Jealousy, bullying, fights and raging hormones make up the behind the scenes on 90’s comedy “Saved by the Bell,” according to Lifetime’s upcoming television movie, “The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story.”
Premiering on Labor Day, Monday Sept. 1, at 9/8c, the movie shows what was probably really going down off-screen as our favorite Bayside crew tackled “Saved by the Bell’s” weekly caper on-screen.
TheWrap has the first look at the movie’s new teaser before it begins airing on TV. In it, we get a glimpse of the romantic triangle between Mario Lopez, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley; Dustin Diamond throwing punches and the various producers that have to keep the cast delivering the show’s episodes amid rampant drama.
See photos: Lifetime’s ‘Saved by The Bell’ Movie Cast: Who Are These People, Anyway?
From a script written by Ron McGee (“The Nine Lives of Chole King”), the TV movie follows the challenges of six young unknowns growing up under public scrutiny while trying to maintain the squeaky clean image of their popular characters both on and off-screen.
Robin Lippin, the same casting director from the original series, also oversaw casting on the movie.
In the end, Lippin chose Dylan Everett (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”) to play Mark-Paul Gosselaar/ “Zack Morris,” Sam Kindseth (“Shameless”) as Dustin Diamond/ “Screech,” Julian Works (“Paranormal Activity”) as Mario Lopez/ “A.C. Slater,” Alyssa Lynch (“The High Jumping Witch”) as Tiffani-Amber Thiessen/ “Kelly Kapowski,” Tiera Skovbye (“Supernatural”) as Elizabeth Berkley/ “Jessie Sapano,” and Taylor Russell McKenzie (“Blink”) as Lark Voorhies/ “Lisa Turtle.”
See video: ‘Saved by the Bell’ Kids Hate On Each Other in First Clip From Lifetime’s Unauthorized Movie
Produced by Front Street Pictures and Ringaling Productions Ltd., the movie is executive produced by Harvey Kahn (“Flowers in the Attic”) and Stephen Bulka (“Dear Mom, Love Cher“). Jason Lepeyre (“Restless Virgins”) directed the movie.
“Saved by the Bell” aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993. The half-hour comedy series followed the exploits of a group of friends and their principal at Bayside High School. It also birthed two spinoffs, “Saved by the Bell: The College Years,” which aired from 1993-94 and “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” which aired from 1993-2000.
Watch TheWrap’s first look at the unauthorized movie’s new teaser above.
