Everyone says Zack Morris has done heinous crimes. Now that there is a revival coming to Peacock, I decided to go over the old Saved by The Bell episodes (no Good Morning Miss Bliss and no College Years) and review his crimes, misdemeanors, or just plain unfriendliness.
Season 4 (Season 5 according to Hulu)
(order according to this link, not by TV airings or Hulu order)
Hawaiian Style
The gang goes to Hawaii to Kelly's grandfather's hotel and help run it as a rival chain is trying to muscle him out. Hijinks ensue.
Jailbait: No matter how old the lawyer Brian is, Kelly is still a teenager and I doubt Harry would hire a teen lawyer.
Lies: Lies and pranks with the gang to manipulate Belding and the principals out of the hotel to the Hideaway.
Actions: Exterminator impersonator, lying, stranding hotel guests in the ocean on a small boat, forging documents, forcing Mr. Belding to impersonate a professor and other schemes.
Bad Friend Meter: 1/10
[This TV movie was filmed after the graduation but aired before it, that's why the cast looks older here.]
[I split them up by episodes with Jessie and Kelly and others with Tori.]
5.1 The Fight
September 12, 1992
Zack and Slater's friendship is put to the test when they both fall for the same girl, creating a nasty love triangle. When the girl accepts separate dates with Zack and Slater, they crash each other's date with her, which leads to a brutal fistfight between the two in the school hallway. In a subplot; Lisa, as a senior, finds herself in an awkward situation when she finds out that her date for the Senior Kick-Off party is only a freshman.
Cheating: Giving answers to the new girl.
Lies: Hires an actress to be his mom and gets Screech to bother Slater at the movies as an usher.
Assessment: A bad friend to Slater.
Bad Friend Meter: 6/10
5.5 The Bayside Triangle
September 26, 1992
Zack helps Lisa put on a fashion show to impress a visiting recruiter from FIT, the fashion school in which Lisa is interested after graduation. However, Zack and Lisa soon start to fall for each other after they share a passionate kiss at Lisa's house, where Zack was trying on an outfit Lisa designed.
Zack helps Lisa put on a fashion show to impress a visiting recruiter from FIT, the fashion school in which Lisa is interested after graduation. However, Zack and Lisa soon start to fall for each other after they share a passionate kiss at Lisa's house, where Zack was trying on an outfit Lisa designed.
Good friend Meter: He vouches for Screech and encourages him to go after Lisa
Assessment: He hurts Screech's feelings inadvertently. Zack is willing to give up Lisa for Screech.
Bad Friend Meter: 3/10
[Zack is pretty much the Black Widow of Saved By The Bell. Mark-Paul and Lark were actually in a real relationship for the majority of the series.]
5.3 Screech’s Spaghetti Sauce
September 19, 1992
After introducing the gang to his grandmother's spaghetti sauce, which they go onto sell, Screech begins to date Robin (Soleil Moon Frye), a rich and pretty girl at school. However, the gang discovers what Robin is really up to, and to make matters worse, they also discover that Screech's grandmother got her spaghetti sauce recipe from a cookbook, forcing them to stop their business.
After introducing the gang to his grandmother's spaghetti sauce, which they go onto sell, Screech begins to date Robin (Soleil Moon Frye), a rich and pretty girl at school. However, the gang discovers what Robin is really up to, and to make matters worse, they also discover that Screech's grandmother got her spaghetti sauce recipe from a cookbook, forcing them to stop their business.
Lying and stealing: Zack steals beakers and other school recipes worth $1500 to sell the sauce.
Impersonation: Impersonating a buyer of the sauce
Bad Friend Meter: 5/10
5.9 Wrestling With The Future
October 10, 1992
Slater and his dad argue over whether he should join a military academy or go to college, and Jessie fears for her college chances after becoming a cheerleader.
Impersonating Slater and bribery: In order to blow his interview--which gets them detained by the government
Assessment: He did it for Slater.
Bad Friend Meter: 4/10
5.2 Student-Teacher Week
September 12, 1992
The gang switches roles with the teachers during Student-Teacher week with Zack acting as principal, and Kelly as a history teacher. However, things go wrong when Zack is caught in the middle between Kelly and Slater and must decide what the right thing to do is.
