Original ‘Saved By The Bell’ Star Feels “Hurt” Being Excluded From Reboot

Published on February 19, 2020.

Lark Voorhies, who played Lisa Turtle on Saved by the Bell‘s original run, claims she was excluded from the upcoming Peacock reboot of the iconic ’90s sitcom.

In a preview clip from Wednesday’s episode of The Dr. Oz Show, the 45-year-old actress read aloud a journal entry she had written about her feelings on being excluded from the Saved by the Bell reboot, which is coming to NBCUniversal’s upcoming streaming service.

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“It reads, this is a question to the reunion,” Voorhies began. “I have to admit I did feel a bit slighted and hurt when I was not invited to be part of the Saved by the Bell reunion, as well as other cast members’ events. Yet of course, I also realized that having this puzzling disorder may have played a major part in that factual decision.”

Voorhies, who struggles with mental health, finished reading aloud her journal entry by saying, “With that in mind, I am truly thankful for having had the chance to work on a show that has been so successful.”

Despite the show wrapping up in 1993, many former castmates have remained friendly. Last year, Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Elizabeth Berkley reunited to celebrate 30 years of friendship. Voorhies and Dustin Diamond did not attend the celebration dinner.

“They have the right to do that and they’re happy in their element and they can have it, certainly,” Voorhies said.

When Dr. Oz asked if she would like to be included, she responded, “Well, yes. Family isn’t kept complete without its lead.”

The Saved by the Bell reboot, which was announced last September, will see the original Bayside High students as adults. Lopez and Berkley will reprise their roles as A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano, respectively. Gosselaar is also set to reprise his role as Zack Morris for at least three episodes. His character is now the governor of California and finds himself in trouble after closing too many low-income high schools. So, he proposes that the affected students be sent to the highest-performing schools in the state – including Bayside High.

As for other original stars coming back, it was last reported that Kelly Kapowski is still in negotiations to return for her role.

For now, the new leads of the Saved by the Bell reboot include Champions actress Josie Totah as Bayside cheerleader Lexi, Mitchell Hoog as Morris’ privileged son, Belmont Cameli as Spano’s sensitive son, among others.