The Torrie Eps Of Saved By The Bell

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Ok for the last week or so TBS had been playing the Torrie eps of SBTB, you know the biker chick, so I thought I'd post my thoughts about them and ask you with you thought about them.

 

Back when I was a kid when they 1st aired I was freaking out and wondering what the hell happened to Kelly and Jessie cause they never said anything about them in the eps. I mean I now know the reason, they left the show half way thru filming the season and had to replace them but, I didn't know why then. At first I thought the eps took place on different days of school were Kelly and Jessie had different classes or something but, then why in the hell the the gang ever mention them and why is Lisa's hair style way different in the Torrie eps then the K&J eps? As an adult I kinda consider the Torrie eps take place in an alt. world in SBTB world were Kelly and Jessie were never born or something like that.

 

And as for what I thought of Torrie and the eps with her? I didn't like them as a kid and I don't like them now. First the eps happened during the senior year and Torrie replaced two well know girls on the show so of course she had alot against her. The Torrie character was awful. They try to make her some tough bikerchick and she came off as a wannbe at best and she was just a bad actor at that.

 

Then they have Torrie and Zack hook up and I didn't buy it at all it came off all wrong especially when NBC would later show an ep where Zack is going after Kelly or dating someone else.

 

And the gang didn't have that chemistry with Torrie like that did with Kelly and Jessie for oblivious reasons and that and maybe it's just me but, the rest of the cast seem to be kinda out of it like they were just waiting for the show to hurry up and end.

 

So what did you think of Torrie in Saved By The Bell?

[Mole 0]

I was very confused as a kid, but I still liked them because it was SBTB.

 

So, why did Kelly and Jesse leave?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Contract dispute.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

I thought they left cause they got tired of doing the show. Didn't they say that on the E! Story?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

They ended up coming back and in Kellye's case she ended up doing the College Years as well. The only possible thing it could've been was a contract dispute.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

How did they comeback? I mean I know Kelly did the College Years but, I thought that in the senior year they had already filmed the graduation ep and when they left they had some many left they had to shoot. So Torrie was there till the end so to speak.

[The Tino Standard 0]

Well, Mr. Belding is coming to my campus next month for a talk at the student center. I promise all of you that I'll get to the bottom of this.

[starvenger 0]

In a way this helped set the standard for future Peter Engel kids shows, where the cast would change every year (and in some cases it was never explained, or explained very poorly eg Hang Time season 2).

 

Tori, eh, didn't really care either way. Like most people, I consider them as "not real" SBTB eps...

[Slayer 0]

I thought the whole "tough chick" thing was over the top

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

In a way this helped set the standard for future Peter Engel kids shows, where the cast would change every year (and in some cases it was never explained, or explained very poorly eg Hang Time season 2).

That's one of the reason's why I didn't like the New Class, besides that awful first season which I like to call Saved By The Bell: The Clone Class. Why should I care about the show when the cast isn't going to be on the show past one season?

[Zack Malibu 0]

Where was Barron with his traditional "Paging Zack Malibu" post that he does in every SBTB thread.

 

I liked the Tori eps, but not as much as the original six, obviously. The boys/girls faceoff for the inheritance money stands out as my favorite of the bunch. The way I saw the Tori/Zack relationship was that she was a challenge to Zack, and that's why he kept pursuing her (although he also pursued Slater's sister in an ep during the Tori era).

 

As for Kelly and Jesse, it was a contract dispute. Berkley soon went on to infamy in Showgirls, and Tiffani stuck around for the College Years (although not at first, as she was not in the pilot ep) and the Wedding movie before becoming Valerie on 90210.

 

Regarding the cast dropoffs and changes in Engel shows, I think City Guys is the only one where nobody left, save for them changing from the girl in the pilot (can't remember her name off the top of my head...I think it was Gina) to Cassidy in the second episode. I also read once that out of the whole TNBC history, only the character of Hammer on Hang Time got an actual sendoff episode (he was in the first episode of season 5, but they wrote him out as he got a chance to go to school in NC and then move on to Duke for college ball). Everyone else was just explained in short (like on California Dreams, when Lorena debuted, and Jake was in her loft saying "I miss Garrison, but this loft makes his garage look like...a garage!" Truth be told though, I liked some of the New Class (HATED The first class with the ripoffs like Weasel, etc.) but liked the Ryan Parker era (when the kids transferred from Valley and had trouble fitting in). Same goes for California Dreams. I probably liked it more with Lorena and Sly's cousin Mark than I did with the Garrison family.