The gang switches roles with the teachers during Student-Teacher week with Zack acting as principal, and Kelly as a history teacher. However, things go wrong when Zack is caught in the middle between Kelly and Slater and must decide what the right thing to do is.
Manipulating: Manipulates Kelly into canceling a test
Gambling: Bet on a game
Bad Friend Meter: 3/10
5.12 Isn’t It Romantic?
October 24, 1992
It is Valentine's Day and the gang reminisces about past romances through clips from past episodes.
Assessment: no schemes, just clips, and kisses.
Bad Friend Meter: 0/10
5.17 The Senior Prom
November 7, 1992
The senior prom is coming up and the gang needs to raise money in order for it to happen. However, things go wrong when Zack finds out that Kelly has a date to the prom and sabotages it by telling her would-be date Matt that her family is violent to her boyfriends, thereby scaring her date away. This is also the rare episode where Lisa asks Screech to the prom.
The senior prom is coming up and the gang needs to raise money in order for it to happen. However, things go wrong when Zack finds out that Kelly has a date to the prom and sabotages it by telling her would-be date Matt that her family is violent to her boyfriends, thereby scaring her date away. This is also the rare episode where Lisa asks Screech to the prom.
Lying: Zack tells her would-be date (Andrew Bowen) lies.
Assessment: Lying to her would-be date is pretty bad.
Bad Friend Meter: 7/10
5.15 The Teacher’s Strike
October 31, 1992
The gang hurts their chances of winning the academic championship after causing a teacher's strike so they can go on a ski trip.
Schemes: Zack and Slater trick Belding to record something for an interview which he uses against the teachers to do the strike. Makes Lisa, Jessie, and Slater mad there is no academic bowl.
Other Scheme: Slater tricks the Valley team by telling them to concentrate on football.
[Kelly is not present for this episode so that's why Jessie is working at the Max.]
Bad Friend Meter: 6/10
5.4 The New Girl
September 19, 1992
A new student, a biker girl named Tori (Leanna Creel), is paired with Zack for a school project, but Zack and Tori do not exactly hit it off well at first.
A new student, a biker girl named Tori (Leanna Creel), is paired with Zack for a school project, but Zack and Tori do not exactly hit it off well at first.
Whining: Upset that Tori has taken his space when student parking spaces aren't enforced.
Bad Team collaboration: Zack and Tori don't get along as a team.
Assessment: He is a jerk to Tori for pretty much the whole episode.
Bad Friend Meter: 5/10
5.6 Teen-Line
September 26, 1992
After participating in a teen hot-line for the senior class, Zack becomes close to a disabled girl Melissa. Meanwhile, Screech has to take on a rambunctious boy.
After participating in a teen hot-line for the senior class, Zack becomes close to a disabled girl Melissa. Meanwhile, Screech has to take on a rambunctious boy.
Bad advice: Zack gives bad advice to Melissa to turn back the clock at home. Also reacts badly to Melissa being handicapable. "Even though she is handicap" comes up.
Doesn't follow rules: Supposed to not ask for personal info but meets Melissa.
Assessment: Tori says it perfectly when she says, "She rather be your friend than your cause."
Bad Friend Meter: 5/10
5.16 Slater’s Sister
October 31, 1992
Zack falls for Slater's sister, but when Slater finds out, he cannot bear his sister being on the receiving end of Zack's womanizing and tries to break them up.
Zack falls for Slater's sister, but when Slater finds out, he cannot bear his sister being on the receiving end of Zack's womanizing and tries to break them up.
[Ginger is pretty much the 6th member as she is every of the Tori episodes and even works for the Max.]
Assessment: Dating JB does make AC upset since they are friends.
Bad Friend Meter: 4/10
5.7 Masquerade Ball
October 3, 1992
The masquerade ball is approaching and Zack and Slater both plan to kiss Tori, but she finds out and refuses to see either one. At the ball, Zack reveals that he wanted to lose the bet because he could not bear hurting Tori.
The masquerade ball is approaching and Zack and Slater both plan to kiss Tori, but she finds out and refuses to see either one. At the ball, Zack reveals that he wanted to lose the bet because he could not bear hurting Tori.
Betting: Zack and Slater beat on who will kiss Tori first. He doesn't want to kiss her when he discovers he likes her.
