Random Gripe

7 02 2009

One of the things 90210 uses for promotion is the ties it has to the original series, including featuring and mentioning original characters.

But those things end up being so 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 for the new storyline to make sense with the old.

So the question is: why don’t they fill in the holes?

Example 1: Dylan is the father of Kelly’s son, Sammy, who was born sometime since 2000 but not after 2005. So when exactly did that happen? And why didn’t Kelly and Dylan marry when she got pregnant? And why did they split up?

Example 2: In the pilot episode, Hannah Zuckerman-Vasquez was giving the morning news at West Bev. But since when does Hannah (and her parents, Andrea and Jesse) live in Beverly Hills and if they do, where are they? We haven’t seen Hannah since that first episode!

Example 3: Brandon, we’re told, is traveling the world, covering wars and like. Or so it seems. So he’s still a journalist? Where is he based out of? Is he married?

Example 4: When and why did The Peach Pit change locations and names? And where has Nat been lately?

Example 5: According to spoilers/rumors, Donna is living in Japan with David but may move back to Beverly Hills–or at least returns to help Silver as she goes through a tough time. But didn’t Brenda say, early in the season, that she saw Donna and her “cute” baby? How, if they are living in Japan? And what happened to Now Wear This? (And Kelly’s PR firm?!) And how can Donna come/move back without David and their kid? And why would Donna come back to help Silver but David, her own brother, wouldn’t?

These bones that the writers throw to us end up being worth very little because they lack so much information. There isn’t a genuine effort to reward, respect or even keep viewers of the original.

What are your thoughts?





News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl and The O.C.

7 02 2009
  • Diablo Cody wrote a column for Entertainment Weekly about her 90210 cameo experience.  She boldly says the new 90210 is better than the original.  Oh, Diablo.  Any real fan knows that is not true!
  • More Gossip Girl casting news!  We heard in early February that Nate (Chace Crawford) is getting a cousin.  Now we know who will be playing the role: Aaron Tviet, whose past credits mainly include Broadway shows.
  • The Daily Beast has a really thought-provoking article called Gossip Girl Deathwatch.  The story looks at similarities between The O.C.’s downfall (which you can read about here) and Gossip Girl’s current path.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl and The O.C.

6 02 2009
  • Diablo Cody tweeted about her guest appearance on 90210.
  • TV Gal over on Zap2it wants to know which main character you’d like to see leave the show.  Hard question!
  • Unrelated to the above, Korbi at Zap2it is reporting that the show is casting someone to be Naomi’s older sister.
  • Krysten Ritter is the first person to be cast in the Gossip Girl spin-off.  Ritter will play Carol, Lily’s older sister.
  • How am I just realizing now that Michael Cassidy (Zach, The O.C.) is on Privileged??  That’s what I get for never giving the show a chance!  Cassidy will also be on Josh Schwartz’s online series, Rockville, CA.




Biggest Character Transformations Pt. 3

6 02 2009

My look at the Biggest Character Transformations continues…

LILY VAN DER WOODSEN (Gossip Girl)

Who She Was: Lily grew up on the West Coast, where she lived a life of privilege before being kicked out of boarding school and going to live with her sister in The Valley. She became a band “groupie,” which is where she met Rufus Humphrey, and was institutionalized for a short time.  (Note: this all occurred off-screen, but some of it will be seen in the upcoming Gossip Girl spin-off!)

kelly-rutherford

Who She Became: Lily returned to her privileged lifestyle, but this time on East Coast, where she married and divorced several times and became a socialite on the Upper East Side of New York City.

KELLY TAYLOR (Beverly Hills, 90210/90210)

Who She Was: The gang’s beautiful, popular, spoiled rich bitch who was obsessed with boys and shopping.

kelly-taylor

Who She Became: A major rewrite was noticeable by the end of season 3, where Kelly lost a lot of her shallowness.  The seasons that followed had a more logical progression with Kelly maturing and taking life more seriously, particularly by pursuing a college degree in psychology and working for non-profit organizations.  The 90210 spin-off rewrote the character once more, making Kelly a single parent and a high school guidance counselor.

TOMORROW: More from The O.C. and One Tree Hill






Spoiler: You Ask, I Answer

5 02 2009

RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!

Anything on 90210? -Missy
Adrianna and Navid are so not over. And the adoption option is still on the table. I’m told Navid will be at Ade’s side as she weighs the possibilities and meets with prospective parents.

Please tell me this Blair and Nate thing won’t last. -Karolina
Take comfort, it’ll be but a blip in the Gossip Girl timeline.





