Dustin Diamond, who played the iconic Screech character in the sturdy “Saved by the Bell” TV series and its subsequent spinoffs, died Monday of lung cancer. I interviewed Diamond 18 years ago for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution when he was trying to do stand-up comedy. He appeared at the now defunct Funny Farm comedy club in Roswell.
Here is that story, which ran on June 5, 2003.
DUSTIN DIAMOND SPENT A DECADE playing “Screech,” the lovable nerd on “Saved by the Bell.” Now 26, he’s trying to define himself beyond that character, crisscrossing the country with a stand-up act. He performs at the Funny Farm this Friday and Saturday.
AJC: So what should we expect from your stand-up act?
Diamond: It’s a Dustin Diamond show, not a Screech show. I pepper in references to the show here and there, but this isn’t a “Saved by the Bell” trip down memory lane. I do potty humor. I do bedroom humor. I swear a little bit. I have a dark sense of humor. Not everybody expects that.
AJC: A lot of child actors have had trouble transitioning into adulthood. What’s your worst vice since you left “Saved by the Bell?”
Diamond: I’m a video game nut and a shopaholic. Like I just bought the “Enter the Matrix” video game in every format possible: PlayStation 2, GameCube, XBox and PC. It’s almost wired that when I go out, I have to come back with a bag full of stuff.
AJC: If Gilligan, Urkel and Screech were in a wrestling match, who would win?
Diamond: If we were all in character, definitely not Urkel. Screech would do OK. It would be pretty stupid to watch though.
AJC: How did things work out with you and that bodybuilder from the show “Star Dates” [in which celebrities supposedly date regular people on camera]?
Diamond: They were actresses. The audience was supposed to believe it was real. They gave me $10,000 for three hours a day. I just had to smile and look like I was interested. Why not? What they didn’t show on camera was me calling my girlfriend every 20 minutes telling her everything was cool.
AJC: Any regrets about doing “Celebrity Boxing 2” and beating up Ron “Horshack” Palillo, who’s 20 years older than you?
Diamond: I didn’t want to do that. I think reality shows are degrading. But I write sitcoms for Fox and wanted to work with them. So I gave them a huge offer: $750,000 and two appearances on “Mad TV.” They actually faxed over a contract for $750,000. I’d punch my grandma for that much money.” [A Fox spokesman said he can’t confirm how much Diamond got, but added, “I can tell you that’s a preposterous claim.”]
THE 411: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $13.50. Funny Farm Comedy Club (inside StarTime Entertainment), 608 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 770-817-4242, www.funnyfarmcomedyclub.com
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