1 00:00:05,672 --> 00:00:07,174 {\an8}- See that black monitor? 2 00:00:08,050 --> 00:00:10,612 {\an8}I'm missing one hit show for Saturday morning. 3 00:00:10,636 --> 00:00:11,946 - So what has that got to do with us? 4 00:00:11,970 --> 00:00:13,114 - Everything! 5 00:00:13,138 --> 00:00:15,325 Hot new talent never gets by me, 6 00:00:15,349 --> 00:00:17,493 and you kids have it all. 7 00:00:17,517 --> 00:00:20,288 - You mean you wanna use us in your new show? 8 00:00:20,312 --> 00:00:21,456 - Why not? 9 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,124 You and your other friends from Bayside, 10 00:00:23,148 --> 00:00:24,834 the kids will love it. 11 00:00:24,858 --> 00:00:27,545 - Wow, what would it be like? 12 00:00:27,569 --> 00:00:29,404 - Something like this. 13 00:00:30,948 --> 00:00:32,884 - In the '90s, "Saved By The Bell" 14 00:00:32,908 --> 00:00:36,596 could be seen on TV sometimes up to four or five times a day 15 00:00:36,620 --> 00:00:38,264 on multiple channels. 16 00:00:38,288 --> 00:00:40,916 - One of the biggest surprises of my life, 17 00:00:41,917 --> 00:00:43,019 I'm sitting here talking to you 18 00:00:43,043 --> 00:00:44,229 about "Saved By The Bell." 19 00:00:44,253 --> 00:00:46,564 - [Narrator] "Saved By The Bell" catapulted 20 00:00:46,588 --> 00:00:50,026 a preteen Dustin Diamond on to the worldwide stage. 21 00:00:50,050 --> 00:00:50,860 - [Boy] Screech! 22 00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:51,694 - Screech! 23 00:00:51,718 --> 00:00:52,530 - [Girl] Screech! 24 00:00:52,554 --> 00:00:54,822 - Screech Powers, wow. 25 00:00:54,846 --> 00:00:59,077 - Geeky, nerdy, and you know, really weird. (chuckles) 26 00:00:59,101 --> 00:01:00,203 - I love this job. 27 00:01:00,227 --> 00:01:03,081 - In the world of iconic television characters, 28 00:01:03,105 --> 00:01:04,749 Screech is up there. 29 00:01:04,773 --> 00:01:09,546 ♪ Isn't he a pearl ♪ 30 00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:12,489 ♪ Lovely disarming ♪ 31 00:01:13,490 --> 00:01:15,677 - [Narrator] Yet, growing up under the bright lights 32 00:01:15,701 --> 00:01:18,179 had its fair share of pitfalls. 33 00:01:18,203 --> 00:01:20,932 - [Mark] He was treated differently than the other kids. 34 00:01:20,956 --> 00:01:25,270 - [Ron] He was just never gonna be that star athlete, 35 00:01:25,294 --> 00:01:27,397 he was never gonna be the heartthrob. 36 00:01:27,421 --> 00:01:30,149 Being Screech your whole life is not gonna work. 37 00:01:30,173 --> 00:01:32,277 - [Narrator] And by the time the series was over, 38 00:01:32,301 --> 00:01:35,488 Dustin was desperate to sever his ties with Screech. 39 00:01:35,512 --> 00:01:39,325 - He really tried to create another persona 40 00:01:39,349 --> 00:01:42,161 that would give him another chance. 41 00:01:42,185 --> 00:01:43,371 - He couldn't get any other work, 42 00:01:43,395 --> 00:01:45,331 and he was talented, but he just couldn't. 43 00:01:45,355 --> 00:01:48,876 - Everybody wants to talk about the tape. 44 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:51,713 - [Todd] That was when he really flipped the switch. 45 00:01:51,737 --> 00:01:54,090 {\an8}- He's most well known for his role 46 00:01:54,114 --> 00:01:56,593 {\an8}on the popular TV show "Saved By The Bell." 47 00:01:56,617 --> 00:01:58,386 - But now he's in trouble with law 48 00:01:58,410 --> 00:02:00,430 after an argument turned violent. 49 00:02:00,454 --> 00:02:02,307 {\an8}- [Reporter] Listen to the woman recording the video 50 00:02:02,331 --> 00:02:05,059 {\an8}as she spots Diamond brandishing an object 51 00:02:05,083 --> 00:02:05,894 in his right hand. 52 00:02:05,918 --> 00:02:07,729 {\an8}- [Woman] That's a (beep) knife! 53 00:02:07,753 --> 00:02:10,189 {\an8}- [Narrator] But this new identity hijacked Dustin 54 00:02:10,213 --> 00:02:11,983 {\an8}and forced him to a breaking point. 55 00:02:12,007 --> 00:02:14,861 - The only thing that he said he regretted was all of it. 56 00:02:14,885 --> 00:02:16,195 He wished he was never Screech. 57 00:02:16,219 --> 00:02:19,657 - I think the odds of being a child star 58 00:02:19,681 --> 00:02:21,659 and... ing up your life, 59 00:02:21,683 --> 00:02:23,953 it seems like it's a 50/50 shot. 60 00:02:23,977 --> 00:02:26,164 (kids screaming) 61 00:02:26,188 --> 00:02:27,582 - [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, 62 00:02:27,606 --> 00:02:28,542 you are about to be entertained. 63 00:02:28,566 --> 00:02:30,460 - [Woman] Getting a laugh is the greatest thing. 64 00:02:30,484 --> 00:02:32,128 - [Man] You want more of it, they want more of it. 65 00:02:32,152 --> 00:02:33,129 She was getting death threats. 66 00:02:33,153 --> 00:02:34,339 - [Woman] It... ed with your head. 67 00:02:34,363 --> 00:02:35,590 - [Man] He's out of his stuff. 68 00:02:35,614 --> 00:02:39,951 - That's what took her down. - This is a crazy story. 69 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:46,184 {\an8}- Dustin was born in San Jose Hospital 70 00:02:46,208 --> 00:02:48,061 in San Jose, California. 71 00:02:48,085 --> 00:02:49,645 {\an8}My name is Mark Diamond, 72 00:02:49,669 --> 00:02:51,588 {\an8}and I am Dustin Diamond's father. 73 00:02:52,881 --> 00:02:55,651 Dustin had an older brother named Ryan. 74 00:02:55,675 --> 00:02:59,656 Ryan was born with a terminal heart problem. 75 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,201 Because Ryan had Down Syndrome, 76 00:03:03,225 --> 00:03:06,621 although Ryan was technically his older brother, 77 00:03:06,645 --> 00:03:09,999 he was never able to crawl on his hands and knees, 78 00:03:10,023 --> 00:03:12,043 never able to walk. 79 00:03:12,067 --> 00:03:14,045 {\an8}- He got his start really being comfortable 80 00:03:14,069 --> 00:03:15,213 {\an8}in front of a camera, 81 00:03:15,237 --> 00:03:17,799 {\an8}because he was entertaining his sick, older brother. 82 00:03:17,823 --> 00:03:19,926 - He would put on little shows. 83 00:03:19,950 --> 00:03:22,637 He would dance around, he would do things. 84 00:03:22,661 --> 00:03:24,180 He would make Ryan laugh, 85 00:03:24,204 --> 00:03:25,057 it was how he played with him, 86 00:03:25,081 --> 00:03:27,475 because he couldn't go out and run and jump 87 00:03:27,499 --> 00:03:29,685 and do all the things that kids would do. 88 00:03:29,709 --> 00:03:34,399 {\an8}- Now Dustin was definitely a jokester in school. 89 00:03:34,423 --> 00:03:35,817 He loved practical jokes, 90 00:03:35,841 --> 00:03:37,735 he would mess around, 91 00:03:37,759 --> 00:03:40,988 he'd do things like put Vaseline on the door handles 92 00:03:41,012 --> 00:03:42,222 and set traps. 93 00:03:43,223 --> 00:03:46,661 - [Narrator] In 1983, Dustin's brother Ryan 94 00:03:46,685 --> 00:03:49,580 succumbed to his heart illness and passed away. 95 00:03:49,604 --> 00:03:51,874 - When Ryan died, he was eight years old, 96 00:03:51,898 --> 00:03:54,043 so Dustin was six years old, 97 00:03:54,067 --> 00:03:57,588 and it effected Dustin in a lot of ways, 98 00:03:57,612 --> 00:03:59,048 because up to that point, 99 00:03:59,072 --> 00:04:02,552 Dustin was a very outgoing, happy, funny kid, 100 00:04:02,576 --> 00:04:04,053 who would entertain. 101 00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:07,223 All of a sudden he became morose and dark, 102 00:04:07,247 --> 00:04:09,666 and started failing in school. 103 00:04:12,961 --> 00:04:15,106 We took him down to Southern California 104 00:04:15,130 --> 00:04:17,924 to try to cheer him up, took him to Disneyland. 105 00:04:23,180 --> 00:04:25,074 Outside of the wax museum, 106 00:04:25,098 --> 00:04:27,660 there was a wax figure, 107 00:04:27,684 --> 00:04:29,996 a fellow in a tuxedo with white gloves, 108 00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:31,914 just standing motionless, like this, 109 00:04:31,938 --> 00:04:34,709 and then Dustin realized, "Oh, that's a real guy." 110 00:04:34,733 --> 00:04:37,378 And Dustin thought that was the greatest thing. 111 00:04:37,402 --> 00:04:38,297 - [Narrator] Dustin's encounter 112 00:04:38,321 --> 00:04:39,839 with the living statue performer 113 00:04:39,863 --> 00:04:42,049 makes a huge impression on him. 114 00:04:42,073 --> 00:04:44,719 He soon takes to trying it out for himself. 115 00:04:44,743 --> 00:04:47,889 - In the shopping mall, he pretended he was a mannequin 116 00:04:47,913 --> 00:04:49,682 and he just kind of froze 117 00:04:49,706 --> 00:04:52,477 and people would walk by and kind of look at him, 118 00:04:52,501 --> 00:04:53,978 and, "What is this kid doing?" 119 00:04:54,002 --> 00:04:55,855 And somebody noticed him and then said, 120 00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:58,107 "Hey, you should be an actor." 121 00:04:58,131 --> 00:05:01,444 - Dustin's mother started taking him on interviews 122 00:05:01,468 --> 00:05:02,653 in San Francisco. 123 00:05:02,677 --> 00:05:06,657 Dustin told me that he wanted to be an actor, 124 00:05:06,681 --> 00:05:09,952 and so I wanted to do everything I could 125 00:05:09,976 --> 00:05:13,998 to make sure that he could be happy again. 126 00:05:14,022 --> 00:05:15,541 - [Narrator] The family throw everything 127 00:05:15,565 --> 00:05:17,627 into pursuing Dustin's dream. 128 00:05:17,651 --> 00:05:22,656 - I took Dustin on, I think, 287 interviews in one year. 129 00:05:23,281 --> 00:05:27,887 He had a lot of callbacks, it consumes your time. 130 00:05:27,911 --> 00:05:30,223 Children do not do this on their own, 131 00:05:30,247 --> 00:05:32,642 you know, you have to take them around, 132 00:05:32,666 --> 00:05:34,602 so we had to move to Southern California, 133 00:05:34,626 --> 00:05:37,313 but that involved me giving up my job. 134 00:05:37,337 --> 00:05:42,342 Losing Ryan and then worrying about Dustin, 135 00:05:42,759 --> 00:05:46,531 I was determined that I was gonna give him a fair shot 136 00:05:46,555 --> 00:05:48,282 and what he wanted. 