News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and More

5 02 2009
  • Tuesday night’s 90210 scored in the ratings by achieving double-digit growth in all the key demographics.
  • PEOPLE confirms that Shannen Doherty (Brenda) will be back on 90210 later this season but no clue as to what the storyline will be.
  • As teased during last night’s episode, the Jonas Brothers will give a sneak peak of their new movie during next week’s 90210 and give a special performance.  Jessica Lowdnes (Adrianna) says she hopes the Jo Bros will actually be on the show at some point.
  • The New York Post has an interview with Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) about her new role as Rhonda on 90210.
  • E!Online is reporting that AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) could be cast in the Twilight sequel.
  • Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) is the new face of K-Swiss sneakers.  You can see one of the ads here.
  • Ausiello is reporting that, in an Anne Hathaway-like storyline, Serena (Blake Lively, Gossip Girl) will fall for a European guy who turns out to be less than genuine.  This will eventually lead to Georgina’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) return.
  • Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) has cast Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) in a movie she’s making, and he hijacked her blog to tell you all about it.
  • Instead of watching the Superbowl, one writer created Dawson’s Bowl 2009 after, yep, Dawson’s Creek.
  • Closing The Ring, starring Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) has been released on DVD.




Spoiler: Mega Buzz

4 02 2009

RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!

I buy Kelly as the guidance counselor and Brenda being in town for a play. But how are they going to bring Donna back into the 90210 fold? —  Jill
MICKEY: Remember my idea? Well, let’s just say I wasn’t that far off — at least about the Japan part. But I can’t take credit for the Kelly-Donna scene in the lesbian bar; that’s all them.






News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, The O.C. and More

4 02 2009
  • E!Online has video of Tori Spelling (Donna) filming with Jennie Garth (Kelly) and Jessica Stroup (Silver) on the 90210 set.  Nothing revealing.  They also have semi-revealing scoop about Gossip Girl (but nothing new if you read the spoiler post from earlier today!).
  • Don’t usually post tabloid gossip but this is interesting, considering there’s been rumors for months: US Weekly has a photo of Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) kissing.  Or at least it seems to be Ed.  Honestly not 100 percent sure it’s him.
  • But if you want to spot Chuck himself in real life (or someone like him), you should read this post from Jossip.
  • Or you can see Westwick at the upcoming Comic Con, where he’ll promote S. Darko.  The film also stars James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill).
  • Maureen Ryan from The Chicago Tribune has a cool interview with Josh Schwartz on the role music will play in the Gossip Girl spin-off.
  • I don’t watch Big Love but apparently it improves upon what The O.C. got right in–and only in–the show’s first season.  (For more on what The O.C. got right and then got wrong, as alluded to in the article, check out my own piece here!)




Spoiler: Ask Ausiello

4 02 2009

RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!

Question: Do you hate 90210 or something? Give us some good scoop! — Sam
Ausiello:
Hate it? The show is awesome! Just kidding, I haven’t seen an episode in months. But several trusty sources tell me it’s about to get really good, so I’ll probably start watching again next week — if for no other reason then to prep for Tori Spelling’s arrival in March. Speaking of which, I hear Tori’s bestest frenemy, Shannen Doherty, is returning for one more episode in May. Could this be the Brenda-Donna reunion we’ve been waiting for?! Sure couldn’t! I’m told the two won’t be sharing any scenes. Bum-mer.

Question: I recently saw a photo of Nate and Blair kissing in an upcoming episode of Gossip Girl. What the hell?! We waited all season for Blair to get together with Chuck! Please say it won’t last. — Clare
Ausiello:
Let’s ask exec producer Stephanie Savage about that incriminating photo: “I think they look really cute together kissing in the snow.” Um, let me take a different approach. What does the rekindled N and B romance mean for C and B? “Tell those Chuck and Blair fans to hang in there.” That’s better.





