LA Times: 90210 Needs To Be Saved

3 02 2009

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!





New 90210 Tonight!

3 02 2009

90210 returns tonight with an all-new episode.

You can read a preview interview with Adam Gregory (Ty) here.

Come back later today for a super-serious article on why 90210 is failing.

Then come back tomorrow for my reaction post to the new episode!





Spoiler: Watch with Kristin

3 02 2009

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

Daniella in Pittsburgh: What’s coming up on Gossip Girl? This season has been amazing so far!
As if a long lost sibling and declining admission to Yale isn’t enough, Serena’s insta-gal-pal Poppy Lifton is coming back to make her life even more difficult. I’m guessing another feature in Women’s Wear Daily is not on her to-do list this time around? And Rufus is going to run into some money problems soon, but with Lily by his side that shouldn’t be too big of an issue right? She could easily take care of those with a small loan from her Bass Industries inheritance!

Alexandra in Baltimore: Anything on One Tree Hill? Do you know yet if this is really the last season?
No word yet on if a decision has been made about a seventh season, but by the looks of the upcoming One Tree Hill eps, I’d say things are starting to wrap up in North Carolina. Julian is looking to take things to the next level with Brooke when he asks if she and Sam will move back to L.A. with him. Might Tree Hill’s resident fashionista settle down in California for good? Millicent and Mouth are going to rekindle their adorkable love soon, too! And hell must have frozen over because after six seasons of abandonment, abuse and even murder, Dan is finally going to apologize to Nathan and Lucas for being such a terrible father.

Jamie in Salt Lake City: Please give me some juicy scoop on 90210, Kristin!
Looks like all of the emotional turmoil Silver (Jessica Stroup) has been going through is going to get worse before it gets better. When she goes MIA, the gang launches a manhunt to find her that leads everyone to a train station, where one of our beloved 90210ers will end up in a sticky situation out on the tracks. Any guesses as to who it might be? Is that how they find Silver? Or maybe it’s her man, Dixon, coming to the rescue!

Heather in Vancouver: I’m confused as to when Adrianna and Ty slept together on 90210. Was it before he and Annie dated?
Ty finds out he is the baby daddy in tomorrow night’s episode, but we won’t find out when the deed was done for a while. Adam Gregory tells me, “That will probably be revealed in later episodes, so we’ll have to see how that unfolds.” No doubt this will have an affect on Ty and Annie’s friendship, or possible romance. “When it happened, how it happened plays a big part in Ty and Annie’s little relationship,” adds Gregory.





News Roundup: 90210, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl

2 02 2009
  • Ryan Eggold (Ryan, 90210) admits in a new interview that even he is “wary” of remakes.
  • In the February 9, 2009 issue of PEOPLE, Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) says “being on your BlackBerry during dinner” is her number 1 dating don’t.  “That’s a big one.”
  • A one-time One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek director reflects on his time in Wilmington and his experiences on both shows.
  • Leona Lewis says she loves Gossip Girl, and that’s one of the reason she cast Chace Crawford (Nate) in her music video.
  • Matthew Settle (Rufus, Gossip Girl) says there’s a “magical time” ahead on the show but also warns that Rufus and Lily’s son may pop up at any time, in a dramatic fashion, of course.  Settle also squashes rumors on who his son isn’t.




Site of the Week

2 02 2009

This week I’d like to introduce you to The Melrose 90210 RPG, a site I ran back when I started high school.

The Melrose 90210 RPG was essentially a fan fic that picked up where the Beverly Hills, 90210 series finale left off in 2000.

Combining the 90210 cast with some Melrose Place characters, we wrote more than 30 “episodes.”

I stopped working on it in 2002 for miscellaneous reasons, but always dreamt that someday, my ideas would be turned into actual episodes.

Alas, 90210 has now been remade and it certainly isn’t based on my writing.

The site is still worth a look and the episodes definitely worth a read.  But if you don’t have a lot of time (each one is quite lengthy), at least check out the summaries and some of the other content.

The Melrose 90210 RPG is an extremely fun and satisfying look at where 90210 could’ve gone had it continued.

Enjoy!





