If Lifetime hoped their Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story would even do decently in the ratings, the network is going to be sorely disappointed.
The poorly-reviewed TV movie premiered on Monday night to a pathetically small audience, even by Lifetime's standards. The film, based upon Dustin Diamond's (right) Behind the Bell book, drew only 1.6 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The last Lifetime telepic, Petals on the Wind, managed 3.4 million viewers, for comparison.
Unauthorized also averaged only 1.1 million viewers in the advertiser important 18-49 and the 25-54 demographic.
Lifetime commissioned the film a few months ago and it featured a cast that included Dylan Everett, Sam Kindseth, Alyssa Lynch, Tiera Skovybe and Taylor Russell McKenzie.
The two-hour TV movie allegedly was following the young teen cast of Saved By The Bell as they grew up while in the public eye.
Lifetime heavily publicized the flick, hoping to draw curious eyes and even released the first five minutes of Unauthorized ahead of its premiere.
The network has several more biopics in the pipeline based on Brittany Murphy, Whitney Houston and Aaliyah. Hopefully those perform better in the ratings.
image courtesy of Roger Wong/INFphoto.com