Mario Lopez Backs Tiffani Thiessen's Residuals Complaint
The 'Saved by the Bell' actor echoed his co-star's sentiment that the show's residuals have become negligible.
Mario Lopez has publicly supported Tiffani Thiessen's recent remarks about the low residual payments from their time on the sitcom "Saved by the Bell." Lopez shared his agreement via X on Wednesday, calling Thiessen's comments "real talk."
Last week, Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, revealed in an interview that her residuals from the show have diminished to the point of being "negative," jokingly adding that "it costs more to print the check." She also noted that she did not begin earning significant income until she joined the cast of "Beverly Hills, 90210" in 1994.
Thiessen, 52, recalled that during "Saved by the Bell," the cast did not have much leverage and were not highly compensated. She mentioned that they received a slight increase in pay only when the show moved to primetime for one season.
Similarly, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who portrayed Zach Morris, spoke in 2019 about the "poor deals" made by the cast during the show's run. While he described his experience on the show as "great," he acknowledged the unfavorable financial agreements.
Analysis of the show's financial performance suggests a significant disparity between its advertising revenue and the actors' compensation. According to a manager of child stars, Lopez reportedly earned approximately $1,500 per episode when he started. By 1991, "Saved by the Bell" was generating around $15 million in advertising revenue, highlighting a potential gap in earnings for the cast.
Other cast members have also shared similar sentiments about their compensation. Lark Voorhies' mother, Tricia Holloway, commented that Voorhies was not in a strong negotiating position. Dustin Diamond's friend alleged that the late actor received $1,250 per week for his role on the show.