S1E1: Saved by the Bell: The College Years

"Saved by the Bell: The College Years" is a sitcom that premiered on NBC in 1993, following Zack Morris, Slater, and Screech as they leave High School behind and head off to California University. The series attempted to age up the "Saved by the Bell" formula, trading the halls of Bayside for dorm rooms and slightly more grown-up problems. Unlike the original series, "The College Years" made the jump from Saturday mornings to NBC's primetime lineup, but the experiment didn't last long with only one season before cancelation. So do Zack and the gang make the grade at Cal U, or should they have called it quits after graduation? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" pilot episode and find out. Starring: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Anne Tremko, Kiersten Warren, Essence Atkins, & Bob Golic www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Saved by the Bell: The New Class" is a sitcom that premiered on NBC in 1993, picking up at Bayside High shortly after the original gang had moved on. With Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) still running the school, a brand-new group of students arrives to fill the familiar roles. The similarities to the original series weren't exactly subtle, but "The New Class" gave NBC a way to keep the halls of Bayside open and "Saved by the Bell" alive on Saturday mornings. Despite never reaching the popularity of its predecessor, "The New Class" somehow outlasted it, running for seven seasons while cycling through a seemingly endless supply of Bayside students. So does this new class make the grade, or should Bayside have closed its doors when Zack and the gang graduated? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the series premiere, "The Date Lottery," and find out. Starring: Robert Sutherland Telfer, Jonathan Angel, Isaac Lidsky, Natalia Cigliuti, Bianca Lawson,  Bonnie Russavage, & Dennis Haskins www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Good Morning, Miss Bliss" is a sitcom that premiered on the Disney Channel in 1988, starring Hayley Mills as Carrie Bliss, an eighth-grade teacher in Indianapolis. The series follows Miss Bliss as she attempts to guide her students through the trials and tribulations of adolescence. The show also features a young Zack Morris among the kids roaming the school's halls.  "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" lasted just 13 episodes, but cancellation wasn't the end of the road. NBC retooled the series, ditched Miss Bliss, and moved the surviving characters to Bayside High. The result was "Saved by the Bell," which went on to become one of the most recognizable teen sitcoms of all time. So will the S1E1 boys find bliss in the halls of JFK Junior High, or should this class be dismissed for good? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Summer Love" and find out. Starring: Hayley Mills, Dennis Haskins, Joan Ryan, Max Battimo, Dustin Diamond, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Heather Hopper, Lark Voorhies, T. K. Carter, & Carla Gugino www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Z Rock" is a semi-scripted comedy that premiered on IFC in 2008, starring the real-life Brooklyn rock band ZO2 as fictionalized versions of themselves. The band spends their nights chasing rock stardom as ZO2, but by day they pay the bills performing children's birthday parties as The Z Brothers. The show follows the band's struggle to keep their kiddie-party gigs from completely destroying their hard-rock credibility. "Z Rock" lasted two seasons and brought in an impressive collection of guest stars from the worlds of rock and comedy. The series never became a mainstream hit, but its bizarre mix of Spinal Tap-style rock comedy and real-life band struggles has helped it remain a cult curiosity. So will the S1E1 boys be ready to rock with ZO2, or should these guys stick to entertaining five-year-olds? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Paul and David Nearly Miss a Huge Gig" and find out. Starring: Paulie Zablidowsky, David Zablidowsky, Joey Cassata, Lynne Koplitz, Big Jay Oakerson, Alison Becker, Greg Giraldo, Sebastian Bach, & Joan Rivers www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Tenacious D" is a comedy series that premiered on HBO in 1997, starring Jack Black and Kyle Gass as fictionalized versions of themselves The show follows the duo as they chase rock & roll glory while dealing with everything from writer's block to encounters with Sasquatch. Each episode blends absurd comedy with live performances of songs that would eventually become staples of the real-life Tenacious D. Despite premiering in 1997, "Tenacious D" had an unusual run, producing just three half-hour installments that aired sporadically. The TV show may have been short-lived, but Jack and Kyle certainly weren't, as Tenacious D went on to release albums, tour the world, and eventually star in their own feature film. But does their original HBO series totally rock, or is it one gig the D would rather forget? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive "The Search for Inspirado / Angel in Disguise" and find out. Starring: Jack Black, Kyle Gas, Paul F Tompkins, David Cross, Laura Milligan, & Laura Kightlinger www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Girls5eva" is a sitcom that premiered on Peacock in 2021 where members of a one-hit-wonder girl group from the late '90s unexpectedly get another shot at fame when their biggest song is sampled by a popular young rapper. Now juggling the realities of getting older, the girls decide to reunite and prove their pop-star dreams don't have an expiration date. The series combines ridiculously catchy original songs with the rapid-fire comedy you'd expect from the team behind "30 Rock." Despite earning rave reviews, "Girls5eva" had almost as much trouble staying alive as the fictional group at its center. After two seasons on Peacock, the show was picked up by Netflix for a third, giving the girls yet another chance at a comeback. But will the S1E1 boys be ready to join the Girls5eva fan club, or will they be saying goodbye 4eva? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode and find out. Starring: Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Dean Winters, & Jimmy Fallon www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"The Monkees" is a sitcom that premiered on NBC in 1966, following the misadventures of a struggling four-piece rock band as they chase fame but somehow stumble into chaos wherever they go. Starring Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, the series blended slapstick comedy and music videos years before MTV existed. Inspired by the success of A Hard Day's Night, the show quickly became one of the most energetic and inventive sitcoms of the 1960s. Although initially dismissed by some critics as a manufactured attempt to cash in on Beatlemania, "The Monkees" became a cultural phenomenon and helped launch the group into genuine music superstardom. The show's groundbreaking visual style earned it a devoted fanbase that continues to discover it decades later. Will the S1E1 boys go bananas for this musical sitcom classic, or should this TV band have stayed in the garage? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Royal Flush," and find out. Starring: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, & Peter Tork www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Just Shoot Me!" is a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1997-2003. The show stars Laura San Giacomo as Maya Gallo, an outspoken journalist who reluctantly goes to work at her father's fashion magazine. Surrounded by an eccentric staff, Maya finds herself constantly clashing with the superficial world she's been thrown into. With its sharp ensemble cast and fast-paced writing, the series carved out its own place during NBC's legendary Must See TV era. Just Shoot Me! was both a critical darling and a commercial hit, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations while consistently delivering top-tier ratings across its seven-season run. Though it often lived in the shadow of NBC heavyweights like Friends and Frasier, the show proved it had plenty of laughs of its own. Will the S1E1 boys think this fashion magazine is cover-worthy, or should this issue have stayed on the newsstand? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode, "Back Issues," and find out. Starring: Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Wendie Malick, Enrico Colantoni, & David Spade www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"The Unicorn" is a sitcom that premiered on CBS in 2019 starring Walton Goggins as Wade Felton, a recently widowed father who's reluctantly encouraged to jump back into the dating world. Much to his surprise, Wade quickly discovers he's exactly what many single women are looking for, a rare "unicorn". The series manages to explore themes like grief without ever losing its sense of humor. While "The Unicorn" only lasted two seasons, it earned praise from critics and audiences for its warm storytelling. Rather than relying on over-the-top sitcom antics, the show leaned on using genuine emotion with relatable laughs. Will the S1E1 boys fall for this rare television "unicorn," or should this dating comedy have stayed off the market? Listen as they deep dive the show's pilot episode and find out. Starring: Walton Goggins, Rob Corddry, Omar Miller, Maya Lynne Robinson, Ruby Jay, Makenzie Moss, Devin Bright, Michaela Watkins, & Natalie Ceballos www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

"Newhart" is a sitcom that aired on CBS 1982-1990, starring comedy legend Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon, a New York author who trades city life for a quiet Vermont inn. Alongside his wife Joanna, Dick quickly discovers that running a country inn means dealing with an endless parade of eccentric guests and even stranger locals. Anchored by Newhart's signature dry wit and deadpan delivery, the series turned a simple fish-out-of-water premise into one of television's most beloved comedies. Over the course of eight seasons, "Newhart" became a sitcom staple, earning critical acclaim and cementing its place in TV history with one of the most famous series finales of all time. The show remains a favorite among classic sitcom fans. But does the pilot live up to the legendary reputation that followed, or should the Stratford Inn close its doors for good? Listen as the S1E1 boys deep dive the show's pilot "In the Beginning" and find out. Starring: Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, Steven Kampmann, Jennifer Holmes, & Tom Poston www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD