Coming soon...

Christmas update: I received a beautiful new sewing machine for Christmas, so now I can sew my own buddy bands! Coming to a high school near you!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

A Christmas Miracle

Have you ever experienced a Christmas miracle? Mine happened the day Zack Morris passed me on the streets of my hometown. It technically happened in August, but a Christmas miracle none the less.

Merry Christmas from me and Zack Morris!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Wrong 'R' You

As a gift to my mom, I have been going through our childhood home videos to organize and label them. I became very aware of what a lucky (read: spoiled) kid I was at Christmastime. I received many more gifts than necessary, and while I got excited about every gift (in a video I recently watched, I was ecstatic over the 64 pack of Crayola crayons - who wouldn't be?) and always said an enthusiastic "thank you", I can't help but think of how I thought this amount of gifts was normal when I was a kid. This got me thinking about a Christmas episode of Full House called "A Very Tanner Christmas".

Stephanie and Michelle are especially present-crazed this year. Uncle Jesse decides to open their eyes and takes them to serve at a soup kitchen to show them how lucky they are. Here is my favorite exchange:

Danny: Uncle Jesse has something really special planned for you.

Stephanie: All right, we're going to Toys R Us!

Jesse: Wrong R You.

I love it.

Of course, after serving at the soup kitchen, the girls have a change of heart and a life lesson is learned.

This episode is great in so many other ways as well, Uncle Jesse brings in fake snow for Rebecca, Steve and DJ fight because he is going to college 3000 miles away (she tries to get him to stay by buying him and expensive gift), and Vicki surprises Danny by coming home for the holidays. I recommend adding it to your list of holiday must-sees. You can find it by searching "A Very Tanner Christmas" on YouTube.

Cue sappy music. So, this Christmas, let us all take a moment to realize how lucky we all are. The 90s sitcoms gave us so many great Christmas memories that will last a lifetime. What more could we ask for?

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

PS. Don't forget the real reason for the season is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Who's Leon?

At the request of my cousin at our Thanksgiving shenanigans, I am going to include the show Home Improvement to the blog topics. The time period is a little later, but it's still a great show that always makes me laugh and it's my blog so I am including it.

One episode that my sister and I quote every holiday season recently came to mind. We were taking a pre-feast power walk on T-giving morning, and saw a neighbor had displayed five foot tall letters reading "NOEL". We immediately said to each other, "Who's Leon?"

Let me explain.

There is a terrific Christmas episode of Home Improvement. Mark dresses up as the letter 'N' in the church choir, spelling the word Noel. This interaction occurs between Al and Tim:

Al: I saw Mark in his costume. I always wanted to be the letter N.
Tim: That's impossible, Al. The song specifically says No Al.
[singing to the tune of Noel]
Tim: No Al, No Al, No Al, No Al.

Ha! Gets me every time.

When the boys line up in front of the church, they are backwards, spelling Leon. Al asks, "Who's Leon?" It doesn't sound as funny when I am writing it, but trust me, it is! You might also notice that the "L" in Noel also has appeared in episodes of Full House as Michelle's musical friend, Derek. More connections!

But my favorite part of all is when Tim tells his oldest son Brad, who would rather hang out with his friends on Christmas, "Christmas isn't about being with people you like, it's about being with family!"

You can see a clip of this episode, with all of the great stuff mentioned above here (there is a short intro before it starts).

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches, I can't help but give thanks for the beautiful and poignant 90s sitcoms that kept me entertained as a little AC, and that still keep me entertained today -- providing the subject matter for this blog.

If you don't remember, there was a Thanksgiving themed SBTB episode, but it was of the College Years variety. Saved by the Bell: The College Years was a single season series with the Saved gang sans Jessie and Lisa. It never really made sense to me why they all ended up at the same college (Cal U) when it was clear in the High School episodes that Zack was going to Yale, Slater to Iowa, Kelly to Community College....it's kind of like the whole Tori Paradox. Anyways, I digress.

In the episode called "A Thanksgiving Story" (1993), the gang puts on a Thanksgiving dinner for inner-city kids. After the meal preparations go haywire (Screech's doing, no doubt), a line of 90s B-List celebrities show up to donate food. The list goes as follows:

Brian Austin Green (David Silver from Beverly Hills, 90210) Coincidentally, Kelly freaks out upon seeing him. Little did she know she would soon be cast alongside him as the girl you loved to hate, Valerie on 90210.

Jenna von Oy (Six from Blossom) Remember those hats??

