4.8.11 64

Saved by the Bell: A Mystery

So we all watched Saved by the Bell right?

Yes dont lie some of you still do….

Ok fine maybe thats just me and maybe just when Jessie takes the caffeine pills because I think its funny…

But I have a confession…

Some things about SBTB plague me…

How come in their senior year Kelly and Jessie disappeared for a while and Tori came in?

What happened to them?

Seriously?

How come the middle school years and the high school years take place in different states?

Indiana and California….weird right?

Come on saved by the bell….EXPLAIN YOURSELF….

So I did a little digging and found what I like to think of as a fantastically silly explanation….

This is taken from Wikipedia:

As mentioned above, the character Tori Scott (Leanna Creel) was added in the final season as an initial sparring partner and later girlfriend for Zack. Originally, the final season consisted of thirteen episodes featuring the original cast, and the cast members’ contracts with the show expired after those episodes were completed with the final graduation episode. However, NBC ordered more episodes of the show and Thiessen and Berkley refused to sign new contracts. Rather than producing new episodes with only four cast members, a new character, Tori Scott, was added to serve as a replacement for Kelly and Jessie.

The promos for the final season of the show featured Kelly, Jessie, and Tori together, despite the fact that the actresses never actually appear in an episode together. Rather, the network alternated between “Kelly and Jessie” and “Tori” episodes each week.

During the “Tori” episodes, it was never explained why Jessie and Kelly were not present and likewise for the “Kelly and Jessie” episodes, no mention was made of Tori. When the season aired in the UK, the episodes were broadcast in production order – the Tori episodes and the Jessie and Kelly episodes were shown together. This was scarcely less confusing, since no mention was ever made of Tori’s sudden disappearance and Kelly and Jessie’s equally sudden reappearance partway through the season. However, a side effect of this resulted in the graduation episode (a “Kelly and Jessie” episode) airing before the first “Tori” episode – Zack, Slater, Screech and Lisa continued to attend Bayside even after their apparent graduation.

The term “Tori Paradox” is derived from Chuck Klosterman‘s essay about the show in his book, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto.

Ok and what about the different locations?

Three of the teens from the original cast – Gosselaar, Diamond, and Voorhies – remained on the show, playing the same characters with only minor changes to their backstories. Haskins also stayed on as Mr. Belding. However, the setting was changed from Indianapolis, Indiana to the fictional Bayside High School in the Palisades in Los Angeles, California.

Hmmm I dont accept this answer…we are supposed to believe that the creators just decided…OK no big deal we will move states and no one will notice!?

INCONCEIVABLE!

And just because I needed some nostalgia ….

Who do we like more…

Kelly Kapowski?

Or Valerie Malone?

WINNING!

Leave a Comment

64 Comments

  1. Jennifer wrote:

    I LOVED Saved by the Bell. I never realized any of these things though! Maybe the creators thought it would be more popular if they school was in California because a lot of 80s-90s things revolved around Cali.

    I definitely love Kelly better than her evil 90210 character. Plus she had no boob job yet.

    Published 4.8.11
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  2. Amanda wrote:

    Wow! I never even noticed that they changed states! I guess the producers were banking on that… The whole Kelly/Jessie/Tori thing always bugged me though, those story lines never connected so it felt like we were watching two different shows with the same characters. And yes, I admit it… I still watch sometimes 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  3. I was obsessed with Kelly. She was the coolest girl when I was growing up. Thanks Neely for clearing up all the Saved by the Bell confusion.

    Published 4.8.11
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  4. Laura wrote:

    I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it…

    I laugh pretty hard at Jesse most of the time.She is just so up tight.

    These questions bother me everytime I watch the show but then I forget to look it up. lol, I’m glad you became Neely PI for us.

    Though I don’t buy the moving states either

    Published 4.8.11
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  5. Kate wrote:

    This post is PERFECTION. My sister and I asked all these same questions for years.

    I hated Tori. I thought she was such a cheap female Slater. And it annoyed me that Aaron Spelling named her after his daughter. (Oh the things that plaqued me as a pre-teen)

    Let’s not even talk about SBTB The New Class. That show was an abomination!

