Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Most Problematic "Saved by the Bell" Episodes: “There’s Things That You Just Would Not Film These Days”
by Armando Tinoco
Sept. 6, 2023


Mark-Paul Gosselaar is looking back at some of the storylines from "Saved by the Bell" and acknowledging how problematic they are with today’s context in mind.

The actor started a podcast with "Saved by the Bell" reboot writer Dashiell Driscoll where they rewatch old episodes of the teen sitcom. During an episode of Zack to the Future, Gosselaar said some of the episodes from the show were difficult to watch.




While making an appearance on Pod Meets World with Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle, Gosselaar opened up about the episodes that he found problematic looking back at them.

“In terms of storylines, there was a few,” he said on the podcast. “There was one where I was basically whoring out Lisa Turtle. I charged people to kiss her without her consent, that was a tough one.”

He continued, “We had to preface the [podcast] episode by saying, ‘We do not condone this, we’re just here to discuss it.’”




The other episode that irked Gosselaar was when his character Zack Morris appeared wearing a traditional Native American outfit.

“The other one was where Zack Morris claimed that he was Native American,” he added. “Seeing Zack Morris in a full headdress… That was one we had to be a little sensitive on, there’s things that you just would not film these days.”

https://deadline.com/2023/09/mark-paul-gosselaar-problematic-saved-by-the-bell-episodes-1235538437/

Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Most Problematic "Saved by the Bell" Episodes: “There’s Things That You Just Would Not Film These Days”
by Armando Tinoco
Sept. 6, 2023


Mark-Paul Gosselaar is looking back at some of the storylines from "Saved by the Bell" and acknowledging how problematic they are with today’s context in mind.

The actor started a podcast with "Saved by the Bell" reboot writer Dashiell Driscoll where they rewatch old episodes of the teen sitcom. During an episode of Zack to the Future, Gosselaar said some of the episodes from the show were difficult to watch.




While making an appearance on Pod Meets World with Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle, Gosselaar opened up about the episodes that he found problematic looking back at them.

“In terms of storylines, there was a few,” he said on the podcast. “There was one where I was basically whoring out Lisa Turtle. I charged people to kiss her without her consent, that was a tough one.”

He continued, “We had to preface the [podcast] episode by saying, ‘We do not condone this, we’re just here to discuss it.’”




The other episode that irked Gosselaar was when his character Zack Morris appeared wearing a traditional Native American outfit.

“The other one was where Zack Morris claimed that he was Native American,” he added. “Seeing Zack Morris in a full headdress… That was one we had to be a little sensitive on, there’s things that you just would not film these days.”

https://deadline.com/2023/09/mark-paul-gosselaar-problematic-saved-by-the-bell-episodes-1235538437/

Is this the episode that Mark-Paul is referring to (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/mark-paul-gosselaar-says-he-regrets-saved-by-the-bell-storyline-where-lark-voorhies-lisa-was-kissed-without-consent.5377335/)?

HsiyKPEGLtw

Only 2 episodes?

Gee, Zack was problematic in almost every episode. Didn't he and Screech take the video yearbook and plaster every girl's phone number over it then go to Valley High and sell them?

Another episode that I don't think has aged particularly well is the one where the outgoing school nurse, Butcher, incorrectly informs Jessie that she needs glasses. Just about everybody from Slater, Zack, Screech, and Lisa tell her that she looks ridiculous and like a grandmother with them. And of course, it turns out that Jessie doesn't need glasses at all.

The whole message just strikes me as ableist (https://www.google.com/search?q=Ableism+meaning&sca_esv=564592924&sxsrf=AB5stBiFE958xjLBrLLDRO8iiFV1p01u0w%3A1694497639504&ei=Z_v_ZI62HqWMwbkPsI6yyAc&ved=0ahUKEwjOhYDPr6SBAxUlRjABHTCHDHkQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=Ableism+meaning&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiD0FibGVpc20gbWVhbmluZzIOEAAYigUYsQMYgwEYkQIyBRAAGIAEMgYQABgHGB4yCBAAGAcYHhgPMgYQABgHGB4yBhAAGAcYHjIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMggQABgHGB4YDzIIEAAYBxgeGA9I5Q5QAFjQDHAAeAGQAQCYAeABoAH8BKoBBTAuMS4yuAEDyAEA-AEB-AECwgIHEAAYigUYQ8ICDRAAGIoFGLEDGIMBGEPCAgoQABiKBRixAxhD4gMEGAAgQYgGAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp). Maybe I'm personally offended, because I've had to wear glasses myself for over 15 years now due to my being diagnosed with astigmatism.

Plus, I personally don't see anything wrong with the idea of wanting to be attracted to the sight of women with glasses. It seems like back then, there was still a giant stigma that people who wear glasses, especially women must be nerdy or elderly. Heck, Elizabeth Berkley, wore glasses during her modeling photoshoot in the "Model Students" episode from that same season (https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204616/http://www.savedbythebellreviewed.com/category/all-saved-by-the-bell-episodes/saved-by-the-bell-season-2/), and I thought that she looked really beautiful.