I’ve been a VelociCoaster stan at Universal since Day 1, and I really mean Day 1, as I was there for the opening of the Jurassic World-themed ride at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. It’s still my favorite stop anytime I am in the parks, and I was very happy to see the ride earn the title of Best Coaster four years in a row. However, until recently I had no clue how challenging building the coaster in the park was. But it was insane.

In fact, I don't think there's another adjective to really encompass all of the random stuff the engineers and creatives had to work through.

If you’ve been to Islands of Adventure, you’ll know the coaster is a notable feature in the center of the park, bridging the gap between Jurassic Park and Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade. Parts of the ride plummet riders over “a body of water bordering the site,” and the coaster had exactly zero access to backstage areas of the park while it was being built. Which is precisely why it was so troublesome getting all of the pieces in place. Engineers had to make moves and solve problems while parkgoers were literally in the theme park, just on the other side of a flimsy construction wall.

Mario Lopez interviewed a bunch of the creatives and engineers involved with the coaster as it was coming together (and before Access Hollywood got canceled), and spoke with one engineer, Phil, who explained why building it was so much more “difficult” than expected.

As noted though, the water features, including "driving piles into the lagoon," the lack of backstage access and getting the thousands of coaster pieces into place, the fact that visitors could see a lot of what was going on, and the safety component with building in the middle of the theme park led to lots of additional problems to figure out.

At the end of the day, the ride is cool, and not only because of its infamous barrel roll, which plunges you upside down with no shoulder harness over the lagoon water. It also has excellent theming, complete with 22 raptors – and some animatronic ones – strewn throughout the ride and queue. Many coaster fans dream of one day being a part of a rollback on this one. The fandom is real.

Yet, it’s especially awesome because of how the ride went vertical in the middle of an open theme park. Parkgoers essentially got to be a part of the build as it got closer and closer to the sky. There were a lot of logistics this ride faced others have not, simply because the accessibility piece was so much harder. It makes the coaster all the more impressive in retrospect.

Of course, there were lots of jokes about whether or not Universal was building a coaster or a “churro stand” at the time, but the end result was a dominant ride we’re still talking about five years later. Even with the addition of Stardust Racers at Epic and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot, I think the VelociCoaster is the superior ride, and I’m happy the team was able to work through the challenges to bring the JWorld coaster to life. It only came because of some blood, sweat and engineers, though.

Network and cable TV is slowly offering fewer original options, as longtime news hosts shift to streaming platforms, and sometimes even podcasts as a way of connecting with audiences. This has meant that audiences are increasingly segmented and the water cooler is going by the wayside, and it’s also meant that even old standbys like Access Hollywood are not immune to the changes coming down the pipeline. News broke the show was canceled last week, which is why I was surprised to see Mario Lopez at my favorite theme park Universal Orlando this week.

So, what’s going on?

Why Is Mario Lopez Still Filming For Access Hollywood At Universal?

I’ve been following Mario Lopez all week, and he donned Universal Orlando uniforms and sat behind a desk with the most scenic theme park views. In his spare time, he took his kids on rides, and has seemed to have a blast in the still-new theme park Epic Universe. But it had me wondering what was even happening, as I was on the interwebs last week when news broke NBC Universal was cancelling Access Hollywood, Access Live, Karamo and Steve Wilkos.

However, I apparently didn’t read the fine print, because while the latter two shows have already wrapped their respective runs, the company is giving the Access shows a bit more runway. So, the cancellation isn’t an immediate thing.

Instead, the program is going to continue filming for the 2026 TV schedule through this summer before ultimately wrapping up on what will doubtless be a sentimental goodbye. The changes were made reportedly to “better align with local network preferences,” and even once newer episodes aren’t being produced, the library will be maintained with Universal’s existing programming, with one head honcho noting (via THR):

So in some ways, this Universal Orlando week was a bit of a last hurrah, and Lopez and co. looked like they were having a blast.

As a longtime host, I’ll be really interested to see what Lopez specifically does next. The former actor has been extremely nimble throughout his career, obviously going from Saved By The Bell to growing his profile by being an on-camera personality interviewing other big celebrity names. In fact, he once famously told a story about getting asked to interview Ben Affleck without seeing his new movie and vowed to never do it again, and is usually an extremely charming and well-researched TV personality. I already thought that pivot was incredible, maybe minus the Affleck blip, and I’m interested to see what’s next for him.

Still, I’m glad he and his family got to check out all of the awesome rides at Epic Universe before his partnership with NBC Universal (which also owns Universal Orlando) reaches the end of its chapter. NBC Universal owns Access Hollywood, and it's good to get one last synergetic week in.

There is a web series from Funny or Die called Zack Morris is Trash, which is dedicated to exposing Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s Saved by the Bell fourth-wall-breaking character for the selfish, conniving, and time-freezing menace that he is. However, he is not all bad.

In fact, he and the rest of his close-knit group of friends at Bayside High School – namely Kelly Kapowski (Tiffany Thiessen), A.C. Slater (Mario Lopez), Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley), Samuel “Screech” Powers (the late Dustin Diamond), and Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies) – have been known to defy expectations with the occasional mature decision on the beloved TV sitcom. See for yourself by revisiting some of the Saved by the Bell cast’s proudest moments.

Zack Chooses Jessie As His Dance Contest Partner

In the first episode of Saved by the Bell, "Dancing to the Max," Zack enlists Jessie's help to teach him how to dance for an upcoming competition so he can impress Kelly enough to be her partner. However, he decides to team up with Jessie after learning she was going to refrain from entering the contest since she is taller than most other men who want to partner with her and is afraid of getting made fun of. Kelly ends up partnering with Slater, but it is Screech and Lisa's original dance they call "The Sprain," that wins.

The Gang Shoots Its Own Anti-Drug PSA

In one of Saved by the Bell's many "very special episodes," "No Hope with Dope," the gang is at first excited to shoot an ad promoting a drug-free lifestyle with a famous actor, until they discover he is a user. Instead, Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) calls upon the help of a friend who works as a news anchor to help them shoot their own PSA.

Zack And Tori Deliver Mrs. Belding's Baby

In the Season 4 Saved by the Bell episode, "Earthquake!," the eponymous natural disaster breaks out at Bayside, causing Zack and Tori (Leanna Creel) to become trapped in an elevator with Mr. Belding's pregnant wife, Becky (Louan Gideon). When she starts to go into labor, it is up to Zack and Tori to help deliver the boy, who, as revealed in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, ends up being named Zack.

The Gang Tries To Save The Max

In "Save the Max," Mr. Belding relaunches the KKTY radio station, which the gang starts to work at in various on-air positions. When they discover that The Max might be going out of business, they use their radio program to help raise funds and keep the lights on at their favorite hangout spot.

Zack Creates A Private Prom For Him And Kelly

One of the most memorable and endearing couples in '90s TV history is Zack and Kelly, and an essential Saved by the Bell moment that spells out why comes from the Season 2 premiere episode, "The Prom." When Kelly is unable to go to the dance due to money troubles, her date, Zack, sets up their own celebration right outside the school, complete with a special meal and a slow dance that results in a tender kiss.

The Gang Put Friendship Over Business

In Season 1's "The Friendship Business," the gang's business class divides them into two different groups with the intention of becoming the most successful amateur entrepreneurs. The competitive nature of the project almost tears the friends apart until they learn to put their beef behind them and become partners instead.

Zack Helps Kelly Win Homecoming Queen

In "Cream for a Day," Zack comes close to ruining Kelly's chances of achieving her dream of being crowned Homecoming Queen, just like her mother, when he sells her a miracle acne product that, initially unbeknownst to him, temporarily turns the user's face maroon. However, that turns out to be one of the school's colors, giving him the idea to explain her complexion as a case of school spirit.

Screech Gives Up Being Valedictorian

In the Saved by the Bell series finale, "Graduation," Mr. Belding reveals that Bayside's valedictorian is Screech, who refuses to accept the honor, knowing that it is more important to Jessie. After learning her friend gave up the title for her, she finds a way to show her appreciation for him at the ceremony.

Zack Helps Jessie Get Off Caffeine Pills

One of the most famous "very special episodes" of Saved by the Bell is "Jessie's Song," in which Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills (which was originally speed in the script) in an attempt to juggle her many priorities. However, when Zack discovers her addiction, he not only refuses to let her take another pill but also refuses to let her sing for a special performance that could have potentially earned the gang a record deal. He put her health before his own success.

The Gang Helps A Homeless Family Around Christmas

In Saved by the Bell's two-part holiday episode, "Home for Christmas," Zack discovers that a girl working at the local department store, Laura, is the daughter of a homeless man he previously met. After Laura accidentally loses her job, Zack and the gang persuade her boss to give her a second chance, and he and his mother allow her and her father to stay with them until he can find a job.

The Gang Tries To Rescue Pond Animals

In Season 3's "Pipe Dreams," an oil spill breaks out on the Bayside campus, prompting Zack, Slater, and Screech to try to rescue the pond animals they adopted for a class project from the pollution. Unfortunately, they are too late, and Becky, a duck whom Zack had grown fond of, tragically passes away.

Zack Defends Screech From A Bully

At times, it seems unlikely that Zack and Screech would be such good friends, but it makes sense when you learn they have been tight since the characters originated in the precursor to Saved by the Bell, Good Morning, Miss Bliss. One episode of that Disney Channel sitcom saw Screech tormented by a merciless bully, and one of the few classmates who steps in to stand up for him is none other than Zack Morris.

The Gang Helps Zack Graduate

Just as Zack is about the graduate, Mr. Belding reluctantly informs him that he is one credit off and will have to go to summer school. Luckily, he comes up with a plan to get the gang to help him perform in Bayside's production of a ballet called Swan Pond, which ends up counting for the one credit he needs.

Zack Accepts Kelly's Feelings For Jeff

Zack and Kelly's romance eventually results in wedding bells, but there was a time when their relationship hit a snag in Season 3's "The Last Dance." After discovering that Kelly has developed feelings for her boss at the Max, Jeff (Patrick Muldoon), he maturely decides that it is best for them to break up.

Zack Helps With Lisa's Financial Troubles

An early Season 1 episode of Saved by the Bell sees Lisa overwhelmed after she racks up an unforgivably huge bill on her father's credit card by buying items that prove non-returnable. Coming to her rescue is Zack, who whips up a variety of ideas to help pay the difference, including selling off her clothes.

Slater Saves Zack And Kelly's Wedding

Before the Saved by the Bell franchise was revived in 2020 with Peacock's reboot, it came to a close (not counting Saved by the Bell: The New Class) with the 1994 special, Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. In it, Zack and Kelly decide to marry in Sin City and come close to tying the knot in a cheap wedding venue before Zack's parents suddenly appear and promise to help pay for a proper ceremony. Their dream nuptials would have never happened, however, if Slater had not called Zack's parents.

Zack Gets Nikki To Accept Her Love For Baseball

Not all of the characters from Good Morning, Miss Bliss returned for Saved by the Bell, such as Nikki (Heather Hopper), who was the central focus in the B-plot of an episode called "The Mentor." In it, Nikki is encouraged by Lisa to embrace her more traditionally feminine side when boys start making fun of her for being a talented baseball pitcher. However, Zack ends up being the one to encourage her to follow her passions and be herself.

The Gang Shows Their Appreciation For Mr. Belding

In Season 2's "The Fabulous Belding Boys," the gang meets Mr. Belding's brother, Rod (Edward Blatchford), who fills in as their substitute history teacher and immediately earns their admiration, much to the principal's dismay. However, after Zack discovers that Rod was planning to bail on the class' planned camping trip, he and the gang come to realize that they have the better Belding to spend it with.

The Guys Warn Kelly About Her Boyfriend's Infidelity

While the Season 3 episode "Fake I.D.s" begins with Zack, Screech, and Slater indulging in a troublesome act by faking their way into an 18-and-over club called The Attic, it leads to a heroic act on their part. The gentlemen spot Kelly's current beau, Jeff, mingling with another woman, prompting them to rat him out to their friend. This is an especially mature act for Zack, considering Jeff is the one who caused his break-up with Kelly.

The Gang Pulls A Fast One On A Con Artist

In Season 4's "Class Rings," Zack is put in charge of buying his graduating class' commemorative jewelry and believes he has found a great deal through a jeweler aptly named Gem Diamond (Gary Beach). However, when Zack and the gang discover he sold them phony merchandise, they decide to give him a taste of his own medicine and coerce him into giving them authentic rings.

Zack Dances With Wendy

In Season 3's "Date Auction," a plus-size student named Wendy (Judy Carmen) wins a date with Zack, who tries every trick he can think of to get out of it because of her looks. However, he eventually comes to realize how unfairly he was treating this young woman and, at a school dance, shares the last dance of the night with her.

Zack And Jessie Help Kristy Join The Wrestling Team

In a Saved by the Bell episode similar to the Good Morning, Miss Bliss episode involving Nikki's baseball career, a student named Kristy wants to be on Bayside's wrestling team, but is rejected for being a woman. Defending her honor are Zack and Jessie, who campaign for her ability to join her athletic team of choice regardless of her gender.

Zack Flips The Script So Jessie And Slater Can Kiss During A Play

In a Season 4 episode that I imagine Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda would enjoy, Bayside puts on a show reimagining a classic fairytale as a hip-hop-infused musical called Snow White and the Seven Dorks, for which Jessie, in the lead role, is meant to kiss Zack's royal character. After this causes Kelly and Slater to grow jealous, Zack decides to change the ending so that Jessie gets to kiss her beau, Slater, instead.

Zack Gives Screech The Chance To Win An Athletic Competition

In Season 2, Zack tries to get out of detention by joining a high school military program called the California Cadet Corps, which he quickly comes to regret. After forming an agreement with Lt. Chet Adams (Cylk Cozart) that he can leave scot-free if he wins an athletic tournament, Zack gives his geeky good friend Screech the chance to earn their team the gold, and the decision proves victorious.

Zack Drops His Class President Campaign For Jessie

In Season 1's "The Election," Jessie initially runs for class president unopposed before Zack shows interest in running, but only because the winner also gets a cross-country trip. However, he eventually comes to realize that the position and the power to improve life at school genuinely mean a lot to Jessie, inspiring him to step down from the race.

Screech Helps Violet Sing

Screech had a crush on Lisa that dated all the way back to the Good Morning, Miss Bliss days, but there was a time when Saved by the Bell gave him a different love interest in the form of Violet (Tori Spelling). In Season 2's "Glee Club," she has trouble finding the confidence to sing until Screech helps her.

Zack Votes For Kelly In The Malibu Sands Beauty Pageant

In "Fourth of July," an episode from Saved by the Bell's Malibu Sands story arc, Zack is appointed to be a judge for the resort's annual beauty pageant and his boss, Leon Carosi (Ernie Sabella), urges him to rig the event in favor of his daughter, Stacey (Leah Remini), whom Zack is also dating at the time. However, Zack also knows that Kelly is truly deserving of the title, and is in desperate need of the prize money that comes with it, inspiring him to follow his heart and vote fairly for his friend.

Zack Chooses His Friends And Bandmates Over Solo Success

Season 3's "Rockumentary," which features Casey Kasem in his second appearance on the show, is framed as a Behind the Music-style telling of how the gang's band, Zack Attack, acquires fame, but almost costs them their friendship when Zack is given the chance to fly solo. Of course, in the end, Zack chooses to be, reflecting the title of their signature song, "Friends Forever" with the gang... right before the episode is revealed to be a dream sequence. Still, a fantasy in which Zack chooses others over himself counts for something.

Zack Babysits Kelly's Baby Brother

Years before Zack raised a family with Kelly, Peacock's Saved by the Bell reboot introduces their son, Mac Morris (Mitchell Hoog) – he got some early practice in the original series with her infant brother. He turns out to be such a good babysitter that the baby's first word is "Zack."

Screech Accepts Zack And Lisa's Blossoming Romance

In Season 4's "The Bayside Triangle," an unexpected love connection begins to form between Zack and Lisa, which deeply upsets Screech. He eventually comes to accept the feelings that his best friend and longtime crush have for each other, but this episode is ultimately the only time Zack and Lisa's romance is even acknowledged.

Zack And Slater Team Up To Save Their Relationships

In "Breaking Up Is Hard to Undo," the unlikely trio of Zack, Slater, and Mr. Belding relies on each other to cope with their respective romantic troubles, but Zack and Slater, rightfully so, feel the need to get Belding off their backs. So, they discreetly help their principal win back his wife and then win back Kelly and Jessie by putting on performances representing how they should have acted in the moments that broke them up in the first place.

Zack Prevents Screech From Being Taken By The Government

In Season 2, Zack tries to pull a scheme by taking photos of Screech dressed as an extra-terrestrial to win a competition, but the façade ends up proving too convincing when the government threatens to take Screech away for experimentation. Eventually, Zack makes sure his friend is not taken away by coming clean about the prank and having his friends also dress as otherworldly creatures to prove it was all a hoax.

It’s been over 30 years since Saved by the Bell ended, and the series is still loved by many today. The NBC sitcom included some great dramatic moments and even more iconic scenes, with plenty of memorable episodes, lines, and much more. The reboot series on Peacock even brought in a whole new generation with much of the original cast, who are still close to this day, returning. Just recently, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley got together and recreated a classic dance that is filled to the brim with nostalgia.

The duo played the on-off couple A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano on the beloved series, and even years after their time at Bayside High came to an end, they still got the moves. Lopez and Berkley appeared at Fan Expo Chicago on August 17 and 18 and proved that they really are “friends forever.” The actress also took to her Instagram to share a sweet video of her and Lopez in between photo ops where they were doing a dance from SBTB, and all you really need is the music in the background, and it's like they're back in the show:

On top of the fact that Berkley said, “You can take the kids out of Bayside, but you can’t take Bayside out of the ‘kids,'” Lopez went full A.C. Slater with the dance and wanted to lead. And we all know that Slater's dancing was definitely one of the high points of Saved by the Bell. He also jokingly tackled her, and Berkley pointed out that she does not do Jiu-Jitsu, which is why she gave up so easily.

Both Berkley and Lopez reprised their respective roles in the Saved by the Bell reboot, which was canceled in 2022 after two seasons and can still be watched with a Peacock subscription. They were the first to board the reboot, and while Jessie and Slater were not together in the new series, there was no denying that there was something between them. It also certainly helps that even after all these years, the chemistry is still there with the actors, and with or without Buddy Bands, they’re sticking together through thick and thin.

Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley are not the only Saved by the Bell castmates who are still close. In 2023, Tiffani Thiessen revealed how close she is with her former co-stars, noting she sees Lopez the most, but she also has the “longest, deepest relationship” with on-screen beau Mark-Paul Gosselaar. She and Berkley are close as well, and it definitely shows in the reboot.

Unfortunately, fans won’t be able to stream their favorite Jessie and Slater moments and see the origins of that dance since Saved by the Bell is surprisingly not streaming anywhere at the moment. However, episodes can be bought or rented. While the famous sitcom didn't reach 100 episodes, there's still enough of it to go around. The reboot series is available on Peacock, and it’s just enough nostalgia to keep you occupied, at least for now.

Kids can be brutally honest, as many parents of Gen Xers and Millennials know. That can be very true when showing a kid one of your favorite childhood TV shows, as it can lead to some less-than-stellar reactions. Saved By the Bell star Tiffani Thiessen learned that the hard way after revealing her daughter’s humorously harsh opinion of the classic '90s teen sitcom. After Thiessen exposed her daughter’s take on the beloved series, her former castmate, Mario Lopez, revealed his own kids’ thoughts on it.

The Access host spoke up about his kids’ reaction to Saved By the Bell as he discussed his upcoming 50th birthday with Us Weekly. The NBC Saturday Morning series has experienced a resurgence courtesy of nostalgia-loving Gen Z and its since-canceled Peacock revival series. However, the sentiment hasn’t trickled down to the media personality's offspring. The proud father of three revealed his daughter and sons tried watching SBTB with less-than-stellar results. He said:

At the very least, Mario Lopez’s mother tried doing her part to share Saved By the Bell with the new generation. Like many shows from the past, SBTB is an acquired taste for some viewers. Some storylines and characterizations have become questionable through a 2023 lens. Even Zack Morris himself, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, voiced his regrets over a few episodes. It may not be so deep for Lopez children, though, as they may simply not vibe with the occasionally cheesy nature of the series. Or it may just be weird for them to see a younger version of their dad participating in silly teen hijinks on screen.

Their apparent apprehension toward SBTB doesn’t reflect the love the series has garnered through the years, though. The A.C. Slater actor admitted during the interview that even he's “blown away” by the show’s longevity. The Internet appears to be filled with people who are discovering the NBC sitcom. Some newbies love the show’s late-'80s/early-'90s humor and fashion. Meanwhile, others voice hot takes – good, bad, or indifferent – about the corny storylines and character dynamics. Zack Morris’ questionable behavior alone has spawned multiple videos and essays in recent years. However, that hasn’t kept multiple generations from binging the '90s sitcom and cultivating a love for it.

Despite his children feeling "meh" about the Saturday morning series, Mario Lopez still cherishes his time on the beloved teen show. He and Tiffani Thiessen dropped some cool behind-the-scenes SBTB photos to celebrate the show’s 34th anniversary. Thiessen also shared that she, Lopez, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Elizabeth Berkley are still close, three decades after the original series ended. Hopefully, the cast’s closeness will lead them to collaborate on something again, even if it’s not another SBTB revival. That could give Lopez another opportunity to impress his kids with one of his productions.

If you want to revisit the original Saved By the Bell for nostalgia's sake, episodes of the series are available for Prime Video subscribers to purchase. And the reboot is available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

Mario Lopez, who may be best known for the very specific '90s TV memory of him playing the oh-so-cool AC Slater on Saved by The Bell, has become synonymous with his charismatic and charming red carpet interviews. In an exclusive interview, he revealed a candid moment from his illustrious career. Despite interviewing numerous A-list celebrities, one particular instance stood out. And it happened with none other than Ben Affleck. Lopez confessed that he hadn't watched the Gone Girl star's latest film at the time, before their interview, and the actor was quick to catch on to it, making for an "uncomfortable" situation.

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, the former Bold and the Beautiful actor, 49, revealed that he takes pride in always being prepared for his interviews. However, there was a particular occasion when he wasn't adequately prepared, and the result was a memorable encounter with the Gigli star, who was quick to see through his unpreparedness. He admitted:

According to the Pacific Blue veteran, he even had questions at the ready, but the Argo director quickly detected how out of his element he was. Lopez explained:

Mario said Affleck remained "cool" about the situation, but he personally couldn't shake off the feeling of awkwardness after their encounter. He continued:

While Lopez has hosted various shows, from Extra to Access Hollywood, he is a regular fixture during awards season, especially at the Golden Globes. His uncomfortable moment with the Batman v Superman actor wasn’t the only awkward situation Lopez reminisced about. According to him, one Golden Globes ceremony got a bit too spirited because he brought tequila to the red carpet, and what ensued was nothing short of chaotic. The Extra host said:

As Mario approaches his 50th birthday, his career shows no signs of slowing down. With big aspirations on the horizon, he aims to venture into entertainment production, focusing on storytelling, especially those rooted in his culture. His desire to support his loved ones and uplift those around him reflects his commitment to collective success.

The TV personality seems to have unlocked the secret to defying age, regularly hitting the gym and generously gifting his Instagram followers with shirtless workout videos that could give even the Dark Knight a run for his money.

Mario Lopez's career has been filled with incredible moments, from starstruck interviews to memorable red carpet shenanigans. Despite the occasional hiccup, like his interview with Affleck, he remains a beloved figure in entertainment journalism, always ready to bring his infectious energy to the red carpet.

If you're a fan of The Chicka Show voice actor's 90s work, you can catch the reunion of the Saved By The Bell cast in the two-season 2020 streaming reboot, available with a Peacock subscription.

There are plenty of stars in Hollywood who have managed to age gracefully, from Tom Cruise and Angela Bassett to Jennifer Lopez and Paul Rudd. Among that group is actor and host Mario Lopez, who honestly doesn’t appear to have changed a bit from a physical standpoint, over the years. The fan-favorite star recently hit a major milestone, as he’s set to turn 50 this month. Much of the public, including myself, remain in awe of how the father of three manages to keep himself so perfectly preserved. Apparently, Lopez himself can’t even believe it and, funny enough, he gives tequila some of the credit for that.

