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February 11th, 2000

A Close Study of Bayside School Dances

I watch way too much Saved by the Bell. In fact, I won’t leave the house in the morning until I’ve watched the 7:30 showing on TBS. What’s even more sad is that I edit the Saved by the Bell category for the Open Directory Project. I’m kind of a sucker for SbtB (as us “in the know” call it) and other similar productions (City Guys is quite good, too). So, here is the first in what will most likely be a series of analyses of Zack and crew.

One of the most pervasive themes in SbtB is the school dance (or dancing in one capacity or another). Here is each episode (numbered according to The Saved by the Bell Web episode list) that featured the dance theme.

8.7: Save the Last Dance for Me
Zack and Mikey fight over a girl and almost come to blows at a school dance.

9.2: “Dancing to the Max”
There is a dance contest held at the Max. This is especially notable because it stars Casey Kasem (in one of two appearances he made on the show) and Lisa invents her own dance based on her sprained ankle (extra points to anyone that can name the dance).

9.5: “Fatal Distraction”
Zack is trying to get Kelly to go to a school dance with him rather than Slater (though I don’t believe this episode actually had any dancing).

9.15: “The Zack Tapes”
Zack tries to use subliminal messages to get Kelly to go to the Sweetheart’s Dance with him.

10.1: “The Prom”
Kelly’s too poor to get a dress for the prom since her dad lost his job. Zack takes her to the dance, but they sit on an outside picnic bench.

10.5: “House Party”
The crew has a party at Screech’s house, which has a lot more dancing than any high school parties I ever went to.

11.1: “The Last Dance”
Zack and Kelly break up at the Costume Ball.

11.2: “The Aftermath”
Kelly’s Sweet 16, which, as with Screech’s party, has an awful lot of dancing.

11.5: “Fake ID’s”
The guys get fake IDs so that they can go to an 18+ dance club.

11.9: “Date Action”
To pay for cheerleading uniforms, the school holds an auction where girls can buy the guys as a date to a school dance.

11.12/13: “Palm Springs Weekend” (Parts 1/2)
Jessie’s dad’s wedding. Lots of dancing here.

11.15: “No Hope With Dope”
Superstar teen idol Johnny Dakota (?!) visits Bayside to film an anti-drug commerical. However, he holds a party with lots of drugs and, get this, dancing.

M.5: “Boss Lady”
The crew has to hold an anniversary party and a Sweet 16 party at the same time at the Malibu Sands beach club. The result: lots of crazy dancing, of course.

M.6: “The Last Weekend”
The summer’s last dance, featuring a young Denise Richards as a girl who’s hot for Slater.

12.9: “The Senior Prom”
Zack tries to get Kelly to go with him to their Senior Prom.

12t.1: “The New Girl”
Don’t even get me started on the weird chronology that happened during the “Tori Grade 12” when Kelly disappeared. Anyway, Lisa organizes the Fall Ball.

12t.3: “Masquerade Ball”
Features a great scene with Slater (an astronaut) unknowingly kissing Screech (Gumby).

12t.5: “Drinking and Driving”
Ox has a party that actually has alcohol, but people still dance!

12t.7: “The Will”
The boys and girls have a competition to see who gets money left to the school by an alumnus. The check is presented to the winners at a school dance. (thanks to Aaron for reminding me of this one)

12t.8: “Slater’s Sister”
There is a Sock Hop at the Max. This is the episode better known for Zack hitting on Slater’s younger sister (that actually looks like his older, white sister).

Have I missed any?

(if you think this Daily Ping is scary, wait until you see the next SbtB entry!) -ram

Posted in Television, Movies, and Music

Legrange August 31, 2006, 9:10 pm

Graham is the name of the guy Jesse falls for on cut day.

Zorch October 4, 2006, 5:51 pm

Trivia: What are the names of two kinds of chocolate treats that screach has on the senior cut day episode: Hint, Belding eats each variety.

Adam October 5, 2006, 1:55 am

Chocolate covered grasshoppers was one. The other I don’t recall. It was another insect. Beetle?

Legrange April 25, 2007, 9:07 pm

It was a caramel caterpillar

Adam April 27, 2007, 2:38 am

YES. I think that was it. Good call.

Desh July 21, 2007, 10:11 pm

Well… maybe it results incredible but, after i searched for years, i found “When It’s for you” in Complete Version!!!! (it’s the misterious song of Zack & Kelly’s Wedding) and i what to distribute it to whole Saved by the Bell fans… master _ pegasso (a) hot mail dot com

Legrange August 22, 2007, 9:35 pm

SBTB Trivia: What was the winning hand when Nerdstrom won Screech’s dog in the poker game?

Bonus: What was the dog’s name?

Allie-Oops September 18, 2007, 1:52 pm

Zach had 4 Queens, Nerdstrom had 4 Kings. Unfortunately, can’t remember the dogs name
I have a question- Did Tori Spelling provide the singing voice of Violet Bickerstaff in “The Glee Club” episode??
I’ve very curious! Thanks.
BTW, SBTB Rocks!

Adam November 16, 2007, 8:18 am

The dogs name was hounddog…in honor of Elvis whom Schreechs’ mom idolized….

Tori Spelling is known to have a good singing voice, no doubt it was her singing.

Jake January 30, 2008, 6:00 am

what kind of car did Mr. Beilding buy Mrs. Beilding for her birthday?

BONUS: What tapes did have for the stereo?

India February 9, 2008, 7:41 pm

well i love saved by the bell i watch it every morning b4 i go 2 skool and i watched it so much that my mom bought it 4 me 4 christmas so i have seasons 1 and 2 so i watch that b4 i go 2 bed every night. my favorite character is zack he is so cute. LOL!!!!

midwest December 4, 2008, 8:09 am

Shame they couldn’t play real music

Ogłoszenia March 14, 2011, 1:09 pm

I love saved by the bell. I wake up early enough each morning before school to catch the show from 6-7am. I enjoyed the college years, but I would have to agree that the new class sucks. It is an evil embarassment to the original masterpiece of a show

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