Idiot Boxing: Boy Meets World vs. Saved by the Bell

Welcome to the first installment of Idiot Boxing, or what hopefully becomes a regular feature here at Channel Surfing. With Entertainment Weekly's TV Throwdown acting as a guide, we thought it'd be cool for our bloggers to embrace a similar spirit of debate -- though truthfully, tearing apart each other's arguments gives us a great opportunity to trade personal insults.

The rules are pretty simple. Any blogger can challenge another blogger to an e-mail debate, up to five total exchanges before closing arguments are made, no premeditation required. Commenters can then score round-by-round if they'd like, or just declare an ultimate winner.

Either way, we've laid out our best arguments on the topic of choice -- the first being a recurring joke at Channel Surfing, the lasting legacy of teen-friendly sitcoms, "Boy Meets World" and "Saved by the Bell." The challengers are Malavika "Shawn Hunter is soooooo dreamy" Jagannathan and Thomas "Mertyl's the Name of My Turtle" Rozwadowski.

The gloves are officially off.

"Boy Meets World" vs. "Saved by the Bell" -- Which is the better show?

Malavika: First off, let me just say this: I watched "Saved by the Bell" religiously. I had the obligatory crush on Zack Morris. But now that I'm an adult - I can barely get through an episode without gagging at the saccharine falseness. On the other hand, I'm still able to chuckle at the antics of Cory Matthews and Co. on "Boy Meets World." Maybe it's because the characters are a bit more "real" (they have money problems - imagine that!) and Ben Savage isn't a predictable twit like Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Seriously, who hyphenates their first name?

Thomas: Here's the thing about "SBTB." It was intentionally cheesy because of its shoestring budget and Saturday morning time slot. And that's what makes it great, that it's forever locked in a time when curly mullets were cool. OK, they never were. But for the kids in its targeted demographic, the show's overindulgent sense of morality worked. Plus, each character is a deliberate archetype, and kids actually can relate to being pigeonholed like that. Spoonfeeding tweens (were they even called tweens back then?) lessons about caffeine pill addiction can also be a delicate, delicate process, and it's one Elizabeth Berkley mastered like a stripper sliding a metal pole between her legs.

Um ... so where was I? Ah, yes, the dreaded family sitcom (ugh, wasn't "Full House" and "Family Matters" enough?) that has a star who may very well be the worst child actor in history. Not only did "Boy Meets World" get rid of its best character -- that nerdy Minkus dude -- but it completely betrayed Topanga's original design (wasn't she a hippie star child or something?) when it was time to branch out into teenage couplehood. But really, it all comes back to Ben Savage, his horrible facial contortions and (ARGH!) that constant whining. He's the guy with Topanga and not that James Dean wannabe, Rider Strong? And you want to make fun of names? Rider FREAKIN' Strong? Porn stars think that name is messed up.

Malavika: OK, what "tween" even knows what the heck an "archetype" is? I'm sorry. BOOO-RING. The thing is, teens and tweens don't want to be pigeonholed. Didn't you learn anything from "The Breakfast Club?" "You see us as you want to see us... in the simplest terms... the most convenient definitions." OK, I'm getting carried away. My point remains - the "SBTB" characters were caricatures, nor archetypes or characters.

So Topanga went from hippie freak to number one hottie. Why not, I ask? Didn't everyone change from when they were in grade school to high school?

Also Minkus (whose departure, I, too, mourned) could beat up Screech any day. And I'd take Mr. Feeny over Belding in a heartbeat.

Thomas: I think it's flawed to look at "SBTB" through an adult prism. It was a first-of-its-kind Saturday morning show for teens. Any other show that is going to come out nowadays is going to steal from that successful template. In fact, "California Dreams" stole from the template at the same exact time "SBTB" was at the height of popularity. It's replayed on teen network, The N, at least four times a day now, a major accomplishment when you consider Zack Morris is lugging around a cell phone the size of a washing machine. And sure, no one is going to confuse "SBTB" characters with deeper reflections found on "Freaks and Geeks." But if you're going to make an issue about being pigeonholed, you can only do so AFTER you've been through the high school wringer. Kids absolutely think in terms of cliques, who's a nerd, who's hot, etc. "SBTB" captured the essence of those labels. Maybe not the subsequent struggles, because let's face it, Screech would not have been hanging out with Zack and Slater. But kids only realize those labels are incorrect once they've ascribed them or been forced to wear them.

But back to YOUR show. "Boy Meets World' is nothing more than a run-of-the-mill family sitcom. It's "Family Matters" with white people. I'll argue 'til the day I die that "SBTB" is memorable to an entire generation. "Boy Meets World" isn't. It had its run, may have been loved by the youth of that time, but it isn't worth caring about now. It's bland and forgettable -- "According to Jim" for young people.

