I didn’t really get into the show until it was on the FX network four times a day. They started out with the “Brenda years” and snaked their way into the Peach Pit After Dark and ended with the wedding of Donna Martin and David Silver. Last Sunday, May 11, Fox network hosted a 10-year high school reunion of the cast of their longest running drama, “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Unfortunately, the reunion didn’t hold of flicker of a candle to the original show. The clips were weak, the cast’s sentiments were corny and they didn’t even mention other memorable characters like Valerie Malone and Ray Pruitt. (Much like the True Hollywood Story: Saved by the Bell, where they didn’t mention Tori.) I was looking forward to the reunion ever since I saw the promos after watching Mr. Personality – which I’m not proud of, but it was the only thing on television that night. I’ve missed the show lately because it’s on at the most indecent hours on FX. It’s being bombarded by the overkill from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “MASH” – both shows with an equally large fan base, but just not mine.
The next scheduled time for the show is two episodes starting on Saturday at 7 a.m. I know, dedication to a show, but it might be unhealthy for me to wake up that early just to see Donna enter the tournament of roses parade or throw up from her few glasses of champagne at her senior prom. I have done that before with “Saved By the Bell,” but the rest of my day is usually ruined as a result. The TBS Superstation plays SBTB at 7 a.m., but I’m from California, so that means it would play at 4 a.m. My friend Jesse and I would try to stay awake to watch it, but most of the time we would end up falling asleep with our heads propped up by our elbows around the third infomercial.
I never got attached to shows like “Models, Inc.” or even “Passions” – which my sister knows all about. Those shows didn’t really have appeal to me. It’s not like 90210 was any more “real” than the next, but some things I could relate to. My high school was similar to Brenda and Brandon’s first day. They rolled up in “Mondale,” their barely surviving car, and I had to drive a Mercury Topaz that had a stroke because half of the car didn’t work. (the driver’s side window, locks and doors were constantly jammed, and the air conditioning didn’t work either). In the parking lot, Steve Sanders had his Corvette and Kelly Taylor had her BMW (red at first and later upgraded to a different color and model). In my parking lot, almost every cheerleader had a red convertible Ford Mustang and others drove BMWs, Mercedes and there were tons of “pimped-out” cars, too. My mom says they call Valencia, “Beverly Hills North.” So, I suppose part of me could identify with the Walshes.
On the reunion, I was surprised to see Shannon Doherty appear, but disappointed to see that Tori Spelling, daughter of executive producer of the show Aaron Spelling, not present. According to an official statement, Spelling said she had moved on to other things and didn’t want to attend. Moved on to what? Scream 2 spoofing herself? According to several gossip Web sites, including women.com, the “real” reason why she didn’t show was because she didn’t want to share billing with supposed bitter rival Shannon Doherty.
This show meant an awful lot to many people, and I guess I shouldn’t take my frustration on the absence of the show on television out on Tori Spelling. But, if the boob fits, wear it. Brian Austin Green (David Silver) also did not attend the reunion. It just wasn’t what I expected, they should have shot another episode like “The Cosby Show” or “Married With Children” did. So, if they come back, a little wrinkled or botoxed out for a 15-year reunion, I would hope that they invite a fuller cast and spend more time on the clip packages to appease the fans like myself.
