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

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.

[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.

[jro]

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

[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.

[jaydeng.]

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

[anthonyloudermill]

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

[TAC]

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

[dasiareed]

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

[ClaytonChick]

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

[lailabeeba]

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.

[Tonygarry]

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

[Ryu_Shotokan]

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

[SSBB]

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

[jonathanfalkowsky]

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.

[kalliemorton]

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

[nintymark]

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

[Goblinkatie]

I just randomly thought of this episode and pulled this up.

All these years later and I still cried at that wave of anxiety, fear, and realization washing over her.

Was it cheesy? Yeah, but it was also very real for a lot of us. Especially the “gifted kids” who were doing whatever we could to live up to the hype put on our abilities.

[RollerSimmer]

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

[nicknelsonsbabe]

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.

[kathrinekathrine]

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