Malavika: You are right about "SBTB." It changed Saturday morning TV and paved the way for the campy shows that followed. I concede to you on that point.

But I'm going to throw a little "High Fidelity" logic your way - was it popular because it was good or was it good because it was popular? You say it's on the teen network (why are you watching that, by the way - how old are you again?) four times a day -- well, "Roseanne" is on TV Land ten times a day, so I'm not sure what your point is.

I don't think pigeonholing characters into labels teaches kids anything, nor do I think it "speaks" to them. When I watched "SBTB," I was entertained -- sure -- but I didn't feel any love for the characters other than my amusement. On the other hand, I liked the fact that Cory Matthews didn't fit a label. He wasn't a nerd. He wasn't popular. He wasn't a jock. He was just a kid.

If "Boy Meets World" is "According to Jim," then "SBTB" can only be compared to "Dawson's Creek." Totally unimaginative. Totally unreal. Totally lame.

Thomas: Oh, I fully admit to watching The N solely for "SBTB." Hey, TBS isn't showing it anymore, and yes, while I own it on DVD, it just seems like less work to watch it when it's already on my TV screen. But I digress.

"SBTB" isn't "good" in the traditional sense of the word. It has a legacy, though, plus I think the format is a cut above more generic family-teen dramas like "Boy Meets World." It's comical, but in a cheeseball way -- a way today's teens will still find entertaining. Its characters are instantly memorable. Its moments -- yes, above all the super-cheesy Spano-on-speed melodrama -- indelible. It's like "The Brady Bunch" in that respect. Who doesn't laugh at "Oh my nose!" or "Mom always said don't play ball in the house?" I guess what I'm arguing is that "Boy Meets World" isn't special. It's a tedious show that only feels special to you because it was on when you were 11, 12 ... whatever age you were. "SBTB" has a heavy nostalgia factor for me too, but for what it was supposed to be, well, it pulled off THAT formula best. Plus, it also made a significant pop culture mark, and its lessons -- while way too neat and tidy -- have a lasting quality. It's an after-school special you can actually stomach time and time again.

To address some of your other points: Cory Matthews fits a label. He was an unwatchable, annoying spazz. Again, not cool enough to date Topanga. Two, Belding wins in a principal popularity poll among the public 9 times out of 10. Three, "Dawson's Creek" took itself too seriously, so you actually proved a point for me. "SBTB" never did. That's why it RUUUUUUUULZ.

Malavika: You want after-school special, watch "DeGrassi." Plus, if you actually WATCHED "Boy Meets World," you'd know that the show tackled "after-school issues" with far more maturity and non-cheesiness than - yes, I'm bringing it up - the great Jesse Spano caffeine debacle could ever hope to conquer.

I can't believe you brought up "Brady," because the same arguments I have against "SBTB," I can invoke against "The Brady Bunch." That's right. Revoke my American citizenship right now because I'll say it loud and clear, "I Hate the Brady Bunch." I think it's the most trite, meaningless, pointless show on the face of the planet. But why don't we save this for another edition?

My point is that nostalgia alone doesn't make a show good. Sure, nostalgia informs your favorite show -- why else am I possessed to watch "The Cosby Show?" -- but it does not translate into good television. People are nostalgic for the 1950's. Does that mean segregation is awesome? Didn't think so. (or are you RACIST?!)

In closing, I will quote Minkus that you're "just a brainless pathetic moron without a clue."

Thomas: Wow. The movement from "SBTB" to segregation. Why not just compare me to Hitler? That's a favorite these days for intelligent discourse.

Anyway, you've fully revealed your hand. You HATE "The Brady Bunch." There's no sense in proceeding further because you just signed your death warrant. Your Texas High School Debate Runner-Up Ribbon can officially be worn in shame. SHAME!

I think the real proof that "SBTB" was a one-of-a-kind show -- and therefore better than "Boy Meets World" -- is that they tried to put the same characters in a new setting and "The College Years" BOMBED. Precisely because they started taking themselves too seriously. Would you argue that "The College Years" is intrinsically better because it tried to be more mature? Of course not. That's where "Boy Meets World" suffers. It's just another show that tried to teach life lessons in a boring sitcom format. Man, at least "The Hogan Family" and "Full House" threw a dead mother into the mix.

"Saved by the Bell" defines a generation. It's like "Thriller" in that respect. It holds up no matter what. "Boy Meets World" is like an El DeBarge album.

In closing, I will quote Zack Morris. "Boy Meets World" better than "Saved by the Bell?"

"Not until cows give Pepsi, sir."