We Have to Go Back: The Best Saved by the Bell Episode Ever

Consider this a Zack Attack stan account.

Hi hi hi.

So, I’m coming in hot with a nostalgia post and a (probably) controversial take.

Before I lay it all on the line, I wanted to say welcome to all the new friends who have subscribed lately. I’m so grateful and hope you have some fun—with me or at my expense. It all works.

While almost every post at WHN its tinged with some level of generational nostalgia, I like to, on occasion, do deeper dives into my own pop culture history. Which always ends up being OUR shared history—no matter how niche I think my obsession might be. I love finding my people. It makes me feel all safe and happy.

I also love the collective trauma processing we can do around stuff like that episode of Punky Brewster or the loss of someone we’ve loved forever like Matthew Perry via remembering how we first imprinted on him as Sandy on Growing Pains. Or like when we went all in on the 1999 Power Girls issue of NY Mag or The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

Today, we’re going light and frothy with a return Bayside High—where nothing was ever THAT deep. And we loved it for that. I hope this one also brings back some fun memories and story sharing and levity to your world, if even for 10 minutes.

Because I think we can all relate to Harry in this clip…which I have decided I am going to use as many times as possible until spring has sprung once more. I believe we’re only at two so far, but the all-time count is unclear.

I am deeply committed to the bit, for better or worse.

🚨🚨🚨🚨Back to my hot take 🚨🚨🚨🚨

The best episode of Saved by the Bell is S4.22, “Rockumentary”¹. That’s right. I will reiterate that I DID NOT select S3.9 “Jessie’s Song”, aka the “I’m So Excited” ep—which I also love dearly and reference with extreme regularity.

We’re going to get to all that in a second and hear another POV on the matter from an expert on all things SBTB, my dear friend Dori Howard. Again because…journalism.

But let us back up for a minute…

Saved by the Bell is yet another formative text for many members of Gen X, especially those of us in the younger portion of our demo. Yes, yes, you’re included, too, elder millennials. I know how upset you get when you feel left out—which is one of the most millennial things about your hybrid kind.