and lived on in syndication.
At this point, even teens who weren't born until after the series was over have heard of it, thanks to reruns and cast reunions like in this meme taken from The Tonight Show in 2015. The reboot is sure to entertain a whole new generation of fans, though it remains to be seen if it features Zack Morris' "time freeze" powers.
Bring on the heat
A.C. Slater arrived at Bayside High as an army brat, with a chip and the curls of a mullet on his shoulder. He was an immediate threat to Zack Morris, who reigned king of Bayside through his class clowning and gambling ventures, and wasn't prepared for a teen with such an impressive physique.
Team Zack and Team Slater soon developed with fans, with some gravitating towards the carefree and reckless Zack and others preferring the all-star Slater, who blew Zack away both academically and athletically.
Tori wasn't saved by the bell
When Tori Scott appeared in the final season of the series she was a divisive character. Fans loyal to Kelly Kapowski didn't like that Tori was Zack's girlfriend, and the episodes that focused on her only highlighted the lack of chemistry she had with the rest of the group.
While it was refreshing for a womanizer like Zack to date a tough chick who didn't put up with any garbage, Tori wasn't given much personality besides a leather jacket and a motorcycle. Just as suddenly as she showed up she disappeared, and wasn't referenced in later episodes.
To the max
Screech Powers was never the guy who got the girl on Saved by the Bell, but that didn't stop him from pining over Lisa Turtle right up until he graduated from Bayside High. He even put up with the relentless onslaught of chaos and misery of carrying out Zack's schemes just so that he could be closer to his crush.
Screech agreeing to do Zack's homework or sneak into the girl's locker room ensured him a seat at the cool kids' table at the Max, and eventually their pity for him turned into an actual friendship.
I'm so excited!
In one of the most infamous episodes of the series, Jessie takes caffeine pills to cram for an upcoming test. She finds that while she has amazing productivity levels, they come at a cost to her physical and mental health. Her breakdown after realizing she's become addicted to the pills has been parodied ever since, but the episode had an earnest message.
As a Saturday morning show, Saved by the Bell couldn't focus on addiction to any hard drugs, but it could have an episode discussing the basic principles of becoming hooked on a substance like caffeine pills. The "very special episode" taught a younger generation that any "drug" can be habit-forming if misused.
What's in a name?
As an army brat, A.C. Slater was used to moving, but he finally put down roots at Bayside High, where he became lifelong friends with Zack, Screech, Jessie, Kelly, and Lisa. The gang always wondered what "A.C." stood for, and it became a running gag throughout the series.
According to Slater, it stood for "Always Charming," but in Season 4, when his ex-girlfriend from Berlin came to visit, his friends (and fans) finally got to know what the initials really stood for: Albert Clifford.