I know one common criticism levelled towards The New Class - the first season, in particular - was that everyone was basically a "clone" of the original class. I seem to be one of the very few people on the planet who isn't bothered by it. I actually thought it was kind of a neat concept, to be honest.

Season One
*The Most Similar*
Scott Erickson = Zack Morris
Barton "Weasel" Wyzell = Samual "Screech" Powers
Tommy DeLuca = AC Slater
Lindsay Warner = Kelly Kapowski
Megan Jones = Lisa Turtle/Jessie Spano
Vicki Needleman = no equivalent, though Jessie Spano comes closest

Season Two
*As Screech has been brought back, he doesn't have a student equivalent*
Brian Keller = Zack Morris
Tommy DeLuca = AC Slater
Bobby Wilson = new position
Lindsay Warner = Kelly Kapowski
Rachel Meyers = Vicki Needleman
Megan Jones = Lisa Turtle/Jessie Spano

Season Three
Ryan Parker = Zack Morris
Tommy DeLuca = AC Slater
RJ "Hollywood" Collins = Bobby Wilson
Lindsay Warner = Kelly Kapowski
Rachel Meyers = Vicki Needleman
Maria Lopez = sort of Jessie Spano, but without the feminism

Season Four
Ryan Parker = Zack Morris
Nicky Farina = AC Slater
Eric Little = Bobby Wilson
Katie Peterson = Kelly Kapowski, with Jessie's feminism
Rachel Meyers = Vicki Needleman
Maria Lopez = sort of Jessie Spano, but without the feminism

Season Five
Ryan Parker = Zack Morris
Nicky Farina = AC Slater
Eric Little = Bobby Wilson
Katie Peterson = Kelly Kapowski, with Jessie's feminism
Liz Miller = Vicki Needleman
Maria Lopez = sort of Jessie Spano, but without the feminism

Season Six/Seven
Tony Dillon = Zack Morris, but not as scheming as the others
Nicky Farina = AC Slater
Eric Little = Bobby Wilson
Katie Peterson = Kelly Kapowski, with Jessie's feminism
Liz Miller = Vicki Needleman
Maria Lopez = sort of Jessie Spano, but without the feminism

Is that about right, guys? I remember the particular episode where Maria was insistent on doing the Punch and Judy routine, and Katie was was the one to oppose it on the grounds of feminism. However, Maria seemed to be more similar to Jessie in the way of of being fiercely opinionated/outspoken.

right. i have been thinking about this myself

I've been thinking about this a little more - and it seems like, in the latter seasons, the producers have taken more pecautions to not make the student cast resemble the original one so much. Brian and Ryan were both sort of schemers, much like Scott and Zack were - and Tony really wasn't, so much. Also, Brian had his sights set on Rachel - so he was never a threat to the relationship with Tommy and Lindsay. When he was replaced with Ryan in the next season, though - then the relationship between Tommy and Lindsay was, once again, challenged. Ryan ended up being more successful than Scott ever was.

Of course, it's interesting to note that Scott, Ryan, and Tony were all transfer students from Valley High - even though Ryan had transfered with RJ and Maria. One thing I do like about The New Class is how they've finally addressed the Bayside/Valley rivalry issue. In the original class, it seemed like even Belding was caught up in the whole Bayside/Valley rivaly.

i agree. but ryan didnt challange lindsey and tomy. they broke up in season two.

i agree. but ryan didnt challange lindsey and tomy. they broke up in season two.

He didn't challenge their relationship since Tommy and Lindsay were already broken up. However, their relationship was the focus of the show again, seeing as Tommy wanted to get back together with Lindsay, but now he had a rival in Ryan for Lindsay's affections.

He didn't challenge their relationship since Tommy and Lindsay were already broken up. However, their relationship was the focus of the show again, seeing as Tommy wanted to get back together with Lindsay, but now he had a rival in Ryan for Lindsay's affections.

yea that didn't get to far. after the first episode of season three, u could pretty much tell that they weren't getting back together.

yea that didn't get to far. after the first episode of season three, u could pretty much tell that they weren't getting back together.

Yeah. It's funny the reason Tommy and Lindsay broke up was because he found another girl he liked. Yet, we never see that girl again.

I didn't like Ryan much in the third season, he seemed like some cocky jerk. But in seasons four and five, I liked him. It's also funny that Ryan had a different girlfriend each season. Season 3, he dated Lindsay. She was gone by the next season. In season 4, he dated Rachel. She was gone by the next season. In season 5, he dated Liz. He was gone by the next season, lol.

Even though Tommy was extremely dumbed down in the third season, that was probably my favorite version of him.

yea. hey i wonder y ryan dated rachel in the forth sean. i wonder if he was thinking: " oh man lindseys gone. wat to do next. hey racheals kinda cute ill go out with her" lol.

I guess both Lindsay and Rachel did seem to exhibit traits of Kelly. I like how they kind of lampshaded the very concept of Liz being Rachel's replacement. The rest of the gang was comparing Liz to Rachel, and Liz resented that. I guess Rachel was essentually Vicky's replacement, but she did make a guest appearance in the first season. I don't remember if there was any interaction between Rachel and Vicky, though.

so basicly its like a never ending trial of replacements. lol.

I was thinking that, by Season Three, there's probably a two grade-difference between the older and newer members of the cast. Maria Slater ended up staying on the show until the end (I think seasons six and seven are supposed to be the same year), while it was the last year for Lindsay Warner and Tommy DeLuca. That's the only season where we have members from the first season and members from the last season in the cast.

oh yea. i remember .

I was thinking that, by Season Three, there's probably a two grade-difference between the older and newer members of the cast. Maria Slater ended up staying on the show until the end (I think seasons six and seven are supposed to be the same year), while it was the last year for Lindsay Warner and Tommy DeLuca. That's the only season where we have members from the first season and members from the last season in the cast.

In the first season, the gang were sophomores. So at the end of the third season, Tommy and Lindsay should have graduated. Even though they left the show, the fourth season starts and Ryan is surprised that Lindsay isn't at Bayside anymore.

Maria was on the show for four seasons (3-6) and yet she was a transfer student from Valley, which means she wasn't a freshman when she started the show. If you go with the last season as two different seasons (6 & 7) then Maria was on the show for five seasons, lol.

We saw all four years of Rachel. Because she guest starred in a season 1 episode and then did the next three seasons, that means she was a freshman in the first season and a senior in the 4th season.

That's why I mentioned that I believed seasons six and seven to actually be the same year.

In the first season, the gang were sophomores. So at the end of the third season, Tommy and Lindsay should have graduated. Even though they left the show, the fourth season starts and Ryan is surprised that Lindsay isn't at Bayside anymore.

Maria was on the show for four seasons (3-6) and yet she was a transfer student from Valley, which means she wasn't a freshman when she started the show. If you go with the last season as two different seasons (6 & 7) then Maria was on the show for five seasons, lol.

We saw all four years of Rachel. Because she guest starred in a season 1 episode and then did the next three seasons, that means she was a freshman in the first season and a senior in the 4th season.

but they coudent of graduated. they left off on new years eve

lol... how can you guys keep up with all the cast changes?! That's one reason why I was never fond of The New Class.

But after seeing so many of you guys into it, I'm somewhat curious about it now. Too bad no one is playing it.

i kno. i have them all on dvd