Love Triangles Pt. 6: 90210

31 01 2009

Today is the last post in the series The Essential Teen Drama Love Triangles.  This week we looked at Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl.  And last, but certainly not least…

TODAY: 90210

NAOMI-ETHAN-ANNIE

How It Started: When Annie moves to Beverly Hills, she’s happy to see her one-time crush Ethan.  Her excitement ends when she catches Ethan receiving oral sex at school–and not by his girlfriend Naomi.  Ethan, intrigued now that Annie is back and unhappy with Naomi, breaks up with her.

How It Ended: Ethan’s interest in Annie has to be put on hold when she starts seeing Ty, her co-star in the school musical.  In the meantime, Ethan and Naomi  get back together but when he and Annie work together on a school project, the two grow closer and soon start an exclusive relationship.

Key Episodes: 1.1-1.11

YouTube Evidence: Naomi & Ethan It’s Over; Ethan & Annie Crush

KELLY-RYAN-BRENDA

How It Started: When new West Beverly teacher Ryan meets guidance counselor Kelly, he’s instantly attracted to her despite the large age difference.  Kelly is especially hesitant because she is a single parent to Sammy (whose father is Dylan).  Ryan and Kelly go on a few dates before she leaves town to see Dylan.

How It Ended: When Kelly returns, she notices Brenda is giving her the cold shoulder and calls her out on it.  Brenda’s reason: “I slept with Ryan.”  And so the Brenda-Kelly war over a man begins again…

Key Episodes: 1.2-1.4, 1.6, 1.10-1.12

YouTube Evidence: I actually cannot find anything!  Anyone have anything?

OTHER TRIANGLES TO CONSIDER

Debbie-Harry-Tracy

Ryan-Kelly-Dylan

Ty-Annie-Ethan





Spoiler: You Ask, I Answer

30 01 2009

You are the best for 90210 scoop, Korbs! So excited about Donna Martin’s return, but do you really know for sure that she and David are still married? -Linds
Yep. They’re still hitched and co-habitating in Japan. But Donna’s contemplating a move back to BH, because she’s not happy overseas. However, if she does relocate, her already rocky relationship with David will be in real danger. Best cast scenario? Donna opens a store on Robertson and while here, David returns to be with her. Brian Austin Green tells me he’s down. And if Terminator tanks after its upcoming move to Friday, he’ll be freed up to do so.





News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill

30 01 2009
  • If you’re into Twilight and like the soundtrack, you can thank Gossip Girl and The O.C.’s music supervisor, Alexandra Patsavas.
  • A new article suggests it would’ve been more realistic to have Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes, 90210) get the abortion.
  • Check out the box cover for the Beverly Hills, 90210 season 7 DVD!  Unlike the seasons 5 and 6 covers, Clare (Kathleen Robertson) is actually in it!
  • Even though in both the original 90210 and the spin-off, they went to West Beverly High, the actual Beverly Hills High School is trying to profit off the show, with this merchandise.
  • A new interview with Ashley Rickards (Sam, One Tree Hill) promises more “little fights” with Brooke (Sophia Bush).




Spoiler: Mega Buzz

28 01 2009

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

Is Christina still on 90210? If so, what will happen between her and Dixon? — Diamonde
MICKEY: Lauren London’s appearance on next week’s episode is the last for which she is contracted. It’s unclear what the producers intended Christina’s legacy to be — she wasn’t exactly a new love interest for Dixon — but at least we got to use the term “lesbian cheerleader” here on the site!

Mickey’s Mini Rant: We love Desmond Harrington as Dexter‘s shady Joey Quinn, but his one-dimensional portrayal of Gossip Girl‘s nefarious Uncle Jack, a sweaty-faced cokehead flailing to steal Chuck’s inheritance, fell flat on its Bass.





90210 Two Nights in a Row!

27 01 2009

In addition to re-airing The Bubble tonight at 8pm, Wide Awake and Dreaming will re-air immediately after Wednesday at 9pm.

In Wide Awake and Dreaming, Naomi tries to get her parents back together and Annie grows closer to Ty.

New episodes resume Feb. 3.