Jonathan Brandis (90s heart-throb of seaQuest, Ladybugs and many other cameo appearances,

including DJ's first bf on Full House. Check out a clip here. I was immediately brought back to fifth grade awkwardness watching this. In real life he also dated Ashley Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel Aire. So many connections! On a sad note, Jonathan committed suicide in 2003. RIP)

Even Mr. Belding shows up for the festivities!

In the end, everything turned out great and I am sure it was the best Thanksgiving those poor inner-city kids ever had!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

More where are they now

News on our favorite 90s sitcom cast members keeps popping up!

Tiffani-Amber Theissen (Kelly Kapowski) has got her first bun in the oven! Kelly wanted to have lots of children and a little white picket fence, so Tiff better get a move on. Unrelated: do you think that her close friends call her Tiffani-Amber, or just plain Tiffani?

John Stamos (Uncle Jesse Katsopolis) is being honored with his own star in the Hollywood walk of fame! This is a well deserved award for John, in my opinion. Besides his rivoting performances in Full House, including Elvis impersonations, musical performances, and all around great hair, Mr. Stamos has played with the Beach Boys, acted in a tv drama (ER) and performed on Broadway. Have mercy!

Don't you just love these old school pictures?

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Flu Shots

Right now, the nation is abuzz with fuss over the flu and H1N1 vaccination. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find either of these shots in some areas of the country.

Not the case on Saved by the Bell. I guess it was mandatory to get flu shots at school in California in the early 90s?

This episode (From Nurse to Worse) is so jam-packed with quotable goodness, I don't even know where to start. I will just focus on the flu shot part of it and save the side theme of Zack falling in love with the school nurse ("Yo, Jen Babe!") for another day.

(Notice the tastefully short nurse's outfit Jennifer is sporting)

Each student was individually called down to the nurse's office to get their flu shot, administered by either the stereotypically haggish Nurse Butcher, or the hot new nurse, Jennifer. Slater is completely freaked out about getting a shot. When Mr. Belding calls his name over the PA, the class hums the death march song as he departs. Classic.

The episode ends with Zack a flu shot in the rear end. Really? Can you imagine this happening at a school today? Nurse Butcher commands, "Bend over blondie!" Ha!

Anyways, maybe today's schools should take a clue from SBTB and just give out the flu shot at school instead of having to close due to illness. It worked on TV!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

In case you missed it...

Jodie Sweetin was on the Today Show this week discussing her new book. Here is a link to the video in case you missed it.

Thanks to K at in my shoes for texting me out of bed to watch this and S for emailing me the link later in the day! You all know me too well.

Stay tuned for examples of how the flu epidemic relates to 90s tv...so many parallels!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Where are they now?

In the past week, I have randomly come upon information on the goings on of a few of our favorite child stars.

First, you probably heard that Dustin Diamond (Screech) wrote a tell-all book about the behind the scenes drama on the set of Saved by the Bell. I read about his book, titled Behind the Bell in US Weekly (10/5 edition). Apparently in the book, Diamond shares vague details about drug use and off-screen hookups. Even if these allegations are true, who cares? I know I like to think that the SBTB characters are real people, they are actors, so why does it matter what they did in their spare time? This is just Diamond's lame attempt at making money since his career went nowhere fast. Before this he tried standup comedy, released an adult tape, went bankrupt, and appeared on several seasons of Celebrity Fit Club. Dustin, if you are reading this, Screech was a loser and so are you!

It seems that everyone has a book these days. Jodie Sweetin (she played my fav character Stephanie Judith Tanner on Full House), just released her autobiography called unSweetined. Cute little Jodie couldn't hack the grown up life of a child star -- she has an addiction to Crystal Meth, then lied all about her rehab. Some of the excerpts I have read are quite shocking - she apparently drove while under the influence with her child in the car! As Stephanie would say, how rude! Jodie, if you are reading this, get your life in order, I am routing for you!

(I will for sure be reading both of these gems)

In other news, Elizabeth Berkley (Jesse Spano), has launched a new website and initiative - www.ask-elizabeth.com. Finally, someone doing something worthwhile! Elizabeth is all about inspiring teenage girls to be themselves, etc., etc., etc. It's nice to see her trying to do something helpful and taking some of Jessie Spano's characteristics into her own life. Hopefully none of these girls have seen her in Striptease! Yikes!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Baby corn

I feel like I have been talking about Full House a lot, but I never realized how much life really relates to it!

