| Jessie Spano | |
|---|---|
| First Episode Appearance | Dancing to The Max (Saved By The Bell) |
| Final Episode Appearance | Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas |
| Created by | Sam Bobrick |
| Character played by | Elizabeth Berkley |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Student |
| Family | David Spano (father)
Leslie Burke (stepmother) Eric Tramer (stepbrother) |
Jessica Myrtle "Jessie" Spano is a fictional character from the sitcom Saved by the Bell, played by Elizabeth Berkley.
Background[]
Jessie is a lifelong friend of Zack Morris, Samuel "Screech" Powers, Lisa Turtle and Kelly Kapowski. She and Zack live next door to each other, and Zack regularly visits Jessie by climbing through her window. Her parents are divorced. Presumably, she lives with her mother, who remarried, providing Jessie with a stepbrother (played by Joshua Hoffman, seen in only two episodes).[1] Jessie's father is the owner and manager of the Marriott Desert Sands hotel. He is also remarried, to a much younger woman with whom Jessie did not initially get along with. (Jessie's father is played by George McDaniel, and her new stepmother, Leslie, is played by Barbra Brighton).[2]
Life at Bayside[]
Jessie is portrayed as a liberal, with strong feminist views. She is often the first to speak up when she feels something is unjust. Although seen as intelligent, Jessie has a somewhat neurotic streak. She sometimes has issues with her height due to being one of the taller girls.
Jessie is the class president. In a close election, she initially lost to Zack. However, Zack used underhanded techniques to win the election in order to get a free trip to Washington, D.C. But upon realizing that being class president would be a much better fit for his friend Jessie, Zack stepped down from office, naming Jessie the president.[3] Jessie remains president for the remainder of her time at Bayside.
From sophomore year until the end of the series, Jessie dates athlete A.C. Slater in a chalk and cheese relationship, which causes friction between the both of them. Jessie and Slater's relationship is put to the test several times over the course of the series. Jessie also has a brief romantic encounter with Zack when the two are forced to endure a kissing scene in a school play. Additionally, she is involved with one-time character Graham (played by David Kreigel), with whom she spends cut day.[4] (This last encounter ultimately leads to her and Slater's break up).
Most notable is Jessie's struggle with addiction to over-the-counter caffeine pills, in the episode entitled "Jessie's Song."[5] Pressure from school and social obligations, and her desire to be accepted into Stanford University, drive Jessie to take caffeine pills in order to stay awake. Eventually she gets hooked on the pills and has a breakdown as Zack comes to her rescue. This is recognized as one of the show's first "issue episodes."
Another ongoing issue is Jessie's height. She sometimes considers herself to be too tall, and has therefore developed a bit of an insecurity complex, especially when it comes to shorter boys. Additionally, she is known as Jessie "Legs" Spano to some.
In an early episode, Jessie reveals that she attended dance camp as a child. As such, she is an experienced dancer. Jessie is also on the swim team. In the final season of Saved by the Bell (the gang's senior year) Jessie joins Kelly and Lisa as cheerleaders (because, according to Jessie, it looks good to colleges).
Before graduation, Jessie has her hopes pinned on becoming valedictorian, but ultimately loses out to Screech. However, Screech realizes how important the honor is for her, and concedes the honor.
After graduation, Jessie goes off to attend Columbia University.[6]
Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas[]
Jessie, with Lisa, returns as one of Kelly's bridesmaids at Zack and Kelly's wedding in Las Vegas.
References[]
Template:Saved by the Bell
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