‘Saved By The Bell’ Returns On Peacock, Features Trans Character

Saved by the Bell‘s original cast is reuniting for Peacock’s new reboot of the show, making a comeback not as students of the school, but largely as the school’s new faculty and parents alongside a wave of new students to take their original places.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is returning as Zack Morris, now the governor of California. Tiffani Thiessen is also returning to reprise her role as Kelly Kapowski, now Zack’s wife. They’ll be involved at Bayside as parents of student Mac Morris, played by Mitchell Hoog, who’s described as “handsome, charming and privileged” on Peacock’s site.

Elizabeth Berkley is returning to play Jessie Spano, now the school’s counselor. Her son, Jamie Spano (Belmont Cameili), is captain of the school’s football team.

Mario Lopez is reprising his role as A.C. Slater, now Bayside High’s athletic director.

New to the franchise entirely are students Daisy, Devante, Aisha and Lexi, played by Haskiri Velazquez, Dexter Darden, Alycia Pascual-Pena, and Josie Totah respectively. Totah in particular expressed her excitement to be on the show, as Lexi is the popular girl and head cheerleader at Bayside, and just happens to also be trans.

“Getting to play just a transgender role on screen is obviously very rare,” Totah said. “There is almost zero representation of people in the trans community. Which, growing up as a young trans girl, I feel like never seeing myself made me never feel truly accepted by the world.”

Also new to Bayside is Principal Toddman, played by John Michael Higgins, who is replacing Principal Belding in the new reboot.

For fans of the original 90s series returning to Bayside for the nostalgia, there are a few planned Easter eggs in the first season too. Lisa Turtle, played by Lark Voorhies, will make a special guest appearance, Zack Attack, the O.G. four’s band, will play again, and the students of Bayside will spend every day eating at The Max, with Ed Alonzo returning as the owner.

Watch Saved by the Bell on Peacock starting November 25.