Saved by the Bell fans are over the moon for the reboot trailers that were released in 2020. The first was unveiled in April and the second in August. Each one offers memorable small details and familiar characters for longtime fans while easing them into a new high school class.
In the new series, Zack Morris is the governor of California, and he has been shutting down low-income schools and sending their students to schools like Bayside. The trailers don't tell the whole story, but they certainly have fans pumped for the reboot - here are ten things we already love.
Jessie Spano Flirts With A.C. Slater
The second trailer for the Saved by the Bell reboot opens with a high school dance at Bayside. Jessie Spano looks at A.C. Slater and asks, " all the dances we had in this gym? Ever wish you could go back?"
Slater slyly looks back at Jessie and answers, "Sure do." It's a golden moment.
The School Dance
Aside from Jessie flirting with Slater, the school dance alone is enough to draw old fans back in.
The footage is little more than a blip, but it's enough for viewers to see the twinkly lights, the dancing teens, and the balloon arch. It doesn't feel so different from a 1990s TV dance, and that's something to look forward to.
The Slater Jersey
The first trailer is more focused on Slater. It clearly explains that he is now the gym teacher at Bayside, and a clip from his office shows his jersey, which simply says "Slater."
The guy might be living in the past, but once a football star, always a football star.
Troublemakers
Saved by the Bell would be incomplete without a couple of troublemakers running amok. Slater doesn't have any children (at least that viewers know of), but Jessie Spano has a son, and so do Zack and Kelly!
It isn't explicitly explained in either trailer, but the first trailer includes Slater in his office talking to two young men about his wild times with their parents. The platinum blonde, Mac, is totally a Morris. The brunette named Jamie belongs to Jessie Spano.
Sheltered & Clueless
Mr. Belding is sadly not the principal anymore, but the new principal blatantly describes the Bayside High kids as "sheltered" and "clueless." These adjectives may seem harsh, but sheltered, clueless kids have always been a part of Saved by the Bell's identity.
In a virtual press for the reboot, creator Tracey Wigfield explained, "The fun thing of our show is that Bayside is sort of this bubble that is a little bit like the Bayside you saw in the original show ... It's a bunch of kind of weird, clueless kids who never have any real problems." The kids may not be perfect, but everyone already loves them.
Diverse Casting
The casting of the high schoolers for the reboot is possibly more diverse than that of the old series, judging by the trailers. The new Zack Morris type is Daisy, played by Haskiri Velasquez, a Latin American actress.
Another cast member in the press is Josie Totah, the transgender actress playing a popular girl named Lexi.
Clever Pop Culture References
The first reboot trailer features popular girl Lexi commenting on how Justin Bieber is "like 100 years old." The second trailer shows a dialogue between Lexi and Mac Morris. Lexi mentions that she has a Kardashian coming to lunch. Mac responds, "Who, Rob?"
Lexi gets the real punchline with, "Shut up! He is still in their family." Very relevant for new viewers who might tune in.
Caffeine Pills That Get Jessie Excited
Fans asked, and the reboot will answer. Jessie Spano does indeed bring up the epic caffeine pill episode.
She spies a suspicious canister in the hallway and exclaims, "Are those caffeine pills? At first, they're so exciting, and then, it gets even more exciting, but after that, it gets so scary. And in the end, you ruin your girl group's shot at a recording contract." Even more perfect, the scene is bookended by the song "I'm So Excited."
The Max Is Back
The new crop of Bayside kids can be seen in the trailer drinking milkshakes at The Max. Yes, the real Max (Ed Alonso) is still there. He does not speak in the trailer, but he delivers some burgers with real pizzazz.
It's amazing that the reboot will include The Max because it was such a crucial part of the teens' social lives on the series decades ago. It will take on a new life with the new generation.
90s Colors
It may seem like a small detail, but the aesthetic of the trailers is so important. They each feature a signature 1990s color scheme of teal, black, magenta, and a dash of yellow, right down to the letters that say "A Peacock Original."
The fact that the art department nailed the freshened-up logo says a lot about the authenticity of the reboot, and fans can't wait to finally see it on Peacock.