Recently, my friends gathered for dinner to celebrate a birthday. One friend, we'll call her Sally, gave the birthday girl a card and said to read it and pass it around because she wanted everyone to read it. After bday girl read it, a huge grin came over her face and tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged Sally. We all knew what the card said without having to read it. Obviously, it was signed, "Sally, Joe, and baby". Sally does not currently have a baby so the card was explaining that she was pregnant! Yay! Squealing and hugging ensued. Congrats Sally!

This got me thinking of the creative ways people announce their pregnancy. Remember how Rebecca told Jesse that she was pregnant? I do. And it still cracks me up. In the episode called "Rock the Cradle" (1991), Rebecca plans a romantic, themed meal of baby corn, baby shrimp, and baby back ribs. She asks Jesse to guess what the theme is. His guess is finger foods, which is also true, but not the creative theme Rebecca had planned. She doesn't end up telling him the news at dinner, because Jesse is too excited about his new band gig. The episode just gets funnier when Rebecca tries to reveal the news through a family game of pictionary. She draws a hunk of cheese, a 1/2 symbol, an ink well, and a baby. This translates to "She's having a baby". They don't make comedy like this anymore, folks!

Anyone have a creative way that they shared exciting news?

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Jessie's Song

Does anyone watch the new show Glee?

I love this show, but I feel this week's episode stole a theme from a very popular Saved By the Bell episode. Anyone know what that is?? Here's a clue, the related episode is called "Jessie's Song".

Leave a comment if you know the answer!

Why Buddy Bands?

I have received several inquiries about the title of my blog. Do I really need to explain this?

Sorry for the bootleg video, but it's the best I could find. This is the commercial that Slater, Kelly, and Jesse make for economics class and the namesake for this blog. Click here to watch.

To be honest, this is the episode I saw on the day I started the blog so it was fresh on my mind. As an awkward middle schooler, I should have tried buddy bands when I wanted a date to the dance -- Slater says they work so it must be true!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

The serious stuff

My friend was telling me about a funny (maybe not funny haha) thing that happened in her kickboxing class. Apparently there was a very thin looking woman in the class that my friend immediately pegged as obsessive about working out - almost to the point of being a problem. It became comical though when the woman began doing every move in the class double time and then during the water break, started running laps around the room instead of replenishing her fluids like everyone else. Just picturing this made me chuckle, but also sad for this woman who might need help.

This reminded me of a Full House episode entitled "Shape Up". The quirky neighbor girl and DJ's bff, Kimmy Gibler, is throwing herself a surprise pool party (and it's a boy/girl party!) DJ is horrified at the thought of wearing a swimsuit in front of her peers. She decides to crash diet. She tapes magazine cutouts of models on the fridge and eats ice Popsicles as treats. Then the whole Tanner clan decides to take a trip to the gym. DJ gets on a machine and starts sweating it out. (In the meantime, the guys go to an aerobic class - too funny. Watch this episode for some great 90s leotards. PS - why did women wear thong leotards with tights underneath - comfortable? Very doubtful). Back to DJ. She passes out on the eliptical because she hasn't been eating. Cue sappy music, it's time for a life lesson. Aunt Becky teaches her that losing weight and feeling good about yourself doesn't mean starving. The episode ends with the signature hug.

You can watch a clip of this heartfelt episode here.

Why don't we have shows with lessons anymore? Is there a current show that seriously ends each episode with the background music and the lesson learned? The only one I can think of is the reality show "Run's House" on MTV. Reverand Run (Joseph Simmons of Run DMC) sits in a bubble bath and types up/narrates his life lesson on his Blackberry at the end of each episode. Is the Simmons family the modern day Tanners?

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

We have lasers!

I stumbled across this blog and I cannot stop laughing about it! Do you remember how for school pictures, Josten's would let you choose a background? I would always beg to get one, but I can't remember if I ever did. I will have to check with my mom. This site is an ode to the "laser" background -- school pics that people submit with said background.

I am sure that DJ and Stephanie Tanner had their picture taken with this background.

I am so submitting mine if I find one. You should too! For now, enjoy the site!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Gem Diamond

A funny thing happened to me the other day. I dropped my car off for a brake inspection at a well known national franchise brake repair shop. After they called me with the diagnosis and the $280 estimate, I said I would think about it and I went to pick my car up. As I am getting my keys back, the employee behind the counter takes a shady glance around and then leans in and tells me in a hushed voice that he can fix my brakes for $100 and slips me a paper with his name and number. Sketchy!

