Saved by the Bell | "I'm So Excited": Jessie's Caffeine Pill Addiction

Jessie (Elizabeth Berkley) becomes addicted to caffeine pills as she strives to be a perfect student.
#SavedbytheBell #PeacockTV
Watch season one of Saved by the Bell on Peacock: pck.tv/3lO1Mnt
Saved By The Bell (originally Good Morning, Miss Bliss), features six enterprising, adventurous teenage students with inventive schemes and mischievous dreams. Played by some now iconic actors such as Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Grosselaar and Dustin Diamond, the series follows the teens throughout their fun-filled days at Bayside school and their antic-filled nights at their favorite hangout, The Max. Told from the kids' point of view, Saved By The Bell presents the conflicts and chuckles that teen romances inevitably deliver.
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[@carnyzack]

Caffeine addiction is no joke, after high school, Jessie changed her name and ran away to Las Vegas to become a showgirl-all to feed her addiction.

[@jonr8315]

It was so tragic. She bought a Versace dress and celebrated...with a burrito.

[@scorpiocara6798]

Really

[@80srocknroller]

Now she's the guidance counselor

[@scorpiocara6798]

@@80srocknroller it's always the messed up ones that become that

[@80srocknroller]

@@scorpiocara6798 In the teaser she took away the caffeine pills off Zack's son Mac saying: "Are those caffeine pills?"

[@jaydeng.3029]

This makes more sense when you learn that the "caffeine pills" were intended to be amphetamines, but the network wouldn't allow it.

[@antoinecampbell7473]

I just found that out too. Caffeine pills don’t even give you those side effects.

[@higurashianduminekoconnect1702]

Those caffeine pills are actually just as dangerous because they don't usually regulate them I don't get the whole why they changed it

[@higurashianduminekoconnect1702]

@@antoinecampbell7473 not true a very much can don't regulate those caffeine pills I remember when they were having news coverages about it get back in the day they put stuff in their you don't know what they're putting it can be just as dangerous as speed and you wouldn't even know it

[@dnasty312]

And it's the same network that allowed this on _Family Ties._

[@joshbhargava1042]

@@dnasty312 Family Ties was a prime time show, where as this was a children’s show. The criteria was probably different for what was allowed.

[@jro3213]

Props to Zack for not cracking up during her singing meltdown, how did he keep a straight face?!

[@aaronackiss3424]

After 16 takes it still looked like he was holding a giggle back. 🤣

[@jeffk1722]

@@aaronackiss3424 But in real life, a person might do that as well. Even dramatic outbreaks can rub observers in a funny way (despite still caring for the other)

[@daver1161]

He was probably high as a kite and didn't realize what was going on.

[@Machelle3200]

I mean that shyt was funny cause she just over did it. "I'm so excited, I'm so excited" lol

[@michaelsaunders1400]

Deep down, he knew it was speed and not caffeine.

[@ClaytonChick8]

I kind of get why this has become a meme, but in all seriousness, all that stress, anxiety, and panic is real.

[@PrinceH7144]

True

[@xAlphaBxtch]

It would’ve been better if the networked allowed her to use amphetamines like they intended

[@thomasmills339]

No. It's not. This is ridiculous.

[@zazu3006]

@@thomasmills339 yeah it is when u do speed for too long and just run around on crazy mission and then u always crash. suppressed emotions when focused on thousand tasks, lack of sleep and then boom, here comes the confused brain 🧠

[@abandonedfragmentofhope5415]

She was suppose to originally do speed but the network wouldn’t allow it.

[@TC494]

I have avoided caffeine pills my whole life, i don't want to be excited and have to hide it.

[@kevinlowman2808]

Lol

[@whereismyheart]

hahahahahah

[@ericthomas917]

Someone should've told the Pointer Sisters that caffeine pills aren't good

[@willisapril]

Red Bulls are stronger anyway.

[@jamiewbush695]

My caffeine pills just came in the mail 💌

[@lovefromwonderland]

They wanted to use a harder drug (I believe it was speed, also known as amphetamines) but the change to caffeine pills was demanded by the network. So while many people make fun of this scene, to me it’s very emotional when you see her breakdown.

