Fans of the iconic show, “Saved by the Bell” will be stoked to hear that the show is coming back and will even feature some of the old cast. But more notably and importantly, the show will feature actress Josie Totah who identifies as transgender. This is an amazing moment for kids and teens looking for transgender role models because as we all know, representation matters.
The plot for the reboot will be interesting. Zac Morris (who was played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar back in the day) is now the governor of California who closes down low-income high schools around the state. Students affected by the closures, including our new star, Josie Totah get moved around to other schools that includes the iconic Bayside High. We really hope they kept the red lockers.
Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkely who were a part of the original cast from 1989 to 1993 are stepping back into their old characters as A.C. Slater and Jessies Spano. OMG, we are so excited!
Josie Totah has an impressive resume for a young actress. She’s been on NBC’s “Champions” and the Disney Channel show, “Jessie” and recently had a role in Netflix’s “No Good Nick” to name a few. But she made headlines when she penned a powerful essay for Time magazine in which she came out as transgender.
In the essay, Totah wrote “In the past, I’ve halfway corrected people by telling them I identify as LGBTQ. I wasn’t ready to be more specific. I was afraid I wouldn’t be accepted, that I would be embarrassed, that the fans who knew me from the time when I acted in a Disney show would be confused. But I realized over the past few years that hiding my true self is not healthy. I know now, more than ever, that I’m finally ready to take this step toward becoming myself. I’m ready to be free. So, listen up y’all: You can jump on or jump off. Either way, this is where I’m heading. My pronouns are she, her and hers. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female. And my name is Josie Totah.”
In the new Saved by the Bell, Totah will play Lexi, “a beautiful, sharp-tongued cheerleader and the most popular girl at Bayside High”.
Congrats to Totah! We can’t wait to binge-watch the Saved by the Bell reboot.
