As a TV critic, it’s hard to overstate the impact Saved by the Bell had on a whole generation. This show, which first aired on NBC in 1989, quickly became a Saturday morning staple, bringing the everyday lives – and often hilarious adventures – of six high school friends at the fictional Bayside High in Los Angeles right into our homes. While the plots were fun, it was truly the characters – Zack, Kelly, Jessie, Lisa, Slater, and of course, Screech – that really made the show special. Everyone had a favorite, though let’s be honest, Zack Morris was probably the most popular!
Look, I grew up loving Zack Morris, he was everyone’s favorite! But honestly, even back then, you could tell he was trouble. The show was built around his plans and schemes, which made for some really fun episodes, and we usually saw him learn something in the end. Still, sometimes his antics went way too far. I remember being shocked, even as a kid, by an episode that aired 37 years ago today – it showed just how manipulative and, frankly, unsettling Zack could be, and it actually happened before the very first episode of Saved by the Bell even aired. It really changed how I saw the show, and him.
Zack Tries to Emotionally Manipulate a Popstar in Junior High
Before Saved by the Bell became popular, there was a lesser-known sitcom called Good Morning, Miss Bliss. It later became Saved by the Bell: The Junior High Years. Originally airing on the Disney Channel for one season in 1988 and 1989, Good Morning, Miss Bliss was quite different from its successor. The show focused on Hayley Mills, a teacher at a junior high school in Indianapolis, and the challenging situations she faced at work, often involving her students. Familiar faces like Lisa Turtle, Screech Powers, and Zack Morris were all students in the series. Even then, Zack Morris was known for getting into trouble, and one particular instance really stands out.
The episode “Stevie,” which aired on March 4, 1989, was near the end of Good Morning, Miss Bliss‘s run, just two episodes before the show was cancelled. It featured the return of Colleen Morton (played by Suzanne Tara), a former student who had become a hugely popular pop star – imagine the show’s version of Britney Spears or Taylor Swift. Stevie was making a final performance at her old school as part of her farewell tour, which excited all the students. Zack, in particular, made a bet with his classmate Nikki (Heather Hooper) that he’d not only get to perform on stage with Stevie, but also kiss her!
Okay, so Zack pulls this really underhanded move to get the part. He fakes being sick, even sending a letter saying he’s dying! It actually works, and he gets chosen, but Miss Bliss isn’t fooled for a second – she knows he’s a total liar and calls him out. Later, he goes to her house to apologize, and that’s when things get weird. He meets a side of Colleen I hadn’t seen before. They end up talking about everything, including his whole scheme, and she actually kisses him on the cheek! He doesn’t even realize who he kissed until the concert. When he tries to tell Nikki about it, she totally doesn’t believe him, which is hilarious because it was actually Stevie all along!
Zack repeatedly tries and fails to kiss Stevie, but the way he tries is disturbing – he pretends to be seriously ill to manipulate people into feeling sorry for him. This behavior reveals a lot about his character, and it’s not the last time he’ll use emotional manipulation to get what he wants. While this instance is relatively mild, his schemes later on in Saved by the Bell are much more damaging, often hurting his friends. For example, he exploits Lisa by making her work tirelessly making friendship bracelets without pay, and even uses Screech to boost sales. Zack’s behavior definitely escalates over time. Despite all this, he remains a beloved character on Saved by the Bell, but we can all agree he’s far from a good person.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Survivor’s Colby Donaldson Admits He Almost Backed Out of Season 50
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- How to Build a Waterfall in Enshrouded
- Rod Stewart’s Albums Ranked: Every Release & Biggest Hits You Forgot About
- The Sci-Fi Thriller That Stephen King Called ‘Painful To Watch’ Just Joined Paramount+
- Guide: Marathon Server Slam Gets Underway Today – Here’s Everything You Need to Know
- Monster Hunter Stories 3’s character creator is officially revealed — and it features a cosmetic that’s normally paywalled in the mainline games
- New PS4 Game Announced for 2027 (When the PS6 Is Supposed to Release)
2026-03-04 22:42