Saved by the Bell behind the scenes

[hughpuppies]

Have you ever watched Saved By The Bell and wondered what went on behind the scenes? What was the cast like? What were their schedules? Is there any truth to the more than just friends rumors? All your questions and everything you have ever wanted to know about Bell is answered in this guide that takes you Behind The Scenes of Saved By The Bell.


Daily Life

The set of Bell was located in Hollywood, California at Gower-Sunset Studios. First thing in the morning the cast of Bell would arrive on set, park in their designated parking spots and start school. Elizabeth graduated in 1990 so she was exempt from school work. Below is a schedule of what the days for the cast of Bell would have been like.


Monday

8:00 - noon School
10:00 - noon Production meeting
noon - 1:00 Table reading
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 5:30 Rehearsal


Tuesday

8:00 - noon School
noon - 1:00 Rehearsal
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:30 Rehearsal
4:30 - 5:30 Net work and Producers run- through

Wednesday

8:00 - noon School
noon- 1:00 Rehearsal
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:30 Rehearsal
4:30 - 5:30 Producers run-through
5:30 - 6:30 Wardrobe fittings

Thursday

8:00 - 9:00 School
9:00 - 1:00 Camera Blocking
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch
2:00 - 4:30 Camera Blocking
4:45 - 6:30 Full tech run-through

Friday

8:00 - 9:30 School
9:30 - 10:30 Hair / Makeup
10:30 - 2:30 Blocking and Taping
2:30 - 3:30 Dinner and Notes
3:30 - 4:00 Loading of audience / Introduction of cast
4:00 - 6:30 Taping of show with audience

School

The teachers on the set of Bell work with instructors from the casts outside schools. The schools send exams and grades back and forth with the help of a fax machine. When the show is`nt taping the cast goes back to their home schools. What kind of students were they like? Mark-Paul and Mario worked hard in school but Dustin, just like on the show, was the "free spirit" class clown. He was very smart and would come up with cool examples to explain science. Things were always so great though. When one or two cast members fell behind in their studies, they were sent upstairs to producer Franco Bario`s office for a pep talk. While in High School, the cast had big plans for their future. Did you know Lark planned a career as a doctor? Tiffani planned to double major in mathmatics and psychology. Elizabeth was even accepted to UCLA.

Know - How

When you are apart of a hit TV show and still in high school there are a few more things you need to know beside History, English and Math. Here are a few terms the cast had to be familiar with in order to be apart of the team.

Terms 2 Know

Production Meeting -- This is the directors chance to go over the script with the crew.

Table Reading -- The actors gather around a table and read the script aloud for the first time. The writers listen to see which lines get laughs and which lines need them.

Network and Producers run-through -- The cast performs the show from begining to end . This is the first time everyone gets a chance to see the show acted out on the set. The actors are still reading from their scripts.

Camera Blocking -- Four man-sized cameras arrive on set every Thursday. As the actors go through the scenes, the camera operators note their own instructions on shot cards, white cards clipped to their cameras.

Full tech run -though -- This is like a dress rehearsal Mark-Paul, Lark, Tiffani and the other actors wear thier costumes - but no makeup. This gives the director and producers a chance to see how the wardrobe will come cross on your TV screen.



Relationships

Everyone in the cast of Bell was really friendly. They all had upbeat and outgoing personalities. The cast was really close. Things were`nt always so cheery though as Lark even admitted "We fight and we make up all the time." In the early days of Bell the gang would pull practical jokes on each other. Mark-Paul and Dustin would have huge water fights. One time Mark-Paul and a special effects expert, Chuck Hughes, rigged a practical joke on Tiffani when they lit up a gigantic poster of her. Towards the end of the show however, as the cast became more mature, the jokes died down. The cast was also close with the crew. Especially with Peter Engel. He once sat with them for two hours and talked with them about all of their cliques and crushes. The cast and crew would often get together on Saturday nights and enjoy barbecues and pool parties ar Peter Engel`s house.


Mark-Paul Gosselaar
On the set, Mark-Paul would often go off by himself and rehearse lines or gather his thoughts. Acting for Mark-Paul was an " Escape form reality." Mark-Paul got along best with Tiffani Thiessen. Out of all of his cast mates he spent the most time with her off set.

Tiffani Thiessen
One of Tiffani`s favorites back then included cuban food and her collection of stuffed pigs. She had a room filled with them. Some of Tiffani goals in High School was to beome a psychoanalyst or a mathematician. She loved to shop and even calledreferred to herself as a "clothes horse."