    Happy Friday! xo

    Published 4.8.11
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  6. I totally read and loved sex, drugs, and coco puffs in college! : ] Oh the joys of being a sociology major.

    Published 4.8.11
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  7. Erin wrote:

    I didn’t realize the thing about the states, but I quizzed Brian and he totally knew exactly what you’re talking about, with Tori too. I still think of Tiffani as Kelly. There is no Valerie, ugh.

    Published 4.8.11
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  8. love, kate wrote:

    hmmm tough questio, but i think i liked kelly better!

    Published 4.8.11
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  9. Oh my gosh… I loved loved loved (and quite possibly still LOVE) SBTB. I get giddy when I catch reruns on TBS.

    The other night “Jesse” went to visit “Slater” on his show Extra and they mentioned wanting to do a reunion and I nearly cried tears of happiness.

    I promise I have a life.

    Published 4.8.11
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  10. Jessica wrote:

    I watch Saved by the Bell in the morning! I never understood why Jessie and Kelly just disappeared. :/

    Published 4.8.11
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  11. OMG I loved Saved by the Bell and Kelly was my idol. I would definitely still watch the college years if I was ever up and able to watch them.

    Published 4.8.11
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  12. Candace wrote:

    This is great. I totally forgot about Tori the biker chick. Haha.I also didn’t notice the two different states. Nice work ace. I had a ton of Save the Bell trading cards. Because I was that awesome. Haha. I still watch this if it is on. I love, love love it!

    Published 4.8.11
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  13. Jenny wrote:

    SBTB was one of my favorite shows! I never realized any of this though!

    Those were the good days! Watching SBTB and Full House!

    Published 4.8.11
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  14. Shalyn wrote:

    Omgoodness!!!!! I watched this show every day after school, and I get excited when I see it on TBS here and there. I never thought about these points…so crazy! Haha! You crack me up Neely!

    Published 4.8.11
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  15. How is it that I never noticed they switched states? Craziness! This is an awesome post!

    Published 4.8.11
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  16. so when I was younger people told me I looked like Kelly all the time! I was obsessed with the show and yet I never noticed this either. I wasn’t a huge fan of Tori but thought she was an interesting add to the show. We see Mr. Belding all the time here in DC, he’s such a funny guy in person!

    Published 4.8.11
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  17. Justine wrote:

    Omg Neely u r too funny! This is a great post. I loved that show and asked myself some of those questions but never thought to dig for answers. Next up the college years!!! Lol

    Published 4.8.11
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  18. That is quite disturbing. I never even thought of any of this!!

    Published 4.8.11
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  19. Heather wrote:

    SBTB still comes on every morning on TBS! I used to be able to watch it before work, but now I can’t. I should really DVR it. I love Zack Morris!

    Published 4.8.11
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  20. Mateya wrote:

    Oh my gosh I LOVE Saved by the Bell! I had no clue they were in different states…shows how closely I pay attention. Oh well.

    I never did like Tori as Zacks gf. Kelly all the way! 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  21. Kelly Kapowski. yupp

    Published 4.8.11
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  22. Meagan wrote:

    lol! this is genius! of course i never noticed these things and just accepted them. love the princess bride reference. i love kelly kapowski more than valerie.

    Published 4.8.11
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  23. I love this POST! Love it 🙂 And if I’m up early enough, haha of course I still watch SBTB! The high school years were always my favorite because Kelly was in it 🙂

    As far as who I liked better, Tiffany (her real name) was very sweet and kind and of course beautiful in SBTB but when she went to 90210 she was still beautiful but the sweet and kind were thrown out the window. I think she played her roll well in both shows 🙂 I hated her in 90210 cause she was so mean but that’s who she was playing – and she played it well :]

    Published 4.8.11
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  24. Laura wrote:

    OH gosh, I totally wiki’ed it a couple of years ago when I was watching and couldn’t figure out why Tori wasn’t at graduation… and why one episode Zach was all over Kelly and the next was dating Tori.

