Exclusive: Trevor Donovan Discusses Joining 90210 as Teddy Montgomery

8 09 2009

Fact: Trevor Donovan is a hottie.  But will viewers think he fits right in with the 90210 cast?  You can decide for yourself tonight at 8pm eastern (and I’ll be live-blogging the premiere!) but first get to know him through my exclusive interview.

Trevor Donovan A

See, I told you he was hot!

TeenDramaWhore: How did you find out about the role of Teddy on 90210?

Trevor Donovan: My manager Michael Yanni set up an audition with David Rappaport for a totally different role and David thought I would be better for the role of Teddy and boom there you have it.

TDW: Were you familiar with the show before you auditioned?

Donovan: Very familiar.  I grew up watching the old 90210 and now I watch CW shows to familiarize myself with what’s out there.

TDW: How would you describe Teddy?

Donovan: Teddy is very likable and a fun guy to be friends with….he’s not fake, he’s pretty straight forward and likes to share his toys… and he has some pretty cool toys.

TDW: What can we expect from the character?

Donovan: Expect wave shredding… I’ll be doing some surfing this season, which I do myself…I’ve been surfing for over 15 years.  Also some hook ups and of course drama drama drama….oh and lots of fit beach bods.

TDW: How does it feel to play a character in high school when you are actually out of that age range?

Donovan: It’s a lot of fun……it’s like a do over….I was quiet and shy in high school… and not rich like Teddy Montgomery is.

TDW: Is it an ego boost or more strange than anything?

Donovan: A little of both…but at the end of the day …it’s acting… and the rest of the cast is great…all pro’s.

TDW: Does the working experience change knowing your castmates are a bit younger than you?

Donovan: Well I’m a pretty immature guy and most are not that much younger, so it works out well.. Ha ha ha..JK…  but seriously, when I get into playing a role….. I don’t let things like age difference get in the way… Instead I direct my focus on making the character I’m playing –Teddy Montgomery”–come to life and be interesting to watch…a pleasure to have in your living room 1x a week…..and more if you TiVo it.

TDW: According to reports, your character is a tennis star.  Are you skilled at the sport or did you have to learn?

Donovan: I’m skilled at a lot of sports, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, volleyball, baseball, football… you name it… but tennis….eh…they brought in a real pro to school me…..and wow….what a work out….but I’m getting there… I’m not whacking the ball over fences hundreds of feet away anymore.  Tune in to see my improved backhand, haha.

TDW: You appeared on more than 40 episodes of Days of Our Lives.  How is working on a daytime soap different from a primetime one?

Donovan: Soap operas are one take and 90 pages a day… It’s like a very very very intensive acting class….I left there feeling so confident and appreciative of the opportunity. It was a great experience.

TDW: What other projects are you working on?

Donovan: 90210 is full time……. But prior I had a role in Surrogates.  I play Tommy, the surrogate Bruce Willis owns –and the scene is a pivotal part in the movie for Bruce’s character.

TDW: Are you on Twitter?  There’s a lot of fake accounts for the 90210 cast; trying to clear up for my readers what’s real and what’s not.

Donovan: @TrevDon is mine.

Come back tonight for a live-blog of 90210’s season 2 premiere and come back again Sunday for another exclusive interview!

Complete TDW Interview Index





News Roundup: 90210, One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek

4 09 2009
  • Anothing interesting article on The CW.
  • Dawn Ostroff, head of The CW, said remaking 90210 was “an experiment.”
  • TVbytheNumbers.com says 90210’s survival is dependent upon Ostroff’s survival at the network, putting both at “better than” 50 percent odds.
  • I really like this picture of some of the 90210 cast.
  • Starpulse has an interview with Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210).
  • Rumer Willis (Gia, 90210) says she doesn’t know how many episodes she’ll be in.
  • USA Today described The Vampire Diaries as “One Tree Hill with sharper teeth.”
  • Read the full press release for the Dawson’s Creek Complete Series set.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek

3 09 2009
  • The Buffalo News has a great piece on the state of The CW.
  • 90210, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill are included in TVGuide.com’s fall preview.  See if you can spot the error!
  • The CW Source posted a 90210 season recap using…sock puppets.
  • There’s lots of pictures from 90210’s season premiere event in Los Angeles earlier this week.  This article has quotes from AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210), Ryan Eggold (Ryan, 90210) and Trevor Donovan (Teddy 90210) from the event.
  • Check out the photos of Leighton Meester (Blair, Gossip Girl) and Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) in the Korean edition of Nylon.
  • This is reportedly the first promo picture of Hilary Duff (Olivia, Gossip Girl).
  • There’s also these photos of Duff, Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) and Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) on set.
  • The CW posted more behind-the-scenes clips of One Tree Hill.
  • Shantel Van Santen (Quinn, One Tree Hill) says she and Robert Buckley (Clayton, One  Tree Hill) are all caught up on One Tree Hill’s past episodes.
  • Joshua Jackson (Pacey, Dawson’s Creek) tweeted tonight from the name @PeterBishop2 as part of a special Fringe event.




News Roundup: 90210, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl

2 09 2009
  • You can vote for several of our teen drama faves in E!Online’s survey on stunt casting.
  • Both Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna, 90210) and Rumer Willis (Gia, 90210) spoke about Willis’ role in this article.
  • Division Day spoke with the Los Angeles Times about their 90210 connection.
  • Korbi has an interview with Laura Leighton (Sophie, Beverly Hills 90210).
  • The CW posted a behind-the-scenes clip of James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill) and Mark Schwahn (creator, One Tree Hill).
  • You can also watch the first 5 minutes of OTH season premiere.  As I like to do with most clips that come out early, I’m going to avoid it and wait til the show airs.
  • Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree  Hill) is in the new SoGoPro podcast.
  • There’s a Kate Voegele (Mia, One Tree Hill) interview on YouTube.
  • You can learn about Gossip Girl “style” through this official video and others that are posted.
  • Here are more peeks at the Gossip Girl clothing line.




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

1 09 2009
  • SoapNet posted a Fall TV Preview for One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and 90210, but it’s the same photos that have been circulating for  a few weeks now.
  • The CW has a cool video from One Tree Hill’s first table read for the 7th season.  It’s also on YouTube.
  • E!Online posted “sneak peeks” of the Gossip Girl premiere.
  • The second-to-last round of the Gossip Girl tournament has been posted.
  • Thanks to Erin for sharing this link. It’s a Gossip Girl-inspired hair tip!
  • Perez Hilton posted a picture of Blake Lively (Serena, Blake Lively) on the set of The Town.
  • In addition to a new comedy, Josh Schwartz (creator, The O.C,; Gossip Girl) is also developing a dramedy.  Stephanie Savage is involved as well.
  • Rachel Bilson (Summer, The O.C.) will appear on Project Runway this Thursday.
  • There’s a drop of 90210 talk in this interview with Rumer Willis (Gia, 90210).




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

18 08 2009
  • In anticipation of the fall season, there’s lots new videos featuring current and past teen drama stars on The CW site.  Sort through the different categories to find all the hidden gems.
  • Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley, One Tree Hill) updated her official site. She confirms that she doesn’t have a Twitter account, just as her assistant told me last week.
  • Star News posted a new gallery of pics from One Tree Hill filming yesterday.
  • In a new interview Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills 90210) now says “never say never” about appearing on the new 90210–a contradiction from last week.
  • TVGuideMagazine.com has a picture of Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) as his Smallville character.
  • Gina Torres has been cast as Vanessa’s mom on Gossip Girl.
  • There are new songs on the MySpace page for Pretty Reckless, the band fronted by Taylor Momsen (Jenny, Gossip Girl).
  • Sadie (Nikki Reed, The O.C.) got a shoutout in Newsweek’s Dummys Guide to Twilight.




