Sam Bobrick (1932–2019), creator of “Saved by the Bell”

Sam Bobrick was a writer best known for creating the popular sitcom “Saved by the Bell.” The hit show, set in a California high school, began its life as something completely different: Bobrick originally created it as “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” a story about a junior high school teacher and the students she helped. It fizzled after a season and was retooled into “Saved by the Bell,” retaining a few main characters and becoming a success in a new setting. Bobrick was also a staff writer for “The Andy Griffith Show” and wrote for a number of other classic TV shows, including “Captain Kangaroo,” “Bewitched,” and “The Flintstones.” He was Emmy-nominated for his writing on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” and he won three Writers Guild of America awards for his television writing.