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I Was Saved by the Bell: Stories of Life, Love, and Dreams That Do Come True
Peter Engel, one of the most prolific producers in television with more than 1,000 episodes produced under his banner, single handedly created the teen sitcom with Saved By The Bell, which he executive produced through all of its many incarnations, and which led to his many other teen series. As if defining and conquering the teen arena wasn't enough, Peter produced the iconic Last Comic Standing, enabling the discovery of an entirely new, fresh generation of comedians.
Peter’s work was inspired by his own personal journey that took him through the injustices of the 1950s; meeting JFK and working for his election in 1960, with the catastrophic letdown that followed; his dream in the 1970s of making “important” television; his loves, marriages, family, and faith; and, in the 1990s and 2000s, finding his greatest success where he least expected it. Along the way, Peter encountered some of the most iconic personalities of his times.
I Was Saved by the Bell is the chronicle of Peter’s amazing journey. His stories will make you laugh, cry, and want them never to end. Together, they are a master class on life from the perspective of a man who grew up during a time of great uncertainty and came of age in an era of hope and promise. With the ups and downs of the decades as a backdrop, Peter opens his heart and shares the experiences of his own good times, bad times, reflection, redemption, and, ultimately, joy and satisfaction of a life lived the only way he could—with passion.
Peter’s work was inspired by his own personal journey that took him through the injustices of the 1950s; meeting JFK and working for his election in 1960, with the catastrophic letdown that followed; his dream in the 1970s of making “important” television; his loves, marriages, family, and faith; and, in the 1990s and 2000s, finding his greatest success where he least expected it. Along the way, Peter encountered some of the most iconic personalities of his times.
I Was Saved by the Bell is the chronicle of Peter’s amazing journey. His stories will make you laugh, cry, and want them never to end. Together, they are a master class on life from the perspective of a man who grew up during a time of great uncertainty and came of age in an era of hope and promise. With the ups and downs of the decades as a backdrop, Peter opens his heart and shares the experiences of his own good times, bad times, reflection, redemption, and, ultimately, joy and satisfaction of a life lived the only way he could—with passion.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2016
14 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Peter Engel
1 book2 followersPeter Engel was an American television producer who is best known for his teen sitcoms that appeared on TNBC, a former Saturday morning block on NBC which featured all teenage-oriented programs for educational purposes. His most well known work was the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell which inspired the birth of the TNBC block for his other shows such as California Dreams, Hang Time and City Guys in the 1990s.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 1, 2016
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2016/11...
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ebook copy of I Was Saved by the Bell By: Peter Engel in exchange for an honest review.
Short Review Summary:
Entertaining, but not Earth shattering.
After I read Bryan Cranston's book (A Life in Parts) I was in the mood for something similar. When I saw I Was Saved by the Bell on NetGalley I figured it would be just what I was looking for. In some ways it was and in some ways it wasn't. I don't think this book quite lived up to my expectations, but it was good and I did enjoy it.
#Enjoyable
My favorite thing about the book is all of the Saved by the Bell parts of course! I grew up watching Saved by the Bell and it's always been a favorite show of mine. I can remember crushing on Zack, rooting for Zack and Kelly's relationship, laughing at Screech, and so on. So I am not surprised that all of the behind the scenes scoop on the show ended up being the best thing about the book for me.
#ZackAndKellyForever
Overall I Was Saved by the Bell is a pretty good book, but not GREAT. Even though Engel's life is interesting, there are a few slow parts in the book. I'm glad I read this one, but the slow parts dragged on way too much for me to be honest.
#AFewSlowParts
I recommend I Was Saved by the Bell for die hard Saved by the Bell fans and anyone interested in Peter Engel.
#GiveItAWhirl
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ebook copy of I Was Saved by the Bell By: Peter Engel in exchange for an honest review.
Short Review Summary:
Entertaining, but not Earth shattering.
After I read Bryan Cranston's book (A Life in Parts) I was in the mood for something similar. When I saw I Was Saved by the Bell on NetGalley I figured it would be just what I was looking for. In some ways it was and in some ways it wasn't. I don't think this book quite lived up to my expectations, but it was good and I did enjoy it.
#Enjoyable
My favorite thing about the book is all of the Saved by the Bell parts of course! I grew up watching Saved by the Bell and it's always been a favorite show of mine. I can remember crushing on Zack, rooting for Zack and Kelly's relationship, laughing at Screech, and so on. So I am not surprised that all of the behind the scenes scoop on the show ended up being the best thing about the book for me.
#ZackAndKellyForever
Overall I Was Saved by the Bell is a pretty good book, but not GREAT. Even though Engel's life is interesting, there are a few slow parts in the book. I'm glad I read this one, but the slow parts dragged on way too much for me to be honest.
#AFewSlowParts
I recommend I Was Saved by the Bell for die hard Saved by the Bell fans and anyone interested in Peter Engel.
#GiveItAWhirl
May 21, 2023
Wow, what a mixed-up book this is. Five stars for Saved by the Bell parts, that only make up less than 100 out of the 300 pages. Three stars for his openness about his faith and struggles with being a Christian. One star for a long, boring opening section and his need to go on and on about Sirota's Court, a show no one has ever heard of that failed miserably. And zero stars for his horrible need to include a lot of self-praise and know-it-all political talk, slamming conservatives and Republicans despite him claiming to a born-again Christian (as a Messianic Jew).
After a difficult-to-get-through opening third of the memoir where he writes about his past (nothing special) including his elitist Jewish upbringing, he basically complains that he doesn't have a big hit show like he dreamed of so goes down the path of drug abuse, smoking, and sex. Lots of it. He seems to be bragging in order to have street credibility, using so much profanity it's embarrassing. It's obvious Engel is trying to distance himself from being a squeaky-clean kids show producer.
The surprise for readers will be that the heart of this book is Engel's faith story. Suddenly one night when he's in bed with a woman that he does drugs with he has a conversion-type moment where God speaks to him; weeks later he goes to a drug party where a couple take him into another room and pray with him to accept Christ. He becomes a born-again Christian and immediately shares his faith with others, who think he is crazy due to drugs. For a bit he continues to have an unsuccessful career (how did he afford all those drugs anyway?) but slowly it improved when Brandon Tartikoff wanted to do a sitcom about his favorite childhood teacher.
Good Morning Miss Bliss becomes Saved by the Bell (in less than satisfying detail) but once the revised version begins to be produced this contains more about the show than most TV memoirs. There could have been much, much more but at least he devotes plenty to pages to stories about the cast and the network involvement. The biggest problem is that Engel rarely goes beyond the surface and tries to treat everything as wonderful on set--never does he mention the major problems alluded to by Dustin Diamond's book that had been published eight years earlier nor the desire of the stars to distance themselves from the show after it finished.
While he admits that he was known as a cold-as-ice producer before Saved by the Bell, he claims he was the dad to a big happy family during the teen series. Right. Not credible after hearing what others have said since. This book needed to head-on deal with Diamond's claim that female NBC executive Linda Mancuso seduced the boy and that people like Elizabeth Berkley wanted nothing to do with the show at the end. There is so much missing here that it feels like Engel is simply using the book for PR spin to improve his image after being slammed as being difficult to work for.
The last part of the book includes few stories about other shows he did for NBC. Most are barely mentioned, such as the mediocre Last Comic Standing, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class gets pretty much ignored even though it lasted longer than the original.
Instead the pages are devoted to his struggle with his faith and social causes. Engel makes it clear that he always was very politically liberal (he was a New York organizer for John F. Kennedy's presidential run) and yet after his sitcoms ran dry he accepted the job of dean of crazy conservative Pat Robertson's graduate school. While it's fun to read a few inside stories about the horrible way Robertson used him, after Engel quits he seems to almost deny his born-again Christian commitment when he makes a big speech at a Hollywood prayer breakfast condemning conservative Christians and promoting liberal social causes.
As a multi-divorced, rich, leftist Democrat who grew up in a well-off family and helped financially support his own three trust fund kids, he takes the typical elitist liberal view that anyone claiming to be poor should never be held responsible or questioned and instead should be helped by taking money from middle-class taxpayers to fund government social programs for those happy to mooch off the government or misuse taxpayer money. It's great that he has a heart to help the needy, and there truly are a small number who through no fault of their own need help, but he has misplaced compassion. Engel also is hypocritical by judging those taxpaying Christians who believe differently and not giving up his own fortune to care for those he claims to want to help.
Engel goes way too far when he states that conservatives have no concern for the poor or needy--they do, they just believe it starts at home and in the non-profit sector, not in a socialistic government stealing from the middle class to pay for many who are abusing the system while also lining the pockets of the rich.
Engel also misuses the Bible to claim there's nothing in the Republican platform that represents Biblical Christianity. What an idiot. He claims Jesus was only a man of peace that wanted to feed, cloth, and house everyone. That Jesus preached not to judge. And Engel even somehow twists scripture to push a pro-abortion baby killing agenda.
The problem is that anyone can pick a Bible verse out of context to support just about anything, the New Testament is filled with verses that contradict his (and Democrat) stances. If any man does not work, don't let him eat. If anyone does not provide for his own and especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you (and plenty of other God made-you-in-the-womb verses.) And of course Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but to bring a sword."
Engel claims that evangelicals won't accept him, when in truth he doesn't accept them, judges them despite preaching that it's not right to judge, and reveals that he doesn't understand the different sides of Christianity. There is a logical discussion to be had about what a Christian's role is in helping others, Jesus never preached anything meant to be government policy, and how easy it is to build a theology around a few Bible verses instead of looking at the gospel in its entirety. But Engel seems to just want to distance himself from his born-again faith because he condemns moral conservatives. I think that after his three divorces it may also be because he wants to live a free love lifestyle of sinfulness that conflicts with the gospel he claims to believe in and not be held accountable by anyone.
There's a bit of ironic satisfaction near the end when his rich-kid son-of-Jewish-parents leaves the U.S. to fight for in Palestine against Israel. After Engel pleads with son to come home and think of his Jewish heritage, Peter realizes that his kid has the same anti-establishment rebel inside of him that the father does.
I've read this twice, in 2017 and 2023, but won't again. In the end it's a mishmash of some solid material for those of us looking for Saved by the Bell history mixed with very little about his other great Saturday morning shows and a very confusing personal life about which he almost seems to brag about being a bad guy. None of it is very satisfying so if you want to truly be saved by the bell just read pages 156 to 250.
After a difficult-to-get-through opening third of the memoir where he writes about his past (nothing special) including his elitist Jewish upbringing, he basically complains that he doesn't have a big hit show like he dreamed of so goes down the path of drug abuse, smoking, and sex. Lots of it. He seems to be bragging in order to have street credibility, using so much profanity it's embarrassing. It's obvious Engel is trying to distance himself from being a squeaky-clean kids show producer.
The surprise for readers will be that the heart of this book is Engel's faith story. Suddenly one night when he's in bed with a woman that he does drugs with he has a conversion-type moment where God speaks to him; weeks later he goes to a drug party where a couple take him into another room and pray with him to accept Christ. He becomes a born-again Christian and immediately shares his faith with others, who think he is crazy due to drugs. For a bit he continues to have an unsuccessful career (how did he afford all those drugs anyway?) but slowly it improved when Brandon Tartikoff wanted to do a sitcom about his favorite childhood teacher.
Good Morning Miss Bliss becomes Saved by the Bell (in less than satisfying detail) but once the revised version begins to be produced this contains more about the show than most TV memoirs. There could have been much, much more but at least he devotes plenty to pages to stories about the cast and the network involvement. The biggest problem is that Engel rarely goes beyond the surface and tries to treat everything as wonderful on set--never does he mention the major problems alluded to by Dustin Diamond's book that had been published eight years earlier nor the desire of the stars to distance themselves from the show after it finished.
