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Where Are They Now? 7 Shocking Updates On The Saved By The Bell Cast After The Peacock Revival's Cancellation

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The iconic halls of Bayside High have officially gone silent once more. After two critically praised seasons, the *Saved by the Bell* revival series on Peacock was canceled in 2022, ending the latest chapter for the beloved 90s characters. The show, which cleverly blended meta-humor with modern social commentary—pitting the privileged Bayside students against a new group of low-income transfers from Douglas High—was a nostalgic hit, making its sudden cancellation a major shock to fans and critics alike. The final bell may have rung on the revival, but the original cast members are busier than ever, moving into new and surprising phases of their careers in 2025.

The legacy of *Saved by the Bell* remains one of the most enduring in television history, spawning multiple spin-offs, movies like *Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style* and *Saved by the Bell: The College Years*, and even a prequel show, *Good Morning, Miss Bliss*. Now, decades later, the stars who defined a generation of teen television are taking on roles ranging from dramatic villains to major TV hosts, proving that life after Bayside is anything but boring. Here is a deep dive into the most current and fresh updates on the *Saved by the Bell* cast as of December 2025.

The Bayside Six: Complete Biography and Current Projects (December 2025)

The core cast members of the original series have all found continued success in Hollywood, though their career paths have diverged dramatically since their days at Bayside High. Below are the essential details and the most recent career updates for each star.

  • Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack Morris):
    • Role: Zack Morris, the charming, fourth-wall-breaking schemer, who became the Governor of California in the revival.
    • Born: March 1, 1974, in Los Angeles, California.
    • Post-Bayside Career Highlights: *NYPD Blue*, *Franklin & Bash*, *The Passage*, *Mixed-ish*.
    • Current Project (2025 Update): Gosselaar is currently starring as the chilling antagonist "Sir" in the NBC drama series *Found*. The show was recently canceled by NBC but has a high-profile deal for its first season to move to Netflix in 2026, keeping his new, darker persona in the spotlight.
  • Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater):
    • Role: A.C. Slater, the jock and Zack’s best friend, who returned as a Bayside High gym teacher and guidance counselor in the revival.
    • Born: October 10, 1973, in San Diego, California.
    • Post-Bayside Career Highlights: *Pacific Blue*, *The Bold and the Beautiful*, *Dancing with the Stars* (Season 3), and extensive hosting work.
    • Current Project (2025 Update): Lopez remains one of the busiest hosts in television. He is the host of NBC's long-running entertainment news programs, *Access Hollywood* and *Access Daily*. Most recently, he was announced as the host for the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2025, cementing his status as a major television personality.
  • Elizabeth Berkley Lauren (Jessie Spano):
    • Role: Jessie Spano, the intelligent, feminist, and highly-driven student, who returned as Bayside’s guidance counselor in the revival.
    • Born: July 28, 1972, in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
    • Post-Bayside Career Highlights: *Showgirls*, *The First Wives Club*, *CSI: Miami*, and author of the self-help book *Ask Elizabeth*.
    • Current Project (2025 Update): Berkley Lauren is set to return to the drama world, starring in the highly anticipated Ryan Murphy Hulu legal drama series *All's Fair*, which is scheduled to premiere in November 2025. She also continues her work as a teen advocate.
  • Tiffani Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski):
    • Role: Kelly Kapowski, the popular head cheerleader and Zack's long-time love interest.
    • Born: January 23, 1974, in Long Beach, California.
    • Post-Bayside Career Highlights: *Beverly Hills, 90210* (as Valerie Malone), *White Collar*.
    • Current Project (2025 Update): Thiessen has successfully transitioned into a culinary and lifestyle personality. She is the author of two cookbooks and hosts the popular cooking show *Dinner at Tiffani's*, frequently sharing her passion for food and home cooking on her lifestyle website.
  • Lark Voorhies (Lisa Turtle):
    • Role: Lisa Turtle, the fashionable and wealthy student. She made guest appearances in the Peacock revival as a successful fashion designer.
    • Born: March 25, 1974, in Nashville, Tennessee.
    • Post-Bayside Career Highlights: *The Bold and the Beautiful*, *In the House*.
    • Current Project (2025 Update): Voorhies has focused on her health and personal life in recent years. She made a notable public appearance on *The Dr. Oz Show* in 2020 to discuss her diagnosis of schizoaffective thought disorder, and continues to be involved in celebrity speaking engagements.
  • Dustin Diamond (Samuel "Screech" Powers):
    • Role: Samuel "Screech" Powers, the lovable nerd and Zack's sidekick.
    • Born: January 7, 1977.
    • Passed Away: February 1, 2021, due to carcinoma.
    • Legacy: Diamond’s character was honored in a heartfelt tribute during the second season of the Peacock revival, where the original cast members shared their favorite Screech moments, acknowledging his indelible contribution to the show.

The Unexpected Brilliance of the Peacock Revival and Why It Was Canceled

When the *Saved by the Bell* revival premiered on Peacock in 2020, many expected a simple, nostalgia-driven cash grab. Instead, showrunner Tracey Wigfield delivered a surprisingly sharp, meta-aware comedy that earned critical acclaim, with some reviewers calling it a "clever reinvention" and even "one of the year's best TV shows."

The new series centered on Governor Zack Morris’s decision to close several low-income high schools, forcing students from the fictional Douglas High to transfer to the affluent Bayside High. This core conflict allowed the show to tackle modern issues like class disparity, white privilege, and education funding, all while maintaining the original’s lighthearted tone and signature meta-jokes. The returning cast, particularly Elizabeth Berkley Lauren as the perpetually stressed-out guidance counselor Jessie Spano and Mario Lopez as the endearing, slightly dim gym teacher A.C. Slater, were praised for their chemistry and commitment to the show's self-referential humor.

Despite the positive reviews and a strong showing in its first two seasons, Peacock canceled the series in 2022. While the streaming service never gave an official, detailed explanation, industry analysts pointed to a few key factors. The most prominent theory suggests the cancellation was a cost-saving measure, often referred to as the "Netflix playbook." Renewing a show for a third season typically involves significant salary renegotiations for the main cast and creative team, leading platforms to cut shows that haven't become massive, global hits to save on escalating production costs. For fans, this remains a disappointing end to a truly innovative sequel.

Deep Cuts: 5 Surprising Facts About the Original Saved by the Bell Series

Beyond the well-known episodes and the catchy theme song, the history of *Saved by the Bell* is filled with surprising behind-the-scenes secrets that add layers to the show’s legacy. These little-known facts highlight the show's unusual origins and the quick-fire decisions that shaped the series we remember.

1. The Show Started as a Disney Channel Series.

The original concept for *Saved by the Bell* was a show called *Good Morning, Miss Bliss*, which aired on the Disney Channel. It centered on a teacher, Miss Carrie Bliss (Hayley Mills), and featured Zack, Screech, Lisa, and Principal Belding. When NBC picked up the show, they completely retooled it, dropped the adult focus, moved the setting from Indianapolis to California's Bayside High, and brought in Kelly, Slater, and Jessie.

2. Slater Was Originally Written as an Italian-American Character.

Mario Lopez’s character, A.C. Slater, was initially conceived by the writers as an Italian-American, leather-jacket-wearing tough guy. When Lopez, who is of Mexican descent, was cast, the writers quickly changed the character's background to reflect his heritage, making him a military brat whose father was an Army Major.

3. The Role of Jessie Spano Was Created Specifically for Elizabeth Berkley.

Elizabeth Berkley originally auditioned for the role of Kelly Kapowski, but producers felt she wasn't the right fit. Instead of letting her go, they were so impressed by her talent and presence that they created the character of Jessie Spano—the intellectual and politically conscious foil to Kelly—just to keep her in the cast.

4. The Cast Members Were Often Older Than Their Characters.

While playing high schoolers, many of the actors were already in their late teens. Tiffani Thiessen, who played Kelly, was 15 when the show began, but Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack) was 16, and Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie) was 17. The age gap became more noticeable as the series progressed, especially during the *College Years* spin-off.

5. Zack Morris’s Iconic Blonde Hair Was a Dye Job.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is naturally a brunette. For the role of the quintessential California blonde heartthrob, Zack Morris, he had to dye his hair every two weeks throughout the show's entire run to maintain the character’s signature look. This dedication to his character's aesthetic is a classic piece of *Saved by the Bell* trivia.

The Undying Legacy of Bayside High

The cancellation of the Peacock revival marks the end of the *Saved by the Bell* universe’s most recent iteration, but it does little to diminish the show's cultural footprint. The original series, which aired from 1989 to 1993, remains a staple of syndicated television, introducing new generations to the antics of Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa, and Screech.

The show's success was built on its simple, optimistic portrayal of teenage life, tackling issues like drug use, drunk driving, and academic pressure in a digestible, albeit sometimes preachy, 90s sitcom format. The recent revival proved that the characters and the setting of Bayside High still resonate, offering a template for addressing complex modern topics through a nostalgic lens. While a third season of the revival is no longer on the cards, the continued high-profile careers of its stars—from Mario Lopez's hosting empire and Mark-Paul Gosselaar's dramatic shift to playing a villain, to Elizabeth Berkley Lauren’s return to prestige television—ensure that the Bayside legacy remains a vibrant part of pop culture history.

The story of the *Saved by the Bell* cast is one of successful transition: moving from teen idols to established actors, hosts, and authors. Fans will continue to follow their individual journeys, waiting for the next reunion or the inevitable reboot, proving that for this class, the bell never truly saves them from the spotlight.

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