For all you Grease lovers out there: have you seen Grease 2?
Does anyone look familiar?
Maxwell Caulfield, who plays Michael Carrington, starred in the Beverly Hills 90210 pilot as Jason, the older man that Brenda (Shannen Doherty) dates.
Caulfield also had a cameo in Calendar Girl, which starred Jason Priestley (Brandon).
Small world, no?
I was recently talking to xoJessxMarieox about how different Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti, One Tree Hill) looks now compared to in the first season.
The conversation got me thinking: whether the actors are 17 (like James Lafferty–Nathan–was when One Tree Hill started) or 30 (like Gabrielle Carteris–Andrea–in the first season of Beverly Hills 90210), we’ve witnessed them grow and physically mature over the course of their show.
I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the teen drama stars, then and now. Gossip Girl and 90210 will be excluded since they’re just getting started. I decided to do it all through YouTube–the first time I’m making my own videos!
So without further ado…
Come back tomorrow for part 2!
RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!
I am one of the many who find the older characters’ stories WAY more interesting than the younger ones on “90210.” Will we be seeing more Brenda, Donna, and especially Kelly? And will any other original cast members be making cameos? -JayDub
Jennie Garth (Kelly) will return to “90210” on a recurring basis this season, no doubt. Though there were rumors that this decision was undecided at some point, set sources tell me producers have always planned to bring Garth back. Return appearances by Shannen Doherty (Brenda) and Tori Spelling (Donna) are also on the table, though those two have not officially signed on yet.
Thanks for the “90210” scoop. I’m not sure how I feel about it all. I like when the show makes them a gang — a group of friends — like in the original, so hopefully they’ll go back there at some point. -Lee
While Annie is ostracized by the girls this fall, the boys will become a much tighter crew… especially when Dixon takes up surfing as a full-time hobby, something I’m told Liam and Teddy are very much into.
Will we ever find out what happened to Ethan? -Mary
We will, and so will Dixon. And what I mean by that is, he is not in the dark about the Silver-Ethan kiss and will definitely confront her about it… just before he begins dating an older woman, as I mentioned last week, and starts getting pursued by a sexy surf chick too.
Hey! I really want to know, is Annie getting a new boyfriend this season? Cause she’s like the only main character in the show without a love interest or any romantic story. -Eliana
Annie won’t have a love interest when season 2 premieres, but she will be seeing some action… which leads to that sex-type scandal I previously reported. However, I am also hearing she will get strangely close with the nephew of the guy she supposedly killed in the finale car crash we saw last May…
Michael Cudlitz had a recurring role as Tony Miller during the first few seasons of Beverly Hills 90210. Since his days of jock straps and proms with Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty), Cudlitz has appeared in a number of programs including Band of Brothers, Prison Break, 24 and CSI. Cudlitz now stars alongside Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan, The O.C.) on the NBC cop drama Southland.
Cudlitz was generous enough to answer a few questions via e-mail about his teen drama experiences.
TeenDramaWhore: You starred in 11 episodes of 90210, and your character is perhaps best-remembered for taking Brenda (Shannen Doherty) to the prom. Do you have a favorite 90210 scene or memory from your time on the show?
Michael Cudlitz: I think it was 14 episodes… but I could be mistaken. [ed. note: IMDB says 11] At the time, I was also the construction coordinator on the show. So my good memories, go beyond just acting in the show. My favorite memory would have to be the first prom [ed. note: episode 1.20, Spring Dance], before I was cast on the show. We were working at the Universal Hilton and the cast was being housed in the hotel. Let’s just say, the hot tubs were full and the bathing suits were scant.
TDW: You were last seen in the premiere of season 4. Was there a possibility of continuing on or, at least, interest on your part to do so?
Cudlitz: At the time I was starring with Ben Affleck in my own series “Against the Grain.” So leaving the show was a very logical progression.
TDW: Are you still in touch with any of the 90210 cast members?
Cudlitz: Yes. I’m very close with Luke Perry [Dylan]. I bump into Brian [Austin Green, David], Jason [Priestley, Brandon] & [Gabrielle Carteris, Andrea] periodically. And I share mutual friends with Mrs. [Jennie] Garth [Kelly].
TDW: Are you still recognized for your role?