137 00:05:48,306 --> 00:05:50,660 - [Narrator] The Diamond family moves from San Jose 138 00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:52,203 to settle in Hollywood. 139 00:05:52,227 --> 00:05:54,771 Mark becomes Dustin's full-time manager. 140 00:05:55,856 --> 00:05:59,335 - I remember Dustin's dad having to take Dustin 141 00:05:59,359 --> 00:06:02,547 to auditions and to the set, 142 00:06:02,571 --> 00:06:07,093 and the studio, and he didn't work at that time. 143 00:06:07,117 --> 00:06:10,096 I think working with Dustin was a full-time job. 144 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,348 {\an8}- [Narrator] Dustin lands a few spots in movies 145 00:06:12,372 --> 00:06:13,558 {\an8}and on television. 146 00:06:13,582 --> 00:06:15,935 {\an8}But the work is still very inconsistent. 147 00:06:15,959 --> 00:06:18,145 - I remember at the time, seeing that the number 148 00:06:18,169 --> 00:06:23,174 was something like 99.97% of all people fail 149 00:06:23,925 --> 00:06:25,945 trying to become an actor. 150 00:06:25,969 --> 00:06:27,655 And what's considered a success? 151 00:06:27,679 --> 00:06:30,533 You get some jobs, you make some money. 152 00:06:30,557 --> 00:06:33,703 - [Narrator] In 1988, Dustin auditions for a part 153 00:06:33,727 --> 00:06:35,830 on a new series for the Disney Channel 154 00:06:35,854 --> 00:06:37,373 starring Hayley Mills. 155 00:06:37,397 --> 00:06:39,625 - I'm sure that thousands of kids auditioned 156 00:06:39,649 --> 00:06:41,919 and Dustin, you know, he had that look they wanted, 157 00:06:41,943 --> 00:06:43,713 {\an8}and so he got the part. 158 00:06:43,737 --> 00:06:45,381 - [Narrator] Dustin is cast in the roll 159 00:06:45,405 --> 00:06:46,507 of Screech Powers. 160 00:06:46,531 --> 00:06:47,592 {\an8}- Someone take a picture of me 161 00:06:47,616 --> 00:06:49,176 {\an8}and give it to the plastic surgeon. 162 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,470 {\an8}- He was absolutely thrilled 163 00:06:51,494 --> 00:06:54,682 when he started on "Good Morning, Miss Bliss." 164 00:06:54,706 --> 00:06:59,753 He saw this as suddenly he had older sisters and brothers. 165 00:07:00,045 --> 00:07:02,148 We were sort of a family. 166 00:07:02,172 --> 00:07:03,733 - [Narrator] After only 13 episodes, 167 00:07:03,757 --> 00:07:06,277 Disney pulls the plug on "Good Morning, Miss Bliss." 168 00:07:06,301 --> 00:07:08,404 {\an8}- Hi, my name is Ed Alonzo, 169 00:07:08,428 --> 00:07:10,990 {\an8}you may know me better and Max, 170 00:07:11,014 --> 00:07:13,075 the owner of the diner on "Saved By The Bell." 171 00:07:13,099 --> 00:07:17,038 When the Disney Channel decided to no longer 172 00:07:17,062 --> 00:07:17,915 {\an8}carry the show, 173 00:07:17,939 --> 00:07:19,665 {\an8}then executive producer Peter Engel 174 00:07:19,689 --> 00:07:23,336 {\an8}went over to his friend at NBC, Brandon Tartikoff, 175 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,422 and said, "Maybe we could rework this." 176 00:07:26,446 --> 00:07:28,591 The eliminated Hayley Mills, 177 00:07:28,615 --> 00:07:31,552 but they did keep Dennis and Dustin Diamond, 178 00:07:31,576 --> 00:07:34,972 and Lark Voorhies, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, 179 00:07:34,996 --> 00:07:38,184 so that show then became "Saved By The Bell." 180 00:07:38,208 --> 00:07:40,269 {\an8}- Screech, hit it. 181 00:07:40,293 --> 00:07:41,854 {\an8}♪ When I wake up the morning ♪ 182 00:07:41,878 --> 00:07:43,731 {\an8}♪ And the alarm gives out a warning ♪ 183 00:07:43,755 --> 00:07:46,817 ♪ I don't think I'll ever make it on time ♪ 184 00:07:46,841 --> 00:07:47,944 - Well, Screech was a character 185 00:07:47,968 --> 00:07:49,946 kind of like Steve Urkel on "Family Matters," 186 00:07:49,970 --> 00:07:53,532 geeky, nerdy, and you know, really weird. (laughs) 187 00:07:53,556 --> 00:07:54,825 {\an8}My name is Todd Bridges. 188 00:07:54,849 --> 00:07:56,452 {\an8}- What you walking about, Willis? 189 00:07:56,476 --> 00:07:57,620 {\an8}(Todd laughs) 190 00:07:57,644 --> 00:07:59,830 {\an8}- Hey, I'm Ron Solomon, 191 00:07:59,854 --> 00:08:01,582 {\an8}I was one of the writers 192 00:08:01,606 --> 00:08:03,751 {\an8}on the original "Saved By The Bell." 193 00:08:03,775 --> 00:08:04,586 - Valley! 194 00:08:04,610 --> 00:08:06,003 - [Boys] Right, dude! 195 00:08:06,027 --> 00:08:07,421 (audience laughing) 196 00:08:07,445 --> 00:08:09,799 - Dustin could make anything he did funny. 197 00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:11,467 - Let's hula down! 198 00:08:11,491 --> 00:08:13,344 - [Ron] He was just really gifted 199 00:08:13,368 --> 00:08:14,637 as far as that was concerned. 200 00:08:14,661 --> 00:08:16,514 It was always broad and cartoony, 201 00:08:16,538 --> 00:08:21,560 but it was guffaw, funny, genuine child stuff, 202 00:08:21,584 --> 00:08:23,854 you know, he wasn't forced, 203 00:08:23,878 --> 00:08:27,108 you didn't see him trying to be funny, he was just funny. 204 00:08:27,132 --> 00:08:28,901 - He was a very good actor at what he did. 205 00:08:28,925 --> 00:08:30,778 (Screech exclaims) 206 00:08:30,802 --> 00:08:34,490 That's tough stuff, that comedy work that he did, 207 00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:39,245 {\an8}it was part physical and part mental. 208 00:08:39,269 --> 00:08:41,122 - Ladies and gentlemen, Leif Garrett. 209 00:08:41,146 --> 00:08:42,873 - [Director] Leif Garrett, take one, marker. 210 00:08:42,897 --> 00:08:45,918 - Thank you, all of you, for saying my name correctly. 211 00:08:45,942 --> 00:08:48,069 - If you were in a scene with Dustin, 212 00:08:48,987 --> 00:08:52,383 the energy that he had and the quirky faces 213 00:08:52,407 --> 00:08:56,554 and line readings that he had were just amazing, 214 00:08:56,578 --> 00:09:01,267 and I think that's what really made "Saved By The Bell" 215 00:09:01,291 --> 00:09:03,978 a funny show was Dustin. 216 00:09:04,002 --> 00:09:06,522 - We were in a unique position, 217 00:09:06,546 --> 00:09:10,234 because we were a Saturday morning show. 218 00:09:10,258 --> 00:09:12,445 - Hey, I've heard about this, 219 00:09:12,469 --> 00:09:15,156 this is one of those new shows on NBC Saturday Morning. 220 00:09:15,180 --> 00:09:15,991 - That's right. 221 00:09:16,015 --> 00:09:17,074 - Right, then we're still on the right track. 222 00:09:17,098 --> 00:09:19,243 - Oh, hi campers, how you doing? 223 00:09:19,267 --> 00:09:21,412 - Hey, it's John Candy. 224 00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:26,250 - We were up against a giant that was Bugs Bunny. 225 00:09:26,274 --> 00:09:28,961 That was the reason everything on the set 226 00:09:28,985 --> 00:09:30,212 was so colorful. 227 00:09:30,236 --> 00:09:31,006 You're sitting at home, 228 00:09:31,030 --> 00:09:32,631 and you're flipping through channels, 229 00:09:32,655 --> 00:09:34,884 and you're seeing cartoons, cartoons, cartoons, cartoons, 230 00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:37,011 wait a minute, these are live kids. 231 00:09:37,035 --> 00:09:39,847 And I think it was just a matter of weeks, 232 00:09:39,871 --> 00:09:44,435 we passed Bugs Bunny, which was a great achievement. 233 00:09:44,459 --> 00:09:46,812 - I've got the geek that laid the golden egg. 234 00:09:46,836 --> 00:09:48,230 (audience laughing) 235 00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:50,357 - [Narrator] "Saved By The Bell" is a major hit 236 00:09:50,381 --> 00:09:52,234 in the US and across the world. 237 00:09:52,258 --> 00:09:54,320 None of the cast can walk in public 238 00:09:54,344 --> 00:09:55,780 without being recognized. 239 00:09:55,804 --> 00:09:57,448 - When I came home from school, 240 00:09:57,472 --> 00:09:59,366 it was, you rush home, you sit down, 241 00:09:59,390 --> 00:10:01,035 you turn on "Saved By The Bell," 242 00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:04,371 and that was the TV show for my age range. 243 00:10:04,395 --> 00:10:06,957 - That show was a hit right off the bat, bang! 244 00:10:06,981 --> 00:10:09,251 - You'd say, "Wow, I'm too old for this, 245 00:10:09,275 --> 00:10:10,795 "but I'm gonna turn it on, 246 00:10:10,819 --> 00:10:13,380 "'cause I have a fantasy that I could have friends 247 00:10:13,404 --> 00:10:14,799 "in high school too." 248 00:10:14,823 --> 00:10:17,301 - As all regular viewers of "Saved By The Bell" know, 249 00:10:17,325 --> 00:10:18,803 this hip cafe, The Max, 250 00:10:18,827 --> 00:10:19,804 would usually be filled to the mix 251 00:10:19,828 --> 00:10:21,680 with all the teens, 252 00:10:21,704 --> 00:10:26,310 Zach, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Jessie, and of course, Screech. 253 00:10:26,334 --> 00:10:30,689 - Syndication made the show multi-famous, 254 00:10:30,713 --> 00:10:32,858 'cause now it was airing around the world, 255 00:10:32,882 --> 00:10:35,111 it was being dubbed in other languages. 256 00:10:35,135 --> 00:10:37,530 In the late '90s, "Saved By The Bell" could be seen 257 00:10:37,554 --> 00:10:40,449 on TV sometimes up to four or five times a day 258 00:10:40,473 --> 00:10:42,076 on multiple channels. 259 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:47,105 - They would get bags, actual postal bags of fan mail. 260 00:10:47,897 --> 00:10:51,710 - I think Dustin resonated with the audience 261 00:10:51,734 --> 00:10:55,339 because he was vulnerable, 262 00:10:55,363 --> 00:10:59,593 and yet he was the most human character on the show, 263 00:10:59,617 --> 00:11:01,345 because he had failings 264 00:11:01,369 --> 00:11:06,374 and because he was just never gonna be that star athlete, 265 00:11:07,625 --> 00:11:09,895 he was never gonna be the heart throb. 266 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:12,231 Kids saw themselves in him, 267 00:11:12,255 --> 00:11:13,691 'cause they knew that they weren't Zach, 268 00:11:13,715 --> 00:11:14,692 they knew they weren't Slater, 269 00:11:14,716 --> 00:11:18,469 they knew they weren't gonna be with Kelly or even Jessie. 