Mario Lopez has confirmed that residual payments for the iconic 1990s sitcom "Saved by the Bell" are meager, echoing recent statements made by his co-star Tiffani Thiessen. Lopez told the Daily Mail that the checks are "sometimes less than the postage," indicating that he and his castmates did not secure favorable deals for the show, which aired on NBC from 1989 to 1993.
Lopez speculated that the series airing on Saturday mornings instead of primetime might explain the significant difference in earnings. He noted that not all actors from popular shows achieve financial security, stating, "Not everybody's making that sort of 'Seinfeld,' 'Friends'-type money from that era." Despite the low residuals, Lopez expressed gratitude for the opportunities the show provided, saying, "I have nothing but pleasant memories and a great experience."
Thiessen, who portrayed Kelly Kapowski, had previously shared a similar sentiment on Page Six Radio in September. She described her "Saved by the Bell" residuals as being "negative now," adding that "it costs more to print the check." Thiessen suggested that the cast had little leverage on the show, stating, "We made nothing and we just did our job." She recalled that residuals increased slightly when the series moved to primetime for one season.
Lopez publicly supported Thiessen's comments at the time, retweeting her remarks and labeling them as "real talk." He later elaborated to the Daily Mail, reaffirming that Thiessen "wasn’t lying" and that the cast often jokes about their residual income struggles. The actor also noted his surprise at how widely their comments were reported.
Child star manager Denise Simon stated in the docuseries "Hollywood Demons" that Lopez's initial salary for "Saved by the Bell" was around $1,500 per episode. Simon also mentioned that the show generated approximately $15 million in advertising revenue after its second season.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who starred as Zach Morris, has also spoken about the "really bad deals" made by the "Saved by the Bell" cast. In a 2019 appearance on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen," Gosselaar acknowledged the situation, saying, "It is what it is. You move on, you learn." He also emphasized his positive experience working on the show.