Dustin Diamond is really starting to get on my nerves. First, in order to change his image from the screechy-voiced character he played on the NBC Saturday-morning sitcom Saved by the Bell he became a foul-mouthed comedian (like we don't have those already). Recently, much to the anger of his fans, he decided to sell $20 t-shirts to save his Wisconsin home from being foreclosed upon.. And now, he's giving out sex advice saying, among many things, that he could write a book on the sexual moves that he has tried and tested and that you need to tap your partner so hard they fall asleep.
I don't know if this is some sort of long-term plan of Dustin's to have us forget that he played the role of Screech for nearly a decade. Or, maybe it's just him trying to drum up some new publicity for himself. I can't read his mind, so I don't know the definitive answer. However, I do know one thing . . .
No matter what he does, he'll still be Screech.
He's Screech now, he'll be Screech in the future. When he passes away the press will say 'he played Screech on Saved by the Bell'. Most likely, his tombstone will read 'Here lies Dustin Diamond, otherwise known as Screech'. And why, do you ask, will he always be remembered this way? Because he is trying so damn hard to make us forget that he was Screech.
He's going about it the wrong way. By doing all of this stuff that's supposed to shock us, it is making us say 'Gosh, we miss Screech.' Granted, he's not the only former child actor that has done this. There are plenty of other stars of television shows we used to watch that decided to shock and awe their fans and pretend that their stint as the cute star on the cover of Seventeen magazine didn't exist.
Elizabeth Berkley, Dustin's former co-star on Saved by the Bell, is an example of this. Shortly after the show ended in 1993 Berkley decided to shed her teeny-bopper image and appear in her birthday suit (several times) for the cult classic film Showgirls. Sure, it got her the attention she wanted, but it was the wrong type. There was a chance that her post-Bell career would have ended at that point. Luckily, she grew up a bit after that performance and went on to do quite well for herself.
That just doesn't seem to be the case with Dustin. He just seems to think that his bad-boy image will bring him additional success. But, as I said previously, it will only make us want Screech more. So, in the end, he will end up in obscurity, just like many other child actors whose names we've forgotten.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-30-2006 @ 10:27AM
Jamie said...
He needs to look at Danny Bonaduce to see where he'll be in 20 years. Call it a Ghost of Child Star Future encounter.
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7-30-2006 @ 11:03AM
Jaymez said...
I had the same thoughts when I saw his stand up act. I hated Saved By The Bell. I hated Screech even more. I was still familar with the character. Hey, Kelly was hot enough to sit through the show with the TV on mute!
I walked away from his act saying to the person next to me, "He's trying too hard not to be Screech." Then again, if I had to be known as the loud, annoyingly voiced, little geek, on a Saturday morning kids show, I'd try and bust that image, too.
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7-30-2006 @ 11:43AM
karsh said...
Kelly never wore socks with her ProKeds. Imagine the foot funk after 19 hours of shooting. Jessie was self-righteous, Lisa's the only Black girl in the school (well, except for the other Black girl in the episode where they have the date auction for Brian), and Zach and Slater had this pre-Brokeback thing going on.
Can you blame Screech? I can't.
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7-30-2006 @ 11:49AM
Coronaboy said...
Makes me wonder if he got hit in the head one too many times.
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7-30-2006 @ 4:28PM
homerj312 said...
I went to see Screech's standup routine one time like 3 years ago when I was in college and thought it was freakin hilarious with stuff like "Everyone knew Slater was gay, right" but then again that was the height of my drug experimentation days in college. Oh yeah and he was charging $20 for an autographed picture.
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7-30-2006 @ 8:41PM
Bero said...
Never watched "Saved By the Bell." Don't really care. But I loves me my TV Squad. And you've been posting so much stuff about this guy lately , I figure he must be important to you.
Simply put: Dude's name is Screech, he's SUPPOSED to tick you off.
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7-31-2006 @ 12:25AM
OGLER said...
lets make a new show: Jew meets anti-semite.
starring Dustin Diamond and Mel Gibson.
that would be FUN!!!!!!
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7-31-2006 @ 11:26AM
niccomm said...
We've seen this before with Shatner and Nimoy, haven't we?
First, Diamond disses the show that made him and recreates himself with a not-so-funny stand-up act.
He makes a failed TV pilot that leaves execs to wonder what they were snorting when they signed him.
He comes out with a book called "I'm Not Screech" which no one buys.
He makes a few low-budget porn films, built around his "extensive sexual techniques."
He struggles along without work for a few years, finally accepting a gig at a "Saved By the Bell" fan fest.
He does a guest spot on CW network's "Still Saved By the Bell" spin-off, playing a guidance counselor who helps Screech-like kids find their place in the world.
He writes another book called "I Am Screech" which no one buys.
He winds up doing Priceline commercials.
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