When it was announced in January that the popular 1990s teen sitcom would be making a comeback, fans were ecstatic to learn most of the cast would be returning. But appearing in a February episode of the Dr. Oz talk show, Voorhies revealed that she had not been invited to return as Lisa Turtle. At the core of that decision, she felt, was her years-long struggle with mental illness.
During the Dr. Oz interview Voorhies revealed she suffers from Schizoaffective Thought Disorder, a condition that causes difficulty articulating thoughts. Before revealing her condition on Dr. Oz, Voorhies’ mental state had been in question going back to a 2012 interview on Entertainment Tonight where her appearance and disoriented speech draw speculations about drug use.
During the Dr. Oz interview she also revealed her sadness at never being invited to get-togethers with her former co-stars. Asked about her feels at not being invited to take part in the reboot Voorhies replied, “I have to admit I did feel a bit slighted and hurt when I was not invited to be part of the Saved by the Bell reunion as well as other cast members’ events, yet of course, I also realized that having this puzzling disorder may have played a major part in that factual decision. With that in mind, I am truly thankful for having had the chance to work on a show that has been so successful.”
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez, and Elizabeth Berkley will return to Bayside High as Zack Morris, Kelly Kapowski, A.C. Slater, and Jessie Spano. Even Ed Alonzo will be back as Max, the proprietor of The Max diner where all of Bayside hangs out. Dustin Diamond‘s Screech will not return, neither will principle Belding (Dennis Haskins). The new show premiere on Peacock, NBC’s new streaming service, on November 25.