    And then of course, I have a whole other set of questions regarding Zach and Kelly’s Vegas Wedding…

    Published 4.8.11
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  25. Kristen wrote:

    I loved SBTB, but never liked Tori.

    Weird that Kelly wouldn’t resign the contract for more episodes, but was then in the college years, no?

    Published 4.8.11
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  26. Hahaha, awesome post girl! 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  27. Ok, can we discuss the Saved By The Bell wedding, because that’s really just seventeen different kinds of awesome.

    ALSO, the summer after my freshman year of college, TBS aired Saved By The Bell in the mornings, so, I would plan my cardio around it so I could watch while on the treadmill. TRUE STORY.

    Published 4.8.11
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  28. Wiz wrote:

    LOVE IT!! I never noticed these inconsistencies. But I did notice on 90210 that the cast are Sophemores in the first season but are in high school for four years so at some point, they just repeated a year I guess or the creators just didn’t think anyone would notice…

    Published 4.8.11
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  29. Leslie wrote:

    What a great post!! I grew up watching Saved by the Bell.. but I never noticed all of those changes!

    Published 4.8.11
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  30. Kate wrote:

    I wasn’t a huge Saved by the Bell watcher so I never noticed all of these changes. Weird!

    And I watched the Kelly video – that hair, oh my gosh! haha

    Published 4.8.11
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  31. LOVE…. also, both my hubby and i think it is hilaire when jessie takes the pills…

    we both watched when we were younger…. those thing about the show always bothered me too…. 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  32. Kelly all the way! haha…great post. My hubby still watches it in the morning. He can’t get enough. Found you through Cheerios and beer. I love your blog title!
    http://www.atfirstblushbeauty.com

    Published 4.8.11
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  33. Nuha wrote:

    aghhhh I love saved by the bell! And I definitely team kelly!

    Published 4.8.11
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  34. Julie. wrote:

    LOVE saved by the bell… and kelly was always my favorite. and she played her role on 90210 VERY good but you obviously didn’t like her.. but i did like her better than when gina came on lol

    Published 4.8.11
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  35. steph c wrote:

    Team Kelly! I so loved SBTB 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  36. You get more comments than any other blog I read. People love you!

    I grew up watching Saved by the Bell and never picked up on the 2 cities thing. I am a little slow sometimes. Now it is going to bother me…

    Published 4.8.11
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  37. Brittany wrote:

    Kelly definitely! She’s the best (and many people have said that I look like her, so that is nice too!) haha!!

    Published 4.8.11
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  38. Jenn wrote:

    hahaha I totally still watch when reruns come on!
    I have always wondered about the inconsistancies that happen during the series. Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  39. Shelley wrote:

    I never watched the whole thing but I did watch a ton of episodes here and there. I just never noticed the states or the Tori drama haha.

    Published 4.8.11
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  40. brittany wrote:

    verrrry interesting!

    team kelly all the way. 🙂

    Published 4.8.11
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  41. Never noticed the state change. Weird.

    Team Kelly! 🙂

    Published 4.9.11
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  42. Meghan wrote:

    Oh my gosh! That chapter from the Klosterman book on the Tori paradox is amazing. I ALWAYS wondered the same things myself and I am so glad you cleared it up!

    Published 4.9.11
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  43. Jessica wrote:

    SBTB is the best! I did not like the Tori episodes. The episodes of them in middle school weren’t known as Saved By the Bell. They were actually originally titled Good Morning Ms. Bliss.

    Published 4.10.11
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  44. Hmm that is really strange, and that is a good question! I loved that series and the college series was super funny as well!

    Published 4.10.11
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  45. LOVED SBLB!!!

    Published 4.11.11
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  46. I still watch reruns. Okay, not so much anymore, but I have these past few monthss while I was on maternity leave. I think it’s funny Kelly refused to sign another contract but yet she ended up on the College Years. and Jessi obviously did well for herself in Showgirls and all. But I still love SBTB!

    Published 4.11.11
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  47. HaHa! This made me laugh! Enough so that I’m your newest follower. 🙂 Can’t wait to read more!