While he admits that he was known as a cold-as-ice producer before Saved by the Bell, he claims he was the dad to a big happy family during the teen series. Right. Not credible after hearing what others have said since. This book needed to head-on deal with Diamond's claim that female NBC executive Linda Mancuso seduced the boy and that people like Elizabeth Berkley wanted nothing to do with the show at the end. There is so much missing here that it feels like Engel is simply using the book for PR spin to improve his image after being slammed as being difficult to work for.
The last part of the book includes few stories about other shows he did for NBC. Most are barely mentioned, such as the mediocre Last Comic Standing, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class gets pretty much ignored even though it lasted longer than the original.
Instead the pages are devoted to his struggle with his faith and social causes. Engel makes it clear that he always was very politically liberal (he was a New York organizer for John F. Kennedy's presidential run) and yet after his sitcoms ran dry he accepted the job of dean of crazy conservative Pat Robertson's graduate school. While it's fun to read a few inside stories about the horrible way Robertson used him, after Engel quits he seems to almost deny his born-again Christian commitment when he makes a big speech at a Hollywood prayer breakfast condemning conservative Christians and promoting liberal social causes.
As a multi-divorced, rich, leftist Democrat who grew up in a well-off family and helped financially support his own three trust fund kids, he takes the typical elitist liberal view that anyone claiming to be poor should never be held responsible or questioned and instead should be helped by taking money from middle-class taxpayers to fund government social programs for those happy to mooch off the government or misuse taxpayer money. It's great that he has a heart to help the needy, and there truly are a small number who through no fault of their own need help, but he has misplaced compassion. Engel also is hypocritical by judging those taxpaying Christians who believe differently and not giving up his own fortune to care for those he claims to want to help.
Engel goes way too far when he states that conservatives have no concern for the poor or needy--they do, they just believe it starts at home and in the non-profit sector, not in a socialistic government stealing from the middle class to pay for many who are abusing the system while also lining the pockets of the rich.
Engel also misuses the Bible to claim there's nothing in the Republican platform that represents Biblical Christianity. What an idiot. He claims Jesus was only a man of peace that wanted to feed, cloth, and house everyone. That Jesus preached not to judge. And Engel even somehow twists scripture to push a pro-abortion baby killing agenda.
The problem is that anyone can pick a Bible verse out of context to support just about anything, the New Testament is filled with verses that contradict his (and Democrat) stances. If any man does not work, don't let him eat. If anyone does not provide for his own and especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you (and plenty of other God made-you-in-the-womb verses.) And of course Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but to bring a sword."
Engel claims that evangelicals won't accept him, when in truth he doesn't accept them, judges them despite preaching that it's not right to judge, and reveals that he doesn't understand the different sides of Christianity. There is a logical discussion to be had about what a Christian's role is in helping others, Jesus never preached anything meant to be government policy, and how easy it is to build a theology around a few Bible verses instead of looking at the gospel in its entirety. But Engel seems to just want to distance himself from his born-again faith because he condemns moral conservatives. I think that after his three divorces it may also be because he wants to live a free love lifestyle of sinfulness that conflicts with the gospel he claims to believe in and not be held accountable by anyone.
There's a bit of ironic satisfaction near the end when his rich-kid son-of-Jewish-parents leaves the U.S. to fight for in Palestine against Israel. After Engel pleads with son to come home and think of his Jewish heritage, Peter realizes that his kid has the same anti-establishment rebel inside of him that the father does.
I've read this twice, in 2017 and 2023, but won't again. In the end it's a mishmash of some solid material for those of us looking for Saved by the Bell history mixed with very little about his other great Saturday morning shows and a very confusing personal life about which he almost seems to brag about being a bad guy. None of it is very satisfying so if you want to truly be saved by the bell just read pages 156 to 250.
July 8, 2023
This book is a bunch of short stories about his life. I enjoyed most of the pre- and post- Bell stories that showed how he got there and where he went after, but the highlights of the book were the Saved by the Bell chapters for sure.
December 4, 2016
I knew the moment I saw this on NetGalley, had to read it. Saved by the bell is one of my all-time favorite shows. How could I not read a book written by the man who produced it?
Full review to come.
++++++
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Rating: 4 Stars
I received a free digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Before I get too far into this, I feel I must remind (or inform, if you have never read a review from me before) those reading that when I love something, I can become obsessed. Think Buffy, Titanic, etc.
I feel the same way about Saved by the Bell. I was younger than the intended audience, being born in 1983 and all, but man did I fall hard for Zack Morris in 1991. So I was 8, big deal. I've seen all the episodes, even the Good Morning, Miss Bliss ones, the College Years, and both movies. I could not, however, bring myself to watch The New Class. It just was not the same. I tried for a while, but without Zack and Kelly, I just could not do it.
So, given my love for all things 90s, you can imagine how giddy I was when I spied this title on NetGalley. I have know the name Peter Engel for years, as he is the man who gave the world this awesome gift (minus Tori), but it occurred to be that I knew very little about HIM, the creator of a show I loved so much (and own all the DVDs of).
Typically when reading books like this, I would want to skip straight to the part I am most interested in and not bother with anything before it. But Engel's discussion of his early exposure to politics and his belief in President Kennedy's message was incredibly interesting to me - and it seems like he felt about Kennedy the way I feel about Bernie Sanders - though THAT is an entirely different post and honestly I don't know if I can stand talking about that catastrophe of an election anymore.
Moving on...
Engel is very candid and honest about things in those early years. He mentions an affair he had while married to his first wife and how when he moved out of their home, his wife did not protest because, even though she did not know about his affair, "she new as well as I did that our marriage was not forever" (25%). This really bothered me for a while, like he was trying to justify the affair somehow? What followed that was also kind of hard for me to digest, when he began talking about his kind of downward spiral after his second divorce into drugs and meaningless sex and such. It was so the opposite of what I expected to read about from the creator of a show that was so exactly the opposite of that. I do, however, appreciate Engel's honesty in regards to this part of his life, and am glad it was not something he glossed over or sugarcoated. Sometimes brutal honesty is necessary and even cathartic.
I was then interested to read about the change that came about in Engel's life because of his new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Not only because I myself am a Christian, but because Peter was not - he is Jewish, which then makes him a Messianic Jewish person (is this phrasing even right? I am not trying to be insulting at all, I am just not sure how to phrase it?) I am someone who has recently come back to finding my faith again and so it was cool to see someone else doing so also. I have to admit I was cautious about this, wondering if it would last, but it was also cool to see that it did. And I can totally relate to Engel's experience about buying his first Bible. I purchased a new one a few years ago as I began going to church again and though I must have looked at fifty, I stuck with the first one I found - the King James Version.
The part I'd been waiting for came at 49% - Saved by the Bell! There was nothing terribly new here about the show or cast, but the behind-the-scenes things were of course news to me, such as how hard Engel had to fight for the show at first. I was also highly amused by the fact that he hated the name 'Saved by the Bell' and insisted that the show's theme would have no bells ringing, no mention of bells in the lyrics, and definitely would never say 'saved by the bell'. His tirade is kind of amusing now, given the theme song and the fact that he ended up loving it. I also love the story behind his company logo, the heart. It was drawn by his two sons when they were six and four years old.
I think it is safe to say that the episode where Jessie flips out because of her addiction to caffeine pills is by far the best-known episode of all time (though my favorites will always be the mall episode, the murder mystery episode, and episode where Zack hurt his knee before the basketball game). I am surprised I did not know this little nugget of information, but Jessie was actually supposed to be hooked on speed instead. The episode makes a zillion times more sense that way, but I also understand why the networks couldn't go for it.
There are a lot of great quotes from Engel throughout, but I have chosen a few here that I really love and I feel really show who he is as a person:
(91%) "...I resent the cheap and underhanded politicization of my Savior. I resent politicians who claim to be Christians but send children to their deaths and destroy countries and countless lives for money and for power and for ideology. I resent liars who would use the name of Jesus as great machines of war and as currency for votes. I also resent being made to feel that if I don't somehow align with the Republican Party I'm somehow less of a Christian..."
YES! A thousand times yes!
(92%) "Finally, if you're told that the finals of your show are being preempted on Illinois stations by the Democratic National Convention because a junior senator from Chicago is giving the keynote address, and you've never heard of him, hold off on screaming out, 'Who the fuck is Barack Obama?' Hold off for a few years, because that junior senator from Chicago may very well be the next president of the United States."
(99%) "To this date, Bell is by far my greatest accomplishment. It influenced an entire generation. In fact, it has touched multiple generations, including kids being brought up today, 25 years after we first hit the air. it provided kids with happiness and fun. It helped them define their characters, who they wanted to be...In a certain sense, Saved by the Bell saved me. it filled a hole, a need to do something far more important than myself that could affirm my life and make it worthwhile. Before Bell, I felt lost, like I hadn't done what I needed to do, like I hadn't done what I was meant to do."
(100%) "If your happiness abandons you, find another happiness. And remember, someday today will be a long time ago...Don't miss one moment of it!"
All in all, I can definitely say I recommend this one whole-heartedly. It will be especially meaningful for those of us who grew up watching the show, but those who found it later in life, or are part of that new generation of viewers, will enjoy it also.
Full review to come.
++++++
http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...
www.facebook.com/AllTheBookBlogNamesA...
Rating: 4 Stars
I received a free digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Before I get too far into this, I feel I must remind (or inform, if you have never read a review from me before) those reading that when I love something, I can become obsessed. Think Buffy, Titanic, etc.
I feel the same way about Saved by the Bell. I was younger than the intended audience, being born in 1983 and all, but man did I fall hard for Zack Morris in 1991. So I was 8, big deal. I've seen all the episodes, even the Good Morning, Miss Bliss ones, the College Years, and both movies. I could not, however, bring myself to watch The New Class. It just was not the same. I tried for a while, but without Zack and Kelly, I just could not do it.
So, given my love for all things 90s, you can imagine how giddy I was when I spied this title on NetGalley. I have know the name Peter Engel for years, as he is the man who gave the world this awesome gift (minus Tori), but it occurred to be that I knew very little about HIM, the creator of a show I loved so much (and own all the DVDs of).
Typically when reading books like this, I would want to skip straight to the part I am most interested in and not bother with anything before it. But Engel's discussion of his early exposure to politics and his belief in President Kennedy's message was incredibly interesting to me - and it seems like he felt about Kennedy the way I feel about Bernie Sanders - though THAT is an entirely different post and honestly I don't know if I can stand talking about that catastrophe of an election anymore.
Moving on...
Engel is very candid and honest about things in those early years. He mentions an affair he had while married to his first wife and how when he moved out of their home, his wife did not protest because, even though she did not know about his affair, "she new as well as I did that our marriage was not forever" (25%). This really bothered me for a while, like he was trying to justify the affair somehow? What followed that was also kind of hard for me to digest, when he began talking about his kind of downward spiral after his second divorce into drugs and meaningless sex and such. It was so the opposite of what I expected to read about from the creator of a show that was so exactly the opposite of that. I do, however, appreciate Engel's honesty in regards to this part of his life, and am glad it was not something he glossed over or sugarcoated. Sometimes brutal honesty is necessary and even cathartic.
