”Top-notch millennial nostalgia.”―Max Joseph, host of MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show” and director of “We Are Your Friends” and “15 Minutes of Shame”
”A very interesting cultural dig, and I think an important one. The [interview] questions come from a real place of playful knowledge. I learned a great deal. It’s a very thought-provoking book about pop culture, done in a very digestible, appealing way.”―Rick Kogan, WGN Radio 720
”Shockingly detailed and super-nerdy.”―James VanOsdol, Car Con Carne podcast
“Zack Morris Lied 329 Times!” (trailer)
It is not breaking news that Zack Morris was a dishonest person. But:
Do you know in which season he told the most lies, and least?
Which relationship brought the best out of him, and how did his deceptions correspond with his treatment of women?
Did he ever learn anything and grow?
"Saved by the Bell" is one of the defining shows for millennial childhoods, and "Zack Morris Lied 329 Times!" offers an unprecedented blend of episode guide and modern re-examination, appreciating the good, lamenting the bad and determining how well the classic sitcom holds up over time. Using fun/scathing episode recaps and stats-driven, season-ending analysis, this unique pop cultural retrospective considers every appearance of Zack and the gang (from junior high through college, plus the two "SBTB" movies) while exploring the series' progressive negativity toward female characters, especially Jessie.
Incorporating interviews with 22 cast members, the book identifies several moments copied by "Arrested Development" and "Friends," includes memorable quotes and trivia and ultimately asks: Can we still think this series was the best even though he was the worst?
MEDIA COVERAGE
*****LISTEN TO MATT DISCUSS THE BOOK WITH MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR AND DASHIELL DRISCOLL ON THE ZACK TO THE FUTURE PODCAST*****
Hear Matt discuss the longevity of “Saved by the Bell,” short- and long-term sitcom relationships and much more on DC Pierson’s Stay for Dinner podcast
Watch Matt discuss the book on the WGN Morning News
Hear Matt’s two-hour discussion about the relationships of “Saved by the Bell” on the Shipping Room podcast
Listen to Matt reflect on the process of and lessons from writing the book with Rick Kogan on WGN Radio 720
Watch Matt look back on the show with Justin Kaufmann on Twitch’s Chicago4Real
Matt discusses “Zack Morris Lied 329 Times!” and judges a battle between Elizabeth Berkley and Tiffani-Amber Thiessen’s movie careers on the Cinemajaw podcast
Watch Matt talk about the popularity of “Saved by the Bell” and the process of writing the book on the Car Con Carne podcast
“Matt Pais has a fantastic way with words to match his vivid imagination.”
”A balm in this difficult time. Each story can be read in a blink but will stay with the reader long after.”
— From the unanimously 5-star reviews for "This Won't Take Long" on Amazon
“This Won’t Take Long” (trailer)
What's unique about this book: The pieces are divided into seven categories (Relationships, Politics, Family, Pop Culture, Work, Travel and ?) and were each written during a 15-minute bus ride to work.
Some are funny, some are sweet, some are disturbing. They're all intended to be entertaining, thought-provoking and leave you wanting more. Start from the beginning or jump to whichever categories appeal to you most.
Highlights include:
A bank robber realizes one of the hostages is his childhood best friend in "Tunnel"
America's political leaders depart for another planet in "Goodbye, Morons"
Pet store animals debate the merits of "A Dog's Purpose" in "Critics' Row"
A 6-year-old asks his parents what God looks like in "Filler"
A garbageman develops a crush on the other guy in the truck in "The Drop-Off"