Bell Bell Ding Ding

The line was long. Excitement was thick.

Two seats were on stage?? Could it be true? Did he perhaps bring a famed guest along for the show? My money was on Slater, but unfortunately, the second chair was just for some student who was there to ask him a few questions during the show.

I didn't take a picture of her. She is of no consequence. Mr. B. was in full form, and I do mean full. He's put on quite a few lbs since the 90s.

Anyway, he talked a lot about how he got his start in the biz- did anyone know that he used to be in the music business? He was an agent and a concert promoter He actually represented GREG ALLMAN of the Allman Brothers before he got into acting! I think he also worked with Tom Jones for a while. Isn't that insane?

And he talked mostly about SBTB. He asked audience members for their favorite episodes, and I shamlessly yelled, "JOHNNY DAKOTA!" You remember, the too cool actor who came to Bayside to film an anti-drug commercial... "There's no hope with dope!"

Mr. B. laughed and gave me the inside scoop on Johnny. In real life, he was actually dating Kelly at the time, so SBTB producers gave him an episode to promote his acting career. Unfortunately, Kelly was trying to dump him and get with Slater, so it made for a very uncomfortable shoot.

I think Mr. B. remembered me later on in the evening, when he asked if anyone wanted to play SBTB trivia. He picked a few people to come on stage and try their hand at a few questions. Yours truly was the first one on stage.

There were a few guys who thought they knew everything, but it turned out, they didn't know quite as much as they talked.

Mr. Belding presents the winner:

It's me! It's me!

The question that won it all? Who was the teacher that kept detention? See below for the answer.

So Mr. B. autographed my prize, we posed for photos, and thus ended my brush with fame.

Mr. B. autographs my prize. Notice the look of disappointment on the face of the girl in the background. She musta forgot.

Me with prize.

A glossy, black and white 8x10 of the cast. It says:

To Emily

#1!

"Mr. Belding"

Dennis Haskins.

Truly, a night to remember.

Mr. Dewey: algebra teacher, taekwondo enthusiast, keeper of detention

The Balding Eagle Has Landed

I don't have time right now to do this post justice. I will go ahead and give you the basics, with a full follow up to come soon. Here is what you need to know:

We go there just after 7. The line was already snaked through the corridor and backed up against the main entrance. I TOLD you we should have gotten there at 5:30.

The doors opened soon after, and we were able to make a mad dash through a side door and get 4th row seats, front and center.

The show finally started, once Mr. B. finished texting on his Crackberry (his words).

It did not disappoint. He was brilliant, and I, for one, am motivated.

Finally, to answer your most pressing question, yes, I did get to go onstage with him during the show. I got to meet him, shake his hand and even acquire a hug from him at the end. I will explain later AND show off my newest most prized possession, but let's suffice to say for now that Mr. Belding knows a true fan when he sees one.