Saved by the Bell
Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind
TV Flash files “Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind” as hour 28 of 86 in the TV Flash guide — Saved by the Bell (1989–1993) on NBC, season 2, episode 12, aired 1990-11-23, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E12: listed hour 28 of 86 in the Saved by the Bell guide, hour 12 of 18 in season 2. It aired 1990-11-23 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “1-900-CRUSHED” (S02E11). Next is “Running Zack” (S02E13).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
After Zack breaks the school's video camera while filming a movie, he talks his friends into sending a picture of Screech dressed as an alien to a tabloid. As a result, they have to trick a government agent passing himself off as tabloid reporter to believe Screech is really an alien.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind sit in the Saved by the Bell guide?
S02E12 is listed hour 28 of 86 — hour 12 of 18 in season 2, season 2 episode 12.
When did Saved by the Bell S02E12 air?
Close Encounters of the Nerd Kind aired 1990-11-23 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Were there later versions?
Yes — College Years, TV movies, and later reboot series continued the franchise. The 1989–1993 Bayside run is the archetype set.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Zack Morris schemes at Bayside while Slater, Kelly, Jessie, Lisa, and Screech become teen sitcom archetypes in living color. Saturday-morning brightness, Very Special lessons, and a syndication perpetual-motion machine. Catchphrases as language, endless reboot attempts as proof the IP never left. High school as a brand, still.
The first useful thing *Saved by the Bell* does is admit high school is a brand. At Bayside, charming schemer Zack Morris and friends bounce between dances, rivalries, and very special lessons with Saturday-morning brightness. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Mario López, Tiffani Thiessen, Elizabeth Berkley, Lark Voorhies, Dustin Diamond became teen sitcom archetypes in living color. Developed from *Good Morning, Miss Bliss*, the popular NBC run (1989–1993) — Sam Bobrick associated with the series development — codified…
Filed against
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Zack Morris
Mark-Paul Gosselaar froze time as Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell — Bayside schemes, a blond with a phone, Slater/Kelly/Jessie/Lisa/Screech as archetypes in living color. Saturday-morning brightness, Very Special lessons, syndication as…
- Tiffani Thiessen as Kelly Kapowski
Tiffani Thiessen’s Kelly Kapowski locked Saved by the Bell’s Bayside archetypes in living color — Zack schemes, Slater, Jessie, Lisa, Screech, Saturday-morning brightness — then polished White Collar as the long-con’s Manhattan partner.…
- Mario López as A.C. Slater
Mario López flexed the courtyard as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell — Zack Morris schemes at Bayside, Slater/Kelly/Jessie/Lisa/Screech as teen sitcom archetypes in living color. Saturday-morning brightness, Very Special lessons,…
- Elizabeth Berkley as Jessie Spano
Elizabeth Berkley made Jessie Spano Bayside's overachiever weather on Saved by the Bell — SAT panic, Very Special volume, and a teen sitcom archetype in living color. Zack schemed; Jessie detonated the lesson. TV Flash files her as 1990s…
- Dustin Diamond as Screech
Dustin Diamond made Screech Powers the Bayside mascot on Saved by the Bell — nerd voltage, catchphrase fuel, and Saturday-morning brightness that syndication never let cool. Zack schemed; Screech detonated. TV Flash files him as 1990s…
- Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle
Lark Voorhies's Lisa Turtle dressed Saved by the Bell like a Saturday-morning brand — Zack schemes at Bayside, teen sitcom archetypes in living color, catchphrases as language, syndication as a perpetual-motion machine. TV Flash files her…