Television

Saved by the Bell reboot cancelled by Peacock

May 4, 2022 · By

The NBC streamer Peacock has pulled the plug on the Saved by the Bell reboot. The second season dropped last November after facing a COVID production schedule since its debut season of the classic NBC Saturday morning comedy.

Last month the reboot won Outstanding Comedy Series at the GLAAD Media Awards, but it seems the recognition came too late for NBC/Peacock executives.

Industry insiders generally consider shows that bring in more monthly subscribers as an important metric, possibly over existing paid subscribers consuming (or binging) a show. Saved by the Bell was part 90s nostalgia with many of the original series cast retuning for recurring roles, while the main cast consisted of ‘teens’ with their own take on the classic.

In many ways the new version was a more polished and realistic single-camera setting over the simple soundstage live-audience sets of the original. Like the original, the new Saved by the Bell tackled weighty issues for current teens, including importantly transphobia.

The new class featured Belmont Cameli, Dexter Darden, Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Josie Totah and Haskiri Velazquez with Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Mario Lopez reprising their roles as Jessie Spano and A.C. Slater. John Michael Higgins also starred as Principal Toddman, with edited footage from the original show to suggest he had been a fellow student.

A spokeswoman for Peacock had this to say. “We are so proud to have been the home of the next iteration of Saved by the Bell for both new and OG fans. Saved by the Bell has been a cultural mainstay for more than 30 years and the new series, led by Tracey Wigfield’s superfan enthusiasm and signature witty humor, seamlessly continued the show’s legacy, all while allowing more audiences to feel seen. We’re grateful to Tracey, Franco Bario, our partners at UTV, the beloved cast, and the fans who have continued to champion one of the most iconic shows of all time.”