It should go without saying that hitting the big 5-0 is nothing short of a blessing for those who manage to do so. When a person reaches that age, they tend to be somewhat contemplative, thinking about the past, present and future. The Saved by the Bell icon did just that while he was discussing his upcoming birthday. Based on his comments, it sounds like he’s more than ready to embrace this new chapter in his life: 

As someone who’s (slightly) under 30 myself, I can honestly say I occasionally look at 50 as something that’s still a ways off for me. Time moves, quickly, of course, and I’ll swiftly (and hopefully) reach that age before I know it. You can’t help but appreciate Mario Lopez’s upbeat outlook on reaching such a milestone. And let’s be honest, life definitely doesn’t have to slow down once you’ve hit the half-century mark. Lopez himself keeps active both personally and professionally, which may contribute to his good health. However, there’s still the matter of his seemingly ageless appearance. While addressing that with Us Weekly, he responded honestly: 

I’m not personally much of a drinker but, now, I can’t help but wonder if I might need to invest in a few bottles of quality tequila. The alcohol aside though, it sounds like the star really doesn’t have to do too much to keep himself looking youthful. It’s possible his appearance is just the result of a healthy lifestyle and good genes.

Much has been said about his boyish looks over the years and, in many cases, he continues to prove he has found some kind of fountain of youth. On his 48th birthday, Mario Lopez posted a shirtless gym video, and he looked every bit of 30. His ageless appearance was also evident when he and SBTB co-star Mark-Paul Gosselaar reunited to recreate a photo in 2019. Lopez may not have some major secret to keeping his youthful glow, but you better believe that as was the case when Paul Rudd dropped advice, I’m taking notes. Now, let me go read up on the best tequila that’s available to purchase.

Those who need more evidence of how he’s aging like fine wine can grab a Peacock subscription and stream the Saved by the Bell revival in its entirety.

The most popular version of Saved By The Bell only ran for four seasons and produced less than a hundred total episodes, but thanks to some really charismatic actors and the magic of repeated reruns, its characters are still household names to what sometimes feels like an entire generation of mid-30s to mid-40s Americans. I don’t even need to use Wikipedia to instantly rattle off the names of lead characters AC Slater, Kelly Kapowski, Zack Morris, Jessie Spano, Screech Powers and Lisa Turtle (also shoutout Mr. Belding). They were the coolest, and if ever you needed a reminder of why, two of the stars dropped one on Instagram earlier this week.

It’s apparently been thirty-four years since Saved By The Bell premiered, and to celebrate, Mario Lopez, who played AC Slater, dropped a video alongside Tiffany Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, that included some footage of the two now, along with a ton of behind the scenes photos of the pair while shooting the show back in the day. It’s set to “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus, which is a hot track and a perfect choice for this. You can check out the magic and get nostalgic below…

If you weren’t watching television as a kid in the late 80s and into the 90s, you probably have no idea why Saved By The Bell holds such a special place in the hearts of so many people. It’s, objectively, not exactly The Wire or The Sopranos or even The Office, but its lead characters were the absolute freakin’ coolest. They were always involved in the wildest schemes and had the most interesting love lives. They coasted through school, as if it was a minor hindrance to their social lives (except Jessie who tried way too hard), and there was just something about their chemistry together that really popped on the screen.

That chemistry is probably a hint as to why many members of the original cast still keep in touch. A few years ago, Lopez posted an amazing photo of Theissen, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack Morris, and Elizabeth Berkley, who played Jessie Spano, and himself all out to dinner together with their significant others. More recently when the gang got together to shoot episodes of the streaming reboot, a bunch of the cast members also dropped fun pictures together and remembrances of how well they got along. 

Whether you were a Zack guy or an AC guy, a Kelly fan or a Jessie fan or someone who couldn’t get enough of Lisa and/ or Screech (RIP Dustin Diamond), Saved By The Bell probably holds a special place in your heart. It’s nice to know the original cast feels that love and shares so many of the same memories we do, albeit from a very different perspective.

Henry Winkler is a national treasure. He has a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in Hollywood and has been charming television audiences since the '70s via Happy Days. He's now getting critical acclaim for his much more dramatic role in HBO’s Barry. Though everybody loves Winkler, some may love him more than others, as evidenced by his apparent DILF status. And Mario Lopez explained that concept to the actor on the Emmys red carpet.

This year, Henry Winkler was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his stellar work on Barry. Amid the ceremony, the beloved actor stopped to chat with Access Hollywood about the highly praised show and working with his fellow Emmy nominees, Bill Hader and Anthony Carrigan. The pundits for the news outlet shared a hilarious tweet with the Fonz icon, in which a fan called him an “underrated DILF.” The compliment was met with confusion from Winker, who said:

It was clear that the 76-year-old star had not heard the euphemism before, which is when Mario Lopez adorably stepped in and explained to the actor what a DILF was. Lopez told him that DILF stands for “Dad I’d Like to-” and let the veteran star figure out the rest for himself. He was shocked but very flattered and took the copy of the tweet from Lopez, putting it in his pocket before saying: 

This is such a hilarious exchange. It was so great to watch the Arrested Development alum play along and be tickled by such a compliment. He always seems to have such a blast at Hollywood events and his more candid moments rarely ever disappoint. The seasoned performer is also having a lot of fun working on Barry, which he always sings the praises of. While his turn as fractured acting coach Gene Cousineau is certainly a darker role for the comedic actor, he's played it to perfection. He definitely doesn’t want it to end anytime soon and has expressed fear in regard to the possibility of Gene getting killed because he doesn’t want his stint on the hit HBO show to end. 

Critics certainly agree with the strength of his work on the dramedy, as Henry Winkler received his first ever Primetime Emmy in 2018, much to the delight of fans and the actor himself. With Barry (one of Bill Hader’s best projects to date), Winkler has delivered what is easily some of his best work, and that's saying a lot. 

Like the veteran actor, I hope the show doesn't end anytime soon. Not only do I love seeing what dark turns the HBO show takes every season, but I love seeing Henry Winkler doing what he does best. While he may not have scored any 2022 Emmy wins, he can still revel in the fact that he now officially holds DILF status.

Barry is currently in production on its fourth season, but you can watch  the first three, which are streaming now for HBO Max subscribers. You can also check out the 2022 TV schedule to see what shows are premiering in the near future.

CBS’ Magnum P.I. reboot was recently cancelled after four seasons. After Jay Hernandez, who portrayed the titular character, reflected on his time on the series, his fellow CBS stars (plus Saved By the Bell's Mario Lopez) reached out to him.

Following the surprise cancellation, Jay Hernandez gave his thanks to the show, costars, and the crew members on Instagram. The actor chose a picture that not only showed off the beautiful Hawaiian landscape, but also him leaning against the red car in a post that any Magnum P.I. fan can appreciate. Take a look: 

Many CBS stars responded to Hernandez’s post, and even some non-CBS stars. Extra host and Saved By the Bell alum Mario Lopez took the time to share a short but sweet message in the comments on the post, congratulating Hernandez on four successful seasons:

NCIS star Wilmer Valderrama also weighed in, with many years of CBS crime-solving action to his name. He responded with a touching comment about culture:

Freddy Rodriguez opted to give Jay Hernandez some advice. The actor starred on Bull for the first five seasons, leaving ahead of the show’s sixth and final season. He commented:

The Office alum Kate Flannery responded with a congratulatory message, and thanked him for having her on the show. The actress appeared in an episode at the beginning of Season 4. She wrote:

And Kenneth Johnson, who stars in CBS’ cop procedural S.W.A.T., also sent a touching message to Hernandez. S.W.A.T. shared the same night as Magnum P.I. at the beginning of the 2021-22 TV season with their primetime slots on Fridays, before the former switched to Sundays in the new year. He commented:

It’s clear that Magnum P.I. still means a lot to a lot of people, and Jay Hernandez has plenty of support in the aftermath of the cancellation. Perhaps he can come onto one of these stars' shows, even if he doesn’t play Thomas Magnum. It’s definitely a shame that the show is no more, and has already been replaced in the fall schedule. Hopefully there will be a revival in the future.

In fact, following the cancellation, Universal TV reportedly began shopping Magnum P.I. around to other networks and platforms in the hopes of reviving it. This isn't unusual when shows are cancelled abruptly without proper endings and with an active fanbase, and it does sometimes work, as proven with shows like Fox's Lucifer and NBC's Manifest, both of which were rescued by Netflix. 

It's still early for Magnum P.I., so fans can still hold out hope that that we don’t have to say goodbye to Thomas just yet, at least for now. While waiting on news on Magnum P.I., be sure to stream the latest season now on Paramount+ with a subscription. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to catch.

If the Eternal Fountain of Youth actually existed, I'd bet Mario Lopez would be one of the few to know its secrets. While beloved sitcom Saved by the Bell premiered a little over 30 years ago, Lopez still looks like A.C. Slater -- minus the iconic mullet. And now, the actor is showing off more of that ageless look in a new video he recently posted for his birthday.

It’s hard to believe that Mario Lopez is 48, yes, 48 years old. Two years shy of the big 5-0. And yet he still looks like he could win Bayside High another game against rival school Valley. The TV personality celebrated his special day by working out at the gym, and he gave his Instagram followers a present by posting a shirtless video:

Man, does he have some great genes! He may play a gym teacher on the revival series, but he still looks like he could kick a field goal and win a wrestling championship himself. In the past, many have likely seen just how youthful he looks. This was especially apparent in SBTB reunion sketch from The Tonight Show, which he performed with co-stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley and Dennis Haskins. While he was wearing a wig so he could bring back Slater’s signature ‘90s hairdo, it didn’t look like more than a few years had passed for him.

Of course, the fan-favorite star isn't the only one in Hollywood to seemingly be blessed with eternal youth. Paul Rudd has been praised for not aging a day since his time working on Friends and Clueless. Likewise, Will Smith still looks like the Fresh Prince. Is there something in the water celebrities are drinking or is it just a luck thing? Whatever it is, I want it. Though I’m sure I couldn’t pull it off nearly as well as they do. 

Saved by the Bell's legacy endures today, as does Mario Lopez's iconic character. Fans are now able to see the Slater's continuing adventures on the new Peacock series, which is currently gearing up for Season 2. There are plenty of references to the original series to be found in the first season. This even included a callback to the black leotard that the actor famously wore all those years ago. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say we're glad to have this character back in our lives.

All jokes aside, the key to Mario Lopez's appearance is probably more simple than we think. Surely, he's just taking care of himself through exercise and a healthy diet. His video may even serve as a bit of a motivator for those looking to make a change. But if not, you can also sit back and check out the youthful-looking Lopez on the small screen by streaming both the original and rebooted Saved by the Bell series on Peacock now.

Friendships have come and gone over the years for everyone, and the true test of friendship is knowing whether or not they can withstand anything, like camera angles. Mario Lopez, known to most as A.C. Slater from Saved By the Bell, recently spoke out about a fight he had with co-star Elizabeth Berkley, and it is definitely Hollywood.

The Access Hollywood anchor serves as a guest host on an upcoming episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he was joined by Elizabeth Berkley. Lopez reminisced about the two of them presenting together at the People’s Choice Awards last November, where the two of them had a friendly debate about a specific aspect of the show:

According to Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley had her own reason for wanting to be on that side. Berkley then quickly made sure to tell her side of the story, and the result proves that after all these years, these two Saved by the Bell alums are still perfect together:

Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley played on-again/off-again couple A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano during the show’s four-season run. The two reprised their characters in Peacock’s Saved By the Bell revival, which sees Slater as Bayside High’s gym teacher and Jessie as the guidance counselor. Lopez and Berkley had been close ever since the original series ended, even supporting one another on Dancing With the Stars during their respective seasons. They even reunited with former co-stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen and Dennis Haskins for a sketch on The Tonight Show.

With the sequel series earning a 10-episode second season renewal from Peacock, there’s no doubt that Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley will continue their budding chemistry off and on screen. It’s nice to know that even after so many years, the two of them are still as close as ever and won’t even let a little fight get in the way of their friendship, which will surely last forever.

While you wait for the new season of Saved by the Bell, be sure to stream Season 1 as well as seasons of the classic show on Peacock now.

Dustin Diamond’s tragic death from cancer surprised many, especially since the actor’s diagnosis became known only weeks ago. It not only shocked the public but his Saved By the Bell co-stars as well, including Mario Lopez. The two had remained close for years after the show ended, and Lopez recently reflected on his time working with Diamond on the iconic NBC comedy.

Mario Lopez and Dustin Diamond became teen stars as A.C. Slater and Samuel “Screech” Powers, respectively, during their time on NBC’s Saved By the Bell. Their time on set formed a bond that lasted until Diamond’s recent death. Lopez recently spoke with Variety about his relationship with Diamond, and the actor reminisced on the antics he and Diamond used to get into while shooting the '90s teen sitcom:

After highlighting their on-set antics, Mario Lopez spoke on Dustin Diamond’s contribution to making Saved By the Bell the classic it is today. He talked about all of Diamond’s idiosyncrasies in portraying Screech and how they ultimately made the actor and his performance "iconic":

Mario Lopez’s words about Dustin Diamond’s influence on Saved By the Bell highlighted how important the later actor was to the show’s success. Hearing about his and Diamond’s dynamic painted the two to be almost like siblings. Just before Diamond’s death, Lopez had posted on Instagram about connecting with the late actor after his cancer diagnosis.

Mario Lopez wasn’t the only Saved By the Bell alum to mourn the passing of Dustin Diamond. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Theisen, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies expressed their condolences as well, sharing memories about the actor. Even Ed Alonzo (who played Max) posted an image of a young Diamond while Tori Spelling (who played on-screen girlfriend Violet) talked about her time with the actor on the series.

The classic series was rebooted for NBC’s streaming platform Peacock and, while Diamond didn't appear in the first season, Screech’s absence being explained. Reportedly, Diamond was actually working on a Saved By the Bell-related project of his own.

As evidenced by Mario Lopez’s words, he and Dustin Diamond shared a bond that lasted long after Saved By the Bell ended. Diamond’s death put his contributions to the series in a new light. Fans hoping to revisit Dustin Diamond's performance as Screech, or see it for the first time, can stream Saved By the Bell on Peacock, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

The entertainment world was faced with some very sad news yesterday, as Dustin Diamond, who was widely known for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers in the Saved by the Bell franchise, has passed away. It was recently reported that the actor had been hospitalized and later diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, and he sadly succumbed to his illness at the age of 44. Since Diamond’s passing, a number of actors have paid tribute to him and, now, his fellow Saved by the Bell alums like Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen are honoring their late co-star.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar played Dustin Diamond’s scheming but caring on-screen best friend, Zack Morris, and the two would work closely together on three different incarnations of Saved by the Bell. In a Twitter post, Gosselaar called Diamond a “comedic genius” and saluted his former co-star:

Tiffani Thiessen, who portrayed everyone’s crush Kelly Kapowski, also took to social media to honor Dustin Diamond. The actress previously sent well wishes to Diamond when his diagnosis was made public, and she expressed sadness over the news of his passing:

Like Thiessen, Saved by the Bell star Mario Lopez also sent love to Diamond while he was in the hospital. Upon hearing of Diamond’s death, Lopez took to Instagram to share a tribute:

Elizabeth Berkley, who stars alongside Lopez in the recent SBTB reboot, sent her condolences as well. In an Instagram post, she expressed gratitude in having been able to work with Dustin Diamond and posted a few photos of the late actor in his famous role:

Many Saved by the Bell fans undoubtedly know that over the course of the show, Screech sought after the affections of Lark Voorhies’ popular and trendy Lisa Turtle. While Lisa would get annoyed by Screech’s efforts, the relationship between Diamond and Voorhies was different. In a statement to EW, the actress reflected on Diamond fondly and sent her condolences to his family:

Although Screech could never woo Lisa, Dustin Diamond’s character did find another love on the show in the form of Tori Spelling’s Violet. After learning of Diamond’s passing, Spelling posted a lengthy Instagram message in which she beautifully paid tribute to “1st onscreen love”:

Ed Alonzo, who portrayed The Max’s magician owner Max, also paid tribute to Diamond on social media. In his post, he included a vintage image of him and a young Diamond on the show:

It’s been truly nice to see the love that’s been shown to Dustin Diamond and his loved ones during this time. While Diamond and his castmates weren’t always on the best of terms in the years after the show ended, they still appear to have plenty of love for him and each other. Any Saved by the Bell fan would tell you it looks like the cast members truly are “friends forever.”

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Dustin Diamond during this difficult time.

Saved by the Bell was one of the most successful TV shows of the '90s, and one of the reasons the original show worked so well was the performances of its six young stars. Just about all of them reunited to reprise their roles for the 2020 revival except for Dustin Diamond, who has been estranged from his former cast members for some time. But following Diamond’s recent cancer diagnosis, Mario Lopez made it a point to send him some love and support.

It was recently reported that Dustin Diamond had been hospitalized for intense pain and discomfort. Later, it was announced that the actor had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. His diagnosis elicited well wishes from many, including Mario Lopez, who reached out through an Instagram post. Check out the heartwarming post:

Dustin Diamond and Mario Lopez have had very different paths since their stints on Saved by the Bell ended. After leaving the iconic series, Lopez managed to keep his acting career going while accumulating a number of hosting gigs. On the other hand, Diamond has had few acting roles and has had his share of legal issues. The relationship seemed to be on bad terms after Diamond released a tell-all book about his time on the show, though he later apologized to his co-stars for the book.

Based on images in Mario Lopez’s post, it seems the two men have reconciled in recent years, and the fact that Lopez reached out to Dustin Diamond says a lot about the current status of their relationship. Quite frankly, you love to see this kind of support between colleagues.

Lopez and Diamond, along with Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Lark Voorhies, became TV icons, thanks to Saved by the Bell. Despite being panned by critics, the series made a massive impact, which, at the time, led NBC to abandon animated series for live-action teen sitcoms on Saturday mornings. It spawned multiple television films and two spinoff series – The College Years and The New Class. Diamond, who become a fan favorite for his role as Samuel "Screech" Powers, went on to star in both spinoffs.

Though Diamond did not appear alongside his co-stars in the first season of the reboot, Screech's absence was explained with a brief line of dialogue. Before Diamond's diagnosis, the producers remained coy on any specific plans to include the character in the show, and it's unclear if there were any concrete plans about reintroducing the character.

Despite any ups and downs Dustin Diamond and his Saved by the Bell cast members may have shared over the years, it’s nice to see Mario Lopez reach out to him during such a tough time. As the iconic song suggests, these two do seem to be "friends forever." Saved by the Bell is available to stream on Peacock.

Few would argue that KFC has delivered some of the strangest and most unpredictable marketing campaigns in recent years, from its ever-evolving rotation of actors portraying spokesman Colonel Sanders to sending chicken into outer space to the dating simulator game released in 2019. So it's not too surprising that the fast food giant's latest marketing push offers up one of its most bonkers ideas yet: a romantic mini-movie on Lifetime, starring Saved by the Bell heartthrob Mario Lopez as the Colonel. What the what?

Somehow, everything above can be considered totally true to reality, as revealed by KFC's parent company Yum Brands. Mario Lopez will don the iconic mustache and a slightly new take on Colonel Sanders' outfit for the mini-movie A Recipe for Seduction, a 15-minute short film that is set to air later this month on Lifetime. Check out the first look at Lopez in the trailer above, and then again in the post below showcasing the promotional project's genre-aping poster.

For those who want a slightly more concise explanation for what to expect from KFC and Lifetime's A Recipe for Seduction, here's a rundown of the basic plot:

I hope she doesn't "bawk" at the chance to find happiness with Harland Sanders, as that would be "eggs-tremely" unfortunate. (Fans might recall Colonel Sanders' previous sudsy TV appearance for the soap opera General Hospital.) It's not only the heightened storyline that Lifetime and Yum Brands are using to draw audiences in, however. KFC also teamed up with Uber Eats to give fans a chance to score some extra grub. With the purchase of $20 or more, customers will receive six free extra crispy tenders, and that deal will be available from December 13-19. You'll have to order the chicken-smelling firelog separately, though.

Here's how Andrea Zahumensky, KFC's U.S. CMO, explained the promotion in a statement:

I suspect many Lifetime viewers out there would live happily ever after if Mario Lopez's Colonel Sanders arrived to sweep them off their feet, while possibly also in possession of a bunch of fried chicken and a super-secret recipe that makes them unique. Considering Lopez is also starring in Lifetime's Christmas movie FelizNaviDAD, and is also in the spotlight again for Peacock's Saved by the Bell revival, he's a much better choice to take on the Colonel Sanders role than, say, RoboCop.

Get ready to see some hot and spicy action well before primetime, because A Recipe for Seduction will make its finger-lickin' debut on Lifetime on Sunday, December 13, at 12 p.m. ET/PT. While waiting to see that bonkers project come to life, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 premiere guide to see what new and returning shows will be popping up soon.

Spoilers ahead for Peacock's Saved by the Bell revival.

The Saved by the Bell revival has no right to be so good, and yet it is. The series updates the beloved '90s sitcom for a new generation of viewers and it isn’t afraid to take shots at its original storylines, be it Zack’s inappropriate bikini calendar to the ridiculous amount of times the students pranked Mr. Belding and got away with it.

The Peacock revival is very much its own thing, but that doesn’t mean that the new Saved by the Bell doesn’t get nostalgic now and again throughout the season. The series references everything from the iconic “Barbara Ann” dance to Tori Scott. There are simply far too many nods to the original sitcom to keep track of, but here are 13 of the best throwback references to the '90s Saved by the Bell.

13. Malibu Sand Beach Resort Gets A Nod

In the very first episode of the Saved by the Bell revival, the students of Bayside High School set up two different sign-up sheets for the volleyball team. The first was for a regular old league and the second was the "Resort Sand" volleyball team, a sly nod to the original series’ Malibu Sands Beach Resort and the team Zack and his friends joined while working there.

12. Slater Dating A Princess

When Jessie’s dad was getting remarried, the entire crew was invited to his wedding in Palm Springs. In the two-part episode, Slater met and became smitten with Christina, the princess of Liechtenstein. When he and the rest of the original friends group brought up all the locations they visited in the revival, Slater was simultaneously in awe and perplexed that he ended up going out with royalty. High school was wild!

11. Daisy Using Zack’s Giant Cell Phone

This may be one of the funniest references to the 90s sitcom. When Daisy is discussing cell phones, she says that her mom doesn't want her having the new ones so she's resorted to giving her daughter the bulky, giant cell phone that is no longer in use. Yes, it was the very same one that belonged to Zack himself and it was a bit of clever writing that the phone was worked into the storyline as an actual reference to cell phones.

10. Zack Attack’s Friends Forever

When trying to convince Principal Toddman that he was always the original characters' friend (he wasn't), the gang dressed up in glitzy costumes to sing "Friends Forever" as the band Zack Attack — a band Zack presumably dreamed up during a fake music documentary featuring the late Casey Kasem. He’s also referenced as having hosted all the events at The Max, including a dance competition that Lisa and Screech won.

9. Slater Dances To "Barbara Ann”

One of the many memorable moments from the original sitcom was when Slater, Screech, and Zack dance to The Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann.” When Slater is tasked with breaking up a party in the revival, he joins the students instead and turns on “Barbara Ann” to get things going. He even admits to having the old costumes in his trunk. Slater also shows off his famous dance skills to convince the kids that he can, in fact, bust a move.

8. No One Remembers Tori Scott

Tori Scott was the (random) new student who seemingly replaced Kelly and Jessie during their senior year at Bayside. In the Saved by the Bell revival, Zack Morris is convinced that the Douglas High School students keep things fresh at Bayside, just like Tori once did. However, Kelly doesn’t remember her at all and it’s a great in-joke because Kelly and Tori never did cross paths.

7. Zack Doing Swan Lake To Graduate

When Zack and Kelly returned to Bayside for the alumni dinner, they got super nostalgic with Slater and Jessie. At one point, Zack mentions the fact that he had to perform in the school’s production of Swan Lake to graduate on time. Naturally, Zack wondered why he even had to do Swan Lake to pass, but that’s Bayside for you.

