The airing of Lifetime's behind-the-scenes movie about Saved by the Bell is causing quite a stir from fans of the classic sitcom, and the details about the animosity among the actors have served to recall other TV sitcoms whose stars did not get along away from the set.
While the scandals are entertaining to an extent, it is unfortunate that little attention is ever given to the shows on which the actors became lifelong friends.
Like on many episodes of the classic sitcom, the character of Screech is at the root of the problem.
The actor who portrayed the geeky teenager with the high-pitched voice, Dustin Diamond, recently published a tell-all book about his experiences on the set.
"Interest in the show may have been sparked by Diamond's 2010 book Behind the Bell, which trashed his co-stars, reported on-set sex-and-drug shenanigans and boasted about his own anatomy and prowess with many, many women," stated the St.
Louis Dispatch in a preview of Lifetime's Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story.
Long before Diamond's account and the ensuing film, countless books and documentaries have been devoted to the troubles of the casts on popular TV sitcoms.
Among the most well-known shows with off-stage turmoil are The Cosby Show, Cheers, Three's Company and One Day at a Time.
Virtually unpublished are the stories of cast members who forged lifelong friendships during their shows.
The actors not only shared chemistry on the screen, but enjoyed more lasting friendships away from the camera.
Here are five classic sitcoms that spawned close friendships between the principal cast members.
The Love Boat Gavin Macleod, who starred as Captain Merrill Stubing, remained close friends with Bernie Kopell (Dr.
Adam Bricker) and Ted Lange (bartender Issac Washington).
Kopell had been a good friend of Macleod years before when the two had recurring roles in Get Smart, but their friendship grew during and even after The Love boat.
Lange, though younger than his two friends from the series, was one of the first to call after Macleod had back surgery in 2010.
The Andy Griffith Show Even though he starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor of the small town of Mayberry on the show, Andy Griffith relied heavily on deputy Barney Fife and the one bullet he carried in his shirt pocket.
Fife was portrayed by Don Knotts, who became a lifelong friend of Griffith.
In fact, Griffith was the last non-family person to visit Knotts in the hospital before he succumbed to complications from lung cancer in 2006.
Full House The three stars who watched after two daughters and the Olsen twins on the still-popular show were John Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier.
The three men have remained close friends, as evidenced recently during the marriage of Coulier.
Both Stamos and Saget were among the close group of friends invited to be part of his small wedding party last July.
The Office Though the two were finally married on the show after years of flirtation, John Krasinski (who played Jim Halpin) and Jenna Fischer (Pam Beasley) were just platonic friends away from the camera.
The friendship is obviously still strong, even years after the airing of the last episode.
Krasinski recently took his real-life wife to see Fischer starring in a Neil Simon play on Broadway, according to the dailymail.
co.
uk.
All in the Family They called each other names and constantly bickered on the show, Archie Bunker referring to son-in-law Mike Stivic as Meathead and being called a bigot in return.
In real life, though, Carroll O' Connor and Rob Reiner became best friends, sharing similar political leanings and helping each other overcome several personal struggles.
While the scandals are entertaining to an extent, it is unfortunate that little attention is ever given to the shows on which the actors became lifelong friends.
Like on many episodes of the classic sitcom, the character of Screech is at the root of the problem.
The actor who portrayed the geeky teenager with the high-pitched voice, Dustin Diamond, recently published a tell-all book about his experiences on the set.
"Interest in the show may have been sparked by Diamond's 2010 book Behind the Bell, which trashed his co-stars, reported on-set sex-and-drug shenanigans and boasted about his own anatomy and prowess with many, many women," stated the St.
Louis Dispatch in a preview of Lifetime's Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story.
Long before Diamond's account and the ensuing film, countless books and documentaries have been devoted to the troubles of the casts on popular TV sitcoms.
Among the most well-known shows with off-stage turmoil are The Cosby Show, Cheers, Three's Company and One Day at a Time.
Virtually unpublished are the stories of cast members who forged lifelong friendships during their shows.
The actors not only shared chemistry on the screen, but enjoyed more lasting friendships away from the camera.
Here are five classic sitcoms that spawned close friendships between the principal cast members.
The Love Boat Gavin Macleod, who starred as Captain Merrill Stubing, remained close friends with Bernie Kopell (Dr.
Adam Bricker) and Ted Lange (bartender Issac Washington).
Kopell had been a good friend of Macleod years before when the two had recurring roles in Get Smart, but their friendship grew during and even after The Love boat.
Lange, though younger than his two friends from the series, was one of the first to call after Macleod had back surgery in 2010.
The Andy Griffith Show Even though he starred as Sheriff Andy Taylor of the small town of Mayberry on the show, Andy Griffith relied heavily on deputy Barney Fife and the one bullet he carried in his shirt pocket.
Fife was portrayed by Don Knotts, who became a lifelong friend of Griffith.
In fact, Griffith was the last non-family person to visit Knotts in the hospital before he succumbed to complications from lung cancer in 2006.
Full House The three stars who watched after two daughters and the Olsen twins on the still-popular show were John Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier.
The three men have remained close friends, as evidenced recently during the marriage of Coulier.
Both Stamos and Saget were among the close group of friends invited to be part of his small wedding party last July.
The Office Though the two were finally married on the show after years of flirtation, John Krasinski (who played Jim Halpin) and Jenna Fischer (Pam Beasley) were just platonic friends away from the camera.
The friendship is obviously still strong, even years after the airing of the last episode.
Krasinski recently took his real-life wife to see Fischer starring in a Neil Simon play on Broadway, according to the dailymail.
co.
uk.
All in the Family They called each other names and constantly bickered on the show, Archie Bunker referring to son-in-law Mike Stivic as Meathead and being called a bigot in return.
In real life, though, Carroll O' Connor and Rob Reiner became best friends, sharing similar political leanings and helping each other overcome several personal struggles.