The New 90210 is No 90210!
September 2, 2008 by Kath Skerry
Yes, the long awaited premiere of the all new 90210 just wrapped up it’s premiere episode, and the biggest shocker was…how much I didn’t hate it. I’m not saying this was stuff of Shakespeare, but it wasn’t nearly as horrible as I thought it would be. And I think that’s saying a lot…but it’s not saying nearly enough because while I didn’t loathe it, I didn’t love it either.
With GOSSIP GIRL, 90210 and the upcoming PRIVILEGED, The CW is certainly touting itself as the network of the rich, beautiful and vapid. 90210 certainly fits this criteria, but where the original series felt fresh and unique, this 90210 feels a bit like a poor man’s GOSSIP GIRL minus the wit and flashy accessories.
While the acting was better than I thought they would be (and again my expectations were low) it was the characters that fell flat to me. Within the first half hour we met just about everyone that’s going to be integral to the show for at least the first season, and all but one bored me to tears. No matter how hard they tried to give these characters depth, there was no one I was really pulling for. The guys of West Bev brought nothing to the table, and usually that can be forgiven with a cute smile and nice abs, but they didn’t even give us that. And the girls? Ugh. They tried too hard to be: bitchy, vindictive, arrogant, narcissistic – really, we don’t want to see the effort ladies. How these posers would benefit from a one-on-one with Blair Waldorf.
Sadly no one in the cast (or the casting department) got the memo that the anorexic look it out. I’m not sure what’s going on with Shenae Grimes (Annie) but girl needs to eat a burger with all the fixins’, or at least a salad with some highly caloric dressing and some bacon bits. She and a few of the others girls in the cast were so skinny that it was almost distracting…and certainly not attractive.
Shenae Grimes held her own as the shows lead, Annie Wilson, but the character was a little too ‘aw shucks’ and morally grounded for my liking. Two hours into the first season and I really don’t know much about Annie’s brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds) other than he’s adopted and he’s good at Lacrosse. Isn’t he supposed to be one of the main characters? West Beverly High’s resident jock, Ethan Ward (played by Dustin Milligan), is a bit of an enigma too. Is he a bad boy trying to be good, or a good guy who is just bored with life and trying to branch out by cheating on his girlfriend and getting blow jobs in his car outside of the front doors of the school (no, this isn’t your mother’s older sister’s 90210). Naomi was by far the most hideous character. Could she be more of a cliche? Shame on the writers for watching a bit too much MTV – the girl was straight out of LAGUNA BEACH (season 3…you know the C-list cast that was left after KCavs and LC left the show). And I was shocked to find out that AnnaLynne McCord, who plays Naomi, is only 21. The girl looks on the verge of turning the big 3-0 (not that 30 is old of course, but it’s still not a compliment in this case). But the upside is her looks extend her available roles. Today high school teen on 90210, tomorrow a cougar in a Lifetime movie. The endless possibilities await her.
Spewing all this vitriol isn’t good for my complexion so I will give love where love is due, and that love is directed to Silver. Yes the spawn of Jackie Taylor and Mel Silver was by far my favorite new face in the famous zip. And no, not just because she was a blogger. Silver seemed to be the only character that showed any authenticity. Yeah, I know we are supposed to see through Naomi’s harsh exterior to see the little girl lost inside, but I didn’t buy it. Silver has an acid tongue and the wit this show so desperately needs.
I might not have fallen head over heels for the show, but not all was wasted. There were a few highlights, namely Jessica Walter. The empty place in my soul left by the departure of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT was comforted by seeing Lucille Bluth back on TV tonight. And make no mistake about it, that was Lucille Bluth. Now if only Buster or Gob had shown up then we would have had something.
On another positive notes, Rob Estes was looking pretty good I must say. The years have been kind to him. And actually I found him to be much more tolerable than he was back in his MELROSE PLACE heydays. Aunt Becky didn’t have nearly as much to do as the Mama Wilson as I thought she would, but Lori Loughlin didn’t disappoint – how could she with only a few scenes.
And don’t you think for one second that I’d talk about the premiere without talking about the return of the original Bev9ers.
Despite all the pre-show hype about the returning cast members from the original series, I was pleasantly surprised to see just how much the show focused on the new kids of West Beverly. Besides the reprise of Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh , the shout outs to the original series spanned from paying homage – the establishing shots of the kids getting out of their cars outside of West Beverly High- to having a little fun a la Hannah Zuckerman Vasquez reporting the school news while someone remarked “What is that girl, like 30?” Ha. Nat is still running the Peach Pit and cheers to Joe E. Tata for holding up so well over the year. It was nice to see you again old friend. There was mention of Brendan who seems to be somewhat of a world traveler, but no mention of Dylan McKay, the reported father to Kelly’s 4 year old son, Sammy. What I’m dying to know is when we’ll see what Jim and Cindy Walsh have been up to all these years. Are they still kicking it in Hong Kong?
As for the highly anticipated on-screen reunion of Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty… I found it quite awkward. Given their very nasty (and public) history, I think the characters would have been better served by writing that didn’t trample right on their unsavory past. It seemed forced, and even worse – unnecessary. Yes, that actually sums up Shannen Doherty’s part in the 2-hour premiere – unnecessary. Where Kelly has a place in the new world, as guidance counselor of West Beverly, older sister and mentor to Silver, and potential love interest to fellow teacher Ryan Matthews (portrayed by Ryan Eggold) – Brenda Walsh is brought back to California to be the substitute drama teach for the school play. Really? That’s the best they could do?
The answer is: Jennie Garth all the way. Oh, I thought you asked who hands down aged better. Sorry Shannen but your hard partying ways have caught up to you.
So that’s that. I’ll give credit where credit is due and say once again that the new 90210 was better than I thought it would be. Good enough that I’ll be watching it again next week, but not good enough that I want to…it’s more about feeling the need to give the show a fair shot if for no other reason other than out of loyalty for the original Beverly Hills 90210.
And now I turn it over to you. What’s your take on the new 90210? Was I a wee bit harsh on the new show or right on track? Will you be tuning in next week? Share, share, share…
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Want my thoughts on tonight’s 90210 premiere? Ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto and ditto. I love you for the hamburger comment. Those girls were too skinny.
I admit it, I only watched for Jessica Walter. This was no Gangy, but it will suffice.
Grandma Mills seems to be a little looser, more bohemian Lucille Bluth.
The only one of the HS aged guys I was looking at was Dustin Milligan (Ok, the rich boy with the Bentley and jet too). Rob Estes and Ryan Eggold are certainly not hard to look at.
I think you were a bit harsh, yes, but I don’t disagree with the points you made. Maybe my expectations were even lower than yours but it was much better than I expected it to be.
What was the point of having Lori Loughlin and Jessica Walters though? They were wasted.
As always I agree with you. Let’s show Lucille Bluth love 🙂
I’ll take Gossip Girl over 90210 any day. The girls are way hotter & gossip girl is at least funny. This was boring.
I totally agree with you that the girls, especially the one who plays Annie, are way too skinny. They say the camera adds 10 pounds. I can’t imagine what she looks like in person. I thought her collar bone was going to poke an eye out.
I told my sister that you know you are old when you crush on the hot teacher instead of the students. Mr. Matthews is the highlight of the show for me. HELLO!
I need more Gangy. Everytime she came on screen I bowed my head in memory of AD.
Overall I thought the show was okay. I’ll probably keep watching it, just cause, but it won’t be the classic that the original was.
I was crushed to see how much work Jennie had clearly had done (Shannen had, too, but I found it less appearance-altering… and therefore, admitedly, probably not as good). She didn’t even LOOK like pretty Jennie anymore; she was shiny and her eyes were too tight and her nose looked different. I always loved that Jennie (and therefore Kelly) looked like a *real girl*, but apparently that changed when she became a woman. Sigh…
Other than that, I enjoyed it. TOTALLY agree that the girls – Annie especially- are way too skinny and the boys are kind of unidimensional. Rob Estes was terrific; he’s come a long way since the “Melrose Place” days. 🙂 I’ll definitely keep watching, but it’s odd to watch the ‘old’ 90210 Season 1/2 reruns on SoapNet during the day and then watch this at night… very weird.
I agree, you know you’re getting older when all the high school boys do is get on your nerves — well, except for rich-boy Ty — He was pretty hot. But, overall, I’d take Mr. Matthews or the Principal over the rest of them any day 🙂
I liked the show but it pales in comparison to the original and also in comparison to Gossip Girl. Literally the only thing keeping me watching it is Nat, Kelly, Brenda, and all the references to the original. If not for that, I wouldn’t have tuned in at all. With Monday’s getting more crowded by the week (by the end of the month, it will be Chuck, GG, Prison Break, Heroes, AND Dancing w. the Stars) I’m not sure if I’ll have room for it on my DVR.
The best thing about the premiere was hearing the opening notes to the 90210 theme song. I thought this would be a new favorite but after last night it’s not getting a save on my DVR.
I tend to agree. I just thought it blah. I never really watched a lot of the original, except in reruns, but this didn’t really captivate me. It could be because of all the hype or because we’re in a tv world where “high school” is the sexiness of Gossip Girl or the murderous drama of One Tree Hill–or even paranormal of Buffy–but it all just seemed to…high school! No one really appealed to me, though I didn’t particularly detest anyone either (shouldn’t there be one or the other?). Nothing’s really bringing me back either. I was done after the first episode ended at 9.
(Ok, “murderous drama” might not be the right words, but I couldn’t place how to describe Keith’s murder and Peyton’s stalker on One Tree Hill…let alone car accidents, fires, etc.)
I’m a sucker for shows like these and my expectations were LOW, so I loved it. Count me and the fiance in!
I think for me you hit all the right points. I was a HUGE fan of the original. I knew that the spinoff was just that and even though I’m now older thought I would be able to get into it. I mean I LOVE LOVE GG. But your right…outside of the few bright spots (being Silver, the nods to the previous show, and yeah…Rob Estes wowza!), it seems to be missing the mark. It hasn’t completely drawn me in the way the original or GG did. I mean YES I will be watching because there are unanswered questions, Jennie Garth, and I really love Silver and also….want to try and give the show more of a chance.
