Episode titles provided by Aaron Potratz (Potratz5@ix.netcom.com). Last updated: July 15, 2004.
"Good Morning, Miss Bliss" Pilot cast: Hayley Mills - Miss Carrie Bliss (Mrs. Davis) Charles Siebert - Charlie Davis Maria O'Brien - Ms. Tina Paladrino Julie Ronnie - Lonnie Maple Oliver Clark - Mr. Gerald Belding Gabriel Damon - Bradley Brian Green - Adam Montcrief Samantha Mills - Wendy Matt Shakman - Georgie Winslow Jaleel White - Bobby Wilson Pilot Guest Stars: Jonathan Brandis - Michael Thompson Britton Elliott - Janet Hillhurst(?) Josh Goddard - Steven(?) Andrea Messersmith - Laurie Sarah Jo Martin - (unnamed student)(?) Danielle Rioux - (unnamed student)(?) Gary Werntz - moving man #1(?) Ren Meyerson - moving man #2(?)
The pilot episode of Good Morning, Miss Bliss did not have the same cast as in the rest of the GMMB "series", except for Hayley Mills as Miss Bliss, not even Dennis Haskins played Mr. Belding.
The original idea for the series was apparently inspired by NBC President Brandon Tartifoff's strong desire to do a positive show about an "inspiring" school teacher, like the teacher (apparently, the real "Miss Bliss") he'd had as a boy. So Tartikoff commissioned Peter Engel to do such a show. (This all according to the E! True Hollywood Story about Saved by the Bell.)
The GMMB pilot then aired on NBC in "The Facts of Life's" timeslot (on July 11, 1987).
In the pilot, the main "student" character was played by Brian Austin Green (of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame), but his character's name wasn't Zack Morris. Instead, Green played a super-serious student who always wore business suits. Another student character was played by Jaleel White (of Family Matters fame).
Also, as Davy Shashua told me about the pilot:
The weirdest thing about it, is that [Jonathan] Brandis' [character] was given considerbly more screen-time
than most of the starring kids. Shakman also had a bit of screen time more than average, as did Elliott
(assuming I credited her right) the character was definately just a guest star. And two main characters were
not even introduced, at least not by name. Lonnie's character was simply the principal's assistant, so she
didn't get much air-time. Also, Green's character and White's character were not friendly, as it [used to say]
on your website, they didn't talk to each other for the whole episode.
Anyway, that's about all I know about the GMMB pliot episode. Apparently, the pilot effort was scrapped, after it was decided that Good Morning, Miss Bliss probably wouldn't be viable as a "Primetime" series. Efforts were than directed at turning Brandon Tarticoff's idea about his old teacher into a Saturday morning series. NBC subsequently rejected the GMMB series (only to pick it up a year later, after another retool to what became Saved by the Bell!). But The Disney Channel picked up the series, and aired it for a season; they then dropped GMMB after just that one season.
See the history of Saved by the Bell page for more info...
SbtB: "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" cast: Miss Carrie Bliss -Hayley Mills Zack Morris -Mark-Paul Gosselaar Screech Powers -Dustin Diamond Lisa Turtle -Lark Voorhies Nicole "Nikki" Coleman -Heather Hopper Mikey Gonzalez -Max Battimo Mr. Richard Belding -Dennis Haskins Tina Palidrino -Joan Ryan Milo Williams -T.K. Carter
(8.1) Karen -Carla Gugino [From Spin City,
Chicago Hope
& movies.]
(8.1) Brian -Barry Jenner
Zack runs into an 9th grade girl (Carla Gugino) whom he lied about his age to; we meet Miss Bliss, Zack Morris, Screech, Lisa, Nikki, Mikey, Tina, Milo and Mr. Belding; setting: JFK, Jr. High in Indianapolis, IN [Copyright 1988]
(8.2) Mr. Jerry Vic -Randy Hamilton
Miss Bliss intercepts a note from Screech (but written by Zack) to Lisa, and general chaos ensues
Zack breaks his Dad's videocam and uses the class' money to invest in a risky stock, costing Miss Bliss out of pocket money
(8.4) Mr. Morton -Deryl Carroll
Nikki refuses to do Mr. Morton's class frog dissection
(8.5) Mr. Peter Morris -Robert Pine [From CHiP's]
Zack's Dad, Peter Morris, is rekindling his flame with Miss Bliss, much to Zack's chagrin
(8.6) Deke Simmons -Andras Jones
The gang encourages Screech to stand up to a bully named Deke, with surprising results
(8.7) Shana -Alexondra Lee [From Party of
Five.]
(8.7) Sherman -Lonnie Burr
Zack and Mikey's friendship threatens to come to an end over a girl whom Mikey likes, but who asks Zack to a dance
(8.8) Dr. Atwater -Martina Finch
Miss Bliss is up for Teacher of the Year; Zack releases Screech's rat in the school to avoid a midterm
(8.9) Jennifer -Devon Odessa [From My So-Called
Life.]
Zack and Nikki are fighting and then they're partnered for a class project; Tina moves in with Miss Bliss after her boyfreind dumps her and she's driving Miss Bliss crazy!
April Fool's: a mock trial is held in class over a prank that breaks Miss Bliss' unfooled streak, and Screech is the suspect
(8.11) "Stevie" (Colleen
Morton) -Susanne Tara [Was on
General Hospital.]
Zack bets Nikki he can kiss a pop singer so he pretends he's dying to get it; meanwhile rock star "Stevie" stays with her old teacher, Miss Bliss
(8.12) Trevor -Trevor Edmond (8.12) Rick -Christopher Carter Hooks
Zack is made a fool of by some older students who invite Zack into a "cool" club
(8.13) Mr. James Lyman -Robert Donner [Guest-starred on
many TV shows.]
The unorthodox teaching methods of Miss Bliss' former teacher leads to conflict
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