Cudlitz: Absolutely…….. Up until “Band of Brothers” I thought my tombstone would read “Here lies Michael Cudlitz. Yes, he took Brenda to the prom.”
TDW: What do you think is 90210’s role in television/teen drama history?
Cudlitz: That’s a great question. When the show first started it was nothing more than a teen soap opera. When [Charles] Rosen was brought on as the head writer/show runner, I think he saw an opportunity to deal with actual issues that were affecting teens at the time. Not just just your typical high school teen age “hormonal” crap. He took important issues that teens were facing in all socioeconomic classes, and dealt with them in a very realistic head-on fashion. Trying to explore all sides of the issues and not always having an answer. Because of this, I think it was one of the first shows to realistically deal with what teens actually go through.
TDW: Did you keep up with the show even after your time on it? Did you expect the show to have such longevity–10 years of original episodes, plus countless airings in syndication. Do you watch reruns of the show?
Cudlitz: No, I didn’t keep up with the show. For as good as the show was, eventually the teens grew up, and the show ran it’s course.
TDW: When you were cast on Southland with Ben McKenzie, were you familiar with his role on The O.C.?
Cudlitz: I never saw the O.C. I think I was 40 at the time…. ( not the demographic FOX was looking for….LOL)
TDW: Do you think your respective teen drama experiences give you and Mr. McKenzie something extra in common?
Cudlitz: Sure… that kind of “celebrity” is reserved for rock stars and young people. It is a very humbling, surreal experience. I’m sure for Ben much more than me.
TDW: What can we expect from your character next season on Southland?
Cudlitz: More bad-ass television….( If I told ya. I’d have to kill ya.)
TDW: What other projects are you working on?
Cudlitz: Southland is consuming all my time right now. But, I have some projects that are coming out soon. “Surrogates,” a sci-fi thriller starring Bruce Willis is coming out in September. And I also have completed two indies: “Tenure” starring Luke Wilson, and “Stolen Lives” staring Jon Hamm and Josh Lucas.
Be sure to check out Southland’s season 2 premiere on Friday, September 25.
RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Question: There’s a spoiler floating around that says Chuck is going to bring home a girl in the Gossip Girl season premiere. Does this mean that he cheats on Blair? Or, even worse, that they broke up over the summer? –Fernanda
Ausiello: While it’s true that Blair catches Chuck, ahem, connecting with a model in the Sept. 14 opener, all is not as it appears.
Question: Any news on Gossip Girl? What’s in store for Serena? –Sara
Ausiello: She’ll be motherless for the first batch of episodes due to Kelly Rutherford’s maternity leave.
Question: 90210 scoop, please? –Darren
Ausiello: As you may have heard through the ‘vine, the teens at West Beverly High will be given a hot summer hangout with the C-dub bringing back the Beverly Hills Beach Club. Much like the original — which was a favorite hangout of Kelly and Brenda, as well as the place where both Brandon and Dylan worked — the new beach-side club will feature a bevy of hot new characters. I mean, it’s not really a beach unless there’s some skin to burn, right?
Question: Is Dustin Milligan not returning to 90210 at all next season? –Becky
Ausiello: Nope. We’ll learn in the Sept. 8 season premiere (via gratuitous exposition) that Ethan decided to stay in Montana with his pa.
Question: There have been rumors that Danneel Harris is returning as Rachel on One Tree Hill in the season 7. Is this true? –Cameron
Ausiello: The rumors are true. Rachel will be back next season for an arc.
Question: Any idea what actress is slated to play the role of Haley’s sister Quinn on One Tree Hill? –Lila
Ausiello: According to this highly reputable journalist, relative newcomer Shantel VanSanten has landed the role.
**Note: Dylan NEVER worked at the Beverly Hills Beach Club.
RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Now that Donna has appeared on 90210, is it possible that there will be a reunion with Brenda as well? — Jeff
MICKEY: Funny you should ask, Jeff. So far the answer is no. But when I asked Tori Spelling the same question this week, she said, “I know the fans would love it,” and not much more. As it stands, Tuesday was Spelling’s last episode this season. Shannen Doherty appears in the May 19 finale. A paranoid person might think their near-miss was intentional. I am a paranoid person.
TeenDramaWhore 