6. Jessie Being Caffeine Free For 30 Years

The running gag in the Saved by the Bell revival is Jessie being caffeine free for 30 years since the incident in the original series that led to her taking caffeine pills to study. Jessie doesn’t drink coffee (something her husband forgot) all because she was previously hooked on the pills. Fun fact: it was originally supposed to be speed that Jessie was addicted to, but NBC execs didn’t approve.

5. I'm So Excited, I'm So Scared

Jessie’s big freakout from the original Saved by the Bell is so iconic that Elizabeth Berkley even paid homage to it when she was on Dancing with the Stars. The revival hasn’t forgotten about it either and pays tribute to the moment in a fun way. However, now that Jessie is a published author in-universe, the title of her book is hilariously called, I'm So Excited, I'm So Scared… of Becoming a Parent.

4. Screech And Kevin The Robot

In the early days of Saved by the Bell, Screech had a very smart robot named Kevin (he even shaved). Though he disappeared from the show, the revival makes mention of both Screech and Kevin living in the International Space Station to explain the former’s absence. At least Screech has some company with him in space!

3. The NBC Promo About Drugs

This '90s reference couldn’t go unmentioned. In the original sitcom, the students of Bayside joined real-life NBC Chairman Brandon Tartikoff for a promo that ended with the famous “There’s no hope with dope” line. Zack makes a reference to this moment by bringing up Tartikoff in the revival.

2. Slater’s Heritage Gets A Nod

The original Saved by the Bell was diverse in a sea of shows that weren’t, but Slater’s Mexican-American background never came up until Saved by the Bell: The College Years, at which point Zack dismissed it because he’d always thought that Slater was Italian. In the revival, Dexter tells Slater that it must’ve been hard for him to navigate being Latinx in high school. Slater thanked him for saying that because no one ever brings that up.

1. Kelly Brings Up Ex-Boyfriend Jeff

Kelly Kapowski briefly dated Jeff, the manager of The Max, back in high school. Their relationship even broke up Zack and Kelly for a while. In the revival, Kelly brings up Jeff to Mac and suspiciously makes it sound like Zack may not be his father (which is impossible considering the timeline of events and how much Zack and Kelly are still very into each other). But, hey, I guess Jeff should be happy that Kelly remembers him at all.

Catch all of the references to the '90s sitcom in the Saved by the Bell revival, which is now available to stream on Peacock. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our fall TV guide and our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

Of all the TV shows from the '80s and '90s that were ripe for reviving in 2020, I cannot say that Saved by the Bell would have been at the top of my list. As much as I obsessed over the original series and the College Years spinoff – I wasn't into The New Class, admittedly – I didn't think the overtly goofy Saturday morning high school comedy would mesh well with self-awareness and other modern comedy tactics. But I will happily admit that I was wrong on all counts, and Peacock's Saved by the Bell revival is better than I ever could have imagined.

Redeveloped for streaming audiences by former 30 Rock and Mindy Project writer and producer Tracey Whigfield, Saved by the Bell is a splendid mix of those aforementioned comedies' clever and quirky humor combined with an updated approach to the topics that the original series covered: school cliques, school events, friendships, romances and "very special episode" topics. I'd even say the new episodes are more hilarious than anything else in this franchise, but let's explore the reasons why the new Saved by the Bell is a must-watch experience for old-school fans.

Seeing The O.G. Saved By The Bell Cast Together Again

This is definitely the biggest no-brainer of the bunch, since so many Saved by the Bell fans have been clamoring for a proper reunion ever since Zack and Kelly got married in Vegas. (And yes, that Tonight Show reunion sketch from 2015 only whetted our appetites for more.) Thankfully, the Peacock revival utilizes series regulars Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley in smart ways as Coach A.C. Slater and guidance counselor Jessie Spano, and also makes the most out of recurring returners Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Governor Zack Morris, Tiffany Thiessen as his First Lady, and Lark Voorhies as the living-elsewhere Lisa Turtle. Yes, it's always strange to see teen characters as full-on adults and/or parents, but this is the best possible version of that weirdness, and even seeing Ed Alonzo's Max made everything feel like home.

All The Classic Saved By The Bell References

In 2020, nothing about a callback to a '90s joke referencing a pop song from 1965 (by way of a 1983 Tom Cruise movie) should be successful, but you're damned straight the new Saved by the Bell's "Barbara Ann" dance scene is upper-echelon nostalgia. And that's basically the revival in a nutshell. The ten-episode season is PACKED with verbal and visual nods and easter eggs from the original series, from long-gone characters such as Leanna Creel's Tori Scott and Dustin Diamond's Screech himself, who gets an update tied to his robot Kevin, which ruled. My favorite, though, is Jessie's heightened reactions to anything involving caffeine.

The New Saved By The Bell Teen Cast Members Are A+

Thankfully, Tracey Whigfield and her creative team didn't cast the new Saved by the Bell to match the original character dynamics beat for beat (b-b-b-b, go Bayside!), and embraced a more diverse cast. Haskiri Velazquez's intelligent, inquisitive and non-schemy Daisy is a solid choice to take over Zack's central role, and she shares a rivalrous-yet-amicable friendship with Mitchell Hogg's hyper-privileged Mac Morris, who is a chip off the blonde, egotistical block. Alycia Pascual-Peña provides another grounded character as the tradition-breaking Aisha, with Dexter Darden bringing some sardonic distance as the musical-loving Devante. Rounding out the bunch is transgender actress Josie Totah as the self-obsessed (yet charismatic) reality TV star Lexi Haddad-DeFabrizio and Belmont Cameli as Bayside's football captain Jamie Spano, who may be my favorite absolute dumbass to hit TV in quite a few years. There are no weak links here, even when it comes to the side characters.

John Michael Higgins' Toddman Is A Great Replacement For Mr. Belding

The younger generation isn't the only awesome addition to Saved by the Bell's revival, with the always excellent John Michael Higgins portraying Bayside's principal Ronald Toddman. (His "backstory" arc is worthy of many chef's kisses.) While Dennis Haskins' Mr. Belding was a lovable cornball scapegoat for Zack's schemes, Mr. Toddman is more a victim of his own downward-spiral luck as opposed to being bamboozled by students, though that does happen, too. Arguably best known for his hilarious roles in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries like Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, Higgins is a natural comic actor that can sell completely awkward moments that other actors would falter in, and Mr. Toddman experiences plenty of them.

Diversity And Real-World Issues Are Handled Gracefully And Hilariously

While the original Saved by the Bell featured various PSA-esque episodes about topics like drugs and drunk driving, the Peacock revival far more naturally works topical issues into its storylines without stereotypical schmaltz and melodrama. After all, the basic premise is about a mostly Black student body being forced to transfer to a rich white school, and all of the issues that derive from that (both legitimate and Mac Morris-created). We have Daisy tackling problems regarding school politics and Aisha facing criticisms for joining the football team, and it's a breath of fresh air for Lexi's transition to be part of the plot without making things uncomfortably controversial. Similar to situations concerning mixed-race relationships, Bayside students embrace it all, and Saved by the Bell handles everything appropriate and, when applicable, quite hilariously. (Well maybe not everything, but most things.)

Seeing New Sides Of Classic Saved By The Bell Locations

Out of everything that happened in the new Saved by the Bell episodes, I honestly think I was most shocked by how the Peacock series crafted full sets for the show's iconic locations, such as the main Bayside hallway and The Max. Since multi-cam sitcoms tend to only build sets without the so-called fourth wall, Saved by the Bell fans had no idea what Bayside's front doors looked like or, as seen above, that the back wall of The Max featured a long counter with cushioned stools that further played up its diner aesthetic. Not to mention how weirdly awesome it is to see new exterior shots of Bayside and The Max.

Peacock's reimagined Saved by the Bell revival is currently streaming all ten Season 1 episodes on the service now, so hurry up and watch them all so you can then take your time in rewatching them over and over, just like you did with the original series! In the meantime, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 TV guide to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Saved by the Bell is back! The first trailer for the upcoming streaming revival does not hold back, giving fans a glimpse at one of the original series' most prevalent couples, Mario Lopez's A.C. Slater and Elizabeth Berkley's Jessie Spano. The pair are together again, and that is not all, as fans get to see Jessie’s son and learn some interesting information about what has happened since the original series ended.

In a world where Zack Morris is the Governor of California, anything can happen. (Well, except for a Screech appearance.) The Saved by the Bell revival trailer gives fans a fantastic look at A.C. Slater, who remains active in the happenings of Bayside High. Now a gym teacher at the school where his athleticism was utilized, Slater's career seems to be working for him, and he seems pretty happy.

Check out Slater and Jessie Spano catching up in the trailer below:

There was a lot of awesome activity to geek out over in this trailer, so it is time to get right to it. First up, the Saved by the Bell revival will premiere on NBCUniversal’s upcoming and affordable streaming service – Peacock. Now that you know where you can watch it let it be known that a release date is still pending.

Now for the moments that fans of Saved by the Bell's original run will want to know about. Based on the trailer, it does not seem like Slater and Jessie’s romance actually survived into 2020. The two are shown talking to each other as if reminiscing after a long break and not talking as if they spent the previous few years together.

I will admit, I am a bit sad over the potential development. Slater and Jessie were a great couple, in my opinion. I wonder what happened and who the father of Jessie’s son will turn out to be. Also, could they be together now, even though the son is possibly for another person? So many questions! Thankfully, Saved by the Bell will be ringing with answers in the near-ish future.

Some past first looks at the Saved by the Bell revival hinted at Slater and Jessie spending some time together, though it wasn't clear how personal or romantic that time might be. Hopefully, if both are single, they can find their way back to each other. Of the original cast, only Jessie and Slater are shown in the trailer, with Slater figuring into it the most.

In some other compelling news from the revival’s first trailer, we get our first good look at the son that Kelly and Zack conceived, whose name is Mac. Slater mentions having dated Mac's mom, after having fought over her, which makes it pretty clear he is talking about Kelly, whose actress Tiffani Thiessen is set to appear in the Saved by the Bell revival. That said, Zack and Kelly’s current relationship status is still something of a mystery.

Noticeably absent is Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle, and Dustin Diamond, who starred as Screech Powers. Voorhies recently spoke out about being ignored for the Saved by the Bell revival. Time will tell if the show eventually incorporates Voorhies’s Lisa, who was a key cast member in the original series, and obviously the only one who would still have any fashion sense in 2020.

A while back, the original series’ executive producer had given a not-so-positive update about Zack and Kelly’s marital status after the show ended. Whatever their current relationship is, Kelly and Zack’s son Mac does get a bit of wisdom from Slater in the Saved by the Bell revival. Apparently, Mac and Jamie Spano will have their own rivalry.

As for Zack Morris, he is brought up but not actually seen in the revival’s first trailer. That does not mean you should give up on seeing him eventually popping up in a promo for the revival. After initially seeming to not be a part of it, Mark-Paul Gosselaar will appear on the series despite his busy schedule.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar has the blonde locks to prove he will be back as Zack at some point. While absent from the revival’s first trailer, Zack’s presence looms large, thanks in part to his son, Mac. Apparently, he is picking up where his dad left off at Bayside High. This leads to the aforementioned clash with Jessie Spano’s son, Jamie. Maybe they're clashing over who gets to start singing "Barbara Ann" first, in this direct nod to the original series.

As someone who avidly watched the original series, I can see where the Saved by the Bell revival will have lots to enjoy for older generations, as well as a lot to offer viewers who are totally new to the world of the series. The only thing that is missing is the multi-camera approach utilized by the original. I would have liked it if the revival had kept that, but it's understandable that today's teens are more in tune with single-cam shows.

The Saved by the Bell reboot does not have a precise release date yet. It is supposed to bow on NBCUniversal’s Peacock sometime this year (2020), but we'll have to wait and see if that plan stays the same. While waiting on homeroom, check out this spring’s premieres.

Minus that late night reunion sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and that redonk Lifetime movie, Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski haven't shared any scenes together since 1994's TV movie Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas. That will all change soon thanks to NBC's new streaming service Peacock, which is reviving Saved by the Bell for 2020 audiences. Of course, knowing about Zack and Kelly's return to TV doesn't really tell us how much of the coupling fans are going to see.

