Boy Meets World
This is perhaps the most direct spiritual successor to the Bayside High formula. Following Cory Matthews from middle school to college, 'Boy Meets World' replaces the Saturday morning silliness with earnest life lessons, often delivered by the sage-like
Mr. Feeny, the show’s answer to Mr. Belding. It’s all here: the core friend group, the central romance, the school setting as the entire universe, and a tone that balances humor with heartfelt coming-of-age moments. If Zack Morris and company taught you how to have fun in high school, Cory, Topanga, and Shawn will teach you how to feel.
California Dreams
From the same executive producer, Peter Engel, 'California Dreams' is practically a cousin to 'Saved by the Bell'. It swaps the focus from general high school life to the specific journey of a teen rock band. The DNA is undeniable: a group of good-looking teens navigates friendship, romance, and goofy problems in a sun-drenched California setting. It has the same bright, optimistic feel and low-stakes drama that made Bayside so appealing, just with more musical numbers and slightly different character archetypes. Think of it as 'Saved by the Bell: The Musical'.
That '70s Show
Trade the '90s neon for '70s wood paneling and you get a surprisingly similar dynamic. 'That '70s Show' centers on a core group of six teenage friends navigating school, relationships, and parents in a very specific era. Eric's basement is the new version of The Max, the local hangout where the group trades witty banter and plots their next move. While it has a slightly more sarcastic and less wholesome edge than 'SBTB', the core of the show is the chemistry of the friend group and the familiar, comforting rhythm of watching them grow up together.
Never Have I Ever
For a modern take on the high school chaos formula, look no further than Mindy Kaling's 'Never Have I Ever'. Protagonist Devi Vishwakumar is as ambitious and prone to elaborate, ill-advised schemes as Zack Morris ever was. The show perfectly captures the feeling of high school social ladders, intense crushes, and academic rivalries, all while providing a fresh, genuinely funny, and often moving perspective. It balances the humor of teen life with real emotional depth, giving you the laughs you expect with a little more heart than you might anticipate.
Abbott Elementary
While it's a workplace comedy, 'Abbott Elementary' delivers the same brand of feel-good, optimistic humor that was a hallmark of Bayside. Set in a Philadelphia public school, the show features an ensemble of lovable, quirky characters who, despite the odds, genuinely care about each other and their mission. Janine Teagues' relentless optimism is a force of nature, much like Zack's schemes. It’s a show with a huge heart and a sunny disposition, proving that the 'school' setting is a perfect backdrop for finding comedy and camaraderie in everyday challenges.
Head of the Class
Airing just before 'Saved by the Bell', this sitcom laid some of the groundwork. It centers on a group of gifted high school students and their unconventional history teacher. The show is driven by the sharp, witty banter of its ensemble cast, a classic 'misfit' group of teens who are smarter than their teachers but still have to navigate the universal problems of growing up. If you love the classroom scenes and the dynamic between a group of smart-aleck kids and the adult trying to guide them, this show is a perfect throwback.
Community
Take the high school setting, swap it for a community college, and dial the self-aware, meta-humor up to eleven. 'Community' is 'Saved by the Bell' for people who have seen every sitcom and know all the tropes. It features a mismatched ensemble that forms an unlikely family, a Dean who desperately wants to be part of the group (a perfect parallel to Mr. Belding), and episodes that lovingly deconstruct sitcom conventions in the same way Zack Morris broke the fourth wall by talking to the camera.
PEN15
This one comes with a major cringe warning, but it’s essential viewing. 'PEN15' captures middle school 'as it really happened,' with creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle playing their 13-year-old selves among actual tweens. It strips away the gloss of 'SBTB' to show the brutal, awkward, and hilarious reality of being a teen. While the tone is wildly different, the core focus on the unbreakable bond of friendship as you navigate the social minefield of school is a theme any Bayside fan will recognize and appreciate. It's the emotional truth behind the fun.
