The CW seems to think that giving its shows the names of hit shows from the past is a way to build a network. It renewed “90210” — a show that has notoriously struggled to find an identity — and added the spinoff “Melrose Place” to its fall schedule.
Meanwhile, The CW rejected the 1980s spinoff to “Gossip Girl” and canceled “Privileged,” its best show. “Privileged” had more great moments in its teaser commercials than “90210” has had all year. Instead of supporting The Little Show That Could, The CW is standing behind The Big Show That Couldn’t, and that’s a shame.
The original “Beverly Hills 90210” was great comfort TV. It had no sense of irony whatsoever — everything was played completely straight — but it tackled important issues: Donna’s classmates standing up for her when the administration wouldn’t let her graduate, Andrea struggling with whether to have an abortion, and so forth. Most importantly, we liked the characters.
In the beginning, the new “90210” didn’t know how to behave. If it had gone the irony-free route, it would’ve stood out among modern shows, but the writers couldn’t bring themselves to go there. A big error was not using “conversations with Nat at the Peach Pit” as a framing device; this show could use the diner owner’s wise guidance.
Since the episode where bipolar Silver went bonkers, “90210” has found a bit of traction as a guilty pleasure. And lately, it has really been pushing the love triangles — Ethan likes Silver, who loves Dixon; Naomi likes Liam, who secretly has a crush on Annie; Kelly (from the original series) might even have a thing for Harry, who is happily married.
The cliffhanger where a drunk and disheveled Annie runs over a guy in her car does smack of classic “90210,” but on the original show, I would’ve cared more.
Problem is, most modern TV writers are unwilling to take a step back and let characters and relationships and rivalries grow. I think it’s the “immediate success or you’re fired” culture we live in. “90210” has yelling and crying and tragedies and all that, but when the characters feel like sketches in a notebook rather than actual human beings, it’s hard to pretend I care.
I guess Silver isn’t too bad (I’m always drawn to the outcast), so Ethan and Dixon fighting over her could potentially be good. But after that, I draw a blank. I guess Navid and Adrianna are nice enough, but I cringe at the pregnancy storyline. If I never see another TV episode where “My water just broke!” is the incentive to come back after a commercial, I won’t complain.
What’s your verdict on the first season of “90210?” Did you bow out long ago? Will you be back in the fall?