I was then interested to read about the change that came about in Engel's life because of his new-found faith in Jesus Christ. Not only because I myself am a Christian, but because Peter was not - he is Jewish, which then makes him a Messianic Jewish person (is this phrasing even right? I am not trying to be insulting at all, I am just not sure how to phrase it?) I am someone who has recently come back to finding my faith again and so it was cool to see someone else doing so also. I have to admit I was cautious about this, wondering if it would last, but it was also cool to see that it did. And I can totally relate to Engel's experience about buying his first Bible. I purchased a new one a few years ago as I began going to church again and though I must have looked at fifty, I stuck with the first one I found - the King James Version.
The part I'd been waiting for came at 49% - Saved by the Bell! There was nothing terribly new here about the show or cast, but the behind-the-scenes things were of course news to me, such as how hard Engel had to fight for the show at first. I was also highly amused by the fact that he hated the name 'Saved by the Bell' and insisted that the show's theme would have no bells ringing, no mention of bells in the lyrics, and definitely would never say 'saved by the bell'. His tirade is kind of amusing now, given the theme song and the fact that he ended up loving it. I also love the story behind his company logo, the heart. It was drawn by his two sons when they were six and four years old.
I think it is safe to say that the episode where Jessie flips out because of her addiction to caffeine pills is by far the best-known episode of all time (though my favorites will always be the mall episode, the murder mystery episode, and episode where Zack hurt his knee before the basketball game). I am surprised I did not know this little nugget of information, but Jessie was actually supposed to be hooked on speed instead. The episode makes a zillion times more sense that way, but I also understand why the networks couldn't go for it.
There are a lot of great quotes from Engel throughout, but I have chosen a few here that I really love and I feel really show who he is as a person:
(91%) "...I resent the cheap and underhanded politicization of my Savior. I resent politicians who claim to be Christians but send children to their deaths and destroy countries and countless lives for money and for power and for ideology. I resent liars who would use the name of Jesus as great machines of war and as currency for votes. I also resent being made to feel that if I don't somehow align with the Republican Party I'm somehow less of a Christian..."
YES! A thousand times yes!
(92%) "Finally, if you're told that the finals of your show are being preempted on Illinois stations by the Democratic National Convention because a junior senator from Chicago is giving the keynote address, and you've never heard of him, hold off on screaming out, 'Who the fuck is Barack Obama?' Hold off for a few years, because that junior senator from Chicago may very well be the next president of the United States."
(99%) "To this date, Bell is by far my greatest accomplishment. It influenced an entire generation. In fact, it has touched multiple generations, including kids being brought up today, 25 years after we first hit the air. it provided kids with happiness and fun. It helped them define their characters, who they wanted to be...In a certain sense, Saved by the Bell saved me. it filled a hole, a need to do something far more important than myself that could affirm my life and make it worthwhile. Before Bell, I felt lost, like I hadn't done what I needed to do, like I hadn't done what I was meant to do."
(100%) "If your happiness abandons you, find another happiness. And remember, someday today will be a long time ago...Don't miss one moment of it!"
All in all, I can definitely say I recommend this one whole-heartedly. It will be especially meaningful for those of us who grew up watching the show, but those who found it later in life, or are part of that new generation of viewers, will enjoy it also.
November 16, 2016
Full ARC review: http://mondopaper.com/2016/peter-enge...
In brief:
80 years old on the release of his book, TV producer Peter Engel has embraced having brought the world Saved by the Bell as his legacy. I Was Saved by the Bell: Stories of Life, Love, and Dreams That Do Come True is more about the creator than his creations. Engel had spent his professional career trying to produce the hit TV show.
Yes, something, something, Jessie was originally on speed something, but who could forget Sirota’s Court? How awesome would a talk show hosted by either Bette Davis, John Lennon, or Orson Welles be? Engel pleasantly recalls his failures to be the next Lorne Michaels (SNL) or Normal Lear (All in the Family).
I highly recommend this book if you like famous people going through professional and personal transformations. During my interview with Peter, I was impressed at his vigor (he runs four miles on his home treadmill) and his willingness to answer my questions to best of his ability in the limited time we had. As a former TNBC fan, the man whose shows were TNBC’s foundation is someone I found to be a pleasant man with an incredible career.
In brief:
80 years old on the release of his book, TV producer Peter Engel has embraced having brought the world Saved by the Bell as his legacy. I Was Saved by the Bell: Stories of Life, Love, and Dreams That Do Come True is more about the creator than his creations. Engel had spent his professional career trying to produce the hit TV show.
Yes, something, something, Jessie was originally on speed something, but who could forget Sirota’s Court? How awesome would a talk show hosted by either Bette Davis, John Lennon, or Orson Welles be? Engel pleasantly recalls his failures to be the next Lorne Michaels (SNL) or Normal Lear (All in the Family).
I highly recommend this book if you like famous people going through professional and personal transformations. During my interview with Peter, I was impressed at his vigor (he runs four miles on his home treadmill) and his willingness to answer my questions to best of his ability in the limited time we had. As a former TNBC fan, the man whose shows were TNBC’s foundation is someone I found to be a pleasant man with an incredible career.
March 20, 2017
4.7/5. Such nostalgia! The first half of the book is about Engel's pre-Bell life. I thought it would drag, but the stories were great! And the Bell stories were pure GOLD! My only complaints were with spelling and grammatical errors. I would read it again :)
October 4, 2025
Peter Engel was a the king of teen Saturday Morning shows in the late 1980s-1990s with Saved By The Bell, California Dreams, and other shows. After years of trying to get his "hit" show, he was approached about a teen show which aired in prime time to launch a Saturday Morning alternative to cartoons. After the seven run shoot, he went to NBC and demanded a full season which became the pop culture phenom known as Saved By The Bell.
The book states that the show was a hit right off the bat, but according to Mark-Paul Gossalaar's podcast a few years ago, it wasn't until the show was in syndication that it became a hit, and he debunks a few things in the book.
Engel talks about becoming a Christian and then working for CBN and having a falling out with Pat Robertson and he declared religion isn't political. There are tales about failed shows he tried to start in the beginning of his career with John Lennon and Orson Welles.
