Is 'SBTB' the High School Version of 'Friends'?

[TMC]

Check out these parallels:
http://sbtbnow.proboards.com/index.c...ay&thread=1101

First, both shows were comprised of 6 people: 3 guys & 3 girls. Actually, they are mirror images:

SBTB's Zack Morris vs. Friends' Chandler Bing:
Sarcastic comments are prevalent in both characters. They both are masters of witty one-liners and usually are the ones that come up with ideas for their own respective group.

SBTB's AC Slater vs. Friends' Joey Tribbiani:
The "muscle" of their groups, both these guys are "girl-getters" and are best friends with their wittier counterparts: Slater with Zack and Joey with Chandler.

SBTB's Screech Powers vs. Friends' Ross Geller:
These guys are the "brains" of the groups. They're also both love-stricken with the fashion-obsessed, spoiled princesses: Lisa & Rachel.

SBTB's Kelly Kapowski vs. Friends' Phoebe Buffay:
The proverbial "airheads" of the group: these girls are seen as spacey because Kelly is the head cheerleader and Phoebe... well, because she's Phoebe.

SBTB's Jessie Spano vs. Friends' Monica Geller-Bing:
These 2 characters are criticized by everyone else for being so uptight: Jessie because of her grades, and Monica because of her obsession with cleaning.

SBTB's Lisa Turtle vs. Friends' Rachel Green:
The "spoiled princesses" of their groups, both these girls, at one time or another, depended on their fathers to support them. Both are high school cheerleaders. Both are obsessed with fashion, as Lisa gets admitted to FIT, and Rachel lands a job with Bloomingdale's & Ralph Lauren.

The SBTB gang can always be seen hanging out at the Max, where Kelly used to work as a waitress. The Friends gang can be seen at Central Perk, where Rachel used to work as a waitress.

In SBTB, Mrs. Belding gives birth to a baby boy while trapped in an elevator. In Friends, Ross' ex-wife gives birth to a baby boy while Ross is trapped in a janitor's closet.

Slater gets upset at Zack & Screech for letting his pet lizard Artie die in SBTB. Ross gets upset with Rachel for letting his pet monkey out of the apartment in Friends.

Lisa is shocked when she finds out that the guy she's been dating is much younger than her (HS freshman). Monica is shocked when she finds out that the guy she's been dating is much younger than her (HS senior).

Both SBTB and Friends have episodes where their gangs play poker. The winning hand in each show: a full house.

In SBTB, Zack turns down a spot in a commercial when he finds out the star smokes pot. In Friends, Monica turns down a job in a restaurant when she finds out the owner smokes pot.

Slater tries to keep Zack from dating his sister, JC, on SBTB. Likewise, Phoebe tries to keep Joey from dating her sister, Ursula, on Friends.

When Zack gets "promoted" to principal of Bayside in SBTB, he has to face the school that doesn't like him. Same goes for Chandler when he gets promoted to a new job in Friends and his former co-workers don't like him.

Two cast members of SBTB date each other and eventually get married (Zack & Kelly). Same for Friends (Chandler & Monica).

Slater turns away from wrestling in one episode to concentrate on his cooking skills.
Monica turns away from her job at a diner to concentrate on a catering business, where she is ironically, the chef.

Trying to win the affections of the new girl, Zack & Slater punch each other out.
Trying to win the affections of Rachel, Ross & Joey punch each other out (actually Ross missed and hit a pole instead).

Zack makes a move on all 3 girls of SBTB (Kelly, obviously; Jessie, in the episode of the Rapping Snow White; Lisa, in the fashion show episode).
Joey makes a movie on all 3 girls of Friends (Rachel, after she moves in with him; Monica, in the pilot episode; Phoebe, when he thinks she's Ursula).

Ross entrusts Monica and Rachel to take care of his son Ben for a day.
Kelly entrusts Zack and Slater to take care of her brother Billy for a day.

A discussion erupts over who Kelly will take to the George Michael concert.
A discussion erupts over who is going to go to the Hootie & the Blowfish concert.

University Professor Lasky faces the possibility of losing his job when he dates a student (Kelly). University Professor Ross faces the same punishment when he dates a student.

Here is an interesting tidbit:
Friends started in 1994, the year after SBTB: The College Years ended. Both are NBC shows. Hmm.... Coincidence? You tell me.

[catlover79]

Interesting!! I've noticed some of those similarities over the years myself.

[Gemini_89]

Yeah, that's a very good observation OP, i also observed that the High School Musical movies are also a lot similar to Saved By The Bell:

The very annoying and boring "golden couple":

High School Musical: Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez

Saved By The Bell: Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski

Both Troy and Zack were the "pretty boys" in the group, loved sports, both of them are the most popular guy in the school.

Both Gabriella and Kelly were the girl next door type of girl "sweet heart".

The spoiled, rich "princess", charasmatic, fashion obsessed, shallow, pretty girl with attitude:

High School Musical: Sharpay Evans

Saved By The Bell: Lisa Turtle

The sweet "loser" who had a huge crush, idolized and worshipped the pretty spoiled rich princess, but was treated like dirt most of the time, not to mention that they had a SEVERE case of jungle fever! lol, :

High School Musical: Zeke Baylor

Saved By The Bell: Screech

The very intelligent, academic achieved but somewhat narrowminded and judgemental person who originally disliked the "jock/sports fanatic" but eventually caved in and started liking him/dating him:

High School Musical: Taylor McKessie

Saved By The Bell: Jessie Spano

The good-looking "Jock/sports fanatic" of the group who was best friends with the most popular guy in the school:

High School Musical: Chad Danforth

Saved By The Bell: A.C. Slater