Brief

Saved by the Bell stars say residual checks have dried up

Thiessen says the money from the 1989‑93 sitcom has essentially vanished, while Lopez replied with a brief “Real talk!” on X.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:19:57 GMT

Actors from the 1989‑93 sitcom Saved by the Bell told The Independent that the residual payments they once earned from reruns have largely disappeared. Tiffani Thiessen said on Page Six Radio that the checks are now “negative” and cost more to print than they bring in, and Mario Lopez responded to her comments on X with a terse “Real talk!”.

What happened

Thiessen, who played Kelly Kapowski, explained that after the show ended she did not start earning substantial income until she joined Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1994. She added that the cast “didn’t have pull on that show” and that residuals vanished when the series entered syndication. Lopez, who portrayed A.C. Slater, has not given further comment to The Independent.

What the reports add

The article notes that other sitcom alumni have voiced similar frustrations: Eve Plumb of The Brady Bunch said she receives no residuals for reruns, and Jodie Sweetin of Full House disclosed receiving a one‑cent check for a recent episode. Both remarks were reported by The Independent as part of a broader look at the financial realities for older TV shows.

What was said

Thiessen told Page Six Radio, “It’s like, negative now. It costs more to print the check.” Lopez posted on X, “Real talk!” The Independent recorded these statements without additional commentary.

How it came about

Residuals, traditionally negotiated by unions, are payments for reruns and other airings after a program’s initial release. The Independent’s coverage follows earlier pieces on the financial challenges faced by former teen‑oriented series, linking to its own recent reporting on entertainment‑industry earnings.

Key facts

• Tiffani Thiessen says her Saved by the Bell residual checks have essentially dried up (independent.co.uk)
• Mario Lopez replied to Thiessen's comments with “Real talk!” on X (independent.co.uk)
• Other sitcom actors, such as Eve Plumb and Jodie Sweetin, have also reported minimal or no residuals (independent.co.uk)

Timeline

• 1989-01-01 — Saved by the Bell first aired
• 1993-12-31 — Saved by the Bell ended its original run
• 1994-01-01 — Thiessen joined Beverly Hills, 90210
• 2026-10-01 — Independent article published with actors' comments

Sources

• [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Saved by the Bell stars make surprising admission about residual checks”