99 Words About … ‘The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story’

By CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

Taylor Russell McKenzie (Lark Voorhies / “Lisa Turtle”), Dylan Everett (Mark-Paul Gosselaar / “Zack Morris”), Alyssa Lynch (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen / “Kelly Kapowski”), Julian Works (Mario Lopez / “A.C. Slater”), Tiera Skovbye (Elizabeth Berkley /“Jessie Sapano”) and Sam Kindseth (Dustin Diamond / “Screech”) star in Lifetime’s all-new original movie, The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story. (Courtesy)

Did anyone involved with “The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story” (9 p.m. Monday, Lifetime) ever actually watch “Saved by the Bell”?

Or even glance at a cast photo?

The movie’s young stars look like funhouse-mirror versions of the actors/characters they’re playing.

At first, I wasn’t entirely sure whether Alyssa Lynch was supposed to be channeling Kelly Kapowski or Lisa Turtle. (It’s Kelly.)

Honestly, Frank Marino could’ve gender swapped every actor and assembled a more convincing lineup. If Lifetime was just looking for a cheap, pop-culture stunt covering similar ground, there was a less-embarrassing, more entertaining way:

“Screechnado.”

— CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE