Peter Engel, a producer known for his work on shows like “Saved by the Bell” and “Last Comic Standing,” died Tuesday in his Santa Monica home. He was 88.
Engel’s death was confirmed to Variety by his family. Throughout his career, Engel executive produced more than 1,000 episodes of television, including shows like “California Dreams,” “City Guys,” “USA High” and “Hang Time” that came along after the birth of the TNBC Block. Most of his shows were for NBC as part of a long-term partnership.
“Saved by the Bell” ran from 1989-1992 and followed a group of friends at a California high school as they navigated the stress of school, relationships and final exams. Engel was brought in by NBC head Brandon Tartikoff to develop the sitcom, which began as a different series, “Good Morning Miss Bliss” with Hayley Mills. After that show was canceled, Tartikoff rebooted the series to focus on the teens, and Engel moved the setting from Indiana to the fictional neighborhood of The Palisades in Los Angeles.
Another one of Engel’s most popular shows, “Last Comic Standing,” was a reality competition show that ran from 2003-2010 and again from 2014-2015, earning Engel a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2004.
Engel was born in Manhattan in 1936, received his bachelor’s degree from New York University and began his decades-spanning career as an NBC Page at 30 Rock. He moved to Los Angeles in 1967 and also taught at Regent University for a year in 2003.
Most recently, he published his memoir “I Was Saved By The Bell: Stories of Life, Love, and Dreams that Do Come True” in 2016, detailing his career and his role in creating the popular teen sitcom.
Engel is survived by his three children, Lauren, Joshua and Stephen, and grandchild Ezra Alhadeff.
