Former Saved by the Bell star pleads not guilty

For anyone who grew up in the 1990s, a Saturday-morning staple for adolescents and teens was Saved By the Bell. The show ran from 1989 to 1993, spawning a prime-time spinoff Saved by the Bell: The College Years, and later Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which extended the series to the turn of the century.

Many know Dustin Diamond (whose father is of Ashkenazi decent), or more accurately his character Samuel "Screech" Powers, the often socially awkward yet loyal-to-the-end best friend of Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character Zack Morris. Diamond was present in every iteration of the show from its initial beginnings on the Disney Channel, when it was called Good Morning Miss Bliss before it was retooled by then-NBC president Brandon Tartikoff.

While Diamond, now 38, has largely stayed out of the public eye since his sitcom days, falling back on his stand-up comedy, the actor went through many hard times both personally and professionally. The recent holiday season was anything but kind to the once-beloved actor. He and his 27-year-old girlfriend, Amanda Schutz, were arrested following a brawl last month inside Port Washington, Wis.'s Grand Avenue Saloon. Diamond was charged with second degree reckless endangerment and two misdemeanours, while Shutz was charged with disorderly conduct. They've both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Diamond is accused of wielding a stiletto folding blade and stabbing a man who grabbed him as he trying to come to the defence of Schutz, who was being roughed up by a pair of bar patrons.

His one-time fictional school principal Mr. Belding would definitely not approve.