I agree with you regarding Anna Lynne McCord. Not a big fan of hers. Didn’t buy her being a ‘teenager’ in her in Nip/Tuck and it isn’t working for me here either. Not that she is OLD looking by far….she is just too mature to be playing teens. It just doesn’t work.
I thought Jennie was awesome and her character fits well in the show…Shannen’s not so sure…but hey…I’ll give it another week or two…
Can I just say that if I were a student at West Beverly High, I would be getting in trouble on purpose, just so I could be sent to the principal’s office! Dang Rob Estes!
Alright, so, the new 90210 just seemed way off to me. It’s definitely modernized, but there were a lot of things that seemed wrong to me. I think it’s okay for me, as a 26 year old woman to watch this show, but, call me a prude if you want, if I had a teenager I wouldn’t want them watching this at all. There were some way naughty things happening in 90210 land.
I’ll continue to watch this for a couple more episodes, just to see where it goes. But I think they could get rid of all of the kids and just focus on the adults and they’d have a much more interesting show here. But then again, I guess it wouldn’t be 90210 if they did that. They’ve really got to find a way to make these kids more watchable. What kind of story is this when a girl meets a guy and the same day she gets in private plane and flies to San Francisco with him? I guess a lot of things just didn’t add up with me. Where is the comic relief? In the original we had Steve, there was no Steve in the new one! Come on! I hope it gets better, that’s all I can say!
It wasn’t perfect, but I was so excited for the Brenda/Kelly reunion: http://www.entertonement.com/collections/2875/The-Jet-Set
The premiere aired way late out here in Chicago, but I actually stayed up to watch it b/c of my love for the old 90210’ers – I had to see Brenda and Kelly back together again! I agree that at least as of last night, Brenda’s role is kind of just a throw in, but I hope they do something with her in the few episodes she’s in. Of course i do love Kelly/Jennie Garth, so it’s good to see her back on TV again. I’m not so interested in the rest of the characters, though – they definitely are not Gossip Girl, to say the least (though I also adore Jessica Walters!). They really need to step up the writing and flesh out all these characters more. Not sure how long I’ll stay tuned (probably not past when Brenda leaves), but I do hope it’ll get better.
By the way, I kind of thought Brandon might be the father of Kelly’s son since she made a comment about talking to him on the phone recently and they had that earlier scene of Kelly talking on the phone to who I assume is the father. If so, I am all for Jason Priestly making a guest appearance sometime!
I though the first hour of the show was MUCH stronger then the second. That’s probably cuz Rob Thomas worked on the first part.
I must agree with you, my favourite character was by far Silver.
Being Canadian, I really tried to like Shanae Grimes, but she is just REALLY annoying, and the poor girl is verging on anerexic. I dont remember her being SOO thin!!
You were right on in this post. I agreed totally. I was an original 90210 watcher and I loved the references but sadly that was my favorite part. For the West Beverly students, Silver was my favorite. The boys should be way better looking or have more depth as you put it. The actress playing Naomi does look 30, she cannot really be 21. Lies! And I liked the girl playing Annie but found myself looking at her too skinny body-yuck!
I will probably watch again but they better hook me soon because there are far better shows and I am a busy girl.
So just to put it out there, Harry Wilson and Naomi’s mother have a kid together… Naomi and Ryan the teacher don’t get along… Harry and Kelly have a past together… Kelly and Ryan have a future together? Dun Dun Duuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn . . .Harry is Ryan’s father. Anyone Agree???
Brandon deserve to be the father of kelly’s kid because he was thee for her all the time because kelly loved brandon more than dylan and they were real soulmates.Brandon always loved kelly. dylan is an a abusive guy physically and emotinally when he almost started a fight at donna’s mom’s party and grabbed valeries throat. kelly always came back from her trip with dylan 2 days inadvance because there was always trouble. brandon never abused her phsically or emotionally so brandon has to be the father! not dylan so fix it. brandon and kelly will always be my favourite couple. make a tv movie reunion where donna and david get married again so that brandon could be at the second wedding and so that kelly and brandon could get back together and get married themselves. I don’t think brandon is married or has a kid i don’t believe brenda’s lies about that or the lies that she said about her father dying when adrianna was giving birth or when she said about the whole ryan drama everyone knows its the dylan drama people . she possibly went to see dylan after kelly left him. And people look at the kid closely he looks alot like brandon walsh the chubby hands the lips are the same as brandon. brandon had some blond hair just like steves, the chubby face, blue teary eyes just like brandon the nose looks the same. I don’t buy that its dylans at all because kelly is hiding the fact that she knows its brandon first episode before brenda talked to kelly about brandon. kelly talked to brandon before she even saw brenda. brandon asked how she and the kid are totally says she still loves him and visversa. get the drift its brandon not dylan they only made it dylan for now to confuse us and to make people watch. I’m telling you kelly knows it’s brandon but doesn’t want brenda or dylan to know so he doesn’t stat a war or fight like he always does. from your #fanpauline