Thankfully, Zack himself Mark-Paul Gosselaar shed a little light on the matter, although his answer probably won't provide all the satisfaction that longtime fans are hoping for. When asked to clarify how much we'll see his Zack alongside Tiffani Thiessen's Kelly Kapowski-Morris, Gosselaar said:

Just one or two episodes? For the biggest power couple in Saturday morning TV? Perhaps Mark-Paul Gosselaar's answer to TVLine might not be so disappointing if we knew that the Saved by the Bell revival was only meant to last two or three episodes, but we already know it'll last longer than that.

By all means, it's possible that scheduling snafus could work themselves out to allow both Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar to pop up in Peacock's Saved by the Bell more often. But for now, we can only anticipate limited appearances.

At least it's already confirmed that Zack and Kelly are still together as a married couple, and the show doesn't seem like it'll be focused on showcasing their drama. My money is still on Zack proving himself to be a jealous doofus during at least one point, even if it won't be Mario Lopez's Slater also vying for her affection.

While Tiffani Thiessen is busy filming the younger-skewing Netflix comedy Alexa & Katie, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is one of the stars of ABC's mixed-ish, a spinoff of the hit sitcom black-ish. While Gosselaar's gig is more timely, in that the episodes' weekly filming schedule is structured accordingly, Netflix almost exclusively films entire seasons of shows in one fell swoop, since the majority of their premieres contain all of a season's episodes. So it was possibly a little trickier for Thiessen to dip out in order to make her Kelly cameo happen.

At this point, Mark-Paul Gosselaar has been tapped for three confirmed appearances in Saved by the Bell, which he's also serving as executive producer on. He says he's only read the scripts for Episode 1 and Episode 8 so far, though, so he can't speak to anything that goes down in the middle six episodes.c

Which means he can't speak to how the new Saved by the Bell will drop any mentions for other beloved characters. It's already been confirmed that Elizabeth Berkley's Jessie Spano will be involved, as will Mario Lopez's A.C. Slater. But what about Lark Voorhies' Lisa Turtle or Dustin Diamond's Screech Powers?

Both Lark Voorhies and Dustin Diamond have voiced their issues with any Saved by the Bell projects moving forward without anyone contacting them about making appearances. It's certainly possible that producers could get in touch, though Diamond's sketchy past (involving his co-star-trashing memoir, his sex tape and his legal issues) may keep him from ever returning to Bayside in the future.

For the new iteration of the show, Zack Morris will be the governor of California (since shit floats uphill in this universe), and he'll be in trouble over too many low-income schools getting closed in the area. His plan is to send the ousted students to the state's highest-performing schools, which means Bayside High gets a slew of new students that will provide much-needed reality checks to the pampered Bayside students.

Some of the new faces fans can expect to see are MItchell Hogg as Zack's son Mac Morris, Belmont Cameli as Jessie's son Jamie Spano, Josie Totah as sharp-tongued cheerleader Lexi, Haskiri Velazquez as new student Daisy, and Alycia Pascual-Pena as Daisy's best friend Aisha. Taking over for Mr. Belding as Bayside's principal will be frequent Christopher Guest collaborator John Michael Higgins, though there's no sign of whether Dennis Haskins will pop by for a Belding cameo.

Saved by the Bell fans can watch Zack and Kelly together at least one more time when the Peacock revival hits streaming at some point later this year.

Somehow, despite all the shows we've seen make a comeback in the past decade, it's hard to believe Saved By The Bell is getting a revival. The beloved teen series of the past is coming to NBC's streaming service Peacock and, as most revivals do, will bring back characters and locations from the original series to kick viewer's nostalgia into overdrive. Mario Lopez has signaled the revival will do the same, and revealed one surprising return on social media.

So, who could possibly be mentioned that would be that surprising? Mario Lopez's Instagram has the answer, as he casually dropped the reveal in the midst of talking about production on the revival. Take a look.

Yes, that's Max from The Max. Max was commonly seen in Saved By The Bell in the restaurant, which the teens used as a hangout when they weren't shown wandering the halls of Bayside High School. Max is only seen briefly in Mario Lopez's video, but from the brief bit we see, the only change is that his hair has gotten longer. The look would typically be out of style, but when Max is rocking it, it's looking pretty hip!

And yes, Max is still played by actor and professional magician Ed Alonzo. Audiences will just have to wait and see what Alonzo has up his sleeve for the Saved By The Bell revival, but it looks like The Max is just as popular of a spot as it was back in the day. That's not to surprising, this hangout was actually at one point popular enough to get a real-life restaurant modeled after it.

Seeing Ed Alonzo back as Max is quite a surprise, though some fans may rather want to know what bigger names are attached. News broke last year that a handful of stars like Tiffani Thiessen and Mark-Paul Gosselaar had not been approached to be in the series. It was later explained Gosselaar was not approached due to scheduling conflicts, though recent news has confirmed that the Zack Morris actor will be attached.

For now, it feels like Saved By The Bell is doing all the right things to draw viewers to Peacock. That said, this franchise has had a good deal of spinoffs over the years, and some have certainly been more successful than others. This new incarnation of Saved By The Bell may be enough to rope people in, but will it make them stay?

Related: Mark-Paul Gosselaar Apparently Doesn't Remember Much About Filming Saved By The Bell

Peacock is set to debut in April, and the Saved By The Bell revival is currently in production. CinemaBlend will keep an ear to the ground for any details, so be sure to stick with us in the meantime for more on it and other things happening in the world of movies and television.

Since 2013, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans have counted on the crew of the 99th Precinct. These fans have come to expect hilarious moments as they watch them try to navigate the complicated criminal world of New York. Not only does Brooklyn Nine-Nine have a hilarious cast of regulars, but also many comedians have delivered an entertaining Brooklyn Nine-Nine cameo or two.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine returns to its new home of NBC on February 6, 2020. Before Peralta (Andy Samberg), Holt (Andre Braugher), Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Scully and Hitchcock (Joel McKinnon and Dirk Blocker), and Jeffords (Terry Crews) get back to work, NBC wants to make sure that they stay around for at least one more season: NBC renewed Brooklyn Nine-Nine for season 8. This is a smart decision by NBC because of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s huge fan support and history of major guest star cameos. We can’t wait to see what the cast and crew of Brooklyn Nine-Nine plan for Season 7 and 8, and to see who plans to pop-by the 99th Precinct. As we get ready for Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 7, let us look back at some of the series’ cameos that you may have forgotten.

Adam Sandler

During Season 1, Brooklyn Nine-Nine fans were excited to see Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg reunite on-screen. Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg first appeared together on-screen playing father and son in That’s My Boy. The two former Saturday Night Live alumni have also both provided their voices to the animated Hotel Transylvania series, and Samberg had a small role in Grown Ups 2. Because of their friendship, it makes perfect sense that Sandler wanted to help his buddy out by making a cameo.

During an auction scene, Adam Sandler plays himself as he heckles Jake Peralta. Though Adam Sandler actively tries to humiliate Jake, Peralta gets the best line of the scene. When Sandler mentions that he is making a movie about the Russian Revolution, Jake responds by asking who Kevin James will play?

Bill Hader

The multiple Emmy winner Bill Hader is best known for playing various characters, like Stefon, on Saturday Night Live. He’s also known for his darkly hilarious role on the HBO series Barry.

In Brooklyn 99, Bill Hader appeared in the Season 3 premiere, “New Captain,” as Captain Holt’s replacement, Seth Dozerman. Dozerman takes a much more strict approach to running the 99th precinct than Holt. Dozerman’s intensity leads to him being a very short-term captain. It’s a very different role for Hader who usually plays more laidback characters, but Hader creates an extremely amusing temporary captain.

Nick Offerman

Many Parks and Recreation fans know Nick Offerman for being the ultimate man, and an expert woodsman of things like boats and furniture. These fans also know Nick Offerman for his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation. Offerman also gets paid to encourage people to make things as a co-host on the NBC reality-series Making It. He hosts alongside Amy Poehler.

Offerman appeared in Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 3 (Episode 8), “Ava.” In it, he plays Captain Holt’s ex-boyfriend Frederick. Frederick and Holt didn’t have the most amicable breakup, which leads to some very entertaining passive aggressive moments between them. Nick Offerman doesn’t stretch his acting muscles too much in this episode, because basically he plays a less intense version of Ron Swanson. By no means are we complaining, because Ron Swanson is a hilarious and memorable character.

Maya Rudolph

Andy Samberg once again reunited with a Saturday Night Live alumni when Maya Rudolph made her guest appearance on the two-part Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 4 premiere, “Coral Palms Part 1 and 2.” Besides Saturday Night Live¸ Maya Rudolph has a long list of film and television appearances, including The Good Place, Bridesmaids, Forever, Big Mouth, and Wine Country.

Maya Rudolph plays Karen Haas, a United States Marshall assigned to help Jake and Holt while they’re in the Witness Protection Program. Rudolph has a limited role in these episodes, but she definitely adds her signature Rudolph humor to her scenes.

Oscar Nunez

The Office fans best remember Oscar Nunez for his role as Oscar Martinez in the series. He has also had series regular roles on Benched, People of Earth, and Mr. Iglesias.

Oscar Nunez appeared on Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 3 episode 12, “9 Days.” Nunez plays Dr. Porp, the doctor who lets Holt and Peralta know that they’ve contracted the mumps and need to quarantine themselves. His appearance is very brief, so most of the comedy comes from Peralta, Santiago, and Holt’s reaction to the news.

Zooey Deschanel

Most people recognize Zooey Deschanel for her roles on New Girl and 500 Days of Summer. Some even may remember Zooey Deschanel for her band She & Him. When New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were both on Fox, the network decided to have a crossover event with characters from both series. Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) becomes an unwilling companion as Jake tries to catch a thief in Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 4 (Episode 4), “The Night Shift.”

The first scene with Jess involves Jake and her teaming up and arguing the whole way, until they crash. It’s an odd combination considering Jake and Jess’s very different personalities, but it was still cool to see Fox try something different by crossing over the two series. Some of the other crossover scenes have hilarious results, like the one involving Boyle, Nick (Jake Johnson), and Winston (Lamorne Morris).

Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion has appeared in many different television series and movies, but he’s best known for his roles in Firefly, Big Mouth, The Rookie, and Castle. Recently, he joined the cast of Suicide Squad 2.

In Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 4 (Episode 14), “Serve & Protect,” Fillion plays Mark Devereaux, an actor on Jake and Rosa’s favorite detective series. Devereaux tries to use his fake detective skills to assist them when a crime happens on set. It’s a fun episode that allows Nathan Fillion to play the-over-the-top characters that he does so well.

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe gained most of his fame from appearing in edgy teen movies in the late 1990s, such as Cruel Intentions and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Recently, he gained more fans by appearing in Shooter from 2016 to 2018.

Phillippe appeared in Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 14 (Episode 21), “The Bank Job.” He played Milton Boyle, one of Charles’ cousins that had a secret relationship with Gina (Chelsea Peretti), which results in her pregnancy. The best thing about Ryan Phillippe’s guest appearance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the shocking moment when fans realize that there are hot Boyle cousins.

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown is a double Emmy winner for his roles in The People v. O.J Simpson: American Crime Story and This is Us. He has also had starring roles in Hotel Artemis, Black Panther, Army Wives, and Frozen II.

In Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 (Episode 14), “The Box,” Sterling K. Brown plays a dentist turned suspected murderer Philip Davidson. Brown brings confidence and smoothness to the character that makes you wonder if Jake and Raymond will ever get a confession. Sterling K. Brown creates one of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s most memorable criminals, and he helps the series deliver one of its best episodes.

Nicole Byer

Nicole Byer first started to gain recognition by appearing on MTV’s Girl Code. MTV eventually gave her a starring role in Loosely Exactly Nicole. However, most people recognize Nicole Byer for being the infectiously bubbly host on Netflix’s Nailed It! Byer has also had guest appearances on Bob’s Burgers, The Unicorn, and The Good Place.

She plays Doug Judy (Craig Robinson)’s sister, Trudy Judy on Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 (Episode 5), “A Tale of Two Bandits.” Jake and Doug team up to prove his innocence, and to prove that he is not the Pontiac Bandit anymore. All clues lead back to Doug, but twist, it was his sister Trudy. Nicole Byer creates a hilarious new character that expands on the universe of the Judy family, as well as creating a new Pontiac Bandit who might be slyer than the original.

Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez began his acting career as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell. After appearing in several television shows and movies, Mario Lopez settled into hosting duties. He appeared on Extra from 2008 to 2019, and recently, Lopez joined the Access team.

In Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6 (Episode 4), “Four Movements,” Gina tries to spend time with each member of the 99th Precinct to before she leaves. She assigns Jake with planning her going away party. He wants to make it extra special by getting Mario Lopez to make a cameo. Eventually, Jake succeeds in getting Mario Lopez there, but Gina sends him away to just spend time with her actual friends. Mario Lopez has fun with the role, even quoting his Saved by the Bell character. His appearance also gives us peak Gina as she revels in sending a celebrity away from her party.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson is a leading astrophysicist who also runs the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York. He has also made many television cameos, including on Family Guy, BoJack Horseman, Stargate: Atlantis, and The Big Bang Theory.

Neil deGrasse Tyson plays himself on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In Season 3, Terry recruits him to help Gina learn astronomy for her upcoming test. Terry and deGrasse Tyson go to the same gym. The funniest moment from his short appearance is when Brooklyn Nine-Nine flashes back to Terry and Neil deGrasse Tyson in the gym. Terry is struggling, but deGrasse Tyson finds it easy because of physics.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine will continue to have memorable cameos, so make sure to catch Holt, Peralta and the rest of the crew on NBC in February. The first six seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine are also available to stream on Hulu.

This August will be a big one for anyone who has ever called someone "preppie" or performed Zack Attack songs at karaoke, with Saved by the Bell turning 30 years old. To celebrate the occasion, four of the main cast members – Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley – all met up for dinner, accompanied by their spouses. It appeared to be quite a cute and happy get-together, and I think it'd be a fantastic set-up scenario for a Saved by the Bell revival special.

First, let's champion all the former co-stars before conceptualizing their potential TV return. This is one of the most ageless TV casts known to man, and everyone is looking predictably great all grouped together around a restaurant table. Granted, Mark-Paul Gosselaar's dark beard is something that would have looked surreally alien on Zack Morris' face, but his eyes and smile could easily take viewers back to Bayside's halls.

Two of the main Saved by the Bell "kid" stars were absent from the dinner, with Dustin "Screech" Diamond and Lark "Lisa" Voorhies nowhere to be seen during the communal dinnertime. Voorhies largely backed away from her acting career in the 2000s, with arguably her most notable roles hitting in How High and the Robot Chicken episode where she reprised her SBTB role. She'd previously declined to take part in the planned reunion on The Tonight Show in 2015.

It's not so surprising that Dustin Diamond wasn't around for this pic, since he hasn't been close with the others in years. Diamond had some legal problems in recent years, not to mention penning the 2009 tell-all Behind the Bell, which shed unflattering light on the alleged behind-the-scenes behavior of Diamond's co-stars. Just about everything has been refuted, of course, and Diamond later "confessed" that it was written by a ghost writer. Just as he claimed he wasn't in his own sex tape.

In any case, the limited reunion dinner was still a success for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley. Here, Lopez shared an amusing video laying out how the meal went.

Now, as far as a pitch for a Saved by the Bell reunion special goes, I'd like to offer up the seemingly simple idea of Zack, Slater, Kelly and Jessie all doing the the same thing that their portrayers did. Reuniting for an evening together, possibly with respective life-mates, would be an interesting way for these characters to return in evolved ways without, say, needing Zack to scheme an entire population into following his bidding.

They could have conversations about past hijinks they regret and past romances they look back on fondly, possibly with old clips getting shown. Little convo would likely get devoted to the actual education they got at Bayside; even if Jessie tried to do it, Zack would probably shut that shit down.

Not that any potential Saved by the Bell reunions would absolutely need to take place in a restaurant. The point would and should just be to introduce circumstances for the characters' lives to realign with one another, as opposed to coming up with the scheme of all schemes for Zack to attempt pulling off. I just want to see what these people are like as genuine adults.

Quite often, concepts for modern TV revivals are basically just beat-for-beat reproductions of the series' original formats, with some minor updates. Murphy Brown, Roseanne (turned The Conners), and even CBS All Access' The Twilight Zone makes intentional callbacks to the franchise's flagship. That couldn't happen, however, with Saved by the Bell's central characters, who'd all graduated Bayside High at the end of the initial series' run, ahead of the College Years and New Class spinoffs, as well as the TV movies.

In fact, if those follow-up projects are still considered canon within the Saved by the Bell-verse, then Zack and Kelly might still be married. And Mr. Belding might STILL be suffering through another multi-year span getting hijacked by one of Bayside's craftiest slackers, although I'd prefer to see him get introduced as the gang's waiter for the reunion dinner. "Hey, hey, hey! What is being ordered here?"

Fans' love for Saved by the Bell has never completely died, but recent years have seen pop culture embracing the former Saturday morning series in different ways, such as that pop-up diner, that bonkers Lifetime original movie, Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins' NFL-related cameos for Fox, and more.

Arguably the biggest highlight, which is admittedly unfavorable to Saved by the Bell itself, is the Funny or Die web series Zack Morris Is Trash. Each short-form episode offers editorialized recaps of SBTB episodes while pointing out the endless number of ways in which Zack is a monster to the friends, family and strangers around him. (Such as that time he sold untested zit cream that made people's faces turn maroon, and then blamed Kelly for applying some after he sold it to her.)

As a parting piece of proper "make yourself feel old" wisdom tied to Saved by the Bell's upcoming anniversary: the entire cast could realistically have had children of their own that would have already graduated from Bayside by now. After picking your jaw up off the ground, be sure to rewatch the teen shenanigans in all of their glory by streaming episodes on Hulu.

Social media is once again aflutter with the #10YearChallenge, in which people post pictures of themselves from a decade previous in order to show off how hot, different, etc. one used to be. (Or how hot, different, etc. one is now, compared to ten years ago.) Former Saved by the Bell co-stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez ain't got time for mere mortal challenges like that, and posted their own SBTB-inspired 30-Year Challenge photo.

If someone had told me that Mario Lopez had taken the picture on the left at home just minutes before driving up to the Extra studio in order to meet up with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, I think I would only have reached a "mild suspicion" about that statement not being correct. Because geez, he does not currently look 30 years older than his teenaged self. He probably stayed away from those dangerous caffeine pills.

As seen above, Mario Lopez and Mark-Paul Gosselaar basically recreated a 1989 promo pic for Saved by the Bell, in which the latter's Zack Morris is standing alongside the former's A.C. Slater. The two characters were begrudging friends or mild enemies, depending on what the storyline called for, but the actors themselves have maintained an absolutely friendly relationship in the decades since Saved by the Bell was an ongoing hit.

Time for another buddy pic!

While it would be perfectly acceptable for the two former co-stars to have some social media fun after randomly waxing nostalgic about Bayside High, this featured a more professional setting. Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed up as a guest on Extra to talk to Mario Lopez about the new Fox supernatural drama The Passage, on which Gosselaar plays a lead.

The actor's presence is probably the only thing that could possibly connect The Passage with Saved by the Bell, too. The new series, which is based on Justin Cronin's novel series, deals with secret medical experiments, vampires and other high-minded elements that would confuse the bejesus out of Mr. Belding. It's not exactly the kind of show that would allow for an easy-peasy Mario Lopez cameo, since that would threaten to derail the seriousness, but I'd still welcome it.

Also getting in on the share-ful excitement, Mark-Paul Gosselaar posted a video to his Instagram page he took on the Today set, in which Mario Lopez drops an amusing surprise F-bomb.

Recently, Mark-Paul Gosselaar revealed that he hadn't really kept up with any sentimental memories about his time filming Saved by the Bell, and that he didn't remember much in the long run. (Not even all those musical moments?) Which means we probably can't ask him about his younger self's shirt, the one with all the clocks on it. Who can we ask, though, because WTF is that shirt?

Mario Lopez can be found on leading the team on Extra on a daily basis, though he had a couple of scripted parts in 2018 on shows such as Jane the Virgin and the animated series Elena of Avalor. Meanwhile, Mark-Paul Gosselaar can be found trying to keep the world safe on The Passage, airing Monday nights on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you don't know what else is hitting primetime soon...it's all right, 'cause you're saved by our midseason TV schedule.

Sundays are heavenly for football fans aiming to spend the entire day cheering and jeering. Fox's NFL Sunday pregame show even offers non-football fans something to enjoy each week, thanks to the comedic stylings of Rob Riggle. Here, Riggle donned a blonde wig, and welcomed Saved by the Bell alumni Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins for a cheesy-as-hell parody dubbed "Saved by LaVeon Bell," in reference to the beleaguered Pittsburgh Steelers running back.

Where can we begin talking about the magic seen above? The most obvious place would be the most obviously recognizable faces: Mario "A.C. Slater" Lopez and Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins. Saved by the Bell was a career-maker for both men, who remain game to make fun tie-in appearances such as these whenever they make sense.

It definitely looks like Mario Lopez had to turn in his appearance from elsewhere, since he's just seen in front of a green screen. Of course, when the green screen is used to showcase mock-ups of Saved by the Bell's fantastically colorful trapper-keeper backgrounds, we have zero complaints.

Speaking of those backgrounds, I'm not certain the logo for the Pittsburgh Steelers would feel at home in the stomping grounds of California's Bayside High. But then Bayside was not a place where logic was readily apparent. No one would have continued to employ Mr. Belding after he failed to have Zack Morris expelled and arrested.

For my money -- none of which went into this video at all -- the greatest moment in the video comes right as it starts, for two reasons. For one, Dennis Haskins gets to deliver one of the main catchphrases that Mr. Belding could call his own: "Hey, hey, hey! What is going on here?" Not only was that awesome on its own, but it was amusingly arbitrary within the context of the scene, since he seemed to be fully aware of what was going on here.

The second reason why that opening moment rocks is less readily noticeable that Haskins' audible words. As the scene jumps to Sorta-Belding, someone in a bear suit is making an exit by walking to the side of the stage. What was that bear's act about? Was it insane enough to make someone inquire about what was going on there?

Also, if there are tigers (Bayside) and bears (one in a suit), does that mean a lion was lurking nearby? Or is it too much to try and slap a Wizard of Oz reference on top of this already strange mash-up?

As great as the parody song is in matching up with Saved by the Bell's memorable theme song, it may not have been the easiest thing to understand for those who don't keep up with NFL drama. The well-paid Pittsburgh Steelers running LaVeon Bell attempted to get a bigger contract negotiation going into the new season, but was denied. In response, Bell chose to sit out the team's games this season, which also hasn't worked in his favor.

With the NFL's trade deadline coming next week, LaVeon Bell was expected to either take the franchise tag to round out the season, or for the Steelers to find a team to trade him to. It's possible neither will happen, though, since backup running back James Conner is crushing it, and other teams haven't shown much interest in picking Bell up.

Saved by the Bell's A.J. Slater and Moose might be interested in that kind of football story, but I can only see Zack Morris interested in figuring out how to use LaVeon Bell's tactics to his own advantage. Maybe Bayside will find oil under the field again.

The absolute best Saved by the Bell reunion happened on The Tonight Show, but this was still a bizarre treat. Check out what Rob Riggle will bring to Fox NFL Sunday next weekend at 12:00 p.m. ET. Fox is also the latest home of Thursday Night Football.

To see all the comedies and dramas about sports and teens that hitting primetime soon, our fall TV premiere schedule will be of assistance.

Saved by the Bell means a lot to many. And as you might imagine, it means a lot to the stars of the show. Two of the show's original stars recently mused about the series and their children's respective reactions to it. Tiffani Thiessen and Mario Lopez were chatting up a storm when Lopez revealed his kids' reaction to watching it, and their response may surprise you. Lopez said:

Maybe their feelings will change with age? Mario Lopez has two children -- a daughter who is 8-years-old, and a son who is 5-years-old. So, there is still time for the show to grow on them more than his report on The Ellen DeGeneres Show indicates that it has so far. Hopefully, Lopez will update fans with how his kids feel about it when they are a little older.