This is a good read for those who want to learn how TV writing/creating happens, and the business as well as some great tales about his shows. If you are looking for only Saved By The Bell stuff,you will only get a small bit, but like my review of "Zack Morris Lied... " book, us fans have to take what we can due to the lack of books about the show.
For an in-depth review, visit my blog at:https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...
The book states that the show was a hit right off the bat, but according to Mark-Paul Gossalaar's podcast a few years ago, it wasn't until the show was in syndication that it became a hit, and he debunks a few things in the book.
Engel talks about becoming a Christian and then working for CBN and having a falling out with Pat Robertson and he declared religion isn't political. There are tales about failed shows he tried to start in the beginning of his career with John Lennon and Orson Welles.
This is a good read for those who want to learn how TV writing/creating happens, and the business as well as some great tales about his shows. If you are looking for only Saved By The Bell stuff,you will only get a small bit, but like my review of "Zack Morris Lied... " book, us fans have to take what we can due to the lack of books about the show.
For an in-depth review, visit my blog at:https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...
November 18, 2018
Like most children of the 90s – if I can be so bold and presumptuous – my weekends were spent watching Saved by the Bell, California Dreams, Hang Time among many many others. The man behind these programs was Peter Engel.
Peter Engel, to me, was just a name. A production company that managed to keep me entertained of a weekend. After reading his autobiography I now know that he was so much more. Engel has led a very colourful life that has saw highs and lows – love, marriage, family, divorce, drug abuse and failure. Throughout it all, we have to nod to his success story and that is making some of the most memorable teenage television of the 90s. Whilst looking back on some of the programs now as an adult they may seem hokey in our media drenched unshockable society but some the earliest life lessons I had came from his television factory.
I Was Saved by the Bell is a really interesting read and gives a backstage pass to the – at times – cruel world – of television.
I Was Saved by the Bell by Peter Engel is available now.
Peter Engel, to me, was just a name. A production company that managed to keep me entertained of a weekend. After reading his autobiography I now know that he was so much more. Engel has led a very colourful life that has saw highs and lows – love, marriage, family, divorce, drug abuse and failure. Throughout it all, we have to nod to his success story and that is making some of the most memorable teenage television of the 90s. Whilst looking back on some of the programs now as an adult they may seem hokey in our media drenched unshockable society but some the earliest life lessons I had came from his television factory.
I Was Saved by the Bell is a really interesting read and gives a backstage pass to the – at times – cruel world – of television.
I Was Saved by the Bell by Peter Engel is available now.
September 15, 2017
I was very excited to read this book. I am a big fan of SAVED BY THE BELL and enjoy it to this day. This book is about the life of Peter Engle the executive producer of Saved By the Bell. He led and interesting life, I must say, however there is very little about Saved by the Bell in this book, relatively speaking. I was tempted to message him and ask him about the cast. There is not much in the way of behind the scenes stuff for SBTB. If you want more background "dirt" in your the saved by the bell book called Behind the Bell by Dustin Diamond, the possibly true account of all the backstage squabbles, feuds and dating that took place during productions.
March 29, 2022
I'll be honest - I ended up only reading the Saved by the Bell parts of this book. I tried to read the rest of it, but it was pretty awful, so I decided to just flip to the end to get my SBTB gossip.
Unfortunately, there wasn't nearly enough of that to warrant reading this book. The only things I learned: everyone thought Tiffani was a terrible actress and they wanted to fire her almost immediately, Mario and Tiffani were dating until she walked in on him making out with someone in his dressing room, and there was a rivalry with the California Dreams cast that turned physical during a softball(?) tournament.
The rest of this book is just not worth reading, sorry.
Unfortunately, there wasn't nearly enough of that to warrant reading this book. The only things I learned: everyone thought Tiffani was a terrible actress and they wanted to fire her almost immediately, Mario and Tiffani were dating until she walked in on him making out with someone in his dressing room, and there was a rivalry with the California Dreams cast that turned physical during a softball(?) tournament.
The rest of this book is just not worth reading, sorry.
April 27, 2025
This book for me was not what I expected it to be. If you are looking for a book that just talks about Saved By The Bell, this isn't it. It took me a while to get used to the writing Style of Peter Engel. This book talks about all the highlights and ups and downs of Peter's career and how he got started in New York and how Saved By The bell came to be. It talked about his personal life and his career path. I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would when I first started reading it. If you are a fan of Saved By The Bell and other Peter shows, you should give it a read. RIP Peter Engel. Go Bayside!
August 26, 2019
A lot more than Saved By the Bell stuff here. There are interesting anecdotes about JFK, Bette Davis, and Orson Welles, as well as messianic Judaism, the Israeli conflict with Palestein, and much more. Through it all, Engel is honest about his own actions and doesn't try to portray himself as the hero. He just maintains a great sense of humor and tries to do right by those around him. And there are a few choice SBTB stories in there too.
Read
June 3, 2019Peter Engel, the creator of the 90s TV show Saved By the Bell, tells of how hard he worked to make it happen, as well as stories from his life and what he learned along the way. Fans of the show will love reading this memoir about Engel and gain behind the scenes insight about Saved By the Bell.
Thanks to NetGalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley.com for a review copy of this book.
December 23, 2024
I am nearly finished with this book and have never read something SO filled with lies and fake stories. Some things in the book are definitely true but a vast majority of the book are extrapolations and theatrical lies.
November 8, 2016
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
January 9, 2017
Such a great story about the man behind the 'bell.' What I expected from the book and what I got was so much more.
December 28, 2020
As a big fan of the show it is so good to read the history of the man who made it.
This is his story not all about SBTB. But you will enjoy it anyway.
This is his story not all about SBTB. But you will enjoy it anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2021
If you are a SBTB fan like myself you will enjoy reading pages 1-5 and 156-234. Read the rest if you are a fan of Mr Engel himself.
October 7, 2022
The parts about SBTB were really good, for a fan of the show, but you have to get through a lot of stuff about his personal life before you get to that lol
February 4, 2017
A total snore. No interesting gossip or behind the scenes drama.
January 3, 2017
We all grow up with a show that touches us in our teens. For many it could be Glee, maybe High School Musical...for me that show was Saved By the Bell. This book written by the creator gets into his own history and how the show came about...
- Peter Engel started as a page for NBC in New York in the late 1950's. He helped the show runners for many of the shows that filmed in a theater with a live audience. He also got into production work.
- With the Korean War and a possible draft he stepped into the military volunteering for the Photo corps taking pictures from planes. He was praised for his sharp photographs of the terrain. Right after getting out of the military he was in a car accident that killed his best friend and left him in critical condition.
- He moved to work with a production company in California. He tried to create talk shows with both Betty Davis and Orsen Welles. He spent time in Hollywood networking. He went to have some successes in shows but a divorce left him spinning into a spiral of drugs that broke him. He was nicknamed the 'Iceman' because he was so cold to people.
- When he crashed and burned from the drugs he had visions that led him to turn to Jesus of all things. He went to work for Brandon Tartikoff at NBS who brought forward the idea of a show for teens in school. They ran it for one year and when it failed retooled it to come back stronger. That became Saved by the Bell.
- Mark-paul gosselaar who played Zach was always slated to be the lead. He was incredibly adult in his presentation to acting and wanted to be a professional above all else. Dustin Diamond (Screech) was the only other regular who was in every episode of the show. He appears awkward for a reason...he was only 11 when he got hired while the rest of the class was 14 or 15.
- The show in its first year was panned and ridiculed by reviewers...but Tartikoff stuck with it and by the end of its 1st year 50% of ALL teen viewers who were girls were watching. It kept those viewers steady throughout its entire run. In malls where there was meet and greets with the cast often riots ensued with teenage girls.
- The show continued to take on more and more adult subjects but standards and practices often cracked down forcing Engel to renavigate over issues again and again. The feedback he got from his fellow peers was that they didn't watch the show but their kids raved about it. It was on for over seven years.
Interesting book...
- Peter Engel started as a page for NBC in New York in the late 1950's. He helped the show runners for many of the shows that filmed in a theater with a live audience. He also got into production work.
- With the Korean War and a possible draft he stepped into the military volunteering for the Photo corps taking pictures from planes. He was praised for his sharp photographs of the terrain. Right after getting out of the military he was in a car accident that killed his best friend and left him in critical condition.
- He moved to work with a production company in California. He tried to create talk shows with both Betty Davis and Orsen Welles. He spent time in Hollywood networking. He went to have some successes in shows but a divorce left him spinning into a spiral of drugs that broke him. He was nicknamed the 'Iceman' because he was so cold to people.
- When he crashed and burned from the drugs he had visions that led him to turn to Jesus of all things. He went to work for Brandon Tartikoff at NBS who brought forward the idea of a show for teens in school. They ran it for one year and when it failed retooled it to come back stronger. That became Saved by the Bell.
- Mark-paul gosselaar who played Zach was always slated to be the lead. He was incredibly adult in his presentation to acting and wanted to be a professional above all else. Dustin Diamond (Screech) was the only other regular who was in every episode of the show. He appears awkward for a reason...he was only 11 when he got hired while the rest of the class was 14 or 15.
- The show in its first year was panned and ridiculed by reviewers...but Tartikoff stuck with it and by the end of its 1st year 50% of ALL teen viewers who were girls were watching. It kept those viewers steady throughout its entire run. In malls where there was meet and greets with the cast often riots ensued with teenage girls.
- The show continued to take on more and more adult subjects but standards and practices often cracked down forcing Engel to renavigate over issues again and again. The feedback he got from his fellow peers was that they didn't watch the show but their kids raved about it. It was on for over seven years.
Interesting book...
February 16, 2017
For years, I enjoyed episode after episode of Saved By the Bell and California Dreams and watched Peter Engel's name flash onto the screen each time. We feel like we "know" the creators of these shows that we enjoy because of what they give to entertain us; however, people like Peter Engel are full of so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his journey to stardom with popular sitcoms. He grew personally and professionally with the new-age technology - television. It was quite intriguing to see how his skills developed over time. Engel has made his mark on several generations and I believe his book is a message to all of us to share that passion within our lives!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own!
February 1, 2017
All I knew of Peter Engel before picking up I Was Saved by the Bell was that I recalled, as a kid, his scribbled heart logo at the end of each episode of this neon cheesefest of a show I still have deeply unironic love for. I expected this book to exclusively cover Bell and offer several tawdry stories I could pass along to people at parties.
I was wrong.
I'm not mad about it.
Peter Engel is a remarkably interesting man. He is sincerely funny. He is a man of God in a way that for almost anyone else would lead my lil' atheist self to slam the book shut. He is a progressive liberal, the kind that keeps a photo of Obama signing the Affordable Care Act framed in his home. He's a veteran of the industry with tons of insight to share.
Not only did I enjoy reading the (mostly) tame stories about Bell and the surprise celebrity cameos strewn throughout, but as an aspiring producer and writer I appreciated the business wisdom passed to me through Engel's philosophies, his wins and his admitted mistakes. I felt genuine suspense and dread as each of his marriages fell apart. I felt grief over the death of his best friend Linda Mancuso. I was sincerely thrilled for Engel, a stranger, when he walked his daughter down the aisle and closed our literary journey together.
I have already recommended I Was Saved by the Bell to an industry peer and plan on suggesting it to quite a few others in my life. I hope that Mr. Engel chooses to write a work of fiction next. I will be sure to read it.
I was wrong.
I'm not mad about it.
Peter Engel is a remarkably interesting man. He is sincerely funny. He is a man of God in a way that for almost anyone else would lead my lil' atheist self to slam the book shut. He is a progressive liberal, the kind that keeps a photo of Obama signing the Affordable Care Act framed in his home. He's a veteran of the industry with tons of insight to share.
Not only did I enjoy reading the (mostly) tame stories about Bell and the surprise celebrity cameos strewn throughout, but as an aspiring producer and writer I appreciated the business wisdom passed to me through Engel's philosophies, his wins and his admitted mistakes. I felt genuine suspense and dread as each of his marriages fell apart. I felt grief over the death of his best friend Linda Mancuso. I was sincerely thrilled for Engel, a stranger, when he walked his daughter down the aisle and closed our literary journey together.
I have already recommended I Was Saved by the Bell to an industry peer and plan on suggesting it to quite a few others in my life. I hope that Mr. Engel chooses to write a work of fiction next. I will be sure to read it.
December 22, 2017
If you know the show Saved by the Bell then Peter Engel may sound familiar to you.
This is Mr. Engel's autobiography. It's mainly about how he developed a love for television, working his way to make a successful show, the hardships of his life and of, course the show that ultimately realized the dream - Saved by the Bell.
You find out how he pushed his way into the business and usually not taking no for an answer. Eventually struggling with addiction but ultimately finding salvation and changing his life. You learn so much about the beloved classic teen show, Saved by the Bell and everything that came after.
Although before I didn't much about Peter Engel, his life story was fasnicating. His undeniable love for the business kept me entertained story after story. It was the right mixture for a fan of the show and just learning about the man behind the show. Even better is that in a lot of ways it is a story of hope and how to "keep on keeping on" and overcoming obstacles. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and receiving a free eBook copy did not influence my opinion.
This is Mr. Engel's autobiography. It's mainly about how he developed a love for television, working his way to make a successful show, the hardships of his life and of, course the show that ultimately realized the dream - Saved by the Bell.
You find out how he pushed his way into the business and usually not taking no for an answer. Eventually struggling with addiction but ultimately finding salvation and changing his life. You learn so much about the beloved classic teen show, Saved by the Bell and everything that came after.
Although before I didn't much about Peter Engel, his life story was fasnicating. His undeniable love for the business kept me entertained story after story. It was the right mixture for a fan of the show and just learning about the man behind the show. Even better is that in a lot of ways it is a story of hope and how to "keep on keeping on" and overcoming obstacles. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and receiving a free eBook copy did not influence my opinion.
October 10, 2025
I ordered this book as I recently started re-watching Saved by the Bell which I enjoyed when it was on Nickelodeon in the Noughties.
This book is so much more than about Saved by the Bell. It is about Engel's inspiration of becoming a tv producer, his awkward childhood and his extreme ups and downs in his life and work. I found it so interesting and moving. He had some hilarious anecdotes which made me laugh. His grandfather's funeral in particular is comedy gold. I couldn't put this book down and of course I adored the section about Saved by the Bell. The fact Mark-Paul Gosselaar was so dedicated and how he had to run away from fans a couple of times. Despite Engel going through some very tough times he clearly created a wonderful family atmosphere on set and took care of his cast. His caring nature comes across in the book and he admits to his faults too.
I found this fascinating and would recommend it no matter if you like Saved By the Bell or not.
This book is so much more than about Saved by the Bell. It is about Engel's inspiration of becoming a tv producer, his awkward childhood and his extreme ups and downs in his life and work. I found it so interesting and moving. He had some hilarious anecdotes which made me laugh. His grandfather's funeral in particular is comedy gold. I couldn't put this book down and of course I adored the section about Saved by the Bell. The fact Mark-Paul Gosselaar was so dedicated and how he had to run away from fans a couple of times. Despite Engel going through some very tough times he clearly created a wonderful family atmosphere on set and took care of his cast. His caring nature comes across in the book and he admits to his faults too.
I found this fascinating and would recommend it no matter if you like Saved By the Bell or not.
December 21, 2016
A memoir written by the creator and producer of Saved by the Bell. It is not a history of the show itself, though the show is featured a lot in the last half of the book. Engel writes a lot about his career including how he got into the profession and how he wound up working on kids shows and finding it the most rewarding experience of his life.
In addition to work he also covers his personal life, which was very rocky at times. He was addicted to drugs at one point until even though he is Jewish became essentially a born again Christian. I found the parts about his faith to be really interesting and not what I expected to be reading when I picked up a book about Saved by the Bell.
It is perhaps not the most well-written book in the world, but I think anyone who grew up watching Saved by the Bell would ultimately enjoy it.
In addition to work he also covers his personal life, which was very rocky at times. He was addicted to drugs at one point until even though he is Jewish became essentially a born again Christian. I found the parts about his faith to be really interesting and not what I expected to be reading when I picked up a book about Saved by the Bell.
It is perhaps not the most well-written book in the world, but I think anyone who grew up watching Saved by the Bell would ultimately enjoy it.
December 1, 2016
I loved this book. I had no idea who Peter Engel was, other than the fact that I was familiar with his name due to seeing it on the credits every episode of Saved by the Bell. Engel is funny, and self deprecating. He readily admits to his failures and the moments leading up to them, while praising everyone around him who helped him on the road to being successful. It was interesting to read about his relationship with Pat Robertson and how quickly it all fell apart. I would definitely recommend that anyone interested in the history of Saved by the Bell, or even some of the historical background of NBC pick it up.
November 3, 2016
Who didnt love Saved by the Bell? I mean come on, it was one of the defining shows of my youth. This memoir from Peter Engel is open and raw, with high highs and very low lows. The highlights were definitely the chapters about Saved by the Bell, and also some very interesting (and unexpected) looks at the religious right. It was an interesting read, a turbulent life, and definitely a great show.
May 1, 2019
An ok book about the life of a man responsible for bringing Saved by the Bell to your tv. I found the parts about bell the most exciting. Peter had worked some odd jobs that you would not think of before getting to bell. While I enjoyed the book, it was a bit disjointed, and I think the title is a bit misleading-- it is about Peter's life, or just bell.
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