Post by Kia on Sept 9, 2003 8:08:35 GMT -5
Review: 'Saved By The Bell - Seasons 1 & 2' DVD
9-5-2003 - 8:16 AM | Television
By Fred Topel
I have fond memories of Saved by the Bell. When I wasn’t quite in high school, I thought those were the coolest kids I’d ever seen. Zack had a plan for everything, Kelly and Jesse were equally hot despite fundamental character differences, and Mr. Belding had me thinking principals could actually get things accomplished. Of course, this was all fiction. Principals are bureaucrats, the cool kids end up living with their parents after they’re not cool in college anymore, and no 16 year old has curves like Tiffany Amber-Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley. But I could dream.
Looking back in this, a first and second season DVD collection, causes mixed feelings. Most “First Season” DVDs do this actually, as you never really remember from what shambles your favorite shows began. Saved by the Bell opens with a dance competition and a random band number that comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. Not random enough to be funny. It feels like they’re trying too hard to be cool. And there’s this guy who runs the diner and does magic tricks. That character didn’t last long.
By the time you get to the end, the episodes get better. Zack’s plans have a bit more depth and ramifications. In the beginning, he wanted to dance with a pretty girl. By the end, he’s entering Screech in a female beauty pageant, opening doors to social critics and challenging both feminists and chauvinists to question the phenomenon of pageantry.
There are no extra features, but TV collections are more about watching a series from start to finish in as few sitting as possible. Bonus features are nice, but not necessary, especially when you’re getting two seasons in one set. But therein lies the rub. The dates don’t quite add up. Seasons go from around September to around May. It’s not illogical that Season One starts in August, but that it only goes to January is odd. And Season Two is shorter, going only from September to December of 1990. Isn’t January to September a huge jump between seasons. And isn’t December too soon to end a season? I mean, mid-season replacements are one thing. Maybe the first year of Bell was only half a year, but at the start of the season instead of as a later replacement. So it could have taken ‘til the start of the next season to make another batch of episodes. But then wouldn’t they be granted a full season by year two? And what happened to the early episodes with Hayley Mills as the teacher? Perhaps all of these questions will be answered in the next boxed set.
This one’s for cheese and nostalgia only. If you loved the show growing up, you’ll enjoy seeing the beginning of its evolution and relive some of Zack’s finest moments. But it doesn’t hold up well. The hair and fashion are very ‘80s and the one liners are weak and tame. Let’s see if future seasons live up to the memory better.
9-5-2003 - 8:16 AM | Television
By Fred Topel
I have fond memories of Saved by the Bell. When I wasn’t quite in high school, I thought those were the coolest kids I’d ever seen. Zack had a plan for everything, Kelly and Jesse were equally hot despite fundamental character differences, and Mr. Belding had me thinking principals could actually get things accomplished. Of course, this was all fiction. Principals are bureaucrats, the cool kids end up living with their parents after they’re not cool in college anymore, and no 16 year old has curves like Tiffany Amber-Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley. But I could dream.
Looking back in this, a first and second season DVD collection, causes mixed feelings. Most “First Season” DVDs do this actually, as you never really remember from what shambles your favorite shows began. Saved by the Bell opens with a dance competition and a random band number that comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. Not random enough to be funny. It feels like they’re trying too hard to be cool. And there’s this guy who runs the diner and does magic tricks. That character didn’t last long.
By the time you get to the end, the episodes get better. Zack’s plans have a bit more depth and ramifications. In the beginning, he wanted to dance with a pretty girl. By the end, he’s entering Screech in a female beauty pageant, opening doors to social critics and challenging both feminists and chauvinists to question the phenomenon of pageantry.
There are no extra features, but TV collections are more about watching a series from start to finish in as few sitting as possible. Bonus features are nice, but not necessary, especially when you’re getting two seasons in one set. But therein lies the rub. The dates don’t quite add up. Seasons go from around September to around May. It’s not illogical that Season One starts in August, but that it only goes to January is odd. And Season Two is shorter, going only from September to December of 1990. Isn’t January to September a huge jump between seasons. And isn’t December too soon to end a season? I mean, mid-season replacements are one thing. Maybe the first year of Bell was only half a year, but at the start of the season instead of as a later replacement. So it could have taken ‘til the start of the next season to make another batch of episodes. But then wouldn’t they be granted a full season by year two? And what happened to the early episodes with Hayley Mills as the teacher? Perhaps all of these questions will be answered in the next boxed set.
This one’s for cheese and nostalgia only. If you loved the show growing up, you’ll enjoy seeing the beginning of its evolution and relive some of Zack’s finest moments. But it doesn’t hold up well. The hair and fashion are very ‘80s and the one liners are weak and tame. Let’s see if future seasons live up to the memory better.
its not supposed to be serious it just supposed to be a fun show designed to make ya laugh. 