Now that we know that Mario Lopez's kids did not rush to be "saved by the bell," it stands to reason that you may be curious about how Tiffani Thiessen's kids reacted. Thiessen has two children, aged 8-years-old and 3-years-old. The mother of two shared how her eldest child responded to the show. And while Mario Lopez's kids were not into it, Tiffani Thiessen's daughter had a different reaction to watching it. Thiessen said:

While Tiffani Thiessen shared her daughter' enthusiastic response to the series, she did not reveal if her daughter shipped Kelly with Zack or Slater. The epic love triangle ultimately ended up with Zack and Kelly getting married. Of course, Saved by the Bell's producer Peter Engel revealed that he did not believe the couple would still be together. And they would be married to other people by now. Say it isn't so! Well, he said it so, we have to work with what we know.

As hard as it is to believe, Saved by the Bell will celebrate the 30 year anniversary of its premiere next year. Yes, you read that correctly. Before you start freaking out, take heart. You have one more year left before the beloved series officially tallies three decades under its belt. It is nice to know that some of the cast members are still close after all these years. That is not an every-show occurrence. Despite it having started 30 years ago, Tiffani Thiessen shared that she still remembers the first day of filming Saved by the Bell. Mario Lopez, on the other hand, said that he did not.

You can catch Saved by the Bell on Hulu. For a limited time only, you can also watch the show on NBC's website. Don't be late for the bell! Wondering what else you can watch? Well, summer is still running hot! Check out the new shows set to arrive with CinemaBlend's summer premiere guide. For new television premiering this fall, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's fall premieres.

Candy Crush Saga isn't quite the global mobile sensation it was when it first launched back in 2012, but it's still pretty successful. Five years after the game first swept the world, CBS commissioned a live-action game show simply called Candy Crush, and the host that's been announced for the show couldn't be a better choice, as CBS has tapped the ever-so-sweet Saved by the Bell alum Mario Lopez as its Candy Crush host.

Candy Crush will feature host Mario Lopez as he guides two teams competing for supremacy. The hour-long program will be similar to the Candy Crush game you know, but with a few differences. Two teams of two will compete on giant interactive game boards in a contest of wits and agility as they look to defeat each other for prizes. While the concept sounds new and crazy, CBS was right to tap Lopez for the role of host, given his past experience.

Mario Lopez is a veteran when it comes to television hosting. He has performed previous frontman duties in The X-Factor and America's Best Dance Crew and appeared as a celebrity guest on some of the biggest game shows on television. Seriously, you have to wonder what the Extra host leaves out of his resume, because his list of appearances on shows has to be a mile long. Considering his long stint and prolonged fame following his role on Saved By The Bell, it's fair to say Mario Lopez is the Candy Crush of actors in Hollywood.

I mentioned earlier that Candy Crush Saga has waned in popularity since its launch, but it still has a very strong following. Estimations say around 18 billion game rounds are played monthly on the app, and both Candy Crush Saga and Candy Crush Soda Saga are among the top 10 grossing mobile games in the United States. When you look at those numbers, it's easy to see why CBS thinks Candy Crush can be a hit with audiences. Throw Mario Lopez on top of that and this thing could take off like Regis Philbin and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire!

Everything is looking good for Candy Crush on paper, but will fans respond to a game show that originated from a smartphone app? I'm definitely interested to find out and considering CBS pulled Mario Lopez in for it, they're invested in the experiment as well. According to THR, production has begun, with a start date set for Sunday, July 9. We'll keep you in the loop should any more information about this new show drop between now and the show's premiere in October. Until then, how about heading over to our midseason premiere guide and Summer premiere schedule to start marking off your calendar with great programming while you wait?

Some of you may remember Deadpool's epic April Fool's joke that featured the movie's titular Merc With A Mouth killing Mario Lopez with a stage light. Well, it seems that psychotic mercenary isn't quite done delivering pain to the man who once known as Slater, as seen in this brand new social media post:

Ryan Reynolds opened an Instagram account yesterday to show off a shot of himself in action as Deadpool, but today it is actually Mario Lopez who has revealed the latest image from the set of the upcoming comic book movie. This time around Reynolds doesn't have his full costume on, but he is still channeling his character's murderous spirit by trying to kill the Extra host with some kind of metal doohickey. And he looks pretty relaxed about it

The fact that Reynolds doesn't have his Deadpool mask on here is interesting, if not just because that's almost certainly not what he's going to look like with his mask off in the actual film. In the comics, Deadpool (a.k.a. Wade Wilson) has a horrifically scarred face that came as a result of both cancer and torturous medical experiments - and as a result he really hates taking his mask off in public. Reynolds has promised fans that the upcoming film will be as loyal to the comics as X-Men Origins: Wolverine wasn't - so there's a very good chance that most mask-off scenes in the actual movie will involve a lot of horrific makeup.

For those of you who haven't been following the development of Deadpool, this isn't the first time that the anti-hero and Mario Lopez have crossed paths - as hinted in the intro. On April 1st, Ryan Reynolds tricked the internet into thinking that the production's rating battle with the studio was over, and that an agreement had been made to make a PG-13 blockbuster instead of an R-rated one. Later that same day, he released this special internet-only video interview he did with Extra:

As it has been for the last few weeks, Deadpool is still in production up in Vancouver, Canada. Hopefully it won't be long before we get to see other members of the expanded supporting cast, because while Deadpool did take a photo with Brianna Hildebrand's Negasonic Teenage Warhead a few weeks ago, we're still waiting for an official peek at T.J. Miller as Deadpool's sidekick Weasel, Morena Baccarin as the beautiful shape-shifter Vanessa Carlysle/Copycat, and Gina Carano as the adrenaline-controlling mutant Angel Dust.

Deadpool will be in theaters on February 12, 2016.

The past year has been an incredibly rich one for fans of Saved by the Bell. (Not a sentence one has to form very often.) It all reached an apex of sorts on The Tonight Show, which featured Jimmy Fallon taking a trip back to his high school days at Bayside, specifically the day when he told friends Zack, Kelly, Jessie and Slater that he was leaving. It’s pretty much the best thing since Saved by the Bell.

Nothing dredges the depths of post-modernism more gleefully than a Saved by the Bell sketch with the original actors commenting on their careers after SBTB. Beyond just a guilty pleasure, this is “scraped off of the electric chair pleasure,” as we watch Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Dennis Haskins don their old duds and essentially perform the hits for Jimmy Fallon and his audience. As soon as Bayside’s main hall shows up, with the walls covered in episode-specific posters, my face locked into a permagrin. And then Zack walked out, and the crowd screamed for like twenty minutes or something. Time doesn’t work the same in this universe.

From the costumes to the props to the jokes, there was nothing imperfect about this. The theme song gets a reference. Slater’s grin is as shit-eating as ever, and he’s wearing tearaway clothes for impromptu dance numbers. Lopez and Berkley don’t look like they’ve aged past Saved by the Bell: The College Years (which also gets a reference).

Fallon’s career and missed chances with Nicole Kidman gets joked about. ”I’m so excited!” and Zack Attack show up. And there was no better quote on TV on Wednesday than this.

This was definitely better than the Saved by the Bell Lifetime movie, although that was amazing in its own special way. Watching these actors just settle right back into the roles that launched them into different orbits, it’s more fulfilling than actually seeing them return for an hourlong reunion special. You can’t get the giant mobile phone joke into a modern-day version.

Fallon recently brought back some TV nostalgia with his take on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme. Are we going to get a Beverly Hills 90210 reunion next? Is it too soon for Freaks and Geeks?

The X Factor’s main cast has never been particularly stable, with judges and hosts leaving after Season 1 and Season 2. However, Fox announced today that one host will remain the same in Season 3—Mario Lopez will return as the host of Fox’s other singing competition series, although the same can’t be said about Khloe Kardashian.

The Extra host had the capacity to keep things running smoothly during Season 2. He also genuinely seemed to be having a good time onstage and showed far more empathy than the very wooden Steve Jones managed in Season 1. For all of those reasons, it’s not a shocker The X Factor would want Lopez to return. Cowell addressed Lopez’s skill sets on Monday, noting he is happy the host will be returning to the series.

While Fox’s press release made no mention of Khloe Kardashian at all, much less noting Kardashian is done with the series, according to Deadline, that is exactly what has happened. With Kardashian’s horrible and blatant reading of the teleprompter and with her occasionally uncouth comments, it’s no surprise Kardashian will not be returning to The X Factor. Early reports indicated she would be out and those rumors seem to have had a foundation.

A reality television program that relies on a live studio audience already has to deal with plenty of unknowns and put out plenty of small fires. I’m sure producers don’t also want to deal with Khloe making comments about contestants (and Simon) looking sexy and the like. Confirmed for Season 3 are Cowell, Demi Lovato, and now Lopez. We’ll keep you updated as the singing competition series continues to fill up the judging slots.

Mario Lopez is fairly used to maintaining a high profile on television. This is why it is no surprise the Extra and The X Factor host has made plans with TLC to whore out his wedding footage to the masses. Still, there are worse things on TLC than the upcoming special, called Mario & Courtney’s Wedding Fiesta.

Lopez was married to long-time girlfriend Courney Mazza in a ceremony in Punta Mita, Mexico on Saturday. The ceremony actually occurred on Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis’ property, which seems like it could be a weird place to have a wedding, but I suppose we will see when the special airs. Otherwise the event should have been beautiful, with 150 guests in attendance for the ceremony, which was held on the beach and officiated by a Catholic priest. The couples’ daughter, two-year-old Gia, even acted as a flower girl and Eva Longoria was on hand as a bridesmaid.

According to THR, fans of Lopez will get to take a sneak peek at the wedding and wedding planning much sooner than they may think. The two-hour network special will be presented on Lifetime for the first time on December 8, and I don’t think it’s too forward to assume Mario & Courtney’s Wedding Fiesta will be subject to repeats. I don’t know about watching on multiple occasions, but this might be the type of reality TV that is worth checking out, once.

TLC’s Mario & Courtney’s Wedding Fiesta will air Saturday, December 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

After months of rumors and speculation, the official word is in on the hosting situation for Fox's singing competition series The X Factor. Since Steve Jones was let go after Season 1, we were left to wonder who would fill his shoes. We've known for a while now that there would be two hosts set to take the stage for the series' second season, as was originally intended for the show's first season. Rumors that Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez were up for the gig had been circulating and today Fox has made it official.

Fox announced this evening that Khloe Kardashian Odom and Mario Lopez will host The X Factor side by side beginning in November. The series went without a host through its audition process, and actually did pretty well, filling in the intro and between-audition portions with segments featuring various eager and nervous auditioners preparing to perform. But with the show inching closer toward the big stage as the finalists have been divided by category and set to work with their mentors, it's good to see they've settled on two hosts.

While it may seem like The X Factor was aiming for two vary familiar faces, Lopez and Kardashian may actually prove to be good choices, especially if they click together on screen. Kardashian's known for the fame she's achieved on her E! reality shows Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Khloe and Lamar, so at the very least, she's comfortable being on camera. Meanwhile, since making a name for himself on Saved By the Bell, Mario Lopez has gone on to host on Extra, and also hosted the MTV dance competition series America's Best Dance Crew. Of the two of them, he obviously has more hosting experience, but Kardashian has proven to be friendly and charismatic, so I'm optimistic that they'll be a good match.

We'll see how things go when they make their first appearance next month. In the meantime, here's what's coming up for The X Factor.

Extra, that extremely socially valuable celebrity news program, has decided to make some drastic hosting changes for the upcoming season. The familiar faces of Dayna Devon, and her co-host Mark McGrath will be replaced by one host - Slater from Saved By The Bell, I mean Mario Lopez.

Perez Hilton broke the story Monday morning, and it's since been verified by a story on Reuters . Not that I don't trust Perez Hilton, but Reuters might be a tad more reputable for information.

Mario Lopez has been a co-host in the past, and "A rep for the show says, "[Mario Lopez] has established himself as a highly engaging, likeable and sought-after host and personality."

Lest you worry about the pair that won't be sticking around, "Extra veteran Devon will stay on as a special correspondent and backup host. McGrath is leaving the show after a three-year stint to return to his music career. His band Sugar Ray is recording a new album, which will be documented by Extra.