50 of the best television guest stars

Photo: NBC

Tori Spelling – Saved By The Bell

As a ’90s kid, this combo hits me right in my nostalgia sweet spot. Tori Spelling wasn’t quite famous for being Donna Martin just yet, so her portrayal of Violet was her first experience with family favors. Aaron Spelling was the producer of Saved by the Bell and also later Beverly Hills, 90210 and it was common knowledge that she capitalized on this throughout her career.

It was Spelling’s stint on SBTB that led to her iconic role of Donna Martin, and she really earned it. On the Saturday morning comedy she played the girlfriend of the grating, annoying, Screech Powers. Violet Bickerstaff was far too pretty for Screech and even those too-high pigtails and dark-rimmed glasses could ugly her up. It was a stretch to believe that Violet would ever give the nerd a chance, but her irksome voice and insufferable snort went a long way to undermine her hotness.

Violet only appeared in three episodes of her dad’s Saturday morning show. Shortly after her guest spots, 90210 began airing and she was shot into the celebrity stratosphere. Once she became famous for being Donna Martin, she didn’t have t slum it over there with Screech and the Bayside gang anymore.