270 00:11:19,429 --> 00:11:21,848 Most of us are Screech in the real world. 271 00:11:23,641 --> 00:11:26,644 - We went to a Denny's at night, 272 00:11:27,729 --> 00:11:30,916 and there was a fellow who had been driving by 273 00:11:30,940 --> 00:11:32,543 and he saw Dustin, 274 00:11:32,567 --> 00:11:35,212 he came up and he said, "I don't wanna bother you, 275 00:11:35,236 --> 00:11:36,839 "but I watch you all the time, 276 00:11:36,863 --> 00:11:41,868 "and could you maybe sign my sleeve?" 277 00:11:43,661 --> 00:11:46,557 And he ended up signing, 'cause that's what he wanted, 278 00:11:46,581 --> 00:11:48,058 and then the fellow left. 279 00:11:48,082 --> 00:11:51,395 And then they said, "Well, bring us the check." 280 00:11:51,419 --> 00:11:52,813 She says, "Oh, it's paid for." 281 00:11:52,837 --> 00:11:55,858 That fellow paid for 10 people's meals, 282 00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:59,320 'cause he was so happy that he spent time with Dustin. 283 00:11:59,344 --> 00:12:00,863 - [Narrator] Dustin is connecting with people 284 00:12:00,887 --> 00:12:02,323 across the world. 285 00:12:02,347 --> 00:12:04,783 But on set, it's a different story. 286 00:12:04,807 --> 00:12:08,495 - Hey, we're buddies, aren't we? 287 00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:11,373 - I think he felt a little bit like an outsider, 288 00:12:11,397 --> 00:12:15,586 just because his character on the show 289 00:12:15,610 --> 00:12:18,672 was the goofy dork on the show, 290 00:12:18,696 --> 00:12:20,716 where most of the other cast 291 00:12:20,740 --> 00:12:23,177 kind of hung out with themselves 292 00:12:23,201 --> 00:12:27,056 and Dustin didn't really hang out as much with them. 293 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,725 - Screech, you'll always be first to me. 294 00:12:29,749 --> 00:12:32,269 - He went to school on the set with the other kids, 295 00:12:32,293 --> 00:12:34,772 and he was behind them academically, 296 00:12:34,796 --> 00:12:36,106 because he was younger. 297 00:12:36,130 --> 00:12:37,733 - Hi, my name is Willie Aames. 298 00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:41,737 ♪ There's a magic in the early morning ♪ 299 00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:45,282 {\an8}- And I am no stranger to be a child star train wreck 300 00:12:45,306 --> 00:12:47,284 {\an8}or knowing how to recover 301 00:12:47,308 --> 00:12:50,579 {\an8}from having been a child star train wreck. 302 00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:52,790 The dark side of being a child star, 303 00:12:52,814 --> 00:12:54,792 I think, is the loneliness. 304 00:12:54,816 --> 00:12:58,796 - He was 12 and the other kids were 15, 305 00:12:58,820 --> 00:13:00,506 some of them were turning 16, 306 00:13:00,530 --> 00:13:03,092 and so they were sort of becoming adults, 307 00:13:03,116 --> 00:13:05,761 and Dustin sort of separated from them, 308 00:13:05,785 --> 00:13:09,014 because he was still just a little guy. 309 00:13:09,038 --> 00:13:11,767 - The six main were together, 310 00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:14,061 right, good looking ones were all hanging out together 311 00:13:14,085 --> 00:13:16,814 and Dustin was rarely with them. 312 00:13:16,838 --> 00:13:19,316 He was with the extras. 313 00:13:19,340 --> 00:13:20,693 It was sad, 314 00:13:20,717 --> 00:13:25,656 and so he became the real life Screech of the cast. 315 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:29,034 So Dustin became Screech as opposed 316 00:13:29,058 --> 00:13:30,435 to the other way around. 317 00:13:35,106 --> 00:13:36,250 - [Announcer] We now return 318 00:13:36,274 --> 00:13:38,961 to "Who Shrunk Saturday Morning." 319 00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:41,046 - And then my dumb cat Rover bumped the machine 320 00:13:41,070 --> 00:13:42,506 and wham-o, we end up here. 321 00:13:42,530 --> 00:13:44,508 - Like I always say, 322 00:13:44,532 --> 00:13:47,177 the only thing a cat's good for is lunch. 323 00:13:47,201 --> 00:13:49,388 {\an8}- [Narrator] Dustin Diamond and his fellow castmates 324 00:13:49,412 --> 00:13:51,932 {\an8}have secured themselves as rating's heavyweights, 325 00:13:51,956 --> 00:13:54,101 playing a close-knit gang of teenagers 326 00:13:54,125 --> 00:13:55,519 on "Saved By The Bell," 327 00:13:55,543 --> 00:13:57,730 but Dustin finds he's treated as an outsider 328 00:13:57,754 --> 00:14:00,232 both on and off the set. 329 00:14:00,256 --> 00:14:01,900 {\an8}- It's like being the mascot 330 00:14:01,924 --> 00:14:03,777 {\an8}and everybody knows the mascot 331 00:14:03,801 --> 00:14:04,820 {\an8}just doesn't get treated 332 00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,281 {\an8}like the royalty of the other people. 333 00:14:07,305 --> 00:14:09,992 - [Mark] He was treated differently than the other kids 334 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:12,995 on the show, when he was in public. 335 00:14:13,019 --> 00:14:14,979 - [Man] Dustin, come on up here. 336 00:14:16,939 --> 00:14:19,710 - [Mark] He would have wonderful people that he met 337 00:14:19,734 --> 00:14:21,628 and he did wonderful things for people. 338 00:14:21,652 --> 00:14:22,713 - First of all, I'd like to tell you, 339 00:14:22,737 --> 00:14:25,507 this game, Sonic 2, is a blast. 340 00:14:25,531 --> 00:14:28,260 - But then there were the people who scream at him 341 00:14:28,284 --> 00:14:31,513 and say, "You're that geek," and "I hate you." 342 00:14:31,537 --> 00:14:35,100 There was one night that he was followed 343 00:14:35,124 --> 00:14:37,978 by a bunch of guys who looked terrifying. 344 00:14:38,002 --> 00:14:39,855 And they started shoving him around, 345 00:14:39,879 --> 00:14:43,150 just because the character was sort of the nerdy character 346 00:14:43,174 --> 00:14:44,610 on the show, 347 00:14:44,634 --> 00:14:46,945 every bully and wannabe bully 348 00:14:46,969 --> 00:14:50,866 acted like bullies do at school. 349 00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:52,284 - [Narrator] Dustin tries desperately 350 00:14:52,308 --> 00:14:55,537 to shake his persona and grow his character. 351 00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:58,791 {\an8}- Dustin the actor, wanted to evolve 352 00:14:58,815 --> 00:15:00,125 {\an8}Screech the character, 353 00:15:00,149 --> 00:15:01,460 but he didn't know what to do, 354 00:15:01,484 --> 00:15:02,836 he didn't know how to do it, 355 00:15:02,860 --> 00:15:06,590 and unfortunately, a sitcom doesn't let a character evolve. 356 00:15:06,614 --> 00:15:09,093 - [Narrator] Becoming increasingly frustrated on set, 357 00:15:09,117 --> 00:15:10,719 Dustin starts to rebel. 358 00:15:10,743 --> 00:15:13,889 - So in the beginning when he would just do his, 359 00:15:13,913 --> 00:15:16,392 and it would be a funny little punchline on something, 360 00:15:16,416 --> 00:15:19,728 but as it got older, it became more forced 361 00:15:19,752 --> 00:15:21,605 that he would disarticulate even more 362 00:15:21,629 --> 00:15:23,589 and his neck would go, and he would go, 363 00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:28,070 and it just wasn't funny, 'cause it wasn't Screech. 364 00:15:28,094 --> 00:15:30,489 {\an8}- I got tattooed, 365 00:15:30,513 --> 00:15:34,076 because I wanted to stop having to take my shirt off, 366 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:37,454 so I thought, all right... you. 367 00:15:37,478 --> 00:15:42,376 That's the kind of reaction that you have 368 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,754 when you're under an immense amount of pressure 369 00:15:45,778 --> 00:15:47,881 to prefer in a certain way 370 00:15:47,905 --> 00:15:49,800 that no longer suits you, 371 00:15:49,824 --> 00:15:52,428 and you're growing, you're a kid, 372 00:15:52,452 --> 00:15:55,264 and you're also a gravy train, 373 00:15:55,288 --> 00:15:57,433 and you're also a merchandise, 374 00:15:57,457 --> 00:16:00,811 but then all of those people also want you 375 00:16:00,835 --> 00:16:02,295 just be a kid and shut up. 376 00:16:03,754 --> 00:16:06,400 Well, that's a mind for an adult. 377 00:16:06,424 --> 00:16:11,429 - So I did see Dustin become less happy and angrier, bitter, 378 00:16:14,724 --> 00:16:18,912 and as much as I wanted to reach out to him 379 00:16:18,936 --> 00:16:22,291 as a human being, I couldn't, 380 00:16:22,315 --> 00:16:25,127 because I would've gotten fired. 381 00:16:25,151 --> 00:16:27,629 I was a writer, I could write him great stories, 382 00:16:27,653 --> 00:16:29,506 I could write him funny lines, 383 00:16:29,530 --> 00:16:32,342 but it wasn't my place to try and reach out 384 00:16:32,366 --> 00:16:35,345 and help this struggling human being. 385 00:16:35,369 --> 00:16:36,680 (record scratches) 386 00:16:36,704 --> 00:16:38,599 {\an8}- [Kids] Hey! 387 00:16:38,623 --> 00:16:42,394 {\an8}- Screech, hey man, get away from the turntable, 388 00:16:42,418 --> 00:16:44,396 you're ruining everything as usual. 389 00:16:44,420 --> 00:16:46,482 People aren't paying to see an idiot. 390 00:16:46,506 --> 00:16:48,859 - Gee, Slater, why are you always on my back? 391 00:16:48,883 --> 00:16:50,861 - Because you're a screw up. 392 00:16:50,885 --> 00:16:53,197 - [Narrator] "Saved By The Bell" and its short spin off, 393 00:16:53,221 --> 00:16:55,616 "The College Years," eventually come to an end. 394 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,119 - Sorry, I wouldn't want to embarrass you. 395 00:16:59,143 --> 00:17:01,872 - [Narrator] Dustin's costars find new roles elsewhere, 396 00:17:01,896 --> 00:17:04,249 but he stays on to reprise his role of Screech 397 00:17:04,273 --> 00:17:06,960 in "Saved By The Bell: The New Class," 398 00:17:06,984 --> 00:17:08,611 for a further seven seasons. 