As I drove away it reminding me of the SBTB class ring episode (1992). This is one of the "Tori" episodes.

**Side note - ever notice how they all graduate, then magically they are back in high school for a few episodes where Kelly and Jesse are missing and Tori is there? I think Peter Engel tried to pull a fast one on us. For SBTB fans, this is known as "The Tori Paradox".**

Anyway, Zack once again screws things up by buying the class rings from a cheeseball in a puce colored suit named Gem Diamond. The cheap and fake rings turn everyone's fingers green. But boy do those kids get revenge on old Gem. They convince Screech to dress up as a ninja and scare him off. Works every time.

If I do decide to call my shady car buddy, I will definitely be bringing Ninja Screech with me.

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

Stansbury Material

I was indulging myself by reading US Weekly when I came across a snippet listing celebrity's SAT scores. I was shocked and awed to find out that that prick with the flesh colored beard, Spencer Pratt, had claimed he scored a 1490. I find this very hard to believe, but I thought to myself, "Well, you still didn't beat Zack Morris!"

As you all know, Zack scored a 1502 on the SAT, deeming him "Stansbury material". If you aren't sure what Stansbury is, it's the Harvard of the west, naturally. I remember watching this episode long before I took the SATs myself, tucking each of the gang's scores in the back of my mind for future comparisons. When the time came for me to take the dreaded test, there I sat nervously with my #2 pencils, trying to calm myself by recalling this episode. When I got my scores, I was dumbfounded to realize that not only had I scored lower than Zack, but the only person I scored higher than was Slater!! Even that airhead Kelly did better than me. It didn't make me feel any better when Kelly, trying to explain Zack's unbelievable high score says, "The SAT measures how smart you are, not how hard you study". I say bologna. I demand a retake for all of us!

Friends Forever,

AC Slater

The milkman, the paperboy, the evening tv....

I am heading to San Fransisco tomorrow for a friend's wedding. I really, really want to see the house they showed on every Full House episode! Do you think the locals get sick of people asking them where it is? What do you do when you get there? Here's what I would do.

1. Moment of silence

2. Sing the theme song

3. Ponder the thought, "whatever happened to predictability?"

4. Look around for a face of somebody who needs me

5. Take several pictures

6. Tell everyone I know that I saw the Full House house

7. Cross another one off the life list!

These guys found it, why can't I?

While I'm in San Fran I hope to catch an episode of Wake Up San Fransisco too!

Friends forever,

AC Slater

Interests

So I was thinking about filling in some of the fields on my Facebook profile page (activities, interests, etc.) and it made me think of something Lisa Turtle once said. In the episode where they make the video yearbooks ("The Video Yearbook", 1992), she says, and I quote "My hobbies include dating, guys, and dating guys!" Hilarious. I thought about writing this on my Facebook profile under "interests" as a sort of joke, but thought better of it when I thought of the wide range of "friends" I have on Facebook, and that there would be 4, maybe 5 people who would get this. I refrained.

Car Wars

So I know I am supposed to be focusing on Saved by the Bell (SBTB from here on forward), but I was recently reminded of a Family Matters episode called "Car Wars" (1993). You might remember this as the episode when Laura Winslow wants to buy a car. She goes to a skeazy used car lot and finda that the salesman is trying to rip her off, just because she is a girl. The nerve! Laura decides to do an experiment. She disguises herself as a man (not very convincingly) and has Steve Urkel, who we all know is oh so manly, give her lessons on how to walk and talk like a man. What do you know; the salesman give her a better deal as a guy!

Check out a excerpt from this (hilarious) episode here.

Anyways, I was stopping in at a few dealerships last week to get some info and I thought of this episode. What if I tried the same experiment? Went in as myself, then later came in dressed and a man and then compared the info I was given. I wonder how much gender roles have changed since 1993. I'll let you know.

Friends Forever!

AC Slater

Welcome!

Welcome to Buddy Bands (hey, they work!). This blog is for those of us who were raised on Saved by the Bell, Full House, Family Matters, and the like. Has something ever happened to you and you suddenly think, "this is just like the time Jesse Spano overdosed on caffeine pills and missed singing with Hot Sundae at the Max!"? Well, I have. This is a place for me to share those times with you. Though Saved by the Bell is my area of expertise, I have a soft spot for other similar sitcoms, and might find a life incident that relates to post here.

I hope you enjoy it!

Friends Forever!
AC Slater