"Pipe Dreams" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-02-2005, 12:28 AM

For those who haven't seen this particular episode from the third season I believe, the basic plot involves the discovery of oil in Bayside's football field. Mr. Belding believes that the oil would be a great opportunity for the school to expand.

Everybody with the exception of Jessie, who thinks that the oil would be dangerous to the environment, thinks the oil would be great for the school. So Jesse ask Zack to sign a petition to stop the drilling in favor of "alternative forms of energy."

They set up this plot devise so to speak of Zack bonding with a cute white duck named Becky. Naturally, when Becky goes back into her natural surroundings (i.e. the pond), there's an oil spill that kills Becky. Becky's death instantly changes Zack's opinion and now agree's with Jessie (and to a lesser extent, Kelly).

I was so offended by the "Pipe Dreams" episode for being so one-sided. The message that Peter Engel (the executive producer of "Saved by the bell"), NBC, and others seemed to be giving is that you must be an greedy and evil (since you don't care about the animals) person if you support big business and the industrialism. They protrayed the oil company head as this stereotypical Texas cowboy like figure.

I'm no expert on the oil industry, but I kind of find it hard to believe that professional oil drillers would be so careless with their planning and/or managing their equipment. You can't tell me that if this was reality, then the drillers would've been aware of Becky and the other animals being nearby (and thus have her moved to a different pond).

DukeDevils9192 · 06-05-2005, 05:57 PM

I understand where you're coming from. I believe the message, though, wasn't that oil companies are bad, it's that you have to take care of the environment and think about life before you think about money. Oil companies just happened to be the way the story went. It was meant to be exaggerated, I'm sure.

The Modfather · 07-13-2005, 03:08 PM

Dude... it's Saved by the Bell.

Adamantium · 07-15-2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Modfather

Dude... it's Saved by the Bell.

That's right. Everything in Saved by the Bell is stereotypical.

SBTB Geek · 07-16-2005, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVAdam

That's right. Everything in Saved by the Bell is stereotypical.

It really is, but I still love it.

spunkygirl · 07-16-2005, 02:10 AM

I can understand what you're saying, but let's not forget the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the late 80's. That killed lots of animals

oil companies are careless, and it is just a tv show

06-02-2005, 12:28 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	"Pipe Dreams" For those who haven't seen this particular episode from the third season I believe, the basic plot involves the discovery of oil in Bayside's football field. Mr. Belding believes that the oil would be a great opportunity for the school to expand. Everybody with the exception of Jessie, who thinks that the oil would be dangerous to the environment, thinks the oil would be great for the school. So Jesse ask Zack to sign a petition to stop the drilling in favor of "alternative forms of energy." They set up this plot devise so to speak of Zack bonding with a cute white duck named Becky. Naturally, when Becky goes back into her natural surroundings (i.e. the pond), there's an oil spill that kills Becky. Becky's death instantly changes Zack's opinion and now agree's with Jessie (and to a lesser extent, Kelly). I was so offended by the "Pipe Dreams" episode for being so one-sided. The message that Peter Engel (the executive producer of "Saved by the bell"), NBC, and others seemed to be giving is that you must be an greedy and evil (since you don't care about the animals) person if you support big business and the industrialism. They protrayed the oil company head as this stereotypical Texas cowboy like figure. I'm no expert on the oil industry, but I kind of find it hard to believe that professional oil drillers would be so careless with their planning and/or managing their equipment. You can't tell me that if this was reality, then the drillers would've been aware of Becky and the other animals being nearby (and thus have her moved to a different pond).

06-05-2005, 05:57 PM	#2
DukeDevils9192 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 287	I understand where you're coming from. I believe the message, though, wasn't that oil companies are bad, it's that you have to take care of the environment and think about life before you think about money. Oil companies just happened to be the way the story went. It was meant to be exaggerated, I'm sure.

07-13-2005, 03:08 PM	#3
The Modfather It Sure Does Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 12, 2003 Location: canada Posts: 21,149	Dude... it's Saved by the Bell.

07-16-2005, 02:10 AM	#6
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I can understand what you're saying, but let's not forget the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the late 80's. That killed lots of animals oil companies are careless, and it is just a tv show