What the Children of the Saved by the Bell Cast Think About the 90s Sitcom

Saved by the Bell boasts devoted fans across different generations; however, the offspring of some cast members might not count themselves among them.

The beloved series influenced the expectations of countless kids growing up in the ’90s regarding high school life. Many may have faced a harsh reality when they found out their schools didn’t offer a quirky burger joint staffed by a magician. The illusion of freezing time during uncomfortable teenage moments was likely nonexistent for them as well. Still, Saved by the Bell has captivated audiences for over 35 years with its hilarious love triangles, unforgettable quotes, and of course, those “very special episodes.”

Continue reading to discover how the kids of the Saved by the Bell cast responded to their parents’ fame in their teenage years:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Portraying heartthrob Zack Morris, Gosselaar has shared on several occasions that his two older children from his first marriage to Lisa Ann Russell, son Michael and daughter Ava, have shown little interest in Saved by the Bell.

“The older ones watched it, but they were not impressed,” Gosselaar stated during a guest appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in February 2025.

As for his younger children with wife Catriona McGinn, 11-year-old son Dekker and 10-year-old daughter Lachlyn, they seem more inclined towards cartoons than their father’s classic show.

“My younger kids watched a bit, but then they quickly moved on to ‘What else is there?’ So now they’re into the latest Nickelodeon shows,” he explained to Kelly Clarkson. “They prefer newer shows that are more relatable to their experiences.”

Gosselaar acknowledged in 2019 that part of his children’s indifference towards Saved by the Bell is due to its format; they are accustomed to quick, bite-sized content.

“Honestly, my kids are ‘screenagers’ — if they can’t watch it in five minutes, they move on,” he told People.

Tiffani Thiessen

Thiessen portrayed the quintessential high school cheerleader Kelly Kapowski over four seasons (though she notably missed some episodes featuring biker Tori Scott). Now, she is a proud parent to daughter Harper Renn and son Holt with husband Brady Smith.

During a reunion with her co-star Mario Lopez on Access Daily in 2022, Thiessen shared that her daughter Harper had binge-watched the entire series of Saved by the Bell.

“She loved it, but said, ‘It’s not as good as the shows now, mom.’ I had to agree! Even I see that the style has evolved,” she reminisced. “But she got through every episode, even the special movies like [Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style] and the wedding one [Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas].”

Thiessen wasn’t as eager for her teenager to revisit Beverly Hills, 90210, where she played the scheming Valerie Malone.

“Not yet,” Thiessen remarked. “She’s only 12. We’ll get to that later!”

Mario Lopez

The actor who portrayed A.C. Slater confessed in his Access Daily interview with co-star Thiessen that he struggled to engage his children – daughter Gia, and sons Dominic and Santino – with the original Saved by the Bell.

In a 2018 chat with Us Weekly, Lopez shared that his kids “weren’t tripping” over Saved by the Bell when they watched it as a family.

“I don’t think they’re that interested,” he expressed regretfully.

Lopez reunited with Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Gosselaar, and Thiessen for a Saved by the Bell revival on Peacock in 2020, and this iteration appealed more to his kids due to its inclusion of younger characters.

“They’re definitely going to check it out,” he told E! Online in 2020. “They may not enjoy the original, but my daughter said they’ll give this one a try, so we’ll see what happens.”

Elizabeth Berkley Lauren

Berkley Lauren, who portrayed the intellectually ambitious Jessie Spano, was thrilled to bring her then-8-year-old son Sky to visit the set of the Saved by the Bell sequel on Peacock.

“Sky came to the set and got to hold a clapboard and say ‘action,’” Berkley Lauren shared with People back then. “Being able to share what I’ve worked on with him and what I do has brought so much joy.”

“When he was born, I felt a strong pull towards parenting over work,” she recounted. “I prioritized him, and now taking part in Saved by the Bell again is the perfect family moment.”

The original Saved by the Bell is currently available for streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV+, while its 2020 revival can be found on Peacock.