Top 10 Saddest Moments #10 and #9
8. Donna breaks down while giving a eulogy at her father’s funeral (Beverly Hills 90210, Episode 10.17: Doc Martin)
7. Dylan comforts his inner child after his father dies (Beverly Hills 90210, Episode 3.21: The Child Is Father To The Man)
Tiffani Amber Thiessen (Valerie, Beverly Hills 90210) is one of the few teen drama stars–if not the only–to have had a prior significant teleivsion gig.
As Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell, Theissen worked her way into the hearts of adolsecents across the country. It was hard to find a young girl who didn’t want to be her and a young boy that didn’t want to date her.
The following clip highlights some of Thiessen/Kelly’s best cheerleading moments.
Have another favorite Thiessen/Kelly moment? Or like another teen drama star’s other work? Post in the comments!
(It’s also worth mentioning that Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills 90210) appeared in several SBTB episodes as Violet, while she was on 90210. You can watch a clip here!)
Trying to get unrestricted access to the first video. For now, just click twice to watch in a new window.
On filming the new 90210:
“I found Donna inside [me]. Donna’s still there!”
On her late father, Aaron, who helped create the original series:
“He always intended to make a 90210 for the new generation, so I think he’s probably going, ‘It’s about time!’
RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Bella in Austin, Texas: Do you know if David will return with Donna when she heads for 90210?
There’s a chance Mr. Silver (Brian Austin Green) will eventually head back to the infamous ZIP code. He’s currently in Japan, but Tori Spelling tells us, “His lady Donna is in L.A., so maybe he’ll come on over.” For you hard-core original 90210 fans, don’t worry, David’s not hitting the speed anymore. He’s clean and “he’s a papa now,” adds Tori.
Margaret in Seattle: I still cannot believe that Nate and Blair are hooking up! What will happen with Vanessa?
Jessica Szohr tells us, “Obviously, Vanessa’s a little bit hurt because that’s her boyfriend, but what comes around goes around, so I’m sure Vanessa will be all right.” Looks like Queen B may be getting yet another lesson in karma. Will it humble her or cause her claws to retract? Of course not!
Frances in Boston: Will Dan and Serena’s half brother make an appearance?
I’m told the tentative plan is to make him a major character next season. So that may put a big ol’ nail in the coffin of what was once our beloved Derena. Anyone care?
Leslie in Hattiesburg, Miss.: Now that Ty’s sticking around on 90210, will he be going after Annie?
That’s what I’m hearing. Now that he’s freed up from the baby-mama drama, Adam Gregory tells me, “He’s the kind of guy who’s going to take what he wants. He’s not going to let anyone stand in his way!” And it sounds like Ethan won’t see it coming either, since he’s got a new somethin’-somethin’ blooming with Rhonda (Aimee Teegarden). Dustin Milligan tells me, “It’s looking like there are going to be some drastic turns for everybody’s character? Ethan Ward gets to kiss everybody, remember that.”
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?
For the next few days I’ll be looking at the characters who’ve had the biggest transformations over the course of a series. In other words, the people who started out as A and ended up as Z, someone totally different than who they were initially. This could be due to logical character growth and progression or dramatic license to rewrite the character.
Without further ado, in no particular order:
TEEN DRAMAS’ BIGGEST CHARACTER TRANSFORMATIONS
DONNA MARTIN (Beverly Hills, 90210)
Who She Was: Kelly’s air-headed sidekick who once wore two contacts in the same eye and struggled in school due to a learning disorder; virginal Daddy’s girl.
Who She Became: One of the show’s most memorable characters (Donna Martin Graduates, anyone?) and one-half of the show’s most-lasting couple. Donna, who intended to be a virgin til marriage, gave it up to David (her future husband, at least) in season 7. By the later seasons, Donna had gone from secondary character to fourth-billed, with her own boutique and a successful career as a fashion designer.
JEN LINDLEY (Dawson’s Creek)
Who She Was: As Jen herself said, “the second I stepped out of that cab and onto the creek, I was the instigator, you know? The girl who caused problems and rocked the creek and upset the delicate emotional balance of Capeside.”
Who She Became: Though largely insecure still, Jen shed her bad girl reputation and developed strong friendships with the others in Capeside, particularly Jack who let her be his “fag-hag.” Jen moved to New York in the last season where she repaired her fragile relationship with her mother and helped her grandmother through breast cancer. In the series finale, which took place 5 years in the future, we found Jen had become a mother to an adorable infant named Amy.
TOMORROW: Characters from The O.C. and One Tree Hill
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.
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.
TeenDramaWhore 