Tuesday Night Reaction

3 02 2009

90210

  • Promo leads me to believe Navid will be back in this episode.  I guess that’s good.
  • Glad they picked up right where they left off.
  • Oh, wow.  He’s perfectly fine!
  • Figures they went the typical teen drama promotional route of making it seem worse than it really is.
  • Why do Annie’s parents need to wait with them?
  • Q1: “The right moment was like 2 years ago.”–Naomi
  • “I’m eating for two” is quite an overused phrase in like…everything!
  • I like that she said “it’s your baby” rather than “it’s yours.”  Semantics, I know.
  • Q2: “Sometimes I took the pill.  Sometimes I took other pills.”–Adrianna
  • Why do collapsed lungs always sound more serious than really are?
  • Why is Harry massaging Debbie in front of the kids?!
  • Q3: “Do you want to tell us what it is or do you want to play charades?”–Harry
  • Q4: “I’m not really into the whole unrequited love thing.  So I had to get out before somebody got hurt.  Or more hurt.–Dixon (I hear ya, Dixon!)
  • Q5: “Ty is like 11 in girl years.”–Naomi
  • Q6: “If Perez Hilton tuaght us anything, it’s that you can’t hide a baby bump forever.”–Naomi (Ugh, did they have to give him a shoutout?)
  • Q7: “I just finished being rehab girl. Now I have to be pregnant girl.”–Adrianna
  • Q8: “I’m so sick of reading about myself on the bathroom walls.”
  • Ty is being really mature. This can’t last, right?
  • Navid is back!
  • Q9: “Hell to the yes.”–Navid
  • Q10: “Who am I kidding? I’m never gonna get another girl.”–Navid
  • Rhonda is so cute and baby-faced!
  • See, Rhonda agrees that the lung thing sounds worse than it is!
  • Typical that he doesn’t know who she is.
  • Q11: “You obviously just live in your own bubble.  When’s the last time you spoke to someone who wasn’t running for homecoming queen or didn’t play a varsity sport?”–Rhonda
  • Typical mother-in-law joke.
  • Ugly/scary dogs!
  • Typical married couple banter.
  • Wow, Ty’s parents seem really genuine.  This can’t last either, right?
  • That’s an awfully pretty maid. (Sorry, Dorota!)
  • Q12: “Please commit them to your brains and your BlackBerrys.”–drama teacher
  • Balloon seems childish.  How about flowers?  Or even just a nice, hand-written note?
  • Ty’s mom = overprotective or sketch?
  • Funny/weird seeing Adrianna with a baby bump.
  • Random Jonas Brothers/90210 promo.  Apparently I should tune in next week?
  • OMG, they want her to go away!
  • A contract?!  Adoption?!
  • Was Rhonda in a cast in the earlier scene?
  • Q13: “And romance horror genre does exist.  It’s not very popular but the Swedes have mastered it.”–Ethan
  • He’s quite cute when he’s being sweet/sincere/nervous.
  • Love The Wedding Planner!
  • Q14: “As long as you are okay with the occasional ‘this is such a chick flick!’ commentary.”–Ethan
  • Q15: “He’s swimming in chicks.  And he’s funky–looking.”–Navid
  • Q16: “You’d be very beautiful…if you didn’t ahve that lame hair ‘do.”–Navid
  • Q17: “I wish I videotaped it so I could put it on YouTube.”–Dixon
  • Q18: “If Dixon wants a girl, Dixon gets a girl.” “Not if Dixon talks about himself in the third person like a tool.”–Dixon and Christina
  • Q19: “I don’t think you’ll  be doing much skiing in your third trimester.”–Naomi
  • The Juno reference had to come sooner or later.
  • Like that Naomi’s looking out for her.
  • Dragon Fury?
  • Q20: “Gotta pass the old guy.  I’m sick of seeing his ass.”–Rhonda
  • Q21: “All I saw was one long Sports Center reel.”–Ethan
  • Is Rhonda channeling Jamie in A Walk to Remember?
  • Blacksmithing?
  • Why is Annie so insulted about an acting class suggestion?
  • Weezy keeps making me thing of The Jeffersons.
  • Weezy does have some fair points.  Adrianna hasn’t been that responsible.
  • Woah, go Adrianna’s mom!
  • Will someone pleaseeee order a Mega Burger??
  • I like when the background music is incorporated into the scene.  (In the film world we call that diagetic and non-diagetic sound.)
  • Proud of Adrianna and her mom talking their issues out.
  • Maybe things would be easier on them financially if they didn’t live in Beverly Hills.
  • Ironic that now Annie is in “in” the bubble.
  • Very O.C. moment with the indie rock band.
  • Q22: “She looks pretty and not pregnant.”–Navid
  • Q23: “I’m really uncool.”–Navid
  • Q24: “I may drop a World of Warcraft reference before I remember that not everyone plays massive role-playing-games.”  “As long as I get to be a seventh level sage.”  “Marry me?”–Navid and Nika
  • Did Debbie deliberately tell Silver the party thing?  She had such a smirk on her face!
  • Q25: “Danny, really, after the fifth round?”–drama teacher saying “Catch the Clap”
  • Ha! Rhonda can totally walk!
  • Q26: “I knew you weren’t a lesbian!”–Silver
  • Q27: “No, I’m his nothing girl because he dumped me.  What kind of love just stops like that?”–Silver  (All she said was sooo dead-on!)
  • Q28: “This being in love stuff is making me crazy!”–Silver (I love how the promo for this ep mashed this quote–and others–with a different line.)
  • Q29: “So you love me?”  “I didn’t say that.”  “Yes you did.  You said this being in love stuff is making you crazy.  Ergo, you love me.”  “Ergo, I do.  Well, I ergo you, too.”–Dixon and Silver (Too cute!)
  • Should the breakup have lasted longer?  Or do you think this is realistic?
  • So the real reason for the amnio comes out!  The paternity question is a fair one, though.
  • Okay, the baby is not an ‘it’!
  • Q30: “Luckily I’m getting pretty good at dealing with humiliation.”–Adrianna
  • The TV announcement was so clever!
  • Ty looks soooo shocked!  And is he crying??
  • Q31: “And as for the father, there isn’t one.  It was an immaculate conception.”–Adrianna (Funny, but do you think she should’ve ‘outed’ him?)
  • That was a really good ending.
  • Adrianna is really becoming the show’s focus–and breakout star.
  • Promo: “It’s Valentine’s Day Beverly Hills-style.”
  • Promo would appeal more if they didn’t just do the whole first time storyline with Ethan and Annie.

**This episode will re-air Wednesday at 9PM!