Whitmer Becomes Pop Culture Reference In 'Saved By The Bell'

MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has garnered a lot of attention since the beginning of the coronvirus pandemic, primarily for her moves surrounding how to deal with the spread of the deadly virus.

That notoriety has, in part, led to her being considered as a potential running mate to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, and she has even been considered for TIME's 2020 Person of the Year.

Most recently, Whitmer's fame has developed into a pop culture reference. In a recent episode of the new "Saved By the Bell," Whitmer is referred to a the "hottest governor."

In a clip from the show, posted to Twitter by MLive reporter Dana Afana, fictional character Zach Morris, who is the governor of California, is referred to as the second hottest governor, coming up short to Big Gretch.

"Do you feel like Slater kept taking little jabs at me — like calling me Governor Preppy, and bragging about not having a dad bod? I mean, I have a single man bod, right?" Morris, who is played by actor Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar, asks his TV wife Kelly, played by Tiffani Thiessen.

"Honey," Kelly replies, "you were voted second hottest governor in America, after Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer."

Whitmer has also been referenced in other forms of pop culture, such as an episode of the popular comedy show "Saturday Night Live." In that episode, which aired in April, characters portrayed her as a beer-loving, protester-fighting governor.

Whitmer was played by Cecily Strong in the spoof, titled "Message from Gov Whitmer," and the governor reacted to the skit with humor. Whitmer even sent Strong a Michigan care package to show her appreciation.