| 'NYPD' star makes dreams come true The Detroit News Neal Runbin Tuesday, May 18, 2004 Mark-Paul Gosselaar says the people who recognize him fall into two categories. If they remember when $5 would pretty much fill a gas tank, they’re fans of “NYPD Blue.” If, on the other hand, they consider $5 fair payment for a gallon of gas and a latte, they know him from “Saved By the Bell.” Gosselaar, 30, emceed the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan’s annual Wish Ball Gala on Saturday night. His wife, Lisa Ann Russell, is from Grand Rapids, which is one reason they bundled up their 3-month-old son and came to Romulus. The main reason, though, is that from 1989-93, when “Saved By the Bell” and its teen sitcom sequel were on NBC, he was a wish. Ailing children’s greatest desire was to meet the guy who played Zack Morris on their favorite show. If that doesn’t make you permanently humble, not much will, and in fact Gosselaar was as engaging and approachable a star as a Ball could Wish for. “We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, sight unseen,” said Jeannette Porter Tarcha of Make-A-Wish. That’s a nice way of saying they didn’t know if he’d be a prima donna. Instead, said Tarcha, she noticed that he took care to call everyone he met by name, and he posed for an individual photo with every staffer who wanted one. Tarcha did. At 28, she’s part of the “Saved By the Bell” group, and the photo session reminded her of prom night. That made Gosselaar the prom king, and he was feeling regal even before dinner started at the Metro Airport Westin. “I just got a great compliment,” he said. “Someone told me I’m No. 1 on his TiVo.” For what it’s worth, Gosselaar is a major advocate of TiVo, a simple yet souped-up digital video recorder. And he speaks as a victim of GAD, which he defines as “Gear Acquisition Disorder.” Also for what it’s worth, Gosselaar is about 5-foot-10 and slender. As Detective John Clark Jr. on “NYPD Blue,” he looks larger than that, but the screen does funny things to people. Danny DeVito, for instance, is actually 6-foot-3. Gosselaar served as auctioneer, and he drafted GM’s Matt Cullen and WDIV-TV’s Devin Scillian as spotters and fellow extortionists. There was a chorus of gentle rebukes from the crowd when he introduced Scillian as a newscaster from WWJ. “That’s OK,” Gosselaar said, recovering quickly. “I’m on Law & Order.’” © © © WITH MONEY still drifting in Monday, receipts from the Michigan Make-A-Wish chapter’s 20th anniversary party were approaching $400,000, according to special events manager Rebecca Bunting. At an average of $6,500 per wish, that’s more than 60 computers, trips to Disney World or meet-and-greets with the stars of today’s equivalents of “Saved By the Bell.” “We’re just absolutely thrilled,” Bunting said, “and we love those wish kids.” The live and silent auctions raised nearly $99,000 — none of it, alas, from me. Gosselaar donated a package that included an “NYPD Blue” sweat shirt signed by the actors, a similarly autographed script, a trip to L.A. with airfare and hotel included and a backstage tour. On the fly, he threw in lunch with the cast. At one side of the room, I was bidding more than I should have. At the other end, another fan of the ABC drama was topping me. Eventually I surrendered, and come to find out I was outgunned by Pat Berwanger. Whose husband is Joe Berwanger. Who is vice president and general manager of WDIV. Which is the Detroit affiliate of NBC. |
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