Plenty of now-famous actors and actresses tried their best to get on the show. This list includes Jaleel White – well-known for his star-turning role of Steve Urkel on “Family Matters,” which went from a one-time guest appearance to the focus of the show. Jennie Garth, Kelly Taylor from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and Val Tyler from “What I Like About You also tried out.”
Jonathon Brandis, from “One Life to Live,” the TV miniseries of Stephen King’s “IT,” and Bastian Bux in “The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter.”
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Most of the actors and actresses playing these high school kids were the same age as their characters (the exception is the late Dustin Diamond), meaning they were still fairly young and were playing kids. There's also the fact that the showrunners were trying to create a comfortable, relaxing environment for everyone who was a part of the show – from the cast members to the crew to the viewers.
Thus a rule was made: no swearing on set. It wasn't part of the show, and the cast members weren't even supposed to let one fly out of frustration or between shots.
A Role Just for Her
Lark Voorhies had such a successful audition that it broke the mold the producers were going for. Her character, Lisa Marie Turtle, was originally going to be a spoiled, rich Jewish girl, but Voorhies impressed so much they threw out the script – so to speak – and rewrote the character. This changed the character a good deal, though some elements remain, such as Lisa Marie being a daddy's girl, spoiled, and a fashionista.
It also introduced the show's only Black character. It was somewhat of a step forward for sitcoms at the time, and even the biggest of them all, "Friends," wouldn't feature any major African-American cast members.
Leanna Creel as Tori Scott
When this biker babe showed up at Bayside High, the viewers knew things have just changed. This character was created to help fill out the cast roster after the producers decided to drop both Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Amber Thiessen) and Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley) from the show at the end of their contracts. She's a dude magnet who wears a sick leather jacket and was one of the boys in the group, contrasting Lisa Marie's girlishness with a tough attitude that didn't last long.
After only nine episodes she disappeared, coinciding with the reappearance of Jessie and Kelly. The producers must have realized things weren't working out.
Saved by the Bell: The Junior High Years
The show got its start with the title "Good Morning, Miss Bliss." Only the pilot was aired, on NBC, and the show wasn't picked up. The series made its way to the Disney Channel, which aired it for a single season. The show was retooled, went back to NBC, and the rest is history. The focus was on the teacher Miss Bliss, but Zack, Lisa Marie, and Screech were all part of the show.
The show was later released on syndication as "Saved by the Bell: The Junior High Years," adding Zack's narration, changing the music, and replacing the opening and closing credits.