[@MoneyManHolmes]

I’ve always heard that too. I wonder how far it got before they made the change. They could have even filmed it all as illegal drugs, and changed it to caffeine with just a couple of dubbed lines.

[@jeremiahlesleawilder5329]

It is sad

[@lailabeeba8016]

I just love the way Zack held her and tried to calm her down reassuring her everything would be fine. He was a goof ball but at the same time such a good friend.

[@marycanary]

Absolutely!😊

[@SXI96]

He was trying to feel her up while acting like he was consoling her :)

[@marycanary]

No he wasn’t! Yes,he’s opportunistic but he’s not a slime ball for Pete’s sake!

[@greyghostscsa394]

Omg 😂😂😂

[@makaylarae1000]

@@marycanary He's 95% slimeball, 5% a decent person lol

[@dasiareed8922]

It's crazy because this episode got low ratings but it was a educational message

[@RoyalMasterpiece]

I loved it. I wish more shows would do so. Punky Brewster, Growing Pains, A Different World, and The Cosby Show were all great, too.

[@sheliamccullough1626]

True

[@maxamillion5175]

Because the educational message sucked lol

[@EDifyer881]

really?

[@kenhernandez8128]

How do you know it got low ratings?

[@anthonyloudermill3393]

Elizabeth Berkley killed this scene. She was amazing. Pulled on the heart strings.

[@LoneLee2022]

And she was so hot! Loved her in Showgirls!

[@kleeamd8274]

lol she killed this scene, all right🤣🤣🤣

[@kings6143]

cringeeeeee

[@ghariiscool]

what?? her acting was horrible lol

[@selena5815]

Her acting in this scene was the best I can remember out of all the episodes. It may seem cheesy to some but for saved by the bell, in the 90's, it was pretty good. It also didn't help that they had to use caffeine instead of speed/amphetamines.

[@Tonygarry78]

I love this. Every time I try to do caffeine pills. A friend tries to stop me. I start singing. "I'm so excited "

[@angelorocksful]

RIP Dustin Diamond

[@cptspinach]

WAIT

[@treasalynam8940]

@@cptspinach yyeeessss!!

[@clarencesimmons8580]

Screech Powers my geeky Brother RIP😢😢

[@tf4010]

It’s not even his scene...ugh

[@jro3213]

Screech actually stabbed someone, guess he didn't like his wimp identity created from the show

[@jonathanfalkowsky672]

Probably one of the most well known lines of the entire series.

[@degrassiluvaforeva]

Mr. Dewey’s expression when he tells Jessie he couldn’t figure out the math problem is funny and priceless.

[@SSBB4]

This was foreshadowing adderall addiction of today. I guess the pressure on perfectionist students is timeless.

[@palladium607]

So so true

[@ZX-ou5op]

Actually, the original script had her being addicted to speed (under which Adderall and other amphetamines would be classified), but NBC vetoed it, and thus it was changed to caffeine pills.

[@chaseaucoin]

Adderall addiction has been a problem as long as I can remember.

[@johnle6364]

not an addiction but we all do take it before exams

[@s.marshian8455]

@@johnle6364 Some people use it all the time to keep high energy to where it basically becomes an addiction as they have that “have to have it mentality”

[@sportsmusiclover]

RIP Screech

[@davidkruse4030]

Not the time or place dude

[@daver1161]

@RedPill Crusader Take the ScreechPill

[@the_original_Bilb_Ono]

Guys stretch is did, let him go. 😢

[@Ryu_Shotokan]

Zack was a real king here for protecting his friend and comforted her when he got overwhelmed with panic.

[@charlesjohnson1602]

They were both jerks to Slater though…

[@kennydardignac7741]

Yup he sure was in all of save by the bell

[@kennydardignac7741]

Episodes

[@LouieTheButcher]

The 90’s goodness that this is gives me the feels

[@kathrinekathrine]

Now that is true friendship and a good friend. we need more friends like Zack out in this world

[@Cenotaur1]

zack shafted his friends multiple times for petty reasons.

