Were La Salle students Saved by the Bell-ding

By Melissa Mongi
Collegian Staff
April 12, 2006

One would have to be blind to miss the appearance of Mr. Belding at La Salle this past Friday night. The hype was enormous for the principal on television’s hit show Saved by the Bell. Even though I know I will receive hate mail, I will pose the question: was I the only La Salle student who could care less? When I heard he was coming there was a moment of, “Oh, that’s sort of funny.” Then I thought more about it as the weeks went on and RSA promoted their prized guest. My thoughts changed to, “Mr. Belding, woopty doo!”

Mr. Belding – real name Dennis Haskins – starred in the television show of my childhood. I was a huge fan. No, I can’t answer much trivia about it, but the show was a staple of my grade school days. I won’t lie, I gushed over Zach Morris, hoped him and Kelly would finally get together and probably laughed at Screech’s antics. But, when Mr. Belding came to La Salle, I had no interest. In fact, the only feeling I had was resentment. Out of all the people in the cast, we got Belding?

I understand where the RSA was coming from when it asked him to speak to us Lasallians. Most of us loved Saved by the Bell in its heyday. Also, I applaud RSA for getting a large number of La Salle students to turn out on a Friday night. Yet, for me, there was something amiss.

RSA paid him his $6,500 fee. Then, in a blaze of glory, he was in the Dan Rodden Theatre. Being the steadfast reporter that I am, I waited outside the event enjoying free pretzels and figuratively shaking my fist at Mr. Belding.

Who is this guy, anyway? Since his days at Bayside High, his greatest film credit was in Max Keeble’s Big Move in 2001. His “star power” landed his name 27th on the credits of this “blockbuster” hit. This was laughably below Lil’ Romeo and the man who played the janitor.

Students who didn’t boycott the Belding “talk” tell me he was somewhat boring and had the audacity to show a slideshow of his career. Not surprisingly, it only took six minutes to show off his resumé. I really hope he highlighted his brief appearance on 7th Heaven.

To think he could speak to us about anything other than Saved by the Bell is delusional. I didn’t think I could take him seriously without thinking of him disapprovingly saying the name “Screech” over and over in my head. Peeved by his presence, I waited for friends to leave the theater and stop showing him so much attention.

Then there was a bit of commotion outside the theater. I laughed loudly to find out a fellow junior (who shall remain nameless) was kicked out of the lecture. Apparently, the junior offended Haskins by mentioning a fictitious, bawdy Indian tribe that Screech was captured by on an episode in Hawaii. This occurred during a trivia game Belding needed to play to fill time. (I guess there is only so much weasel laughing you can do before the audience realizes you’re not so great). Although I don’t want anyone to give La Salle a bad reputation by angering a “celebrity,” I was proud of the un-named junior for showing Mr. Belding up. Clearly, all it took to upstage Haskins was nothing more than a dirty joke.

I thought I was safe from seeing and associating with Haskins until the Dan Rodden doors opened, and there he was. Much like the principal he played on television, he bellowed loudly, telling his La Salle fans to form one line. Somehow I got caught up in the rush to get his autograph. Defiantly, I added to the confusion by making my own line, the “Take that, Mr. Belding” line. Haskins looked at me somewhat annoyed, and I felt the pride that comes with victory. It’s not every day I get to show up an F-list actor.

mongim1@lasalle.edu