The Los Angeles Times published an excellent article yesterday on how the new 90210 isn’t living up to expectations. The best analysis I’ve seen by far!
Here’s a summary:
“‘90210’ is suffering a servere case of adolescent angst.”
American Idol’s return is affecting its audience, so the show will move to 9PM later this season–after a six-week break!
The show is doing well overseas but not in the U.S.
90210 can’t get out of Gossip Girl’s “shadow.”
“The series has floundered creatively and has no irresistible Dylan-Brenda couple to root for.”
The original series is the number one teen drama in history. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Even if I didn’t root for Brenda and Dylan. (And you can read about the show’s origins and how it defined the genre here!)
Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs have stopped writing for the show after having problems with the network (and they even seem regretful about signing on to the show at all) but they remain on board in other capacities for now. They won’t be back if there’s a season 2.
“‘I’m not as witty as [‘Gossip Girl’ executive producer] Josh Schwartz and I never will be,'”Judah says.
Dustin Milligan (Ethan) admits he’s unhappy Judah and Sachs’ plans weren’t followed. It’s one reason the storyline for Ethan to have an autistic brother didn’t play out.
New executive producer Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair admits she needs time to “fix” things.
“Saving “90210” [is] a top priority, but it won’t be easy.”
Jennie Garth (Kelly) is signed on for one more episode. Tori Spelling (Donna) will have a “limited run.”
CW head honcho Dawn Ostroff is blaming the nostalgia factor for the show’s problems.
Despite all of the above, there most likely will be a season two.
And BREATHE!
TeenDramaWhore 
That’s what happens when you try to “recreate” former glory. What the CW needs is a fresh orginal idea. What hurts shows the most is when it’s compared to a similar more successful show, and obviously that was going to happen with 90210.
[…] unsatisfying because the show seems to do them half-assed (which isn’t surprising giving the LA Times piece from earlier this week). They mention or feature a character but don’t provide information […]