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Saved by the Bell

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Where to watch: TBS)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Classic teen sitcom still entertains. Tweens OK.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Promotes positive behavior, respect toward adults, taking responsibility for one's actions, school spirit, and the value of friendship. Teens of various ethnicities and social backgrounds are featured. Anti-social/racial behavior isn't tolerated.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Occasional scenes of kids pushing each other. These actions are quickly stopped by other kids or an adult and are portrayed as hurtful and inappropriate.
  • Sex:

    Boy/girl social dynamics. Discussions of crushes and romance. Teens kiss and date. References to heavy petting.
  • Language:

    Mild ("butt," etc.).
  • Consumerism:

    References to "designer" fashion, but no specific designers are highlighted. Brands of food and beverages are non-specific. The make of particular cars, such as the hood of a Mercedes Benz, is occasionally noticeable, but isn't discussed specifically.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some shows discuss substance use, including under-age drinking and the abuse of over-the-counter pills. Usage always provides the characters with a lesson about staying clean and sober.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Saved by the Bell

Parents need to know that adolescent kissing is prevalent, as are references to heavy petting, which means it's up to them to decide whether tweens are mature enough to understand the significance of this behavior. The sarcastic remarks and mild insults constantly aimed at Screech sometimes border on mean. There are sanitized discussions of major teen issues such as peer pressure, drunk driving, and drug abuse.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the value of friendship, as well as how to cope when friends are the source of peer pressure. Have your teen's friends ever landed them in a tricky situation? Because the series presents an idealized picture of high school, families can also discuss how difficult high school can be in real life. How is your teen's school different from Bayside? Boy/girl relationships, boundaries, and inappropriate behavior are also topics that families may want to talk about.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    This show is just the usual high school teen comedy sitcom

    Language is nothing. Sex: Teens kiss, which is normal so deal with it. Social behaior is a bit iffy since smart people who like technology are ALWAYS considered nerds (like in the episode where Screech starts tutoring kelly) and that was the first episode I watched. Its just another normal teen comedy sitcom.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Corny but GREAT!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    just to let you know: on TBS, this show is rated G

    THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS!!! I LAUGH AT THEIR JOKES ALL THE TIME!!! fUnNy!!!

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