Mario Lopez
Just like Mario`s character Slater, Mario was the star of his wrestling team at Chula Vista High School. He attended school there while the show was on hiatus. He was know on set as "Mr. Dimples" for his killer smile. He had so much energy director Don Barnes once said " I`ve never seen him at a level below whoopeee!!"

Elizabeth Berkley
When Elizabeth first started on the show she was living in Michigan with her parents and little brother Jason. She flew so often between California and Michigan she knew the stewardesses by name. She may not have been in school but she took numerous dance classes including ballet, tap, and jazz.

Dustin Diamond
Just like on Bell, Dustin is a fun loving guy who loves a good adventure. On Saturdays Dustin used to enjoy visiting Disneyland to ride Space Mountain with his friends. They would call themselves "the Mag-Nuts." Their nicknames were Snaggle, Beans, Nugget and Dustin ..Fro. Believe it or not Dustin was so popular during the shows air, his nameplate that marked his parking spot was constnatly stolen. At that time, Dustin planned to "start producing, making movies when I`m nineteen or twenty."

Lark Voorhies
Lark was known for her upbeat spirit and faith in God. She was really close with her family including her Mother and Aunt who accompained her on set of the show. Her cousins included Trey, Barron, and Brittani. In Larks spare time she enjoyed writing poetry, gymanstics, and singing. Even with her popularity on the show, Lark still hung out with her childhood best friends. Unlike Mario, Lark only attended High School for two days before she landed her role on Bell. At the time of the show, Lark wanted to take time out of her busy schedule to research her roots and "go to the place of my orgins" Lark wanted to learn more about her ancestors.


The Crew

It takes a lot of behind the scenes work on behalf of crew members to produce an episode of Bell. There is a someone working with every department including wardrobe, props, special effects, music, props, special effects, music, electrical, carpentry, set design, etc. There are producers, directors, production assistants, asscociate directors, and most importantly Peter Engel. At the begining of each week producer Don Barnhart would lead a meeting with the crew and cast to discuss the weeks script, scene by scene. He goes over props to be needed, camera angels, costumes, and everything else specific.
Every detail from Screech`s shirt right down to the pencil Jessie writes with is discussed and approved by the producers before it is filmed. The weekly meeting also gives the cast some time to discuss any concerns they may have with the script and for the writer to hear how their scripts come across once the cast reads their characters lines off. The writers of the show make changes to the scripts right up to when it is time to film.
The Writers
Tom Tenowich
Jeffery Sachs
Bennett Tramer
Ron Solomon

Two of the writers, Brett Dewey and Ron Solomon started out on SBTB as assistants. They became writers on the show when they "pitched" an idea to the producers of the show. That is when someone gives an idea for a show in as few words as possible and if the producers like the idea, the writer is paid to develope it. Brett Dewey and Ron Solomon inspiration comes from their past high school expirences and the dumpster. " There was this dumpster. We used to go downstairs at NBC and pace around this dumpster." The writers focus on universal kid concerns when writing future episodes of Bell. Some of the main topics they tackled included grades, drivers ed, curfews, allowances, class, romances and those devastating crushes.

The Music Director
Scott Gale
Rich Eames

If you have ever wondered where a paticular song comes from when you are watching an episode of Bell chances are it is a creation by Scott Gale and Rich Eames. They are responsible for all of the music you have heard on the show.

Wardrobe Costume Designer
Liz

Everything from Zack`s preppy sweaters to Lisa`s trendy outfits are purchased by Liz. She is responsible for making sure the cast is always in style and dressed just right.

Two of the writers, Brett Dewey and Ron Solomon started out on SBTB as assistants. They became writers on the show when they "pitched" an idea to the producers of the show. That is when someone gives an idea for a show in as few words as possible and if the producers like the idea, the writer is paid to develope it. Brett Dewey and Ron Solomon inspiration comes from their past high school expirences and the dumpster. " There was this dumpster. We used to go downstairs at NBC and pace around this dumpster." The writers focus on universal kid concerns when writing future episodes of Bell. Some of the main topics they tackled included grades, drivers ed, curfews, allowances, class, romances and those devastating crushes.

The Music Director
Scott Gale
Rich Eames

If you have ever wondered where a paticular song comes from when you are watching an episode of Bell chances are it is a creation by Scott Gale and Rich Eames. They are responsible for all of the music you have heard on the show.

Wardrobe Costume Designer
Liz

Everything from Zack`s preppy sweaters to Lisa`s trendy outfits are purchased by Liz. She is responsible for making sure the cast is always in style and dressed just right.


Random Facts

You would think Dustin Diamond would be just as unlucky with girls as his character Screech but when Beth Cruise visited the set to write " Behind The Scenes at Saved By The Bell" Dustin was anything but.
Book Exert: Dustin loves performing in front of a live audience each Friday. He insists , " It helps to hear the babes out there, screaming for me, saying 'Dustin, you massive king-lord stud!' "
Is that why they are screaming? "Well" he says, " it`s usually, 'hey, are`nt you the dork?' But that`s all I hear: Stud."

-- Mario Lopez went to Chula Vista High School. For his senior prom he went on a double date with his sister.

--Even though Lark Voorhies character Lisa Turtle was the ultimate fashion diva, in real life, Lark preferred comfort over fashion.

--Lark Voorhies had a chiuhaha named Snushi.

-- Magazine Article Exert: Mark Paul Gosselaar -- "I was shocked the first time these girls were waiting for me after the show. I was wearing for me after the show. I was wearing a shirt, and by the time I was done it was like a dress. I mean, they were pulling on my shirt. I was laughing. You know, your adrenaline starts pumping and you`re thinking, 'Gosh, this is great.' I`ve signed shoes, money, hands, foreheads, anything and everything they can get their hands on."

--Magazine Article Exert: Mario Lopez -- " It`s funny, but most of my classmates in San Diego just know me as an athlete. Some of them don`t even know I`m an actor. Occasionally, somebody will say to me 'You know you look just like that guy on Saved By The Bell.' They really don`t know, some people don`t -- they don`t believe it`s me!"

-- Magazine Article Excert: Dustin (Screech) found that his parents were equally supportive of his early attempts at comedy. " When I was little I would go up to my bedroom, pull out all of my costumes and put them on. Then I would come downstairs dressed up like a weird half doctor, half zombie character and my folks would just crack up laghing!"

--Magazine Article Exert: Mario Lopez -- "In the begining, when we first started, they had us write down a list of all the things we could do. So far, I`ve gotten to wrestle on the show, I`ve gotten to dane quite a few times and I`ve gotten to play the druns, and those are all the things I can do!"

-- Mario Lopez once had hopes of competing in the 1992 olymipics in the event of wrestling.


All of this can be found at

http://www.geocities.com/themaxsbtbs...TheScenes.html

[Jokerette]

That was an awesome read! Thanks for sharing!

[barb1686]

I've noticed you post a lot of stuff from Carrie's website, The Max...so I thought I'd share the main address to the rest board. (I'm sure most of us have already been there anyways)

http://www.geocities.com/themaxsbtbsite/

[SBTBGoddess]

Yeah and if you want to read more about the Behind the Scenes, you can buy the book by Beth Cruise, from which Carrie got her info. from. You can find it on eBay and Amazon.com or Half.com at times.

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by SBTBGoddess
Yeah and if you want to read more about the Behind the Scenes, you can buy the book by Beth Cruise, from which Carrie got her info. from. You can find it on eBay and Amazon.com or Half.com at times.

Have you read it, and do you actually recommend it?

[SBTBGoddess]

Yes. I have read it. It's a must buy.

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by SBTBGoddess
Yes. I have read it. It's a must buy.

I think I am. It's out of print, but Amazon has few used copies.

[SBTBGoddess]

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
I think I am. It's out of print, but Amazon has few used copies.

Yeah. It's been out of print for a long time now. My copy is really old (but maintained well) I have had it since I was like 11 years old! LOL

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by SBTBGoddess
Yeah. It's been out of print for a long time now. My copy is really old (but maintained well) I have had it since I was like 11 years old! LOL

That's cool. I just attempted to purchase the entire book collection a few minutes ago, but it came over $100... I don't want to waste that kind of money on old books at this time! LOL.

[SBTBGoddess]

Yeah. That is a bit much. I started the collection as a kid. Then as I got older, I discovered ebay and amazon, so I slowly purchased little by little like that. Good luck!

[SBTB Geek]

Originally posted by SBTBGoddess
Yeah. That is a bit much. I started the collection as a kid. Then as I got older, I discovered ebay and amazon, so I slowly purchased little by little like that. Good luck!

That's great, but when I was younger, I was just into the show not it's merchandise. But now that I'm older, I was just want them as memorabillia.