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

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