[@WrldDon]

@@Cenotaur1 you aint wrong but he did come through for them when it really mattered

[@dakunism]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6m4m3epptKpi80

[@gregcampbell3052]

Zack Morris is the greatest

[@ghariiscool]

nah..... Zack Morris Is Trash

[@tkfabulous7450]

This is sad...and messages like this about drugs illegal ones should be on every tv show ...my girlfriend passed away from drugs..I felt like slater in this scene when he yelled at jesse ...same thing I told my girl and now she's gone ....I tried to help her but addiction is very bad..and now my girlfriend is gone and I'm heart broken..so people should put out the message still about this especially to young kids

[@chosentonessournotes]

Did she overdose on caffeine?

[@tkfabulous7450]

@@chosentonessournotes no .. prescriptions

[@briannavelez8947]

I’m sorry about what happened I hope your ok now

[@tkfabulous7450]

@@briannavelez8947 thank u and it's almost 2 years now ...and I'm alright I guess

[@RollerSimmer]

Zack and Jesse having a tender friend moment. This show wasn't all that cheesy at times. "We'll get there"

[@greyghostscsa394]

That scene was 100% cheese with a side of cheese

[@juanitamorgan5475]

It would have been better had they taken out the laugh track

[@annieberry4008]

Jessie not Jesse

[@kalliemorton5435]

If it hadn't been caffeine pills and actually a real drug they wanted to use this story would have been more powerful

[@reallysadweeb4454]

They tried to get amphetamines to be the drug I think but the network wouldn’t allow it

[@cmhsgrad02]

It was 1990 Saturday morning tv .. can't do anything hard-core in there

[@royeynon6533]

Well they couldn't use Cross Tops

[@willisapril]

Nowadays you have to be 18 or over to purchase caffeine pills after a teenager actually died of an overdose a while back yet they can still buy a Red Bull

[@jessl1934]

Caffeine is a real drug, Kellie

[@nintymark64]

every1 trashes this but it really was a genuine attempt to inform and educate.

[@nicknelsonsbabe9518]

can we just appreciate Zack for a minute? I know he didn’t believe it when he was told about the addiction but you have to give him the credit for being so amazing when Jessie fell apart. She was the “responsible” one, and no one expected her to take this turn. Anyway: the way Zack (sorry if i spell his name wrong) was super worried when he found out that her addiction was real, and the way he held her so she couldn’t take the pills anymore, and when she finally broke down, he held her (and wee was cam assume they stayed that way until everyone else came), protecting her from the temptation of the loose pills.

[@romedelacour8838]

32 years later & I still get teary eyed from this scene. I see you Ms Elizabeth! & props to Zack for being so supportive!

[@Duricas]

Props to writers writing it like that.

[@ronansullivan432]

i wish elizabeth berkley was sober.

[@MsAnne-rl1mo]

Me to.

[@batcat4eternityfanfics559]

Great episode about addiction and perfectionism. Also spreads awareness about mental health and image. So many things teens have resonated with. Definitely underrated episode.

[@dawggirl]

This episode cemented my love for Jessie and Slater together. He was worried about her, guh.

[@JulioLopez-xz5kx]

GUH

[@vinaymulukutla358]

Slater was the only man who could handle Jessie and the only man she knew who could.

[@jc4446]

This scene makes me tear up now … don’t know if it’s the nostalgia of being with my sister watching this on a summer day growing up or how Zach does his best to calm her down and tell her everything is gonna be ok … we laughed then but now it’s emotional

[@iqranedzereie6026]

People can make memes out of this, but imagine this happens in real life. Pressured in being the perfect student in both academics and talent, you will go through all lengths to make sure you stay focus and concentrated. You can see how desperate Jessie claws her way to those caffeine pills, while Zach tries to restrain her. In her final attempt to convince him she’s okay, she sings through it but ultimately falls into fear and despair in a matter of seconds. Personally, I do experience this in college time. It’s really scary to think about it again.

[@northok8463]

Bah solo quería su chiquita

[@gdaymates1144]

True. I’m 57 and occasionally have dreams about being behind in school lol. 😊 Too much pressure!!

[@Dan-di9jd]

I had this other partner in this group project but she was so chill just like me that we both just did the project for a few hours and ended up with an A+ on it and even the teacher said one of the better projects but we did it literally in a few hours. I'm not sure where she ended up but I imagine with her being so chill about things that she's probably doing really well now. So yeah, just relax and take it easy. Don't pop caffeine pills and don't take things too seriously.

