Beverly Hills, 90210 | |
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Season 2 Title Card |
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Format | Teen drama/Soap opera |
Created by | Darren Star |
Starring | see Cast |
Country of origin | ![]() |
No. of seasons | 10 |
No. of episodes | 296 (List of episodes) |
Production | |
Running time | 44 minutes (60 including commercials) |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | FOX |
Original run | October 4, 1990 – May 17, 2000 |
Chronology | |
Followed by | 90210 |
Related shows | Melrose Place Models Inc. |
External links | |
IMDb profile | |
TV.com summary |
Beverly Hills, 90210 is a prime time television drama series that aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on FOX in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. The show followed the lives of a group of teenagers living in the upscale, star-studded community of Beverly Hills, California and attending the fictitious West Beverly Hills High School and, subsequently, the fictitious California University after graduation. The show was created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling and Spelling Television. The "90210" in the title refers to one of the city's postal ZIP codes.
The original premise of the show was based on the adjustment and culture shock that twins Brandon (played by Jason Priestley) and Brenda Walsh (played by Shannen Doherty) experienced when they and their parents, Jim and Cindy moved from Minnesota to Beverly Hills. In addition to chronicling the friendships and romantic relationships of a group of close-knit teenagers, the show also addressed numerous topical issues including date rape, alcoholism, domestic violence, gay rights, drug abuse, teenage suicide, AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and abortion.
The series gained popularity during the summer of 1991, when FOX aired a special "summer season" of the show while most other series were in reruns. The series became one of FOX's top shows when it began its next season that fall. Viewership increased dramatically and the cast members, particularly Jason Priestley and Luke Perry, became teen idols, while the series would make actresses Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling household names.
Contents |
Actor | Character | Seasons |
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Jason Priestley | Brandon Walsh | 1990-1998 |
Shannen Doherty | Brenda Walsh | 1990-1994 |
Jennie Garth | Kelly Taylor | 1990-2000 |
Ian Ziering | Steve Sanders | 1990-2000 |
Gabrielle Carteris | Andrea Zuckerman | 1990-1995 |
Luke Perry | Dylan McKay | 1990-1995 and 1998-2000 |
Brian Austin Green | David Silver | 1990-2000 |
Tori Spelling | Donna Martin | 1990-2000 |
Tiffani Thiessen | Valerie Malone | 1994-1998 |
Kathleen Robertson | Clare Arnold | 1994-1997 |
Douglas Emerson | Scott Scanlon | 1990-1991 |
Carol Potter | Cindy Walsh | 1990-1995 |
James Eckhouse | Jim Walsh | 1990-1995 |
Joe E. Tata | Nat Bussichio | 1990-2000 |
Mark Damon Espinoza | Jesse Vasquez | 1994-1995 |
Jamie Walters | Ray Pruit | 1994-1995 |
Hilary Swank | Carly Reynolds | 1997-1998 |
Vincent Young | Noah Hunter | 1997-2000 |
Vanessa Marcil | Gina Kincaid | 1998-2000 |
Lindsay Price | Janet Sosna | 1998-2000 |
Daniel Cosgrove | Matt Durning | 1998-2000 |
The show's later years were known for frequent casting changes:
Following reported on-set friction, Shannen Doherty left the show at the end of the fourth season. Doherty's character, Brenda Walsh, was written off the show at the end of season 4 as moving to London to attend school at the Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts. While the character's absence was originally described as only being for a year, she never actually returned, despite being mentioned from time to time during the show's remaining seasons. She was replaced with former Saved by the Bell star Tiffani Thiessen, who played bad girl character Valerie. Shannen Doherty has begun appearing as Brenda Walsh in the new spin-off of the series, though the terms of her contract and the exact number of episodes she will appear in remains uncertain.
Luke Perry left 90210 towards the beginning of the sixth season. Perry's send-off features his character, Dylan McKay, marrying Antonia Marchette (Rebecca Gayheart), the daughter of the mob boss (Stanley Kamel) who ordered his father's death during the third season. Before the marriage, Dylan attempted to use Antonia to get to her father, but falls in love with her instead. Her father, uncomfortable with the marriage, orders Dylan's death. The hired hitman inadvertently kills Antonia instead due to the fact that she is driving Dylan's car at the time of the planned hit, and is wearing a hooded raincoat, so the hitman cannot see whom he is shooting. Dylan leaves town heartbroken, after his father-in-law reluctantly agrees to a truce in the wake of his daughter's death. It is revealed later in the series that Dylan's father was not really murdered and that he had faked his death in order to enter the Witness Protection Program. Perry returned permanently during the ninth season of the show, but was now credited as a "Special Guest Star" -- much like Heather Locklear was on Melrose Place.
