Font ResizeBEVERLY HILLS
'America's favorite ZIP code is back!" blurts a promotional spot for the CW's highly anticipated spinoff of "Beverly Hills 90210," one that promises a contemporary version that will be "cooler, sexier and more provocative" than the original iconic teen series.
OK, sure, but will people really want to watch?
At this point, "90210" has easily generated the most buzz of any new show on television's fall schedule, although most of the chatter thus far has been attached to the casting of old favorites — Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling — in supporting roles, rather than the attractive, fresh-faced actors who will have to carry the series. And considering that the pilot episode was shot only a few days ago, there's no way of telling if all the commotion is even warranted.
Success, of course, is by no means guaranteed. When Aaron Spelling's high-glam "Beverly Hills 90210" burst onto the prime-time scene in the early '90s, it was a one-of-a-kind show that shook up the genre. But in recent years, prime time has been littered with teen soaps, including the CW's own racy "Gossip Girl."
Plus, considering the fact that TV spinoffs or remakes are traditionally tough sells, and that the struggling CW is not exactly a hit-making juggernaut, and it becomes apparent that the new rich kids on the block will have their work cut out for them.
"It's
The original series, which hit the air in October 1990, began by following the wide-eyed Walsh family, including Brenda (Doherty) and Brandon (Jason Priestly), as they relocated from Minneapolis to opulent, status-conscious Beverly Hills.
The update will take a similar fish-out-of-water approach, but will look at life through the eyes of Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes) and her adopted brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds of "The Wire"), who have moved from Kansas to Southern California's version of Oz. Their parents are played by Rob Estes and Lori Loughlin.
As for the alums who will be reprising their roles, Doherty plays the grown-up Brenda Walsh, who, as her new backstory has it, became a well-known stage actress in London and New York. Now she's returning to her alma mater as the guest director of the school musical.
"We thought West Beverly High would certainly be able to hire someone of Brenda's stature," said Sachs, who met with Doherty over a 31/2-hour dinner to "brainstorm" about the role.
Meanwhile, Garth's Kelly Taylor will be back in a few episodes as a guidance counselor at West Beverly, and Spelling's fashion-minded Donna Martin will be the owner of an upscale boutique. Sachs says he and Judah are ready to welcome other throwback cast members if they can be "organically" incorporated into the new production.
Doherty, of course, developed a bad-girl reputation during her days on the original "90210" and left the show after four years of on-set friction. Reports had it that she feuded with Garth.
"I've heard all stories, but we never talked about them (over dinner)," Sachs said. "Everyone is grown up now and I can't imagine them not getting along."
Although the newcomers in the cast are too young to have experienced the "90210" phenomenon as it was blasting off in the early '90s, at least Grimes figures to be star-struck when members of the original show come onto the set. A native of Canada, Grimes religiously watched reruns of the show with her mother in what she called "bonding" sessions.
"My mom raised me on it basically," she said. "I loved the whole Dylan (Luke Perry)-Kelly-Brenda triangle. I wanted it to go on forever and I was always praying that Brenda and Luke would get back together."
Chuck Barney can be reached at cbarney@bayareanews group.com.
Also check out his "TV Freak" blog at www.ibabuzz.com/tvfreak.