399 00:17:11,906 --> 00:17:13,926 {\an8}- Hey. - What's going on? 400 00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:15,135 {\an8}- Just getting my henna. 401 00:17:15,159 --> 00:17:16,595 {\an8}- [Paparazzi] Where's Zach at? 402 00:17:16,619 --> 00:17:17,430 {\an8}- I don't know, 403 00:17:17,454 --> 00:17:19,097 {\an8}it wasn't my week to watch him. 404 00:17:19,121 --> 00:17:20,098 {\an8}(paparazzi laughs) 405 00:17:20,122 --> 00:17:20,934 {\an8}- [Paparazzi] Hey, but what happened 406 00:17:20,958 --> 00:17:22,476 {\an8}to the "Saved By The Bell" thing man? 407 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:23,727 {\an8}Are you guys ever gonna come back 408 00:17:23,751 --> 00:17:24,811 {\an8}or something like that? 409 00:17:24,835 --> 00:17:26,104 {\an8}- Oh, we haven't left. 410 00:17:26,128 --> 00:17:27,023 {\an8}- [Paparazzi] You haven't left? 411 00:17:27,047 --> 00:17:28,232 {\an8}- No, man, "The New Class." 412 00:17:28,256 --> 00:17:32,861 {\an8}- Dustin played Screech all the way through 413 00:17:32,885 --> 00:17:35,322 {\an8}the original show and the spin offs, 414 00:17:35,346 --> 00:17:38,033 {\an8}"The College Years," "The New Class." 415 00:17:38,057 --> 00:17:40,953 {\an8}I know personally that I mentioned to him 416 00:17:40,977 --> 00:17:43,413 {\an8}the risk of being type cast, 417 00:17:43,437 --> 00:17:46,583 but he didn't want to give up a guaranteed paycheck 418 00:17:46,607 --> 00:17:49,419 for some other potential paycheck in the future 419 00:17:49,443 --> 00:17:50,754 that may or may not come. 420 00:17:50,778 --> 00:17:54,299 - [Narrator] In 1996, Dustin is filming the second season 421 00:17:54,323 --> 00:17:55,342 of "The New Class," 422 00:17:55,366 --> 00:17:57,803 when his mother Jamie dies. 423 00:17:57,827 --> 00:18:00,472 - Dustin's mom passed away from breast cancer. 424 00:18:00,496 --> 00:18:03,058 I know that it took a big toll on Mark and Dustin. 425 00:18:03,082 --> 00:18:05,310 Dustin was 18 at the time. 426 00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:06,895 - He actually became angry. 427 00:18:06,919 --> 00:18:08,897 He became mad at her, 428 00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:12,442 especially after she died, because she left us 429 00:18:12,466 --> 00:18:14,343 and he was mad about that. 430 00:18:16,262 --> 00:18:17,262 Yeah. 431 00:18:18,639 --> 00:18:21,034 - [Narrator] By the time the franchise ends in 2000, 432 00:18:21,058 --> 00:18:25,122 he is 23 and has played Screech Powers for 12 years. 433 00:18:25,146 --> 00:18:27,249 He is finally free to shed the skin 434 00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:30,043 of the character he's lived in for a decade. 435 00:18:30,067 --> 00:18:31,545 But despite many auditions, 436 00:18:31,569 --> 00:18:34,673 he finds it hard to land any significant roles. 437 00:18:34,697 --> 00:18:35,799 {\an8}- No one wanted to hire... 438 00:18:35,823 --> 00:18:36,800 {\an8}They wanted to hire him, 439 00:18:36,824 --> 00:18:39,469 {\an8}but it would have to be for a Screech-like role. 440 00:18:39,493 --> 00:18:41,263 People weren't looking at his acting skills, 441 00:18:41,287 --> 00:18:43,682 they were only looking at one character 442 00:18:43,706 --> 00:18:44,600 that he could play. 443 00:18:44,624 --> 00:18:45,809 - He couldn't get any other work, 444 00:18:45,833 --> 00:18:47,644 and he was talented, but he just couldn't, 445 00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:50,314 because of, unfortunately, being Screech. 446 00:18:50,338 --> 00:18:53,650 {\an8}And it's like, it's not all what the public can see you as, 447 00:18:53,674 --> 00:18:56,028 {\an8}but it's all what the business sees you as 448 00:18:56,052 --> 00:18:57,446 'cause that's the kind of people they are. 449 00:18:57,470 --> 00:18:59,698 - If you're at that age, at 21, 450 00:18:59,722 --> 00:19:01,241 or for me, at 23, 451 00:19:01,265 --> 00:19:02,909 and you suddenly are told, 452 00:19:02,933 --> 00:19:06,913 {\an8}thanks for the last 10 years of your life, 453 00:19:06,937 --> 00:19:09,249 {\an8}don't need you anymore. 454 00:19:09,273 --> 00:19:11,752 I have a house and a car. 455 00:19:11,776 --> 00:19:13,170 How am I gonna make that work? 456 00:19:13,194 --> 00:19:14,796 {\an8}- He hasn't gone to college, 457 00:19:14,820 --> 00:19:17,883 {\an8}he hasn't prepared for anything else 458 00:19:17,907 --> 00:19:20,469 {\an8}other than being an entertainer. 459 00:19:20,493 --> 00:19:22,679 - He wanted to switch into a different career 460 00:19:22,703 --> 00:19:25,599 where, I think, maybe might've been a little bit more cool, 461 00:19:25,623 --> 00:19:26,808 which was standup. 462 00:19:26,832 --> 00:19:28,560 - Screech was a fun character to play, 463 00:19:28,584 --> 00:19:31,271 and then I reached a point where it was time to move on. 464 00:19:31,295 --> 00:19:33,106 - [Narrator] In his efforts to reinvent himself, 465 00:19:33,130 --> 00:19:36,068 Dustin performs a very adult standup act. 466 00:19:36,092 --> 00:19:37,235 - What's up, (beep)? 467 00:19:37,259 --> 00:19:38,071 Woo! 468 00:19:38,095 --> 00:19:40,572 {\an8}- I love how everyone thinks they can do it, 469 00:19:40,596 --> 00:19:42,824 {\an8}but they can't. 470 00:19:42,848 --> 00:19:43,867 {\an8}- Let me tell you, 471 00:19:43,891 --> 00:19:47,662 {\an8}people always underestimate standup comedy. 472 00:19:47,686 --> 00:19:51,500 Standup comedy is the hardest form of entertainment. 473 00:19:51,524 --> 00:19:53,877 - I'm not bitter, man, I played that character for 10 years. 474 00:19:53,901 --> 00:19:55,462 After 10 years of Screech, 475 00:19:55,486 --> 00:19:57,089 I am... ing not bitter, I'm horny, 476 00:19:57,113 --> 00:19:58,215 that's all there is to it. 477 00:19:58,239 --> 00:20:00,175 - Being able to inflect jokes, 478 00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:02,719 to be able to put together the words, 479 00:20:02,743 --> 00:20:05,806 it takes a long... ing time. 480 00:20:05,830 --> 00:20:06,766 - Dustin's standup, 481 00:20:06,790 --> 00:20:11,770 when I first saw his show, I was like woo, that was racy, 482 00:20:11,794 --> 00:20:12,688 you know what I mean? 483 00:20:12,712 --> 00:20:14,648 He had a grandma joke that was so bad. 484 00:20:14,672 --> 00:20:16,608 {\an8}- I am horny though, that wasn't a joke. 485 00:20:16,632 --> 00:20:18,527 {\an8}I'm like that close to tapping my own grandma, 486 00:20:18,551 --> 00:20:20,070 {\an8}it's embarrassing is what it is. 487 00:20:20,094 --> 00:20:21,154 - Basically, he came out 488 00:20:21,178 --> 00:20:23,865 and he was, in some cases, obscene, 489 00:20:23,889 --> 00:20:26,618 and other cases just not funny. 490 00:20:26,642 --> 00:20:27,786 - You got big... ing titties, 491 00:20:27,810 --> 00:20:29,246 thank you for sitting up front. 492 00:20:29,270 --> 00:20:30,081 (audience laughing) 493 00:20:30,105 --> 00:20:32,791 - And he's trying to be the anti of what his character was, 494 00:20:32,815 --> 00:20:34,960 and I was like, "This ain't gonna last long for this kid." 495 00:20:34,984 --> 00:20:37,754 Unless it's a true opposite, like Bob Saget was, 496 00:20:37,778 --> 00:20:40,340 'cause Bob Saget was always a dirty comic, 497 00:20:40,364 --> 00:20:43,009 but here's the difference, comic first 498 00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:45,512 then the TV show. 499 00:20:45,536 --> 00:20:47,347 It didn't seem to fit, 500 00:20:47,371 --> 00:20:50,517 and it didn't, you know, do what he wanted it to do. 501 00:20:50,541 --> 00:20:52,769 {\an8}- If it's not in your bones, 502 00:20:52,793 --> 00:20:54,354 {\an8}you know, it's really hard for an actor 503 00:20:54,378 --> 00:20:57,566 {\an8}to just, hey, I'm gonna just be a standup. 504 00:20:57,590 --> 00:20:59,526 - I think part of that was to deal with 505 00:20:59,550 --> 00:21:01,736 some of the trolls and the hecklers 506 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,071 that were coming at him, 507 00:21:03,095 --> 00:21:05,615 and it helped him kind of cope with those people 508 00:21:05,639 --> 00:21:07,367 and give it back to them. 509 00:21:07,391 --> 00:21:09,327 {\an8}- [Heckler] Where's Lisa Turtle? 510 00:21:09,351 --> 00:21:11,663 - She's in the... ing trunk, thanks, buddy. 511 00:21:11,687 --> 00:21:13,081 (audience laughing) 512 00:21:13,105 --> 00:21:14,750 See, if you're gonna shout out something, 513 00:21:14,774 --> 00:21:17,043 is that the best you can come up with? 514 00:21:17,067 --> 00:21:18,420 Well, share something more with me. 515 00:21:18,444 --> 00:21:19,380 {\an8}- [Heckler] Get... ed! 516 00:21:19,404 --> 00:21:21,339 {\an8}- I've already been paid, I don't need to..., 517 00:21:21,363 --> 00:21:23,383 come on, buddy. 518 00:21:23,407 --> 00:21:25,427 You got all night, share something. 519 00:21:25,451 --> 00:21:27,179 Don't be a cock face, come on, tell me something. 520 00:21:27,203 --> 00:21:29,181 - Standup's very difficult, 521 00:21:29,205 --> 00:21:31,433 and the crowd can turn on you in a second. 522 00:21:31,457 --> 00:21:34,478 Especially somebody that has the image of Screech. 523 00:21:34,502 --> 00:21:36,438 You're gonna get a lot of hecklers in the crowd. 524 00:21:36,462 --> 00:21:38,523 - Oh my god, Screech just hit- 525 00:21:38,547 --> 00:21:40,984 - [Narrator] His act is universally panned, 526 00:21:41,008 --> 00:21:42,527 and the foray into standup 527 00:21:42,551 --> 00:21:45,846 did his reputation and self-esteem no favors. 528 00:21:54,313 --> 00:21:55,957 Struggling to reestablish himself 529 00:21:55,981 --> 00:21:58,543 after a long run on "Saved By The Bell," 530 00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:01,630 Dustin Diamond decides on a change of scenery. 531 00:22:01,654 --> 00:22:03,340 {\an8}- He would tell me several times 532 00:22:03,364 --> 00:22:04,841 {\an8}he just wanted to be normal. 