[starvenger 0]

Regarding the cast dropoffs and changes in Engel shows, I think City Guys is the only one where nobody left, save for them changing from the girl in the pilot (can't remember her name off the top of my head...I think it was Gina) to Cassidy in the second episode. I also read once that out of the whole TNBC history, only the character of Hammer on Hang Time got an actual sendoff episode (he was in the first episode of season 5, but they wrote him out as he got a chance to go to school in NC and then move on to Duke for college ball).

Now that I think about it One World didn't have a rotating cast, but it only lasted a couple of seasons, and I'd LOVE to hear an onscreen explanation for cast changes there.

 

But yeah, some of those other shows, the casts changed so much my head would spin. Frankly, I'm impressed that Daniella Deutcher and Megan Parlen lasted the entire run of Hang Time, given the amount of turnover there.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

I was wondering when you'd show up Zack.

 

The way I saw the Tori/Zack relationship was that she was a challenge to Zack, and that's why he kept pursuing her (although he also pursued Slater's sister in an ep during the Tori era).

 

To me it just seemed forced and so out of place.

 

Same goes for California Dreams. I probably liked it more with Lorena and Sly's cousin Mark than I did with the Garrison family.

 

For me I loved the first two seasons on the show and disliked the Lorena and Mark years. When Cali. Dreams first started while I remember alot of people calling it a SBTB ripoff with a band I thought it was different. It was about teens trying to make it big as a band and it had the Garrison family alot in it with made it far different from SBTB.

 

But, once the Garrison's left and Lorena and Mark came in it went all downhill for me. First, what was the point of Lorena? She really didn't seem to do much of anything besides be a groupie and sometimes date Jake. And when they her do something real like be co-manager of the band in the last few eps it was to late. And Mark was ok at first but, then turned into a wimpy, poor mans verison of Matt Garrison. While I really liked Jake in the second season when he took over his tough guy biker thing was pushed to hard and way over the top and then I didn't buy how someone was built as Tony or Sly should be scared of him.

 

And last without the family angle and having the show spent more time with the gang at school really did make the show seem like SBTB with a band. But, that's just me.

[Zack Malibu 0]

Regarding the cast dropoffs and changes in Engel shows, I think City Guys is the only one where nobody left, save for them changing from the girl in the pilot (can't remember her name off the top of my head...I think it was Gina) to Cassidy in the second episode.  I also read once that out of the whole TNBC history, only the character of Hammer on Hang Time got an actual sendoff episode (he was in the first episode of season 5, but they wrote him out as he got a chance to go to school in NC and then move on to Duke for college ball).

Now that I think about it One World didn't have a rotating cast, but it only lasted a couple of seasons, and I'd LOVE to hear an onscreen explanation for cast changes there.

 

But yeah, some of those other shows, the casts changed so much my head would spin. Frankly, I'm impressed that Daniella Deutcher and Megan Parlen lasted the entire run of Hang Time, given the amount of turnover there.

Well, Hang Time's whole niche was Daniella as the female star of the boys basketball team. Parlen's character of Mary Beth would have been more expendable, but at least they let her evolve somewhat through the years.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

I thought Hangtime just didn't have any interesting characters...Anthony Anderson was funny though.

 

One World....really cool theme song...that's about it. Never really got into the story.

 

California Dreams was pretty good, it actually had a satisfying final episode too. I don't know why the show never comes on anymore.

 

City Guys- Broke the sterotype, and was pretty good. Final episode was very unsatisfying as we have no idea what happens to the characters. Felt more like a season finale.

 

USA High, underrated show. Really lost it's wings once Laz left and they replaced him with Tony from California Dreams.

 

Saved by the Bell New class pissed me off. Everytime you got to know a character, BOOM, written off with no explanation. Terrible, terrible casting on this show.

 

Overall, the original Saved by the Bell was the best.

[Mole 0]

Hang Time was awesome for ONE season. The season that had Anthony Anderson and whoever else was with him, which escapes my mind.

 

After that cast left, I got really pissed and never enjoyed the show the same way.

[Zack Malibu 0]

Hang Time was awesome for ONE season. The season that had Anthony Anderson and whoever else was with him, which escapes my mind.

 

After that cast left, I got really pissed and never enjoyed the show the same way.

Nah, I liked Hang Time when they had Silk, Hammer, etc. Anderson was funny, but the show didn't lose quality after he left. The Hammer farewell ep was great, and plus I always found Amber Barretto hot .