[@dannni17x]

Fair play to Zack he was really there for Jessie❤️

[@lailabeeba8016]

I agree. The way he held her.

[@dannni17x]

@@lailabeeba8016 I know i cried the way he held her🥺

[@armyofpets5547]

Those "pills" were red hot candies.

[@podsmpsg1]

She's lucky she has friends that care about her.

[@furnaccio]

Probably my favorite episode of the series. Most realistic situation I could relate to when I was in HS

[@Soapysalesman]

this was a special moment and it’s very important 😭💞

[@clockworkNate]

One of the few times Zach was a true caring friend and not a p.o.s.

[@eriks8382]

Nah zac Morris is trash

[@fernandosierra6673]

At the time I watched this show I had just completed my 13th birthday and had no idea what to expect as a teenaget, but thanks to this show, the cast, and specially this episode, i evaluated a lot of things and choosed to do right. Thanks guys for being my role models, i learned everything from you. You guys are awesome

[@rollingdudes8859]

Originally the episode was supposed to be Jessie gets HOOKED on SPEED, but I guess they changed it to CAFFIENE PILLS because it was a Saturday morning show on NBC!!!

[@codyevans6454]

Crazy how this episode makes way more sense to( us) now. I remember this one.

[@vinaymulukutla358]

I never took anything like what Jessie took to stay awake but I did drink a couple of strong coffees before doing my High School Chemistry exam to stay alert. I ended up becoming very jittery and my heart was really racing. It kept me alert but did nothing to alleviate my tension. It was insane and I finished it early although I stayed until the time was over. I never drank coffee again before any exams after that. I got a B in Chemistry by the way so I was fine. The exam scene here reminded me of that.

[@patrickjulien2631]

The moral of this episode is don't do drugs or pills

[@lililililPitdinolilililil]

To simplify, tis sketches were ahead of its time

[@devinobrian8954]

Say what you want about Zack but this scene shows how much he loved his friends.

[@80srocknroller]

Now Jessie is a guidance counselor; Slater became the athletic director of Bayside High and Zack & Kelly became the Governor and First Lady Of California

[@zach_melik]

And Lisa is a fashion designer living in Paris, while Screech lives with this robot in the International Space Station.

[@heidirourke2259]

I got sick drinking alot of caffeine. Red bull nitro cold brew monster rock star caffeine pills their like speed. I remember I got so sick when I drank a nitro brew it made so sick made me act silly July 2nd 2020-july 7th 2020 then on July 5th 2020-July 7th 2020 it started make me throw up and then I had to go the emergency room to get an iv.

[@kingzayyx]

how can you not like excuse me LOVE this show. Put you onto everything that still stands relevant today

[@gregcampbell3052]

The best sitcom of the 90s

[@cammy85]

I'm glad you included that last part with Zack's ET story. :)

[@zach3431]

This scene is actually very powerful. I mean yes it’s easy to make fun of because it’s “caffeine pills” but everyone has to remember that this was a Saturday morning kids show. So I’m assuming the network wouldn’t allow them to use amphetamines. So caffeine pills were the closest they could use.

[@sgtgiggles]

I woulda scrapped the script altogether. Saying it’s caffeine pills gave it a comedic element

[@cammy85]

We all saw what happened to Carlton on Fresh Prince when he overdosed on speed, which he thought were caffeine pills in the first place. The other main difference of course was that SBTB aired on Saturday morning or afternoon depemding on your location; while Fresh Prince was primetime.. The New Class and even Hang Time got into some heavier topics for sure, but stayed within the lines.

[@krisblackburn143]

I heard they wanted to use speed but the network rejected it so they changed it to caffeine pills

[@tiaterlaje]

The pressure to excel is real! I'm so happy that self-care is an important topic.

[@mkaplan1383]

Years later, Fresh Prince of Bel Air would have a similar episode. Will would be taking speed and in turn got Carlton hooked on them when he mistaken speed for vitamins.

[@davidmunoz6376]

She should have won an Oscar Award for this performance 👏

[@81laurenjean]

She finished the test so early that the class bell rang 15 seconds afterwards lol

[@merpvfddj]

I’m all jacked up on Mountain Dew!