533 00:22:04,865 --> 00:22:05,967 {\an8}He didn't want to be famous, 534 00:22:05,991 --> 00:22:08,553 {\an8}and he just hated being famous in Hollywood. 535 00:22:08,577 --> 00:22:10,680 And he just got sick of it, so he moved. 536 00:22:10,704 --> 00:22:13,016 {\an8}He really liked the Midwest. 537 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:14,434 {\an8}- [Narrator] Dustin moved to Wisconsin 538 00:22:14,458 --> 00:22:17,062 {\an8}to escape the glare of Hollywood. 539 00:22:17,086 --> 00:22:20,106 - [Mark] He ended up buying a house there, 540 00:22:20,130 --> 00:22:23,610 and he was making payments. 541 00:22:23,634 --> 00:22:24,945 - [Narrator] But soon, 542 00:22:24,969 --> 00:22:27,697 Dustin falls into huge financial problems. 543 00:22:27,721 --> 00:22:30,242 - When he would call me and say he needed money, 544 00:22:30,266 --> 00:22:32,869 I would say, "Well, didn't you just get paid for something?" 545 00:22:32,893 --> 00:22:35,497 {\an8}He would say, "Oh, I got here, I got to this gig, 546 00:22:35,521 --> 00:22:37,707 {\an8}"and they refused to pay me." 547 00:22:37,731 --> 00:22:41,545 {\an8}- He called me, he had run into some financial trouble 548 00:22:41,569 --> 00:22:44,214 {\an8}and he asked me for 50,000 bucks. 549 00:22:44,238 --> 00:22:46,174 I don't know what he got in trouble with, 550 00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:47,926 but he had lost a lot of money. 551 00:22:47,950 --> 00:22:50,387 - [Narrator] In fact, most of the earnings Dustin made 552 00:22:50,411 --> 00:22:53,765 during his 12 years on "Saved By The Bell" were gone. 553 00:22:53,789 --> 00:22:55,517 - Dustin actually explained to me 554 00:22:55,541 --> 00:22:56,893 how much money he was making 555 00:22:56,917 --> 00:22:58,311 when he compared himself to Urkel, 556 00:22:58,335 --> 00:23:00,647 you know, and how Urkel beat him out. 557 00:23:00,671 --> 00:23:04,150 He says, "I'd much rather been on a Friday night show 558 00:23:04,174 --> 00:23:06,319 "versus a Saturday morning show." 559 00:23:06,343 --> 00:23:09,573 And he told me he was only making like $1,200 per episode. 560 00:23:09,597 --> 00:23:11,700 You know, there is a brand new actor, 561 00:23:11,724 --> 00:23:13,493 didn't have a whole lot of experience. 562 00:23:13,517 --> 00:23:15,870 The most money he made on a "Saved By The Bell" 563 00:23:15,894 --> 00:23:17,122 was in "The College Years," 564 00:23:17,146 --> 00:23:19,583 he was getting like $10,000 an episode. 565 00:23:19,607 --> 00:23:20,750 {\an8}- You know, when he turned 18, 566 00:23:20,774 --> 00:23:22,544 {\an8}there just wasn't anything left, 567 00:23:22,568 --> 00:23:24,546 {\an8}and I don't know why that happened, 568 00:23:24,570 --> 00:23:28,842 but that little bit was left over, like 250,000, I guess. 569 00:23:28,866 --> 00:23:31,011 - And so Dustin had a habit of spending money, 570 00:23:31,035 --> 00:23:34,681 you know, Dustin would like to buy every Nerf gun in sight. 571 00:23:34,705 --> 00:23:37,017 He loved to visit the toy store. 572 00:23:37,041 --> 00:23:39,561 His comic books and Star Wars memorabilia. 573 00:23:39,585 --> 00:23:41,730 I don't think he ever had an guidance. 574 00:23:41,754 --> 00:23:44,024 - He didn't know how to handle money. 575 00:23:44,048 --> 00:23:46,276 That's the simplest way to say it. 576 00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:50,447 For instance, when he bought that house, 577 00:23:50,471 --> 00:23:54,618 he got a platinum loan and he didn't make any payments. 578 00:23:54,642 --> 00:23:56,453 {\an8}- I mean, come on, you know, 579 00:23:56,477 --> 00:23:58,079 {\an8}I didn't know how to balance a checkbook, 580 00:23:58,103 --> 00:23:59,040 I didn't do any of that stuff. 581 00:23:59,064 --> 00:24:00,332 I had a business manager. 582 00:24:00,356 --> 00:24:02,125 Because when you're really young, 583 00:24:02,149 --> 00:24:04,336 you don't ask, "Can I see the books 584 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:05,920 "to make sure all the money's correct?" 585 00:24:05,944 --> 00:24:08,214 All of a sudden when you're 18, 586 00:24:08,238 --> 00:24:10,884 you're supposed to handle yourself, 587 00:24:10,908 --> 00:24:14,054 but you've never been taught those things 588 00:24:14,078 --> 00:24:17,015 because you've been busy being the golden goose, 589 00:24:17,039 --> 00:24:18,683 being the cash cow. 590 00:24:18,707 --> 00:24:20,685 - They were getting ready to repossess his house. 591 00:24:20,709 --> 00:24:22,479 {\an8}- Former child star Dustin Diamond 592 00:24:22,503 --> 00:24:25,023 {\an8}is facing foreclosure on his Port Washington home. 593 00:24:25,047 --> 00:24:26,775 - [Portia] Wells Fargo filed legal papers 594 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:28,193 {\an8}against the "Saved By The Bell" star, 595 00:24:28,217 --> 00:24:32,322 {\an8}claiming he owes more than $290,000 on his mortgage. 596 00:24:32,346 --> 00:24:34,532 He tried selling T-shirts to raise some money. 597 00:24:34,556 --> 00:24:36,034 {\an8}- I don't know if you can see the front there. 598 00:24:36,058 --> 00:24:38,102 {\an8}- [Howard] Yes, that's a picture of you, 599 00:24:39,478 --> 00:24:40,330 {\an8}are you Screech there? 600 00:24:40,354 --> 00:24:41,290 - No, no, it's just me. 601 00:24:41,314 --> 00:24:42,999 And I'm holding a sign that says, "Save My House." 602 00:24:43,023 --> 00:24:46,252 I'm in front of a shack in the Wisconsin woods, right? 603 00:24:46,276 --> 00:24:48,129 And on the back it says, 604 00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:51,174 "I paid $15 to save Screeech's house." 605 00:24:51,198 --> 00:24:53,385 - [Narrator] When Dustin fails to raise the money 606 00:24:53,409 --> 00:24:54,511 to save his house, 607 00:24:54,535 --> 00:24:57,180 a friend comes to help him out for the time being. 608 00:24:57,204 --> 00:24:59,349 - Yeah, Dustin and I were definitely friends, 609 00:24:59,373 --> 00:25:01,726 and I treated him like family. 610 00:25:01,750 --> 00:25:04,896 And I took care of him, you know? 611 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:06,398 I got him caught up, 612 00:25:06,422 --> 00:25:10,735 I borrowed him money to make sure he was all current 613 00:25:10,759 --> 00:25:11,861 on his mortgage. 614 00:25:11,885 --> 00:25:14,739 - But the guy that had arranged the home loan 615 00:25:14,763 --> 00:25:17,575 put his job on the line for Dustin, 616 00:25:17,599 --> 00:25:21,037 and said, "Oh, this was all just a big bookkeeping mistake, 617 00:25:21,061 --> 00:25:22,997 "Dustin has movies lined up. 618 00:25:23,021 --> 00:25:25,166 "He can pay for the house easily, 619 00:25:25,190 --> 00:25:26,710 "just give him another loan." 620 00:25:26,734 --> 00:25:29,754 And they did at a much higher interest rate. 621 00:25:29,778 --> 00:25:33,299 He then proceeded to make none of those payments. 622 00:25:33,323 --> 00:25:35,427 - [Narrator] With his financial situation getting worse, 623 00:25:35,451 --> 00:25:38,930 Dustin resorts to more desperate means to pay his bills. 624 00:25:38,954 --> 00:25:41,850 - Everybody wants to talk about the tape. 625 00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:43,977 - Dustin did a series of things 626 00:25:44,001 --> 00:25:46,521 that were attempts at making money, 627 00:25:46,545 --> 00:25:49,274 but they were not smart things to do. 628 00:25:49,298 --> 00:25:51,526 {\an8}- He didn't think about the consequences there was 629 00:25:51,550 --> 00:25:54,612 {\an8}on making money from making yourself look bad, 630 00:25:54,636 --> 00:25:56,281 and he didn't understand you shouldn't do that. 631 00:25:56,305 --> 00:25:57,241 {\an8}- [Interviewer] What are you doing here? 632 00:25:57,265 --> 00:25:58,700 What are you promoting? 633 00:25:58,724 --> 00:25:59,993 - Well, I'm sure you heard I have a video that got out 634 00:26:00,017 --> 00:26:01,953 and it's of an adult nature, 635 00:26:01,977 --> 00:26:03,288 so it fits in this crowd. 636 00:26:03,312 --> 00:26:05,749 - Dustin Diamond's sex tape was called "Screeched," 637 00:26:05,773 --> 00:26:07,959 obviously it was a play off Screech, 638 00:26:07,983 --> 00:26:09,544 his character from "Saved By The Bell." 639 00:26:09,568 --> 00:26:13,339 {\an8}And that was a massive, massive story at TMZ, 640 00:26:13,363 --> 00:26:15,550 {\an8}mostly because we were the ones to break it 641 00:26:15,574 --> 00:26:18,803 and had the exclusive clips of the sex tape. 642 00:26:18,827 --> 00:26:20,889 - It all just started out as a joke, 643 00:26:20,913 --> 00:26:22,599 you know, the Paris Hilton video came out 644 00:26:22,623 --> 00:26:24,142 and made a bunch of money, 645 00:26:24,166 --> 00:26:26,853 and his buddy was on his couch with him, 646 00:26:26,877 --> 00:26:28,813 he was like, "What if you had a sex tape, 647 00:26:28,837 --> 00:26:30,440 "what would you make with it?" 648 00:26:30,464 --> 00:26:31,483 And he goes, "I don't know." 649 00:26:31,507 --> 00:26:32,359 They started thinking about it, 650 00:26:32,383 --> 00:26:33,610 like, "What 50 grand, 100 grand?" 651 00:26:33,634 --> 00:26:35,445 He goes, "Maybe, maybe more." 652 00:26:35,469 --> 00:26:36,280 And so they did it, 653 00:26:36,304 --> 00:26:40,283 and those decisions that started out as just a joke 654 00:26:40,307 --> 00:26:42,619 went much further than that. 655 00:26:42,643 --> 00:26:46,080 - [Dax] From that moment on, everyone looked down on him, 656 00:26:46,104 --> 00:26:49,125 friends, family, people in Hollywood. 657 00:26:49,149 --> 00:26:51,401 So he couldn't shake it after that point. 658 00:26:56,573 --> 00:27:00,178 - [Dustin] A big girl with a bad attitude is not attractive. 659 00:27:00,202 --> 00:27:02,597 - If you even (beep) look at me, Dustin. 