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The Best Episodes of Saved by the Bell Season 1

Every episode of Saved by the Bell Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saved by the Bell Season 1!

Lovable schemer Zack Morris leads his pals on adventures at California's Bayside High School. The friends navigate relationships, final exams, school dances, breakups and more while frequently frustrating their principal, Mr. Richard Belding, who does his best to keep them in check.

Genres:FamilyComedy
Network:NBC

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Saved by the Bell" season 1 is "Dancing to the Maxx", rated 6.9/10 from 492 user votes. It was directed by Don Barnhart and written by Scott S. Gorden. "Dancing to the Maxx" aired on 8/20/1989 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Lisa Card".

  • Dancing to the Maxx
    6.9/10 492 votes

    #1 - Dancing to the Maxx

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 8/20/1989

    Casey Kasem hosts a dance contest at The Max.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: Scott S. Gorden

  • The Lisa Card
    6.8/10 430 votes

    #2 - The Lisa Card

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 8/28/1989

    When Lisa charges too much on her father's credit card, her friends help her cook up a scheme to sell her belongings so that she can pay back the bill.

    Director: Don Barnhart, Gary Shimokawa

    Writer: Bob Colleary

  • The Gift
    7.2/10 416 votes

    #3 - The Gift

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/8/1989

    After Screech gets struck by lightning, he gains the ability to see into the future, and Zack uses him to cheat on a mid term exam.

    Director: Dennis Erdman, Gary Shimokawa

    Writer: Mark Fink

  • Fatal Distraction
    7.3/10 414 votes

    #4 - Fatal Distraction

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/9/1989

    In an attempt to find out who Kelly wants to take to a dance, Zack and Screech bug the girls' sleepover party and the girls get revenge.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • Screech's Woman
    6.9/10 394 votes

    #5 - Screech's Woman

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/16/1989

    In an attempt to cheer Screech up enough to complete their science project, Zack pretends to know a girl who is interested in Screech, but things soon become complicated.

    Director: Dennis Erdman

    Writer: N/A

  • Aloha Slater
    7.3/10 408 votes

    #6 - Aloha Slater

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/23/1989

    When his father is offered a transfer to Hawaii, Slater must decide whether to move there or stay at Bayside, and Zack takes full advantage of the situation.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • The Substitute
    7.1/10 398 votes

    #7 - The Substitute

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 9/30/1989

    After the school's drama teacher falls ill, a handsome substitute arrives, and quickly captivates the girls, much to the chagrin of the boys.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • Cream for a Day
    7.1/10 397 votes

    #8 - Cream for a Day

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/7/1989

    When Screech accidentally invents a seemingly miraculous zit cream, Zack sells it at school. However, it soon becomes clear that the cream has an alarming side effect.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: Scott S. Gorden

  • Pinned to the Mat
    6.7/10 270 votes

    #9 - Pinned to the Mat

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 10/14/1989

    During Career Week at school, Slater worries that continuing to focus on wrestling will not lead to a successful job. As a result, he quits the sport, worrying Zack, who has bet on Slater winning his next match.

    Director: Don Barnhart, Gary Shimokawa

    Writer: Bob Colleary

  • Beauty and the Screech
    7.4/10 391 votes

    #10 - Beauty and the Screech

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 10/21/1989

    Zack enlists Screech to tutor Kelly, when he finds out that she needs to pass an upcoming science test in order to go to a concert with him. When Screech and Kelly begin spending more time together than he'd expected, it makes him uncomfortable.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • The Friendship Business
    7.2/10 388 votes

    #11 - The Friendship Business

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/4/1989

    As part of an assignment for Business class, the gang forms a friendship bracelet company, but infighting soon leads to trouble and defection.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • The Mamas and the Papas
    7.2/10 389 votes

    #12 - The Mamas and the Papas

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 11/11/1989

    As part of a class project, Zack and Kelly, Slater and Jessie, and Screech and Lisa are paired up in mock marriages.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • The Election
    7.2/10 380 votes

    #13 - The Election

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 11/18/1989

    When Zack finds out that the elected student council president gets to leave school for a trip to Washington D.C., he runs against Jessie.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • The Zack Tapes
    7.4/10 400 votes

    #14 - The Zack Tapes

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/2/1989

    When Zack tries to win Kelly's heart through the use of subliminal messages, the plan ends up severely backfiring on him.

    Director: Don Barnhart, Gary Shimokawa

    Writer: Michael Poryes

  • King of the Hill
    7.3/10 390 votes

    #15 - King of the Hill

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 12/9/1989

    Zack's plans of winning over Kelly Kapowski on the first day of high school are foiled when new transfer student, A.C Slater, also competes for her.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A

  • Save That Tiger
    7.3/10 387 votes

    #16 - Save That Tiger

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 12/16/1989

    When Bayside's rival school, Valley, revives the schools' ongoing prank war, the gang tries to get even.

    Director: Don Barnhart

    Writer: N/A