Saved by the Bell: 10 Ways Zack and Screech Aren’t Real Friends

[tldr_position]Despite the fact that Zack Morris and Screech Powers have been best friends since kindergarten, Zack’s various schemes have gotten Screech into some pretty uncomfortable — not to mention dangerous — situations. From pressuring Screech to do his homework assignments to making him take the wrath of Mr. Belding for skipping class, Zack has proven time and time again that he doesn’t value Screech’s sacrifices.

The only reason that Screech continues to be friends with Zack is for the perks of increasing his social status; Zack protects him from bullies, introduces him to girls, and gives him a confidence boost by association. Deep down, Zack might really care about Screech, but he sure has a funny way of showing it.

10 Zack forgets Screech’s birthday

It takes Screech’s robot Kevin to remind Zack that he forgot Screech’s birthday, which makes him scramble to think of something to get his best friend. He ultimately decides to throw Screech a surprise birthday party in Mr. Belding’s office, but before that, he needs to make Screech the new hall monitor so he can coerce a “lifetime hall pass” out of him to make the necessary arrangements.

Prior to being made hall monitor, Screech just felt forgotten, and upon acquiring his new position of authority, he’s disrespected and ignored even more. Even after the gang somehow get Belding out of his office, there’s no time for Screech to enjoy presents or cake because the principal is back entirely too soon.

9 Zack makes out with Lisa right in front of Screech

Poor Screech pines over Lisa for the entire series, despite the fact that she tells him he has no chance of dating her. This doesn’t stop him from trying to win her heart with noble deeds, like helping her win the favor of a fashion school recruiter who’s taken an interest in her designs.

In the midst of Lisa trying to prepare for a fashion show at The Max to show off her skills, Zack picks the time to insert himself into the show — and into Lisa’s love life. Zack puts the moves on Lisa right in front of Screech, whose emotional state ends up affecting his role as runway announcer on Lisa’s big day.

8 Zack is never concerned for Screech’s safety

Whether it’s stealing school supplies to make spaghetti or making him spy on Mr. Belding by shoving him in a filing cabinet, Zack is never concerned about Screech’s safety when it comes to his grand schemes.

In one notable episode, Zack tries to entice Slater into a wrestling match so that he can get his hands on a new dirt bike, but Slater is more interested in perfecting his quiche in cooking class. Zack gets the idea to put Screech into the match to force Slater to come to his rescue, something which almost got Screech killed, all so Zack can pilfer the prize.

7 Zack forces Screech into a beauty pageant for all the wrong reasons

When the Miss Bayside Beauty Pageant is announced, Slater takes the opportunity to bet Zack that no one will be able to beat Lisa. Zack takes the bet, and Slater decides to pick Screech as her opposition. Zack persuades Mr. Belding to allow Screech to enter, arguing that if he doesn’t he’ll face a discrimination lawsuit.

Screech doesn’t want to enter but nevertheless does so under Zack’s manipulated message of being a “gender pioneer.” Screech ends up competing against all of his friends, and wins for all the wrong reasons, allowing Zack to profit off of his misery.

6 Zack impersonates a woman to trick Screech

When Zack needs to do a science project before the end of school, he waits until the last minute, then forces Screech to do it for him. Screech complies like a true friend, but his thoughts are constantly pulled towards his crush on Lisa. When she rejects him, he’s too depressed to finish Zack’s project.

Zack comes up with a scheme to trick Screech into thinking he’s lucky with the ladies by setting him up with a mystery woman — Zack disguised as a girl named “Bambi.” When “she” refuses to meet him, Screech chains himself to his locker, refusing to eat until she changes her mind. This forces Zack to have to cross dress — and drop transphobic slurs — to make Screech’s dreams come true.

5 Zack always gets him involved with his risky schemes

Screech is constantly being conned into carrying out Zack’s delinquent schemes. When Zack wants to spy on Jessie’s all-girls’ slumber party, it’s Screech who’s in charge of setting up the equipment, and gets blamed when the girls discover the espionage. When Zack wants to find out what’s going on in the girls’ locker room, he sends in Screech disguised as a female student.

When Zack assumes the responsibility of procuring senior class rings and blows it by purchasing them from a con man, he stages a prank at The Max that makes Screech look like a tough guy, all so the crook will give back Bayside’s money but without a thought for what happens to Screech.

4 Zack takes advantage of Screech’s misfortune

When Zack is forced to take down his CB equipment, he recruits Screech to scramble onto the roof and disconnect his antenna. Lightning strikes Screech just as he has his hands on it, and rather than be concerned about Screech’s well-being, Zack immediately sees an opportunity to generate money.

Screech starts exhibiting strange abilities like telepathy, which Zack uses to ace his homework. Soon everyone wants a piece of Screech’s new powers, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes, which is great for Zack but not for Screech.

3 Zack lets Screech get investigated by the government

When Zack decides to turn his C-grade sci-fi story into a student film, he procures a particularly expensive video camera from Bayside High and enlists his friends’ help to bring his genre opus to life. He casts Screech as an alien who attacks Jessie, Kelly, and other students, but in the process he breaks a tooth.

Zack cares more about the progress of his film than Screech, and in his frustration breaks the camera. In an effort to get a replacement, Zack uses a picture of Screech as an alien to get prize money from a trashy tabloid. Eventually the US government finds out and wants to take Screech in to be dissected.

2 Zack uses Screech’s dog as a bet

When Screech’s parents go out of town for their anniversary, they leave Screech in charge of the house, but Zack decides it’s a perfect time to have a party. The girls’ dancing ends up breaking one of Mrs. Powers’ most prized possessions — a ceramic Elvis statue.

In order to get the $250 necessary to pay for a replacement statue, Zack turns Screech’s house into a gambling den and invites one of the cocky nerds over to play poker for the precise amount he needs. When Zack is out of cash to bet, he puts Screech’s dog up for collateral and then proceeds to lose him.

1 Zack makes Screech take out Belding’s niece so he can be with Kelly

When Zack wants to get out of detention, he agrees to take out Mr. Belding’s niece Penny, despite the fact that their date would fall on the same night as Kelly’s party. So that he doesn’t miss out, Zack makes Screech pose as him, complete with blond wig.

Screech ends up at the same party with Penny as his date, and she ends up gushing to Kelly about how “awesome Zack Morris is.” This puts not only Zack in an awkward position, but also Screech, who is a hopeless victim of yet another one of Zack’s schemes.

About The Author

Kayleena Pierce-Bohen
(1345 Articles Published)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she’s particularly proud of. When she isn’t writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she’s working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can.

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