You know entertainment executives are running out of good TV shows to put on DVD when they release the first season of "Felicity." While "Must See" powerhouses "Frasier," "ER" and "Will and Grace" are obviously eligible for archives, who should have to endure "Felicity" in digital surround sound?
How about shows from the 1980s and early 90s, though? Where's the "Head of the Class" or "Perfect Strangers?" Heading to the DVD store recently, I saw one boxed set that warmed my insides and made the hairs on my neck tingle: "Saved By The Bell: Seasons One and Two."
"The Bell" - or "SBTB," in shorthand - had so many great characters. Whether you were a Zack (the stud), Kelly (the popular pretty girl), Jessie (the bookworm feminist), Slater (the jock), Lisa (the rich daddy's girl), or Screech (the nerd), you had a place in the halls, or at least the lockers, of Bayside High.
Zack and Kelly were the all-American couple, Slater and Jessie were the opposites that attracted, and Screech was the hapless romantic who tried for four seasons to snatch Lisa.
When Lisa injured her knee, a relentless Screech created "The Sprain," a hop-on-one-leg dance that allowed his love to compete in Max's dance competition.
Sweet guy. If only he hadn't worn plaid with polka dots. The Max, of course, was the after school hangout, like Al's Drive-In on "Happy Days" and "Beverly Hills, 90210's" Peach Pit.
Corn and cheese ran high in the episode of greatest Emmy potential, the pi?(c)ce du r?(c)sistance: "Jessie's Song."
When Kelly, Lisa and Jessie form a pop music trio (an ordinary occurrence in California, I suppose), they slave away at rehearsals and photo shoots. A caffeine-pill-ode to "Degrassi High," it features Jessie's struggle to balance studying and promoting their single "Go For It!" Her way out of the insanity that is a pop/rock star's life was to pop pills.
In a truly remarkable three-minute scene, Zack, the girls' manager, comforts Jessie as she sobs in his arms. Her following lines are now infamous - sung to the tune of The Pointer Sisters' 80s disco/pop tune - "I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm... so... sc-haar-rr-ed." I almost wanted to cry ... for her.
I'm pretty sure that's the performance that landed Elizabeth Berkley the lead in "Showgirls." And the episode in which Screech gives Lisa a heart-o-gram for Valentine's Day is probably what got him the job as headliner of last year's UB Bulls halftime show.
And that's not okay, Mr. Diamond. It just isn't.
So the dialogue is wretched, the personalities are one-dimensional and alcohol use is non-existent. Just like your high school, right? When it comes to our generation, there's nothing better than looking back on the good times of Bayside High and crying in pain. And now with my DVD, I can watch it in Spanish.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
