Elizabeth Berkley played Nomi Malone in the critically-panned movie “Showgirls.”Murray Close / Sygma via Getty Images

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Elizabeth Berkley makes fun of ‘Showgirls’ on the ‘Saved by the Bell’ reboot

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Updated on November 26, 2021

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Berkley, Elizabeth Lauren isn’t ashamed of her involvement in the 1995 box-office flop “Showgirls.”

Berkley Lauren, who is reprising her role as Jessie Spano on Peacock’s “Saved by the Bell” revival, opted to make light of her previous flop by incorporating multiple allusions to the film that only those who grew up with her on the original run of the show would likely recognize.

In the sixth episode of the reboot’s second season, Jessie is discussing her divorce with her best friends Kelly and Lisa.

Kelly inquires of Jessie when she last felt desirable and confident.

“There was that couple months I spent in Las Vegas,” Jessie recalls.

“When was that?” Kelly inquires.

Saved by the Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley Lauren Reveals Origin of Showgirls Homage

November 25, 2021

Elizabeth Berkley Lauren reprises her role as Jessie Spano in Peacock’s “Saved by the Bell” reboot.
Isabella Vosmikova / Peacock

Elizabeth Berkley Lauren recently revealed a sentimental scene from Saved By The Bell’s second season that payed respect to Lauren’s other well-known film, Showgirls. It appears that what happens in Vegas does not, after all, stay in Vegas. Jessie (Berkley Lauren) was shown reflecting on a little vacation to Las Vegas in order to gain the confidence to ask a handsome firefighter out, who had been eyeing her during Bayside High School’s career fair.

This is, of course, an allusion to the 1995 sexual thriller Showgirls, in which a 21-year-old Berkley Lauren played Nomi, an aspiring Vegas dancer. The film, directed by Paul Verhoeven, was critically panned when it was released in theaters, leaving Berkley Lauren feeling like a “pariah” in Hollywood. However, in recent years, the film has been reassessed and evolved into a cult classic. Despite the controversial legacy of Showgirls, Berkley Lauren had no reservations about revisiting it on Saved by the Bell.

In an interview with EW, Elizabeth Berkley discussed the origins of the gag and her feelings about its inclusion in the series. The joke was a suggestion from the showrunner, who hadn’t previously spoken with Berkley about her emotions regarding Showgirls and wanted to make sure the concept was a good match for her. Berkley noted that her sentiments had softened significantly as a result of the film’s critical reassessment, and she wanted to demonstrate that “I’m aware of that and love how it’s been embraced and that’s a beautiful thing.” She also liked how the joke was incorporated into an essential character moment, establishing Nomi Malone as “Jessie’s Sasha Fierce” a persona through whom she may express her confidence. The full quote:

“And the way that [Showgirls] exists today in pop culture is different, of course, than when it came out. I just wanted to acknowledge that, I’m aware of that and love how it’s been embraced and that’s a beautiful thing. That’s why right now is a really great time to have some fun with it.”

Along with that reference, Jessie’s makeover is similar to Nomi’s in the film, and she does a couple of Nomi’s dance moves when she approaches the fireman. She tries to woo him with a pole dance, only to kick him in the face, reminding viewers that this isn’t the same character from Showgirls.

“I shot this on my birthday, July 28,” says Berkley Lauren. “What a way to have a birthday — to do something this comedic and amazing and a real moment for two roles that I’m primarily known for, coming together in one meta way.”

One of Saved by the Bell’s numerous Easter eggs is its Showgirls tribute, which included one of the film’s memorable lines (“Where are you from?” “Different places.”). The series is very conscious of its history and heritage, and uses its reboot status as a portal to the past, reinterpreting and updating it. It testifies to the writers’ skill that they manage to do it in such an organic way that it serves the character’s growth and isn’t just a winking humor that takes viewers out of the show’s universe.

Saved by the Bell Season 2 is now available to watch on Peacock.

“It was all my fault,” Director Speaks out

Director Paul Verhoeven has apologized to the actress, saying, “It was all my fault.”

“Showgirls certainly ruined the career of Elizabeth Berkley in a major way,” Verhoeven said. “It made my life more difficult, but not to the degree it did Elizabeth’s. Hollywood turned their backs on her.

“If somebody has to be blamed, it should be me because I thought that it was interesting to portray somebody like that.

“I had hoped the end of the movie would explain why she acted that way, when it’s revealed she has convictions linked with drugs, but that too turned out to be a big mistake.”

Berkley’s fundamental acting talents were criticized, but Verhoeven believes it was also his fault. “I asked Elizabeth to do all that — to be abrupt and to act in that way, but people have been attacking her about for that ever since.

“I did consider that people would think she had a borderline personality, but that was because her character had history of drug abuse, so I tried to express that through her abruptness.”

He believes she was unfairly portrayed, and that critics were so appalled by her nudity that they forgot to see the power of her performance.

“We did exactly what we intended to do and we didn’t stop at anything, we just went for it. There was never any problem, we just did what we were had set out to do. There was never any question about the nudity and we actually had a very pleasant shoot and everybody thought we were making an interesting movie.”

He added: “In retrospect, Elizabeth may have regretted being so heavily involved with the movie and being so vulnerable to her critics, but when we did it we never had the feeling that this would happen.

“I’ve heard a lot of people criticizing Elizabeth’s acting, but they criticized everything about the movie so we will never say we were shocked. Also, half of the audience only ever had their eyes below her face, so of course they would say that!””

“Hollywood was pissed off with her because she went further than any actress has gone or will go and I think they have never forgiven her. Her performance pushed the limits and that worried them.

“They were just so shocked by the movie that they hated her.

“Elizabeth could only have recovered from the movie by being offered a very different role, but that just didn’t happen for her otherwise she would have taken the job.

“New roles were never offered, so it was impossible for her to make a comeback.”