Saved by the Bell: The College Years

(NBC, 1993-1994)

Listen, the original Saved by the Bell wasn't exactly Dostoyevsky, but the high school sitcom had a peculiar magic that still holds up (if only ironically) in reruns. That magic does not extend to the completely misconceived spinoff-sequel, which follows the Bell cast into higher education. The list of problems is long. None of the Bell ladies except Tiffani Thiessen wanted to join the spin-off (good for you, Lark Voorhies!), so three new one-dimensional female characters were added. The heavier adult themes of the cast's college existence (Kelly has an affair with her anthro professor!) clashed completely with the show's sunny, G-rated style. And everyone looked way too old. But the No. 1 mistake was casting former pro-football player Bob Golic as dorm advisor and mullet enthusiast Mike Rogers. The horror... —D.F.