In November, the world was graced with the debuts of new streaming services, Apple TV+ and Disney+. Then earlier this month, the mobile-focused Quibi joined the fray. Next month, HBO Max, the platform that will showcase WarnerMedia titles, will launch. And sandwiched in between those two is Peacock, the horribly named NBCUniversal streaming service that is already getting hit hard by COVID-19 just as the platform begins its run. But hey, no matter what happens to Peacock in the future, at least we’re getting the new “Saved by the Bell” reboot, right?
Yes, that’s true, but as seen in the new trailer for “Saved by the Bell,” perhaps Peacock would have been better served just leaving Zack Morris and his friends back in the ‘90s.
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The new trailer doesn’t actually include as many familiar faces as you might have hoped. In the quick clip, we’re introduced to a new set of students at Bayside High that seem like just modern updates to the archetypes set forth in the classic series. That being said, you do get the return of Mario Lopez as AC Slater and Elizabeth Berkley as Jesse Spano. But no Screech. No Lisa. No Kelly. And no Zack Morris. Though some of them are expected to have roles in the new series, and some even get referenced in the trailer.
But as someone who grew up in the prime “Saved by the Bell” era, this reboot seems very, well, bad. Obviously, it’s too early to write the whole series off as a failed attempt to mine the nostalgia of the past by a streaming service desperate for IP-based content. But this trailer isn’t instilling much hope.
And according to a new Variety interview with Matt Strauss, chairman of Peacock and NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, it would appear that the streaming service really needs people to get excited by “Saved by the Bell,” as well as the other limited number of original series because the well is going to run dry pretty quickly.
Due to the delay of the Summer Olympic Games (which was set to play a major role in the launch of Peacock) and the production stoppages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Peacock is going to struggle to release new original series and films in 2020.
“The majority of our original productions have been paused,” Strauss said. “This will materially limit our original slate at launch and through 2020.”
He added that a “significant amount” of the delayed projects are being pushed to 2021 and, “We’re unclear when things are exactly going to be back to normal.”
However, he’s confident that shows like ‘Saved,’ along with a new adaptation of “Brave New World,” the movie spinoff “Psych 2: Lassie Come Home,” and a “Punky Brewster” reboot are enough to keep people entertained and subscribed through 2020.
If “Saved by the Bell” is any indication, that remains very, very unclear, to say the least.
And if you’re interested in ‘Psych 2,’ here’s that new trailer too: