Zack Morris never walks into trouble, but he runs. He tends to put his own needs before others during the four season run of Saved By The Bell. Despite often making selfish decisions that come back to bite him, Zack is actually a really great friend.
Not only does he maintain a friendship with Screech through high school despite them running in very different social circles, but he goes out of his way to make sure all of his friends get the things they want most. Sometimes, that's as simple as a little attention, but other times, it involves giving up something he wants himself.
Zack Teams With Jessie For A Dance Contest
When a dance contest is being held at The Max, Zack really wants to be partnered with Kelly, so he gets Jessie to teach him a few dance steps. Over the course of their lessons, however, he discovers that the only reason Jessie isn't entering is because she's so much taller than the guys who want to partner with her, and she's worried people will make fun of her.
Zack decides to step aside and allow Slater to partner up with Kelly so Jessie has someone to compete with - him. Even though she's just a little bit taller than him, Zack is sure they'll have fun dancing together, and is also sure that Jessie shouldn't sacrifice her own happiness because of what other people think.
Zack Encourages Nikki To Play Baseball
Before the show was Saved By The Bell, it was Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and that first show is very different from what comes later. Zack has a whole other set of friends in that series, including a girl named Nikki that he's known since kindergarten.
When Nikki is worried that her position as pitcher on the baseball team means that the guys don't see her as a girl, she lets Lisa convince her to wear makeup and sit out from a big game. While Zack wants his team to win, he also doesn't see the point in Nikki not doing the things - like pitching - that make her happy. He encourages her to play in the game, and Nikki eventually comes to the save conclusion.
Zack Helps Lisa Make Money For A Credit Card Payment
When Lisa's father lets her take his credit card to buy herself a new outfit, Lisa racks up a large bill. Too scared to tell her father, and unable to return any of the things she bought, she appeals to her friends for help. It's Zack who comes up with the idea of earning enough money to pay the bill herself. That's actually a smart thing to do before she comes clean as it does demonstrate, despite Zack's scheming, that she's taking responsibility for what she did.
Unfortunately, Zack's plan of selling off some of Lisa's more expensive clothing pieces to other students doesn't go according to plan. Mr. Belding thinks Zack and Lisa are donating the clothes to a clothing drive, so the plan is ruined. It's the thought that counts though.
Zack Stands Up To Bullies For Screech
Screech is one of the biggest outsiders at Bayside. Zack does often take advantage of his loyalty, but he also stands up for him when others target him. While much of Screech's experiences in Saved By The Bell are sad when looked back on, he did have Zack's loyalty.
That starts in his Good Morning, Miss Bliss days. When a new student repeatedly threatens Screech, Zack won't let the other boy hurt him. He even steps in between the two in order to challenge him, which leads all of their other friends to do the same, including Lisa. He continues to protect Screech during the Saved By The Bell seasons as well.
Zack Stops Pursuing Kelly When She's Interested In Jeff
While a relationship between a teenage girl with her first job and her manager is a problem in and of itself, Zack continuing to pursue Kelly when she makes it clear she wants to be with someone else is also a problem, and a common one in the show.
When Zack sees that Kelly is genuinely happy with someone else, though, he backs off. He even tells Jeff that Kelly is a great girl and he's lucky to have her. It's not just a nice thing for him to do as a friend, but it shows some real maturity from him.
Zack Gives Up His Position As Class President For Jessie
Jessie wants to make a difference in school, so she runs for class president. Initially, she's running unopposed, but when Zack discovers that the class president gets to go on a trip across the country, he decides to run to get a trip and a week off from school.
Both friends pull out all the stops to win, and when Zack is under the impression there's no trip after all, he tries to lose on purpose, but still wins by one vote. Even when Mr. Belding reveals the trip is still on schedule, Zack realizes just how much being involved in student government means to Jessie. He decides to drop out and allow her to take the position, knowing that she'll actually make the most of it.
Zack Takes Care Of Kelly's Little Brother
One of the things that makes no sense about Kelly in Saved By The Bell is just how many siblings she has. The number and names change over the course of the show, but a few of them are actually shown in the series.
When Kelly's parents get snowed in on a trip, she's responsible for taking care of her baby brother. The trouble is that she has to have her cheerleading pictures taken for the yearbook in first period, and needs someone else to watch Billy for her. All of her friends are hesitant since they haven't been around babies, and with everyone having other commitments, Zack is the one who takes Billy to class with him. Zack is actually the one of Kelly's friends who takes watching Billy seriously. While everyone else would rather pass him off to another friend, Zack is the one who wants to make sure he's fed, changed, and taken care of. Billy's first word even ends up being "Zack."
Zack Stopped The Government From Taking Screech
To be completely fair, the government wanting to take Screech for testing in the first place is mostly Zack's fault. When the friends accidentally break the school's new camera working on a project. Zack has the idea to pretend Screech is an alien in order to get paid by a tabloid magazine. Unfortunately, the claim catches the attention of a government official.
Zack comes up with a plan to make sure Screech doesn't get taken. The kids come clean about the plan, but he also gets most of their classmates to wear Screech masks to proclaim themselves aliens as well, getting the official to dismiss everything as a prank.
Zack Doesn't Let Jessie Sing
When Slater discovers that Jessie has been taking caffeine pills to keep up her busy schedule, he confides his concern in Zack. Zack doesn't initially believe the truth, but he's the only one to get through to Jessie about her dependency on the pills.
When Jessie argues that one pill will help her be on top of her game for a performance, Zack not only refuses to let her take any pills, but he refuses to let her sing. The performance, in front of record executives, could have got Jessie, Lisa, and Kelly (and Zack as their acting manager) contracts, but Zack only cared about Jessie's health.