    Published 4.11.11
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  48. I LOVE this entire post! Thanks for clearing up those oddities! I was never a Tori fan!

    not going to lie…sometimes my bf and I still sing the I’m so excited…turn into scared scene! hilarious! She was such an uptight character only to be in Showgirls later! love it!

    Published 4.12.11
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  49. Jana wrote:

    Love this post! A guy from my work is going to Bayside, CA today and I almost lost it when I saw that on his itinerary! I def threw in a comment or two about seeing Kelly K and Zach!

    Published 4.13.11
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  50. I could be totally wrong, but I thought the reason Kelly left was because she got a modeling contract. I thought she had to leave for a little while to travel for that. Am I thinking of something else? I loved SBTB! I also loved 90210! The soapnet does reruns of 90210 all the time and I just can’t help but to watch them!! 🙂

    Published 4.18.11
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  51. Kaitlyn wrote:

    The reason for the state change is because Saved by the Bell Jr. High years is a different show then Saved by the Bell.
    The Jr. High years was actually called Good Morning Miss Bliss and aired on the Disney Channel.

    Published 6.15.13
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  52. You are blowing my mind right now. I never paid close enough attention to notice any of that. I was too busy fake-planning my fake-wedding to Zack Morris 🙂

    Published 12.13.13
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  53. Honestly, I never watched Saved by the Bell, so I don’t know what happened. 🙂 But I do know someone of the actresses went on to be my fav Lifetime Movie queens. Ha!

    Happy SITS Day!

    Published 12.13.13
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  54. I’ve never seen the show but I’ve also used Wikipedia when I needed to figure something out about Dr. Who or Torchwood. Best place to get clear backstory. Enjoy your SITS Day.

    Published 12.13.13
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  55. Stacey wrote:

    I watched SBTB all the time when I was a kid, and yes, I will still watch it if I channel surf and find an episode on. I never even realized they changed states!

    Happy SITS Day!

    Published 12.13.13
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  56. Loved watching Saved By The Bell as a kid! Have to be honest and say that I never realized any of these discrepancies! Where was I???!!!

    Published 12.13.13
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  57. Oh how I loved Saved by the Bell when I was a kid. I still watched reruns of it through graduate school…probably would still if we still got the channel on TV. I think these are two of many many things that didn’t quite add up in that crazy but lovable show. I had a very skewed perspective about high school life from watching that show as a kid!

    Published 12.13.13
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  58. Tiffany wrote:

    You know I actually considered myself a pretty legit fan of Saved By The Bell but I did NOT notice these inconsistencies…I can’t believe it! I was dooped! LOL Great and fun post! Happy SITS Day!

    Published 12.14.13
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  59. Martha wrote:

    The hair! OMG! And happy SITS day–you deserve it!

    Published 12.14.13
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  61. Vanessa wrote:

    If you’re going to go by “Good Morning Miss Bliss” aka Saved by the Bell Junior High being a real and true prequel to Saved by the Bell, you’re missing a huge inconsistency: Zach’s mom and Dad are happliy married in Saved by the Bell, but in Good Morning Miss Bliss, Zach’s dad dates Miss Bliss!

    Then there’s the fact that In SBTB, Kelly, Lisa, and Jessie are supposedly such good singers that they get the attention of a recording label thanks to Zach taping them in the locker room, then a few episodes later, Kelly can’t sing at all in the talent competition, a few episodes later, kelly can’t sing in the glee club, and supposedly Lisa can’t either, since everyone insists if Violet doesn’t sing, Jessie is the only other one who can, but Jessie gets a cold, then a few episodes later, Jessie is lead singer for Zack Attack, and Lisa is back up vocals. O.o

    Jessie’s Character is consistently inconsistent. She’s supposed to be all about quality and acitivism, yet consistently puts herself in situation that are against that. She refuses to strut around in a bathing suit for Miss Bayside competition, but in their music video is wearing a tight, provocative (for the time, and for her character) outfit. She also constantly makes assumptions. When Slater and Zack joke about sending the talent scout to the ladies’ locker room so they can audition, she acts offended, implying she automatically assumed the scout would be male, something that character wouldn’t do.

    Also, why does the School own The Max??

    Published 10.1.14
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