Bad Friend Meter: 5/10
5.10 Drinking and Driving
October 10, 1992
After getting drunk at a party and crashing Lisa's mother's car on the way home, Zack and the gang learn the worst thing about drinking and driving: having to face the music from their enraged parents.
After getting drunk at a party and crashing Lisa's mother's car on the way home, Zack and the gang learn the worst thing about drinking and driving: having to face the music from their enraged parents.
Crime: DUI, underage drinking
Scams: Charges per letter on Slater's jersey to fix the car
Lies: Lies to Lisa's mom and his dad about the car, Lisa does the same, they both get in trouble
Bad Friend Meter: 8/10
5.21 Earthquake!
November 21, 1992
Tori, Zack, and Mrs. Belding get stuck in an elevator during an earthquake, but things get worse when Mr. Belding's wife goes into labor.
Gambling: Betting when will Belding's baby be born
Bad Friend Meter: 2/10
5.14 The Will
October 24, 1992
A favorite student dies and leaves $10,000 in his will resulting in the guys and the girls fighting over who should get the money.
A favorite student dies and leaves $10,000 in his will resulting in the guys and the girls fighting over who should get the money.
Jerk: Slater and Zack say girl's sports shouldn't get the money and form the boys team to go against the girl's team in a battle of the sexes.
Cheating: Exchanges oven nobs to girl's team for them to lose. He and Slater later admit the team.
Bad Friend Meter: 6/10
5.11 Class Rings
October 17, 1992
Zack is tricked into buying fake rings by a salesman after he is appointed to buy them for everyone in the graduating class. In the end, the salesman gets Zack and Slater the real rings after Screech confronts him.
Zack is tricked into buying fake rings by a salesman after he is appointed to buy them for everyone in the graduating class. In the end, the salesman gets Zack and Slater the real rings after Screech confronts him.
Scams: Gets rings from a bad salesman
Lies: Lies to Screech that he has a broken heart about Tori.
Assessment: Not his fault the rings were faulty.
Bad Friend Meter: 4/10
5.24 School Song
November 22, 1992
The gang begins to compete against one another when Bayside holds a contest for who can write the best school song. Zack decides he wants to be remembered for something positive and so begins to sabotage everyone else so that he can win, but later regrets it.
Sabotages: Sabotages the other guys' songs.
Bad Friend Meter: 7/10
5.8 Day of Detention
October 3, 1992
In order to win a trip to Hawaii, Zack needs to get out of detention, but in an attempt to get him out, everyone else ends up in detention as well.
In order to win a trip to Hawaii, Zack needs to get out of detention, but in an attempt to get him out, everyone else ends up in detention as well.
Lies: Lies to his friends for them to help him.
Crimes: Rigging of phone lines
Authority Defiance: Skipping school
Bad Friend Meter: 4/10
5.26 Graduation
May 22, 1993
With graduation day approaching, Zack discovers he needs to gain one more credit to graduate. This results in Zack having to be in dance class and perform in the ballet to get his last credit. However, she soon realizes how much valedictorian really means to Screech when Lisa wisely tells her that he puts others before him.
Lies: He paid Big Pete to bow out of the ballet. He lies to Mr. Belding that he can dance.
Bad Friend Meter: 2/10
[This was shot before the Tori episodes and Hawaii movie.]
5.25 The Time Capsule
December 5, 1992
In 2003, the latest class finds a time capsule on video, so Belding plays it for them. They discover that it's footage of Zack and the old gang with highlights of the ups and downs they went through (through clips from past episodes).
In 2003, the latest class finds a time capsule on video, so Belding plays it for them. They discover that it's footage of Zack and the old gang with highlights of the ups and downs they went through (through clips from past episodes).
Bad Friend Meter: Zack only appears in clips.
Season Meter: 81/100
This season crimes include skipping school, rigging phone lines, lying, cheating, stealing, bribery, impersonation, manipulations, and scheming for teachers to strike so he could go skiing.
Overall Series Assessment:
His most heinous crimes would be pimping out Lisa to receive unwanted kisses for money, selling tapes of girls with their numbers without permission, taking pictures of the swim team, and selling as a calendar without permission and stealing the Principal's car and endangering the lives of two students. Apparently, his good deeds to outnumber his bad ones.
