TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Check Out CW's Teen Drama '90210' To See If It's The Pits Or Just As Peachy As Original

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 2, 2008

Somewhere deep in a closet at Rancho Belcher in rural Thonotosassa, I have a piece of the original Peach Pit, an artifact from the finale of the first "Beverly Hills, 90210."

Supposedly, the set was dismantled when the teen angst drama ended in 2000 after a solid 10-year run. TV critics were given mementos of the retro diner where Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, Donna, Kelly and the rest of the Rodeo Drive crowd sipped on soft drinks

Everything old is new again, and a new Peach Pit serves mocha cappuccinos on the remake, which debuts at 8 tonight. The title is just "90210" because everyone already knows the city with the most famous ZIP code.

The CW didn't provide a preview copy because of a "strategic marketing decision," which means either it's so bad network officials didn't want any negative vibes or they're trying to create a mystique without having the whole thing pop up somewhere on the Internet.

The negative buzz is already out there because one of the original stars, Tori Spelling (who played Donna Martin), has backed out of reprising her character because of a pay issue. She balked at getting less money than returning actresses Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty.

Also, fans of the original are already speculating that "90210" won't be good enough to run 10 years. But then, they are getting old. Well into their 30s, they're moving out of The CW demographic.

The original started out following the fish-out-of-water learning curve for siblings Brandon and Brenda Walsh (Jason Priestley and Doherty), who came to upscale Beverly Hills from Minnesota.

The 2008 version has the Wilson family of Kansas coming to Beverly Hills to care for alcoholic grandmother Tabitha (Jessica Walter). The twist here is sibling Dixon (Tristan Wilds) is adopted and the only black character in the main cast. He and his sister, Annie (Shenae Grimes),will be all-American kids trying to fit in with the most entitled teens in the world.

Original Peach Pit owner Nat (Joe E. Tata), now in his 70s, is back. Doherty is a guest star for a few episodes. Her Brenda character has returned to direct the school play. Garth's Kelly Taylor is the school guidance counselor, a fitting job for a woman who faced date rape, diet-pill addiction, amnesia, miscarriage, cult membership and near death in a fire during the original series.

Also different this time around is the role of the Wilson parents (played by TV veterans Lori Loughlin and Rob Estes). Apparently, they will have as much sin and suffering as the teens.

Possibly vying for Annie's attention is Ethan (Dustin Milligan), the star lacrosse player (naturally he wouldn't be playing football in Beverly Hills). Vying for every guy's attention is Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), the school's spoiled rich tart. Other teen characters include Silver (Jessica Stroup), a free spirit who gossips about others on her blog, and Navid (Michael Steger), editor of Blaze News.

PRIVILEGED: The CW did send out a preview of "Privileged," starring Tampa native JoAnna Garcia, and it's worth checking out.

It's more heartfelt and intelligent than most of The CW dramas, and it recalls "Gilmore Girls." In fact, producer-creator Rina Mimoun calls it "Gilmore Girls Meets the Gossip Girls."

Garcia, who played a cheerleader and high school dropout on "Reba," is a Yale-educated woman on "Privileged." But the character brings a working-class background to her job as reluctant nanny and surrogate mom to two rich Palm Beach orphans (Ashley Newbrough and Lucy Hale). The series, based on the Zoey Dean novel "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls," features Anne Archer as the girls' grandmother.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

The Shield, 10 p.m., FX

The final season begins, and there's a payday coming for rogue cop Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis).

The Republican National Convention, 8 p.m., PBS

Now that John McCain has picked an interesting running mate, things are more exciting than originally anticipated. For true fair and balanced coverage, stick with public television.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT