Buenos días, señorita Bliss

My opinion of this original version of "Saved By The Bell" has remained virtually unchanged since it premiered over a decade ago. Basically, it's rarely funny, sometimes quite slow-moving, and yet, I still occasionally watch the reruns because it is a pain-free way to kill some time. That's hardly an endorsement, but it is quite the compliment considering how weak this show really is. I can't explain why I watched it when it first aired, and I can't explain why I sometimes watch it now...perhaps these days it's a nostalgic thing, but I don't really know. One thing's for sure: unless you grew up watching this and "Saved By The Bell", you shouldn't bother giving this show a chance.

I loved Hayley Mills in the original series as Miss Bliss. But the rest of the series just displayed many stereotypes that we would be better off without. A brainless jock, a Barbie doll ditz, a spoiled rich kid, a young womanizer and a geek just for starters. Selfish, self indulgent teens with no real substance. With the exception of perhaps one or two characters, their first instinct was always to dupe someone or get something they were told they couldn't have. It was always at the expense of someone else. The only time they showed any morals or regret was when they were caught and told how they should act. And while they made fun of geeks at every opportunity, how is it that Scheech (a self admitted geek) was one of their circle of friends? Of course he was the fall guy for many a prank. Pityful. I would not let my children watch this show....ever.

I recently watched some of this series again for nostalgia. The show centers around legendary actress Halley Mills who plays a school teacher in a small town in Indiana and her interactions with her students. Of course we all are introduced to the main antagonist Zach Morris, played by Mark Paul Gossler. We also have a supporting cast including Dustin Diamond, Lark Voorhies, and Denis Haskins. There are other trivial characters as well. This show would set up the foundation for the reboot which became the beloved classic we all fell in love with in the early 90's. The show I thought was not bad, it had its good points. I do believe they focused too much on the Miss Bliss character which led to lower ratings initially. When the show was reformatted and focused on Zach with a better supporting cast that included Mario Lopez, Tiffany Amber Theissen, and Elisebeth Burkley, and of course bringing Lark, Dustin, and Dennis from the original show, their chemistry clicked and the show became a hit. Good morning Miss Bliss was not entirely bad it was just not engaging enough with some bad casting choices. Thankfully that was corrected and the show was successful with better writing which became Saved by the Bell. Love it or hate this first incarnation of the show started it all, so if anything we owe this little show a nod from all of us SBTB fans.

Good Morning, Miss Bliss is not as bad as people make it seem. It has plots similar to that of Saved by the Bell, with the exception of the romance but the major flaw that the show faces is humor. This is not a funny show! However, like SBTB the show does raise some questions like why does the Janitor hang out with the principal and teachers? Whatever the reasons I always like to ignore this show and just think of it as a rejected first draft.

Oh my God! Zack Morris had to be the cutest guy to hit the saga of the 80s teen idols. And the fact that Mark-Paul Gosselaar was so young was unbelievable! I've seen almost every episode of Good Morning, Miss Bliss and I have to say, Hayley Mills is terrific in this show. I've seen her as a young a young starlet appearing in movies such as the original Parent Trap (which is just as good as the Lindsay Lohan version). I was a big fan of 60s movies, FYI. And whatever happened to Mikey and Nikki? They were great characters, and they coped well with Zack's antics! An besides, I used to have a crush on Mikey(between you and me, Mikey was way cuter than Zack). At least they didn't get rid of Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies), Saved by the Bell would have never been right without her. Oh, and Mr. Belding too! He pretty much a better father figure on the show for Zack than his own father was in both Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Saved By The Bell. And I'm so mad that they got rid of Milo. He was the coolest. Well, all I have to say is whatever you do, never take Good Morning, Miss Bliss or Saved By The Bell of television, even if you keep showing reruns. Without these shows, you would never know what you can expect in junior high?