Many students probably have no idea who Dennis Haskins is, but when the opening credits to “Saved by the Bell” came on the projector screen Friday night in the Union Theater the entire crowd cheered for the person who they knew was about to take the stage. That person is better known as Mr. Belding. “I am here to change people’s lives,” Dennis Haskins joked during Late Night Strikes Back in the Union. Haskins appeared in several small television and film roles since his role as Mr. Belding ended, but it is unclear whether he is truly ready to give it up. “It was funny,” Haskins said. “I was sitting on the plane next to a boy from Saudi Arabia and he recognized me from the show. It’s amazing how the show touched people.” Haskins went on to describe how he loves talking to students because he wants to show them failure should not be in their vocabulary. “I took chances, and that is why I am standing up here,” he said. “‘Saved by the Bell’ was entertainment with a message, and that’s what I’m going to do tonight.” Haskins said he recently went on USO tours to Afghanistan and Pakistan and hoped to encourage the collegiate audience not to take for granted their time in school. “There are military people who would love to trade places with you all if they could,” Haskins said. Haskins has been touring many schools across the country but was quick to say that Louisiana is a special place for him to visit because it was where he had one of his first acting jobs. Haskins also said he was proud to have been grand marshal in the first Mardi Gras parade since Hurricane Katrina. The parade was in Houma. “Louisiana has been very special to me because this is where I got my actors equity card,” he said. “I was in Natchitoches doing an outside drama called ‘Louisiana Cavalier.'” Haskins explained that he always stays after the shows to sign autographs. “I will stay here until I can’t anymore,” Haskins said. “People always want pictures or to shake my hand or get autographs for their sisters.” Haskins wanted to be sure I knew he does not charge for his autographs, but he does charge $5 for 8×10 photographs. Haskins also reminded the objecting Late Night staff that he was going to give everyone on the staff pictures for free. What a deal! As I followed Haskins down to his dressing room back stage, I asked him if it was true that he had grown a mustache to avoid the Mr. Belding typecast. “I grew a mustache for a year and did one episode of ‘The West Wing’ with a mustache,” he said. “Then I just said ‘I am who I am, and I can play anything given the chance,’ so I went ahead and shaved it.” Haskins said he is proud of his role as Mr. Belding. “It’s not a like or dislike,” Haskins said. “I’m proud of what I’ve done. Mark-Paul, Tiffani and Mario left the show in ’93 so my identity as Mr. Belding is a lot stronger.” My interview was over now that Haskins had to prepare for the show, but Haskins had a present for me. “Is it Kelly with an ‘i’ or with a ‘y?'” he asked me. After giving the dorky hand sign of a “y,” Haskins gave me a signed photograph of himself with the rest of the kids of Bayside High – and he didn’t charge me $5 for the photo! The audience in the Union Theater was freshmen-dominated and cheering for Mr. Belding to come on stage. Haskins opened the show by relating to his audience of students. “I was you,” Haskins said. “My life is a series of connect the dots that brought me to ‘Saved by the Bell’ and here today.” Haskins said he thinks “Saved by the Bell” was successful because the audience grew up with the show. “They went through their first everything with the cast,” he said. “But I like that Mr. Belding never solved anything for the kids. He helped them out, but the kids solved all of the problems.” Haskins also addressed his cast mate’s lives after the show, mentioning Elisabeth Buckley’s appearance in “Showgirls” and Dustin Diamond’s attempts to “Save Screech’s House” to which Haskins responded, “Pay your rent!” Haskins told the audience that he is onstage because he loves what he does. “How many of you have a dream, raise your hand,” Haskins said to the audience, at which point a large group of students got up to leave. “Bye Mr. Belding!” they yelled as they rudely left in the middle of the show. Haskins asked them to bring him back some pizza. After the trivia segment of the show, Haskins continued to inspire his audience. “You guys are the future,” he said. “Now for the next two weeks, I want you to do something for me. Practice random acts of kindness and do it without expecting anything in return.” Haskins then proceeded to instruct the audience to, at the count of three, shout their name “loud and proud.” The audience humored him twice. “I want you guys to remember how good it felt to shout your name that loud and that proud,” he said. “Now I will be signing autographs for as long as I can,” he said as more than three quarters of the audience cleared the theatre.
—–Contact Kelly Caulk at [email protected]