Former "Saved by the Bell" star brings
his standup act to the Motor City.
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
T
he college crowd sure hasn't forgotten its
childhood TV pal "Screech," also known
as Jewish comedian Dustin Diamond.
He had about 250 Wayne State University stu-
dents screeching with laughter and whooping and
hollering during a Jan. 27 mid-week appearance
at the Community Arts Building sponsored by
Hillel of Metro Detroit and the Jewish Student
Organization.
Then they lined up to have their pictures taken
with him, get his autograph, buy copies of his old
TV scripts and reminisce with one another about
how they used to rush home from school to
watch Diamond (as Samuel "Screech" Powers)
and others on Saved by the Bell, the popular NBC
show that ran in various formats from 1988-
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2005
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2000.
After spending his teenage years either in
school, or as a child star in a TV school,
Diamond, now 28, took roles on other TV shows
and in movies (Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star),
then settled in for a career in the comedy he likes
best: live standup — X-rated live standup.
His humor covers every possible bodily func-
tion and body part, not to mention a weird rou-
tine about a grandmother and a grilled cheese
sandwich and even a sick joke about the late para-
lyzed actor Christopher Reeve.
Why did the squeaky clean Saved by the Bell
star morph himself into a purveyor of tasteless
humor? "I like to gross out my audiences, make
them feel uncomfortable," he explains in an inter-
view with the Jewish News after the show.
"I love doing standup because I'm out here on
the road and in the trenches with a live audience.
Standup is a raw, pure form of comedy. It's just
me and a live mike. I love to get down and dirty
with them."
He succeeds — especially the dirty part. But
most of the audience loved it.
"We grew up with him on TV," exclaimed
Daniel Schreiber of Oak Park. "He was a clean
role model then."
Added Zack Glazier of West Bloomfield:
"Everyone in the audience here remembers
`Screech'; they still love him."
Another bystander had a different view. "It was
the most disgusting act I've ever seen," he
moaned, anonymously. "The only reason I came
is because my girlfriend dragged me here."
Karen Adelman of Berkley, program director for
Hillel of Metro Detroit, said some people in the
audience were surprised that a Jewish organiza-
tion like Hillel would bring in an act like
Diamond's. "But they were pleasantly surprised,"
she emphasized. "Most of the audience really
enjoyed it."
At one point, Diamond asks the crowd: "Am I
being gross about all of this? All the things I talk
about are just natural acts by human beings. I'm
an adult talking to other adults."
Diamond's appearance was part of a new, accel-
erated program of social and cultural events spon-
sored by Hillel, according to Adelman.
"Standup comedy is just one of a variety of
events on our calendar for the 500 or so students
who participate in our programs, and we're happy
Dustin could be here with us," she said. (Earlier
in the week, 80 students received discounted tick-
ets through Hillel to see Rent at Detroit's Masonic
Temple Theatre.)
Warns Against Drugs
To his credit, Diamond conducts a subtle sub-
stance abuse awareness program in his act, warn-
ing students about the perils of alcoholic drinks
and the date drug Ecstasy.
"Drugs damage society, and I try to get my
message across to the students. But I have to do it
in subtle, humorous ways," he says. "I can't beat
them over the head with this. It can't come across
as a boring discussion — the students won't lis-
ten. If they must drink, he recommends mixed