 

I did wonder why Dick Butkus was cast as a basketball coach though.

 

I barely watched One World. Only one I remember was when the black kid was pulled over by the racist cop when he took the parents new car out.

 

California Dreams had a GREAT finale. The final ep is one of my favorites.

 

City Guys was a lot "edgier" (as edgy as these shows can be), and dealt with issues of date rape, kids with guns (resulting in Jamal accidentally shooting his dad), and other topics that teens face in the real world.

 

USA High was awesome with Laz, and I barely remember any Excess (the name of William James Jones' character) episodes.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Torrie sucked. Even worse then Jesse's little new york stepbrother or whatever he was.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

Eric > You.

 

Hang Time used to come on ABC Family everyday and I taped it everyday, then it just went away.

 

BTW, it's been so long since USA High... did Jackson and Lauren ever get together ? I remember an ep where they got stuck in an elevator together, did anything happen with that ?

[Zack Malibu 0]

I have no idea to be honest. Also, did Christian and Winnie stay together in Season 2? I agree, it's been a long time. They haven't even shown reruns since like 2000. Same goes for The New Class...I didn't watch much when it became based on Maria as the main character in the group and that wussy blonde dude joined up.

 

I also got most of my Hang Time from ABC Family, but I don't think they ran season 1 at all, with Earl the hick and Chris Atwater.

 

The SBTB storyline with Jesse's stepbrother was great.

[NoCalMike 0]

I read that Jessie/Kelly just left the show after the "Junior" year because they wanted to move on and were afraid that anymore SBTB would equal typecasting and they would never get better roles because of always being looked at as "kelly and jessie from SBTB" Also the graduation episode, Senior Prom episodes and a few others were in fact filmed before those two bolted.

[NoCalMike 0]

My favorite Torrie episode was the drunk driving episode, because it was actually only maybe a few episodes in the entire library that dealt with a more serious teen issue. Plus watching the gang sing "Wild Thing" in the car while drunk was enough in itself to make it a great episode.

[JasonX 0]

Didn't they say that on the E! Story?

Actually the E! True Hollywood Story special completely and utterly glossed over that period but yeah, it was contract disputes that caused Torrie to be created. Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani Amber-Thesin both wanted off the show and move on to movie careers but NBC desperately wanted them back. They ultimately got TAT to come back with a contract for a series of Made-4-TV films that she did which is also why SBTB:TCY's pilot didn't have Kelly in it...

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

All these years later...

 

Thessen still doesn't have a movie career, well other than the countless made for TV movies that she's done.

 

I did enjoy Fastlane, though. Cancelled too soon...

[JasonX 0]

All these years later...

 

Thessen still doesn't have a movie career, well other than the countless made for TV movies that she's done.

 

I did enjoy Fastlane, though. Cancelled too soon...

To be fair though, she did do a rather lengthy and memorable run on 90210 and IMHO gave the show new life when she joined the cast. Her first episode, where she basically gets high and runs down how all of the cast members suck donkey balls remains my all-time favorite 90210 moment...

[Zack Malibu 0]

I think I liked Gina (Vanessa Marcil...HAWT~!) more than Valerie (TAT's character) on 90210.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Is there enough material for a "tnbc" channel? I say yes.

[Zack Malibu 0]

Is there enough material for a "tnbc" channel? I say yes.

I would mark the fuck out. I'm actually hoping that the SBTB DVD's carry over to include The New Class, etc. They had the "TNBC" logo on the package of the first set, so maybe it's a sign of things to come.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

I only stopped in so I could sing a little...

 

 

California Dreaaaaaams...don't wake me up if i'm dreaming...

[MooreMark 0]

I love this topic.

 

I got into Hang Time at the end of the first season. I really liked it. When I watched it again..all the characters were replaced. The only people I remembered were Mary Beth and the fem-baller. Then they added Antonio(?). It had it's twists but I still really liked that show. If anyone knows where I can get the first/second seasons on tape. It would be much appreciated. My favourite episode is when Mary Beth and Fem-Baller hate goths and call them groats. Then the redhead who is there friend ends up being one!

 

California Dreams, I didn't really watch.

 

I loved City Guys and the last season of The New Class.

 

The original SBTB did it for me though. I always reminise(sp) sadly when I watch my tape of the two SBTB movies. Everything about it from the corny jokes and the unbelievable storylines to the downright serious really made me get into the show.

 

TNBC channel would fucking own but I don't have digital cable or satellite.