660 00:27:02,621 --> 00:27:04,432 - [Spokesman] Dustin Diamond fights his way 661 00:27:04,456 --> 00:27:07,852 into becoming the most controversial fit clubber ever. 662 00:27:07,876 --> 00:27:10,355 - [Dustin] With his reputation hitting an all time low, 663 00:27:10,379 --> 00:27:12,565 Dustin is cast in back to back seasons 664 00:27:12,589 --> 00:27:14,150 of "Celebrity Fit Club." 665 00:27:14,174 --> 00:27:17,070 Where overweight celebrities are pitting against each other 666 00:27:17,094 --> 00:27:19,113 in an effort to shed weight. 667 00:27:19,137 --> 00:27:22,617 {\an8}- When it came to "Celebrity Fit Club" in particular, 668 00:27:22,641 --> 00:27:25,995 {\an8}that was when he really flipped the switch 669 00:27:26,019 --> 00:27:30,416 on becoming a person that people really didn't like. 670 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:32,752 - Let's talk about losers, okay? 671 00:27:32,776 --> 00:27:34,462 Let's talk about, I'm a (beep) child star, 672 00:27:34,486 --> 00:27:36,381 now I got a porn tape on TV 673 00:27:36,405 --> 00:27:39,509 and selling T-shirts to pay my house note. 674 00:27:39,533 --> 00:27:42,929 - He and I were both cast as two of the most 675 00:27:42,953 --> 00:27:48,017 contentious player of that game 676 00:27:48,041 --> 00:27:50,728 {\an8}ever to be on the VH1 series. 677 00:27:50,752 --> 00:27:53,940 - Dustin is reportedly paid an extra $25,000 678 00:27:53,964 --> 00:27:55,733 in addition to his regular salary 679 00:27:55,757 --> 00:27:57,735 to play a villain on the show. 680 00:27:57,759 --> 00:27:59,863 - Did you guys see "Celebrity Fit Club?" 681 00:27:59,887 --> 00:28:00,739 (crowd cheering) 682 00:28:00,763 --> 00:28:02,532 Yeah, I played the dick on that show, 683 00:28:02,556 --> 00:28:03,908 and everybody thought I was a douche bag. 684 00:28:03,932 --> 00:28:06,369 Baby, it's TV, it's all scripted, man. 685 00:28:06,393 --> 00:28:10,498 They paid me $50,000 to be on that show, 50 grand. 686 00:28:10,522 --> 00:28:12,917 You can't just show up and just get paid, 687 00:28:12,941 --> 00:28:15,545 you gotta out crazy Gary Busey, that's... ing hard. 688 00:28:15,569 --> 00:28:17,505 - When you get viewed as a train wreck, 689 00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:20,675 you're often only cast as a train wreck. 690 00:28:20,699 --> 00:28:22,886 - He wanted to play bad guys, 691 00:28:22,910 --> 00:28:24,262 he wanted to play the heavy, 692 00:28:24,286 --> 00:28:26,973 he wanted to play the naughty boy, 693 00:28:26,997 --> 00:28:31,561 {\an8}and so on that show, he was sort of an A-hole, 694 00:28:31,585 --> 00:28:32,937 {\an8}but it was deliberate. 695 00:28:32,961 --> 00:28:35,315 {\an8}He felt that that would change his image. 696 00:28:35,339 --> 00:28:37,007 - People better watch their ass, 697 00:28:38,342 --> 00:28:39,944 because I could show up at your house 698 00:28:39,968 --> 00:28:41,988 and (beep) knife you in the gut. 699 00:28:42,012 --> 00:28:43,212 {\an8}- That's a weird thing to say. 700 00:28:43,889 --> 00:28:47,869 {\an8}- Hey, you piss me off and I justify it, 701 00:28:47,893 --> 00:28:50,205 and I have the skill and technique. 702 00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:51,998 You better (beep) watch your ass. 703 00:28:52,022 --> 00:28:54,000 - See, Dustin liked to collect knives. 704 00:28:54,024 --> 00:28:57,211 People would go, "Oh wow, Dustin's really scary. 705 00:28:57,235 --> 00:28:58,963 "He's not like what I thought he was." 706 00:28:58,987 --> 00:29:00,214 He was changing his image, 707 00:29:00,238 --> 00:29:03,176 but I don't think it was a positive effect. 708 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,512 - I think he was hoping that the VH1 show 709 00:29:06,536 --> 00:29:10,516 would give him that sort of boost 710 00:29:10,540 --> 00:29:12,852 to get him back into the public eye 711 00:29:12,876 --> 00:29:14,896 as somebody who was viable. 712 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:19,925 To me, that was very indicative of Dustin's frailty. 713 00:29:20,258 --> 00:29:21,861 - First, it's the sex tape, 714 00:29:21,885 --> 00:29:24,113 then you have "Celebrity Fit Club," 715 00:29:24,137 --> 00:29:27,408 then the third thing, which is the tell all book. 716 00:29:27,432 --> 00:29:30,787 - Within the book, I reveal all that anyone 717 00:29:30,811 --> 00:29:34,332 would ever need to know about the good points 718 00:29:34,356 --> 00:29:37,377 and the bad points, and sort of the uncomfortable points 719 00:29:37,401 --> 00:29:38,544 that we all went through. 720 00:29:38,568 --> 00:29:40,213 - [Dax] He talked about drug use 721 00:29:40,237 --> 00:29:43,299 and his cast members having sex with each other. 722 00:29:43,323 --> 00:29:46,386 - It hurt people that didn't deserve that. 723 00:29:46,410 --> 00:29:47,595 {\an8}- Everything that I've heard about his book, 724 00:29:47,619 --> 00:29:49,263 {\an8}'cause it is negative, 725 00:29:49,287 --> 00:29:51,683 {\an8}and I don't remember those things, 726 00:29:51,707 --> 00:29:54,352 {\an8}'cause my experience on the show was very positive. 727 00:29:54,376 --> 00:29:57,272 - This is chemistry class, not "Love Connection." 728 00:29:57,296 --> 00:29:58,731 - You know, I was there, 729 00:29:58,755 --> 00:30:02,276 there was nothing bad going on that I ever saw. 730 00:30:02,300 --> 00:30:04,112 - The more salacious a book is, 731 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:05,822 the more money it's gonna make, 732 00:30:05,846 --> 00:30:09,075 so whether or not he lied, I don't know. 733 00:30:09,099 --> 00:30:10,952 - He kind of isolated himself from everybody 734 00:30:10,976 --> 00:30:12,578 that really cared about him, 735 00:30:12,602 --> 00:30:14,956 so he could go off and do these things 736 00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:16,457 without having to listen to anybody 737 00:30:16,481 --> 00:30:20,253 say, no, no, this is wrong, you shouldn't be doing this. 738 00:30:20,277 --> 00:30:23,589 - There is so much pain in somebody 739 00:30:23,613 --> 00:30:28,219 that makes that choice to continue on with that behavior, 740 00:30:28,243 --> 00:30:30,638 because it's all you have left. 741 00:30:30,662 --> 00:30:32,932 - Anger is an outward expression of a depression. 742 00:30:32,956 --> 00:30:36,269 Losing your money is traumatic. 743 00:30:36,293 --> 00:30:40,857 Not being able to know how to survive. 744 00:30:40,881 --> 00:30:45,278 {\an8}And they just kind of go back into that trauma response 745 00:30:45,302 --> 00:30:46,654 {\an8}of being the people pleaser. 746 00:30:46,678 --> 00:30:47,989 {\an8}You want me to be a train wreck? 747 00:30:48,013 --> 00:30:49,699 Okay, I can do that. 748 00:30:49,723 --> 00:30:52,493 {\an8}- It's hard to specifically characterize a set of issues 749 00:30:52,517 --> 00:30:55,204 {\an8}that are specific, necessarily, to child stars, 750 00:30:55,228 --> 00:30:58,499 but fundamentally, they didn't get a childhood, 751 00:30:58,523 --> 00:31:01,085 there are developmental issues around that. 752 00:31:01,109 --> 00:31:03,212 Number two, they often come into money 753 00:31:03,236 --> 00:31:05,256 that they don't know how to manage, 'cause they're children, 754 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:06,175 they're not adult. 755 00:31:06,199 --> 00:31:08,885 And then three, functioning in the world as an adult. 756 00:31:08,909 --> 00:31:12,805 If you've never been asked to stand on your own 757 00:31:12,829 --> 00:31:15,308 in the world, except as a child star, 758 00:31:15,332 --> 00:31:17,435 boy, there's no floor underneath you. 759 00:31:17,459 --> 00:31:19,687 - If everybody around you was a yes man 760 00:31:19,711 --> 00:31:23,274 and everything did, people gave you accolades for 761 00:31:23,298 --> 00:31:25,318 and said, oh, that's so great, 762 00:31:25,342 --> 00:31:27,904 and you were truly the center of attention, 763 00:31:27,928 --> 00:31:29,238 it effects you growing up. 764 00:31:29,262 --> 00:31:31,824 {\an8}I mean, you look at only child syndrome, 765 00:31:31,848 --> 00:31:34,619 {\an8}imagine successful child actor syndrome. 766 00:31:34,643 --> 00:31:36,579 {\an8}- He's most well known for his role 767 00:31:36,603 --> 00:31:39,040 {\an8}on the popular TV show, "Saved By The Bell." 768 00:31:39,064 --> 00:31:40,792 - But now he's in trouble with the law, 769 00:31:40,816 --> 00:31:42,919 after an argument turned violent. 770 00:31:42,943 --> 00:31:45,004 - Your life is a microscope, 771 00:31:45,028 --> 00:31:47,507 and when you make a mistake, 772 00:31:47,531 --> 00:31:49,675 of course they're naturally magnified. 773 00:31:49,699 --> 00:31:51,552 - [Narrator] Dustin can't even escape 774 00:31:51,576 --> 00:31:54,222 the public scrutiny of him on Christmas Day, 775 00:31:54,246 --> 00:31:58,059 as he and his girlfriend try to enjoy a night out. 776 00:31:58,083 --> 00:32:00,603 - He was noticed, people came up 777 00:32:00,627 --> 00:32:03,314 and they wanted to take pictures, 778 00:32:03,338 --> 00:32:05,108 and the usual Dustin, sure, 779 00:32:05,132 --> 00:32:06,984 he didn't everything they wanted. 780 00:32:07,008 --> 00:32:08,653 But as they continued to drink, 781 00:32:08,677 --> 00:32:10,905 they started to become more and more obnoxious. 782 00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:13,699 - They started taking note of who we were, 783 00:32:13,723 --> 00:32:15,952 or who I was, and started taking pictures 784 00:32:15,976 --> 00:32:18,538 and laughing and making it a game to bump into us 785 00:32:18,562 --> 00:32:20,373 and try and capture it on video or camera. 786 00:32:20,397 --> 00:32:24,585 - A woman was very rude about Dustin and his girlfriend, 787 00:32:24,609 --> 00:32:26,462 literally calling her a circus clown, 788 00:32:26,486 --> 00:32:29,257 'cause her hair, and what a loser 789 00:32:29,281 --> 00:32:31,843 that that's his best girlfriend he's got now, 790 00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:34,137 you know, Screech has really fallen off, that kind of stuff. 791 00:32:34,161 --> 00:32:35,972 For a long time, he was enduring this. 792 00:32:35,996 --> 00:32:38,599 Before he leaves, the woman came over 793 00:32:38,623 --> 00:32:40,268 and asked for an autograph, 794 00:32:40,292 --> 00:32:41,686 and Dustin was gonna do it, 795 00:32:41,710 --> 00:32:42,521 but his girlfriend said, 796 00:32:42,545 --> 00:32:44,772 "No, absolutely not, you're rude," 797 00:32:44,796 --> 00:32:47,775 and then she proceeded to pull out her cell phone 798 00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:49,026 to take a selfie with Dustin, 799 00:32:49,050 --> 00:32:52,071 and that's when his girlfriend Amanda 800 00:32:52,095 --> 00:32:54,198 swatted the phone out of her hand 801 00:32:54,222 --> 00:32:55,741 and started an altercation. 802 00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:58,786 - Dustin stepped in and he did a stupid thing. 803 00:32:58,810 --> 00:33:00,329 - We were just sitting over on the other side of the bar, 804 00:33:00,353 --> 00:33:01,248 {\an8}and then I heard, "Fight," 805 00:33:01,272 --> 00:33:02,707 {\an8}and then I was just kind of walking over, 806 00:33:02,731 --> 00:33:04,250 {\an8}and then I heard, "He's got a knife." 807 00:33:04,274 --> 00:33:06,169 {\an8}- [Male Reporter] Listen to the woman recording the video 808 00:33:06,193 --> 00:33:08,921 {\an8}as she spots Diamond brandishing a object 809 00:33:08,945 --> 00:33:09,756 in his right hand. 810 00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:11,198 - [Woman] He's got a (beep) knife. 811 00:33:20,373 --> 00:33:22,602 - [Narrator] In a bar near his home in Wisconsin, 812 00:33:22,626 --> 00:33:25,021 Dustin finds himself defending his girlfriend 813 00:33:25,045 --> 00:33:27,398 from a group of belligerent fans. 814 00:33:27,422 --> 00:33:29,859 - And then the boyfriend came over 815 00:33:29,883 --> 00:33:33,946 {\an8}and started basically punching Dustin. 816 00:33:33,970 --> 00:33:35,239 {\an8}- And then some of the guys got involved, 817 00:33:35,263 --> 00:33:36,158 {\an8}trying to break it up, 818 00:33:36,182 --> 00:33:38,409 {\an8}and everybody was just kind of pushing each other 819 00:33:38,433 --> 00:33:39,244 and everything. 820 00:33:39,268 --> 00:33:40,369 - [Female Reporter] The two opted to leave, 821 00:33:40,393 --> 00:33:41,954 as Diamond was checking out, 822 00:33:41,978 --> 00:33:45,750 he heard his fiance scream, then saw her bloody face. 823 00:33:45,774 --> 00:33:46,959 - [Attorney] What did you think caused that? 824 00:33:46,983 --> 00:33:48,586 - I thought someone hit her. 825 00:33:48,610 --> 00:33:49,421 - [Female Reporter] Diamond pointed 826 00:33:49,445 --> 00:33:52,173 to this surveillance video played frame by frame 827 00:33:52,197 --> 00:33:53,758 showing when he says, 828 00:33:53,782 --> 00:33:55,885 Schutz was punched, pulled, and choked, 829 00:33:55,909 --> 00:33:57,929 and he was shoved into a corner. 830 00:33:57,953 --> 00:34:00,848 That's where we see Diamond with a knife at his side. 831 00:34:00,872 --> 00:34:03,392 - [Dustin] I opened the pocket knife as a deterrent. 832 00:34:03,416 --> 00:34:05,186 - Dustin pulled his pocket knife out 833 00:34:05,210 --> 00:34:07,605 and the guy cut himself, swinging at Dustin. 834 00:34:07,629 --> 00:34:09,023 - [Female Reporter] Police say that's when Diamond 835 00:34:09,047 --> 00:34:11,025 stabbed a man and left a bar. 836 00:34:11,049 --> 00:34:12,902 - Witnesses say the incident happened here, 837 00:34:12,926 --> 00:34:15,738 {\an8}by the door, and once Diamond heard the police were coming, 838 00:34:15,762 --> 00:34:16,657 {\an8}he left the bar. 839 00:34:16,681 --> 00:34:17,782 - [Female Reporter] The pair were arrested 840 00:34:17,806 --> 00:34:20,284 after police found them inside their SUV. 841 00:34:20,308 --> 00:34:23,704 Diamond is charged with recklessly endangering safety, 842 00:34:23,728 --> 00:34:26,999 carrying a concealed weapon, and disorderly conduct. 843 00:34:27,023 --> 00:34:28,876 {\an8}This body cam on first responders 844 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:31,921 {\an8}shows Casey Smet immediately after the fight, 845 00:34:31,945 --> 00:34:34,882 {\an8}he says he doesn't need to go to the hospital. 846 00:34:34,906 --> 00:34:37,927 {\an8}- It's right here, and it's already done bleeding, 847 00:34:37,951 --> 00:34:39,428 {\an8}it's already clotted. 848 00:34:39,452 --> 00:34:41,973 {\an8}- [Adam] The injuries sustained by the victim 849 00:34:41,997 --> 00:34:45,142 {\an8}is such that he did not require medical treatment. 850 00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:46,269 Nonetheless, as the court can see, 851 00:34:46,293 --> 00:34:49,814 there was a half inch puncture wound under his armpit 852 00:34:49,838 --> 00:34:51,857 that did result in substantial bleeding. 853 00:34:51,881 --> 00:34:54,694 {\an8}- The tip of the knife caused a boo boo 854 00:34:54,718 --> 00:34:57,154 {\an8}that needed a Band-Aid. 855 00:34:57,178 --> 00:34:59,282 {\an8}But what does the press say? 856 00:34:59,306 --> 00:35:02,785 "Dustin Diamond stabbed somebody!" 857 00:35:02,809 --> 00:35:06,330 {\an8}- I think every celebrity train wreck out there 858 00:35:06,354 --> 00:35:09,417 {\an8}makes the audience feel better about themself. 859 00:35:09,441 --> 00:35:11,002 A thrill that America 860 00:35:11,026 --> 00:35:13,820 has watching these people just crumble. 861 00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:15,965 - This is all I've thought about 862 00:35:15,989 --> 00:35:18,676 for the last six months, every single night spent 863 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:21,178 consumed with what I could've done differently. 864 00:35:21,202 --> 00:35:22,305 Having been in the public eye 865 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:23,431 ever since I was a little boy 866 00:35:23,455 --> 00:35:25,975 has taught me to be careful with every step I make. 867 00:35:25,999 --> 00:35:27,560 I'm not the type of person that goes out 868 00:35:27,584 --> 00:35:30,604 looking for trouble or is willing to accept 869 00:35:30,628 --> 00:35:32,106 - [Narrator] Dustin is found guilty 870 00:35:32,130 --> 00:35:35,443 of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct, 871 00:35:35,467 --> 00:35:37,320 but manages to escape conviction 872 00:35:37,344 --> 00:35:39,739 for recklessly endangering public safety. 873 00:35:39,763 --> 00:35:42,616 The judge sentences to four months in prison. 874 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:44,493 - I called Dustin and I talked about 875 00:35:44,517 --> 00:35:45,828 when he's gonna have to go to jail 876 00:35:45,852 --> 00:35:46,829 for six months or whatever, 877 00:35:46,853 --> 00:35:47,997 {\an8}but I told him what to expect, 878 00:35:48,021 --> 00:35:49,081 {\an8}and what's gonna happen, you know, 879 00:35:49,105 --> 00:35:51,292 {\an8}and how to keep his nose out of trouble, you know? 880 00:35:51,316 --> 00:35:53,085 {\an8}And Dustin would talk big, 881 00:35:53,109 --> 00:35:56,505 {\an8}but actually sometimes people who talk very big 882 00:35:56,529 --> 00:35:58,424 are very scared inside. 883 00:35:58,448 --> 00:35:59,508 - Hello. 884 00:35:59,532 --> 00:36:02,678 I need to check in. 885 00:36:02,702 --> 00:36:06,122 - [Reporter] Dustin, before you check in. 886 00:36:09,667 --> 00:36:11,479 - [Narrator] After serving three months in jail, 887 00:36:11,503 --> 00:36:14,648 Dustin is released a month early for good behavior. 888 00:36:14,672 --> 00:36:17,735 {\an8}- [Female Reporter] The 39 year old released just last month 889 00:36:17,759 --> 00:36:21,238 {\an8}says he got out one month early for good behavior 890 00:36:21,262 --> 00:36:24,492 earned with janitorial work, cleaning floors, 891 00:36:24,516 --> 00:36:26,535 and doing laundry. 892 00:36:26,559 --> 00:36:30,164 {\an8}- [Leif] This kind of a thing makes it almost impossible 893 00:36:30,188 --> 00:36:33,084 {\an8}for you to turn your career around after that. 894 00:36:33,108 --> 00:36:35,753 And I know he had tried so hard. 895 00:36:35,777 --> 00:36:37,088 {\an8}- [Narrator] He's left out of a skit 896 00:36:37,112 --> 00:36:40,383 {\an8}that brings back his former "Saved By The Bell" castmates. 897 00:36:40,407 --> 00:36:41,301 {\an8}- What'd you think when you saw 898 00:36:41,325 --> 00:36:42,343 {\an8}the "Saved By The Bell" reunion 899 00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:43,511 {\an8}on "The Tonight Show?" 900 00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:44,970 - I wish I could've been a part of it. 901 00:36:44,994 --> 00:36:46,847 You know, I didn't know that was going on 902 00:36:46,871 --> 00:36:47,848 until it was already done. 903 00:36:47,872 --> 00:36:50,309 You know, the photo thing happened after that, 904 00:36:50,333 --> 00:36:51,852 the People Magazine, things like that 905 00:36:51,876 --> 00:36:53,562 where I wasn't part of the cast, 906 00:36:53,586 --> 00:36:54,688 I wasn't part of the cover and stuff, 907 00:36:54,712 --> 00:36:57,149 so everyone started, you know, the telephone game, 908 00:36:57,173 --> 00:36:59,110 the rumors, oh, well, he wasn't invited. 909 00:36:59,134 --> 00:37:02,029 - He used to love Port Washington, Wisconsin, 910 00:37:02,053 --> 00:37:04,615 but after going to jail, he hated it, 911 00:37:04,639 --> 00:37:05,950 and he would go to Wal-Mart, 912 00:37:05,974 --> 00:37:08,702 and have interactions with the people 913 00:37:08,726 --> 00:37:10,121 and he just didn't like it anymore. 914 00:37:10,145 --> 00:37:14,333 - He ended up taking a gig in Florida, 915 00:37:14,357 --> 00:37:17,837 and he had lost the original girl, 916 00:37:17,861 --> 00:37:20,256 and he met somebody while he was in Florida, 917 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:21,757 and he decided to stay for a while. 918 00:37:21,781 --> 00:37:23,592 - I believe Dustin went to Florida 919 00:37:23,616 --> 00:37:25,052 because he was running away from his problems. 