[@user-gx5hf2fn9j]

😂😂😂

[@RacerGirl48]

Me too

[@richlogan862]

I remember watching Saved by the bell in the 80's or 90's. And I loved it. It was funny and some of the characters said funny lines on the show. And I loved how Zack became friends with Jessie. Jessie is played by Elizabeth Berkley. Albert Christopher Slater is played by Mario Lopez. Lisa is played by Lark Voorhies. And Samuel, Screech Powers was played by Dustin Diamond. And I love Zack hugging Jessie when she was crying in the Saved by the bell episode Jessie's Song. Zack is very sweet on Jessie when he tells her everything is ok. I love that scene.

[@zythr9999]

lol It was 89-94 If you watch some of the "Zack Morris is Trash" videos you nay see him differently

[@timeghost82]

@@zythr9999 that's a great series. You really do start seeing Zack in a different way

[@zythr9999]

@@timeghost82 It is, and you do lol

[@cprado225]

His name was Albert Clifford slater according to his ex girlfriend from Germany

[@MaNnYrOk]

Zack is trying to hold it in.... lol 😂

[@Gabriel-dr8vp]

This an iconic episode in television history that will never be forgotten 🙏

[@RollerSimmer]

2:47. the crash. Yeah right it was caffeine

[@HeatherSommers]

Honestly the acting in this was really great, especially from Mario Lopez and Mark Paul Gosselar even though the situation was ridiculous lol

[@lemuryellowtail4819]

Caffeine addiction really just means headaches from withdrawal. Everything has caffeine in it nowadays, it’s crazy.

[@cathydiane2558]

I’m so excited I’m so.....scared!!

[@vinaymulukutla358]

It's hard to believe this was before the era of energy drinks.

[@youlldo345]

I heard in the original plan for the episode Jessie was supposed to be on speed, but they thought that was too heavy for the age group the show targeted so they changed t to caffeine pills.

[@norajavier7492]

I'm so exciteeeed, I'm so exciteeeeed!!!, then she became an excited show-girl!

[@LoneLee2022]

Even though that was a corny movie, I loved her and the photography in that movie.

[@rupaulsalguero4265]

They originally wanted to make it a hard drug in the script but thought it wouldn’t be palatable to a mainstream audience so they used “caffeine pills”.

[@ckendall67]

Apparently amphetamines were in the original script but it had to be scratched out so they decided upon 'caffeine pills' instead.

[@zo6rwhp]

I’m so excited I’m so excited still remember that scream like yesterday and I was in middle school 1997

[@mkaplan1383]

4:08 It was at this moment Jesse mentally hit the brick wall at 70 mph.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

I remember watching this one morning before school and I really couldn't handle something so heavy first thing in the morning. Messed me up all day! 😄

[@renaissance18]

family guy stewie: i’m so excited lol

[@eddierascalhaskell4954]

@2:42, Screech mouthing Jessie's lines😅😂

[@TonyKanameKuran]

2:47 - This was one of the most memorable scenes in Saved by the Bell.

[@number1smbmbt1]

No ones talking about Kelly's outfit in class? Like a bra with a jacket over it. That would not have flown in my school! Haha its cute though

[@number1smbmbt1]

@Edward89 I guess so! Haha

[@thomasmcdade1004]

Came here because when I looked up the song "I'm so Excited" by Kav Verhouzer, which is a remix of the song "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters, as I was scrolling down, this video popped up.

[@litodat233]

Zack and Jesse were really best friends they seem to knew each other the longest

[@EDifyer881]

I remember city guys and California dreams did the same thing Cassidy from city guys and Tiffany from California dreams

[@Carlosgnz.]

I remember I use to see this after & before middle school, I actually loved this show!

[@barbaraswingle5114]

One of my favorite episodes

[@kitridge4301]

This part, right here, proved that Zach was a good kid.

[@marcelosamaniego6254]

Best show ever

[@RickyBobbyGoFast]

1990s: DRUGS ARE BAD! 2023: Percoset, Molly percoset AYE 🎶

[@bando91]

🗣️ *SCREAMING* ‼️ EXACTLY 🙄🙄

[@darlingmoon003]

This was one of my favorite episodes.

[@gregcampbell3052]

Saved by the bell was the soundtrack of my teenage years

[@twiggycosmicyob]

“These pills are dangerous,Well so is geometry “

[@thecunninlynguist]

I'M SO EXCITED

[@bobsiyt6548]

That’s how I kicked my drug addiction - I just had a friend tell me about a time when we were kids and we rode on bikes together in the dark after a movie.

[@sweetbritfan2323]

Sends a great message 👍🏻

[@linewalker]

Another huge moment in Saved by the Bell.

[@jwhertsch]

I watch this scene today, and it's almost humorous. I mean, caffeine pills? And a touch of overacting on the "I'm so excited ... I'm so scared!" lines. Not to mention this scene has been memed and parodied to death today. Yet when I watched this at 14-15, it was an effective and affecting scene. Jessie's emotions seemed raw and real, as was Zach's initial bewilderment and the fact that he cared about how dependent his friend had become on drugs. And, yes, "caffeine pills" is kind of ridiculous. On the other hand, teenaged me, I think, comprehended the caffeine pills were a metaphor -- a stand-in for some other drug -- and that the show as meant to warn us about what chemical dependency could do to a person. I doubt anyone has experienced a friend singing "I'm so excited ... I'm so scared." On the other hand, I think this episode captures the emotions around chemical dependency, both for the addict and for the addict's friends and family.

[@molasorrosalom4846]

Yep, she has a piece of chocolate, some green tea, a sip of Pepsi, and she falls off the wagon.

[@thewest8630]

I read that the original plot had her doing speed but they got shot down on that idea.

[@dnasty312]

@@thewest8630 Like Alex?

[@alohafromsienna9510]

I think the original was supposed be her taking speed or some other amphetamine, but it was shot down

[@earllewis3675]

@ James Herschel, Well Said !!

[@nicolestarkoniski5674]

I know caffeine can raise my anxiety and make me moody. Too much of it can be a bad thing in my own experience.

[@chosentonessournotes]

Precisely why it makes no sense for her to become addicted...

[@GenF91]

I remember this episode. I felt so bad for Jessie 😢.

[@neshamojanay9423]

I do too

[@rosannaburt3048]

zack so sweet in end was a friend

[@kenhernandez8128]

Why Slater need a pen for Geometry? Supposed to use a pencil.

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

Slater does not make mistakes

[@rayloc420]

@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 1040 on the SAT...

[@laurafernandez8281]

Best friends will do anything for eachother

[@rickjgriff]

I know this gets made fun of a lot. But it literally is the best acting that was ever in saved by the bell. No joke.

[@amrose4214]

Caffiene pills hyped more then one cup of coffee.

[@cdgolem]

I hope Stewie got the help he needed.

[@ceneblock]

I can never hear that song without thinking of this.

[@antj2k1]

I will never EVER forget this

[@aliciak2633]

When I want to feel the feels, I swap out every mention of “caffeine pills” to “speed” (the intended drug). When I want a laugh, I watch this as the face value story about caffeine addiction and imagine Jessie snorting coffee grounds off screen.

[@AntiFreezePeach]

I wish they could have used one of those Hydroxycut type drugs as an example but Hydroxycut probably would go nuts on that.

[@MySweetAriane]

Watching this scene as an adult makes me tear up

[@RubbleRamp]

Family guy had me CRYING doing a parody on this 😂

[@klondikebelridge1996]

How she didn't win an Oscar for that performance, I will never understand.

[@yippedoodah]

For years, I only vaguely remembered this episode and thought it was adderall. I felt dumb when I looked into it and found out it's caffeine.

[@coryclement6515]

I love showgirls and Elizabeth Berkeleys manic mannerisms

[@eyeswideshut7354]

Those pills are dangerous!…just bought three bottles at the 99 cent store…Maybe this episode exaggerated just a little

[@riversphoenixs]

I think the reason why it seemed exaggerated was because originally, she was going to be addicted to speed and perhaps they didn't change much in the sense that it would bring the same effect, maybe.

[@davidedelman4536]

Great acting!

[@knuteboy3778]

Ahh..the very special episode. Every sitcom had to have one..lol