Saved by the Bell Cast Reveals Shocking Truth About Residual Payments
Saved by the Bell stars reveal how little they earn from reruns. Tiffani Thiessen jokes about 'negative' checks.
POLICY WIRE — City, Country — The cast of *Saved by the Bell* has shared surprising insights into their financial returns from the iconic 1980s sitcom.
Actor Tiffani Thiessen, known for her role as Kelly Kapowski, recently revealed that she earns “nothing” from the show today, adding, “It costs more to print the check.” Her co-star Mario Lopez responded with a simple “Real talk!” on social media, though he has not provided further details.
Thiessen explained that her income from the NBC series, which aired from 1989 to 1993, had “dried up” and that she only began making significant money after joining *Beverly Hills, 90210* in 1994. She also noted that the original cast received minimal compensation, stating, “We didn’t have pull on that show.”
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The *Saved by the Bell* ensemble included Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Lark Voorhies, and the late Dustin Diamond. Residual payments, typically negotiated through unions, are made for reruns and other airings of TV shows after their initial run.
Thiessen is not alone in sharing this experience. Earlier this year, *The Brady Bunch* actor Eve Plumb mentioned she receives no residuals for reruns, while *Full House* star Jodie Sweetin said she once received a one-cent check for syndication rights. With streaming now dominating television, many actors report receiving little or no compensation from older shows.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
