I’m loving this interview Newsweek did with Mark-Paul Gosselaar. They ask him about rumors that Dustin Diamond is writing a tell-all about his days on Saved by the Bell. Here’s how Mark responded:
What is he going to say? We were banging groupies at 14? I can’t wait to read his book, because I don’t have a memory of a lot of the shows. Maybe it was because I was doing lines off of the audience members’ asses. I’m sure he’s going to write something crazy like that. The truth is?the reason why the show worked and why it’s still on today?we were good people and good to each other. We were innocent, naive kids. We were not jaded. So him writing a book, I’m not really afraid of what he has to say. There are not too many skeletons in my closet.”
You know what? I believe him. I think those kids were relatively well-behaved. There’s not a single one of them that’s gotten into serious trouble since the show wrapped. Admittedly, there’s not a single one of them that’s had a stellar career since the show wrapped, either, but personally I’d rather be sane and sober than wildly famous. But that would never happen today — an uber-hit show with a teenage cast where none of them ended up as tabloid fodder with a DUI. The lure of the paparazzi is just too tempting. I get sad about it for a minute — sad about what the media and the industry does to our teenage celebs today — and then I remember that I’m not especially qualified to do anything but be a part of that media at this point, and then I’m okay with it. I like having a job.
Anyway, Mark also threw in this little tidbit, which I didn’t know and which thrills me:
I met my wife on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. She literally walked by in the hallway and said one word to Zack. Zack looks at her, and gives a look at the camera and winks. It was 16 years ago. We’ve been together ever since.
His wife, Lisa Ann Russell, is the one pictured with him above. How freakin’ adorable is that? Again: That never would have happened without the whole world knowing about it today. And the paps would have stalked that poor girl and made up stories about Mark cheating on her and they never would have stood a chance. My, my, how the world has changed since the days when the Bayside Tigers ruled the world.
aw, that’s a sweet story!
It is. And it’s the kind of sweet that doesn’t even make me gag.
I’ve heard about the story before– it’s the best thing everr! I still love SBTB but Dustin Diamond has always pissed the shit off of me.
WHERE IS MY DAILY LOHAN?!!?
She kinda looks like Jesse Spano.
have not read the article yet but…crazy eyes?
Great story, Beet. Glad to see you are posting on here more often
*sigh* My crush on Zack Morris continues….
Ain’t that the truth?
He REALLY aged well..
my guess is that screech will say that the cast members eat too much, drink too much, want to much. too much.
suck it up…
Dustin Diamond is the only child on SBTB that turned into a total douche bag. He’s going to have invent some tabloid lies to even get a book published. I’m pretty sure he’s up to the task.
Oh memories… I totally wanted to marry Zach. We would have been such a beautiful couple!
I love how Screech was COMPLETELY photoshopped out of the group photo from the good ‘ol days. And is not included in the reunion. Anyone catch that douche on Fit Club? I wish Harvey had “worn his ass out.” he needs it in a major way. In related news, he was slapped with a lien recently for non-payment of taxes. Choice.
I hope he does write something about Mark, since I liked Mark on NYPD Blue and while I don’t care for Raising the Bar, a dumb book like that might improve his ratings and prevent another reality show from getting on the air.
Good for him, screw Screech!
Who cares? Tell Screech to go back to selling t-shirts,