News Roundup: Gossip Girl, 90210 and One Tree Hill

17 08 2009
  • We’ll be playing trivia tomorrow night.  Details will be posted in the morning.
  • Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and 90210 all have nominations in the Best Hair category for The CW Sourcies.
  • PEOPLE.com has a spoilish interview on the new season with Stephanie Savage (executive producer, Gossip Girl).
  • The New York Times accompanied Matthew Settle (Rufus, Gossip Girl) around New York City for a few hours.  Interesting read.
  • Hesitant to promote a non-official and non-scholarly book but here you go…Spotted: Your One and Only Unofficial Guide  to Gossip Girl.  It will be released in a few weeks.
  • Check out a faithful reader’s look back at Gossip Girl’s first season.
  • Momogic.com has a great interview with Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills 90210).
  • On August 30, Laura Leighton (Sophie, Beverly Hills 90210) will co-host The CW Fall 2009 Preview Special.”
  • Teleivision Without Pity had their 21-year-old intern watch the pilots of  Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek for the first time.  Brilliant.
  • There is a new One Tree Hill podcast, with an opportunity to win the season 6 DVD.
  • Korbi posted a spoilish interview with Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill), Shantel VanSanten (Quinn, One Tree Hill) and Mark Schwahn (creator, One Tree Hill).
  • Ashley Rickards (Sam, One Tree Hill) did an interview with Seventeen.com.  Last summer, when I was an intern there, I was the one doing these interviews!
  • Allison Scaglliotti (Abby, One Tree Hill) will appear on Smallville.




Random Question

15 08 2009

There’s been much speculation of whether there will be a 90210-Melrose Place crossover.

When the original Melrose Place debuted, it was a spin-off to Beverly Hills 90210.

In January, it was reported that Ryan Eggold (Ryan, 90210) would be the one to crossover to Melrose Place.

In April, Eggold said he was talking to producers about it.

Then, in July, it was called a rumor.

And just this month, The CW’s Dawn Ostroff said a crossover was possible down the road.

Today, I was looking at Ryan Eggold’s IMDB page and it says he appears in the Melrose Place pilot.

So…what do you believe?

IMDB is usually correct and Ostroff could just be trying to surprise everyone.  Or, the IMDB could credit be based off the earlier “rumors.”

Thoughts?





Spoiler: Watch with Kristin

11 08 2009

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

Hailee in Tigard, Ore.: Please tell me Brandon Walsh is going to appear on 90210 this season!
So sorry! Jason Priestley is not going to appear in front of the camera on 90210. Priestley says, “I don’t think so. There’s no reason for Brandon to show up at the new and improved West Beverly High.” Let’s all take a moment of silence.

Lily in Detroit: We heard Michelle Trachtenberg might be getting a new love interest on Gossip Girl. Any news?
Not quite yet, but it sounds like Michelle would like to play the field a bit longer on Gossip Girl. “She is making out with all the boys,” says Michelle Trachtenberg. “Nooo, that was my request,” jokes the star. Wanna know what really happens? “You’ll have to see.” (Gossip Girl premieres Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. on the CW.)

Morgaine in Grand Rapids, Mich.: Can’t wait for Californication to return in the fall. Do you have any news?
O.C.
star Peter Gallagher tells us, “I’m going to be on Californication this season, and I’m playing Dean Stacy Koons, the dean of the university where Hank Moody (David Duchovny) works. Embeth Davidtz plays my wife, Felicia Koons. I’m fairly antagonistic with Mr. Duchovny. I had the time of my life—about as much fun as any actor is allowed to have.” Other guest stars on Californication this fall include Kathleen Turner as an evil agent, Rick Springfield as a drug-addled star, Diane Farr as Hank’s T.A. at the university where he’s teaching, Eva Amurri (Susan Sarandon‘s daughter) as a stripper/student and, believe it or not, Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl‘s Chuck), also playing a student.





News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill

6 08 2009
  • TV.com has a piece criticizing The CW for all its remakes, including 90210.
  • E! Online posted an interesting video interview with Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills 90210).
  • The season finale of Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, starring Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills 90210) scored the best ratings in history for the Oxygen network.
  • Travis Van Winkle will appear on 90210 this season, as a college student at CU–the same fiction college used on the original series.
  • PEOPLE.com posted a great video of Kellan Lutz (George, 90210) at a Twilight event.
  • Aimee Teegarden (Rhonda, 90210) will guest-star on Legend of the Seeker.
  • 90210, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill all have nominations in the Favorite Reccuring Character category in the Sourcies.
  • Ausiello TV has interviews with several teen drama stars.