Customer Reviews

Saved by the Bell - The New Class, Season 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the first season of the new class and as a reviewer below stated, this season is definitely a rip off (in all areas) of the original series. This season has the Zack-type character, the Screech-type character (which even has a dorky name...that being Weasel), the Kelly-type character, and so on. However, while this season is a blatant attempt to copy the original, it is still a good show. It contains the same type of humor as the original, just not with the same flare (mainly due to the fact that from the moment you see the first episode, you know exactly whats going on...that being they are trying to copy the original series in every way imaginable). However, this season was the first step in a truly great show. After this season, the producers learned that copying was not the best way to handle this show and as a result a big part of the cast was given the axe. Over the course of the next few seasons, the show slowly began to evolve into a show that while still allot like the original, had its own unique feel. Watch this show and see for yourselves. While it is not as good as the original, it is good for what it is..a New Class.

This is probably the worst cast on "The New Class".Each character is a direct knockoff of an original SBTB cast member.There is a Screech knockoff,a Zack knockoff,a Kelly knockoff,A pseudo Slater knockoff,a pseudo Jessie knockoff,and Lisa knockoff(kind of).Mr.Belding's still here to give you the Bayside feel.I recommend picking this up If you liked the original series.Enjoy!

The New Class series is what it is, not much Image can do about that. But they could at least release a complete good quality series in DVD. Allmost all the episodes were good except one which looked like someone downloaded a mpeg file of the show and burned a VCD out of it. And for that I give this DVD 3 out of a possible 4 stars they could've got from me. With that being said, if your a big fan of the SBTB francise, I would still recomend this set. For all of you fans or the original SBTB, season 5 drops on July 26.

The names and the faces may be different but the hijinks are still the same with original series Principal Richard Belding (Dennis Haskins) and the new students of Bayside on Saved By The Bell: The New Class - Season 1. Joining Mr. Belding this season are Valley transfer student & schemer Scott Erickson (Robert Sutherland Telfer), geeky Barton "Weasel" Wyzell (Isaac Lidsky), ditzy yet sweet Vicki Needleman (Bonnie Russavage), over-achiever Megan Jones (Bianca Lawson), and popular couple Lindsay Warner (Natalia Cigliuti) & Thomas "Tommy D" De Luca (Jonathan Angel). Only Megan, Lindsay & Tommy would return along with Mr. Belding the following season.

At the time, "Bell" fans were dumbfounded that the show's producers stuck these particular actors with basically carbon copy personas of the original cast instead of allowing them to be fresh and original. Regardless, the show was still Saved By The Bell-esque enough to keep viewers tuned in. To their credit though, the producers did strive for improvement as the series went on, hence the numerous cast changes and E/I-compliant storylines for following seasons.

Guest stars include: Pamela Kosh as original series teacher Miss Simpson in "The Dating Lottery"; Mark Blankfield as original series actor-for-hire James in "Home Shopping"; James Marsden ("X-Men Trilogy") as Chad Westerfield in "Homecoming King"; Richard Lawson (real-life father of Bianca Lawson) as Megan's father Judge Thurston Jones in "Good-bye Megan"; and Sarah Lancaster as Scott's love interest Rachel Meyers in "Swap Meet". Ironically, Lancaster's character went on to join the cast as a full-time regular for following seasons while Robert Sutherland Telfer's Scott only lasted a single season.

Saved By The Bell: The New Class - Season 1 is a 2-disc (single-sided) set featuring all 13 episodes from the 1993-1994 season in Full-Frame (1.33:1) video and Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio. The audio is fine, but the video quality is somewhat lacking but acceptable. The discs are housed in a standard 2-disc black amaray case. Here are the episodes (as listed in the DVD menus) and how the discs will be configured.


Disc 1:
The Dating Lottery (episode 1)
The Slumber Party (episode 2)
A Kicking Weasel (episode 3)
Home Shopping (episode 4)
Love is on the Air (episode 5)
George Washington Kissed Here (episode 6)


Disc 2:
Homecoming King (episode 7)
Belding's Baby (episode 8)
Good-bye Megan (episode 9)
Swap Meet (episode 10)
Weasel Love (episode 11)
Tommy A (episode 12)
Running The Max (episode 13)

Well, it goes without saying that The New Class is inferior to the original SbtB series. Most everyone agrees on this. I think the biggest problem with TNC is that it's cast simply isn't as good. They lack the 3 major C's that original cast had: charm, charisma and chemistry. However, in terms of acting and story, TNC is no worse than the original SbtB. Let's face it, the original SbtB was not high-brow stuff. It was cheesy, badly written, poorly directed and full of glaring plot holes, but it was strangely watchable and addictive none-the-less. TNC is much the same way and maybe that's part of the problem. It's TOO similar to the original series. As other reviewers have noted, the characters in this season are simply carbon copies of the characters from the original show, except played by actors you won't like as much. But strangely enough, while watching this first season on DVD, I still found myself entertained by this shaky, but decent enough introduction to "The New Class." I especially liked Bianca Lawson, who is the one actor from THIS season to go onto bigger and better things, later appearing as Kendra on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and also in some big movies like Primary Colors and Save the Last Dance. And at just 22 bucks, this DVD set won't set you back too much. Even if you don't like this season after having watched it in it's entirety, I still suggest giving season 2 a chance. They made some major cast changes and the show benefited from it greatly IMO. Especially nice was the introduction of the BEAUTIFUL Sarah Lancaster as Rachel Meyers. Season 2 will be out on DVD March 8th.

Also of important note: The New Class is no longer being show in syndication(at least in the united states). So these DVDs are pretty much the only way to see the show these days. The better this first season sells, the more likely Image Entertainment is to release all the remaining seasons on DVD, which is 6 more in total. So far, only season 2 has officially been confirmed for a DVD release...

They shouldn't have remade the show with knockoffs and unoriginal characters...i remember being excited about a new saved the bell, i'll just say it wasn't worth watching on tv and not worth buying, unless you are just a die hard fan of SBTB and series like it...

i hate this new show they were trying to get a new class and make the look like the original and they used all the same plots as the original it was a big mess not a good item to buy

wat a sad pathetic attempt to revive the saved by the bell show which was AMAZING with its original cast. this show really bugged me and never watched it. if you love saved by the bell , dont buy this because its just an insult to the original series

It's Saved By The Bell, but not Saved By The Bell is the best way to put it. Mr. Belding is still around as is Bayside and The Max and even the loopy dream sequences are there but the show took a new route and introduced us to a rising class. While the carbon-copy feel is a bit of a turn-off in the beginning, by the end fo the set you feel comfortable and appreciate their humor. Bianca Lawson as Megan is the real stand-out as are Scott, Tommy D and Weasel. It is really only Needleman and Lindsay that are downright awful. Eventhough Weasel is essentially Screech with worse hair, he still is pretty funny and it is a shame he and Scott did not continue onto season 2. As the seasons progress these classmates tend to go through a revolving door. Can you blame them though? Who'd want to be stuck in The Valley when you could go to Bayside???

Natalia Cigliuti is the sexiest thing on earth and the New Class rock!!!!