For the generation now in their late 20s to early 30s, Saturday mornings weren't about cartoons or kid game shows, though I'd go on "Double Dare" tomorrow if offered. Saturdays consisted of the TNBC line up. This was NBC's stable of teen sitcoms, led by the granddaddy of them all "Saved by the Bell."
The line up also included "California Dreams," about a group of friends who lived near the beach and had a rock band. They hung out at Sharkey's, dated each other and dealt with serious problems like drugs, race and who to take to the prom.
There was also "Hang Time," about a midwestern high school basketball team and "City Guys," which was basically a more diverse "Saved by the Bell." And of course, "Saved by the Bell: The New Class," which involved a ever changing group of Bayside kids getting into the same shenanigans.
Besides "California Dreams" my favorite was "USA High," which ran on NBC for one season before moving to USA Network. It was about teenagers who went to a boarding school in Paris, which I thought would have been super cool.
All these shows had the same storylines about misunderstandings, wacky shenanigans that had to be kept secret from a clueless authority figure and rotating romantic partners. But, if you were at the age of being too old for cartoons, yet not quite old enough for R rated movies, these shows made you feel a little older and cooler.
Most of the actors on these shows didn't go on to bigger careers, but without the influence of the TNBC block, there would be no "iCarly" or "Wizards of Waverly Place."
With all the cable channels available, you'd think someone would start showing reruns of these shows, I'm sure they still hold up.
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