920 00:37:25,076 --> 00:37:27,888 You know, just when things are starting to look up for him, 921 00:37:27,912 --> 00:37:29,723 things were starting to get bad too, 922 00:37:29,747 --> 00:37:32,059 and he just wanted kind of break from reality. 923 00:37:32,083 --> 00:37:37,088 - He had called me and he said he needed to talk to me, 924 00:37:38,047 --> 00:37:40,192 and his voice sounded really bad. 925 00:37:40,216 --> 00:37:45,221 He said that he had a growth on his neck. 926 00:37:46,473 --> 00:37:49,076 - One time he called on FaceTime, 927 00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:51,370 and I went to go help Dustin, 928 00:37:51,394 --> 00:37:53,080 I went and picked him and took him to the hospital, 929 00:37:53,104 --> 00:37:54,415 'cause enough's enough. 930 00:37:54,439 --> 00:37:55,791 - [Female Reporter] ET has confirmed 931 00:37:55,815 --> 00:37:58,878 the 44 year old actor sought medical attention 932 00:37:58,902 --> 00:38:00,963 over the weekend in Florida. 933 00:38:00,987 --> 00:38:05,217 {\an8}Dustin's team tells ET he's quote, "undergoing tests" 934 00:38:05,241 --> 00:38:08,596 {\an8}to determine the source of various body pains 935 00:38:08,620 --> 00:38:10,598 he had been experiencing. 936 00:38:10,622 --> 00:38:13,893 - I had this message that said, 937 00:38:13,917 --> 00:38:17,980 "I'm sorry I missed your call, I was on the floor." 938 00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:19,231 That concerned me. 939 00:38:19,255 --> 00:38:21,859 What do you mean you're on the floor? 940 00:38:21,883 --> 00:38:23,486 And when I got through to him, 941 00:38:23,510 --> 00:38:25,571 he said, "There's something really bad." 942 00:38:25,595 --> 00:38:28,616 I said, "Well, did your dog die?" 943 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:30,659 He said, "No, I'm dying." 944 00:38:30,683 --> 00:38:32,310 And I didn't know what he meant. 945 00:38:34,229 --> 00:38:36,689 So that was the way I found out. 946 00:38:39,067 --> 00:38:41,128 He went in to the doctor 947 00:38:41,152 --> 00:38:42,588 and the doctor said, "You better hope 948 00:38:42,612 --> 00:38:46,509 "this is not small cell carcinoma." 949 00:38:46,533 --> 00:38:48,093 And he was waiting for results, 950 00:38:48,117 --> 00:38:50,471 and it turned out that's exactly what it was. 951 00:38:50,495 --> 00:38:54,642 But he had put off going to the doctor, 952 00:38:54,666 --> 00:38:56,477 much like his mother had. 953 00:38:56,501 --> 00:38:57,978 - [Narrator] With the growth on his neck, 954 00:38:58,002 --> 00:39:00,314 Dustin fears he'll just become more fodder 955 00:39:00,338 --> 00:39:02,358 for trashy headlines. 956 00:39:02,382 --> 00:39:05,277 - I think he was afraid of finding out 957 00:39:05,301 --> 00:39:06,529 that he had cancer, 958 00:39:06,553 --> 00:39:09,597 otherwise he would've gone in sooner. 959 00:39:12,809 --> 00:39:14,161 - People that don't know Dustin 960 00:39:14,185 --> 00:39:16,104 would say such horrible things. 961 00:39:17,063 --> 00:39:22,068 The internet trolls, I believe caused his illness 962 00:39:22,902 --> 00:39:24,463 to get out of control. 963 00:39:24,487 --> 00:39:27,550 He did not go and get help, 964 00:39:27,574 --> 00:39:28,843 because he didn't want to have someone 965 00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:31,095 leak a picture of him being sick. 966 00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:32,680 He just didn't want to have any pictures leaked 967 00:39:32,704 --> 00:39:35,474 to the media of another fallen child star. 968 00:39:35,498 --> 00:39:39,836 You know, people are cruel. 969 00:39:49,804 --> 00:39:53,534 - I first heard that Dustin Diamond 970 00:39:53,558 --> 00:39:57,162 was just going into the hospital. 971 00:39:57,186 --> 00:39:59,832 {\an8}There wasn't a lot of information why. 972 00:39:59,856 --> 00:40:01,834 We didn't know that he had cancer, 973 00:40:01,858 --> 00:40:04,962 we just knew that he was going in for something. 974 00:40:04,986 --> 00:40:06,422 - [Narrator] Dustin is diagnosed 975 00:40:06,446 --> 00:40:08,382 with stage four cancer, 976 00:40:08,406 --> 00:40:10,491 and starts treatment immediately. 977 00:40:11,534 --> 00:40:14,162 - He was really glad that I was there. 978 00:40:20,251 --> 00:40:23,230 He would get these sudden pains 979 00:40:23,254 --> 00:40:26,108 and he described it as horrific. 980 00:40:26,132 --> 00:40:28,485 And his girlfriend said, 981 00:40:28,509 --> 00:40:31,614 "Is this the same pain you had before?" 982 00:40:31,638 --> 00:40:33,949 And he said, "No, it's a new pain." 983 00:40:33,973 --> 00:40:35,868 He said, "It's a whole new pain." 984 00:40:35,892 --> 00:40:37,036 And then he looked up at me, 985 00:40:37,060 --> 00:40:39,663 and he raised his hands and he sang, 986 00:40:39,687 --> 00:40:44,692 he said, "A whole new pain," and we laughed. 987 00:40:45,693 --> 00:40:50,633 He was showing me even though what I'm going through, 988 00:40:50,657 --> 00:40:54,345 I'm still here, it's still me. 989 00:40:54,369 --> 00:40:59,374 I mean, comedy, humor, is a gift from God 990 00:41:00,041 --> 00:41:02,394 that shines a light 991 00:41:02,418 --> 00:41:05,814 and if even for a brief moment 992 00:41:05,838 --> 00:41:10,235 can relieve the horror of what's going on, 993 00:41:10,259 --> 00:41:14,281 for one brief moment, everybody laughed. 994 00:41:14,305 --> 00:41:16,617 - He was optimistic he was gonna get six months 995 00:41:16,641 --> 00:41:18,494 to maybe a year to live. 996 00:41:18,518 --> 00:41:21,955 So I helped transport him to the transport bed, 997 00:41:21,979 --> 00:41:26,025 and I helped lift him into the van, 998 00:41:26,943 --> 00:41:29,004 and took him to the house 999 00:41:29,028 --> 00:41:31,298 that he was gonna go set up for Hospice. 1000 00:41:31,322 --> 00:41:33,217 He was gonna go to live with a friend, 1001 00:41:33,241 --> 00:41:35,302 you know, in a spare room. 1002 00:41:35,326 --> 00:41:38,639 And when we arrived to the house, 1003 00:41:38,663 --> 00:41:40,432 his girlfriend ran straight for him, 1004 00:41:40,456 --> 00:41:42,017 I was on the phone with his agent, 1005 00:41:42,041 --> 00:41:44,061 let him know, hey, this is what's going on, 1006 00:41:44,085 --> 00:41:45,688 you know, I don't think you should come down here, 1007 00:41:45,712 --> 00:41:46,523 it's pretty bad. 1008 00:41:46,547 --> 00:41:49,483 'Cause it was really tough seeing Dustin, 1009 00:41:49,507 --> 00:41:50,567 I mean, he was like a fish out of water, 1010 00:41:50,591 --> 00:41:52,236 he couldn't breathe. 1011 00:41:52,260 --> 00:41:56,448 And so I walked in, and his girlfriend noticed 1012 00:41:56,472 --> 00:41:57,974 that he was already passed. 1013 00:42:00,268 --> 00:42:01,662 - It is with a heavy heart 1014 00:42:01,686 --> 00:42:04,248 that I announce my friend and "Saved By The Bell" costar 1015 00:42:04,272 --> 00:42:06,583 Dustin Diamond passed away this morning 1016 00:42:06,607 --> 00:42:08,043 at the age of 44. 1017 00:42:08,067 --> 00:42:11,213 - I found out that Dustin died 'cause a friend told me 1018 00:42:11,237 --> 00:42:13,298 that they had seen something on Twitter, 1019 00:42:13,322 --> 00:42:18,554 that Screech is dead, and I was sad. 1020 00:42:18,578 --> 00:42:20,371 He had a tough life, 1021 00:42:21,247 --> 00:42:24,727 but Dustin helped me to become a successful writer 1022 00:42:24,751 --> 00:42:26,812 in Hollywood and to do well. 1023 00:42:26,836 --> 00:42:28,939 - Okay, guys and gals, lovers and lovies, 1024 00:42:28,963 --> 00:42:31,900 this is the last dance, make it magic 1025 00:42:31,924 --> 00:42:34,737 while the Screech man takes you home. 1026 00:42:34,761 --> 00:42:37,197 - [Ron] So many years later, you say the name Gilligan, 1027 00:42:37,221 --> 00:42:39,074 you say the name Urkel, 1028 00:42:39,098 --> 00:42:42,286 in the world of iconic television characters, 1029 00:42:42,310 --> 00:42:43,787 Screech is up there. 1030 00:42:43,811 --> 00:42:45,664 - When morning comes and I raise my head, 1031 00:42:45,688 --> 00:42:47,541 shut off the alarm and get out of bed, 1032 00:42:47,565 --> 00:42:49,418 I brush my teeth like Mother said, 1033 00:42:49,442 --> 00:42:50,961 I always feed my spider Ted. 1034 00:42:50,985 --> 00:42:53,714 - "Dear Mark, you don't know me, 1035 00:42:53,738 --> 00:42:56,550 "but I wanted to express my condolences 1036 00:42:56,574 --> 00:42:58,886 "for the loss of your son Dustin. 1037 00:42:58,910 --> 00:43:02,598 "His character made me feel like it was okay 1038 00:43:02,622 --> 00:43:04,391 "to be different. 1039 00:43:04,415 --> 00:43:07,311 "And I'm sure many others felt this way, 1040 00:43:07,335 --> 00:43:11,064 "especially going through high school. 1041 00:43:11,088 --> 00:43:16,069 "May Dustin rest in peace, and God bless, signed Richard V." 1042 00:43:16,093 --> 00:43:19,531 I think it's part of what you talk about, his legacy, 1043 00:43:19,555 --> 00:43:24,560 you know, this is someone he never met but he effected. 1044 00:43:26,604 --> 00:43:30,042 Dustin meant something to people 1045 00:43:30,066 --> 00:43:33,921 who were picked on and outcasts and different 1046 00:43:33,945 --> 00:43:35,863 in whatever way. 1047 00:43:37,323 --> 00:43:38,717 That was Screech, 1048 00:43:38,741 --> 00:43:42,095 and it was our best intention to help him 1049 00:43:42,119 --> 00:43:46,058 find his dream, do what he wanted to do. 1050 00:43:46,082 --> 00:43:49,544 {\an8}Yeah, I guess it was a nightmare for him, 1051 00:43:50,628 --> 00:43:53,148 {\an8}and I could only imagine 1052 00:43:53,172 --> 00:43:58,070 {\an8}what people who are bigger stars go through. 1053 00:43:58,094 --> 00:44:01,389 {\an8}Maybe that's why a lot of Hollywood is nuts. 1054 00:44:02,765 --> 00:44:03,576 {\an8}- How's that? 1055 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:05,369 {\an8}- Hey, keep smiling. 1056 00:44:05,393 --> 00:44:08,396 {\an8}(audience cheering)