Both actors left the show following the fifth season at the end of their original five year contracts. During the high school years of the show, Jim and Cindy Walsh played secondary roles, offering advice to Brenda and Brandon, along with their friends, but were rarely given plotlines of their own. They generally would spend most of their time reacting to various things that Brenda, Brandon and later Valerie did. As the show entered the college years, Jim and Cindy were moved even farther into the background as the show took on a much more soap operatic tone and the characters grew up, reducing their need for parental oversight. Following the fifth season, both characters left Beverly Hills for Hong Kong, making occasional guest appearances in the sixth, seventh and eighth seasons. Even though all the Walshes eventually left the show, the Walsh home continued to play a central role in the series. The show explained this by having Brandon tell Steve his parents had given the green light for Steve to keep living in the house.
Gabrielle Carteris left the show following the fifth season. Her character, Andrea Zuckerman, changed radically during the transition from high school to college. In high school, Andrea was the brainy editor of the West Beverly Blaze, who had a crush on Brandon and secretly lived out of district. During the fourth season, the character's freshman year of college, Andrea drops journalism, becomes pregnant, and gets married to someone she barely knows (Jesse Vasquez) before the year is out. While the pregnancy plotline was written at Carteris' request, so as to incorporate her real life pregnancy, this was a major shift for the character, and also caused her to become somewhat isolated from the other characters on the show. Andrea Zuckerman eventually left the show during the end of the fifth season because she decided to finally go to Yale. After her original five-year contract ended, Carteris voluntarily left 90210 for her own self-titled talk show, which lasted only one season. Carteris returned to 90210 for guest appearances during the sixth, eighth, and tenth seasons.
Jason Priestley stopped acting on the show at the beginning of the ninth season. However, he remained credited as an executive producer for 90210 until the end of the series. In the show, Brandon is still recovering from his aborted wedding to Kelly, and is offered a job in Washington, D.C., which he accepts. Brandon was the last Walsh family member to leave Beverly Hills, and his only other appearance on the series following his departure is by video to Donna and David at the time of their wedding.
Tiffani Thiessen (credited as Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, late of Saved By the Bell) replaced Shannen Doherty after her departure following the fourth season. Thiessen portrayed Valerie Malone, an old Walsh family friend from Buffalo, New York who moves into Brenda's old room. While Valerie is meant as a replacement for Brenda, the characters are very different, and Valerie has a rocky relationship with most of the gang during her time on the show. Valerie leaves Beverly Hills soon after Brandon, saying that she is going to return home to Buffalo. Thiessen returned to the show for the series finale for Donna and David's wedding
Beverly Hills, 90210 originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on FOX in the United States; NBC Daytime and SoapNet showed repeats. Various networks around the world subsequently aired Beverly Hills, 90210. In the United Kingdom, ITV showed the first two seasons until the satellite channel Sky1 acquired the rights for the rest of its run from Seasons 3-9; Season 10 was never shown. Five later acquired the repeat rights of Seasons 1-4 . Australia aired the show on Network Ten, FOX8 and their now ceased Fox Kids. In Canada, the show was aired on Global. It was also shown on TVA (in French), and aired in syndication on TVtropolis. It is shown in Denmark on TV2. In Spain, the show was aired on Tele 5 from 1991 to 2005.
In Malaysia the series is now airing thru 8TV beginning Jun 14 onwards every Saturdays, 11:45pm
When Beverly Hills, 90210 began, the show was heavily issue-oriented with Brenda and Brandon facing a different teen issue nearly every week in largely self-contained episodes. As the show progressed, it became more character-driven with the characters entering into various love triangles, while dealing with general adult issues.
Ratings for the tenth season declined to an average of 10 million viewers per episode (according to the May 2000 issue of Us Weekly). The ratings were small compared to previous seasons. The lower ratings, along with the high costs associated with any television show in its later seasons led Fox to cancel the series in January 2000. The final episode aired in May 2000. However, even with all the cast changes, the series finale of the show attracted a large amount of viewership.
The series Melrose Place was a spin-off from the show, as actor Grant Show (who played Jake on Melrose Place) appeared for a multi-episode run as Kelly's love interest, and a friend of Dylan's. Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering made appearances as their Beverly Hills, 90210 characters in the first few episodes of Melrose Place.
Models Inc., a series about the personal and professional struggles of several young models, spun-off from Melrose Place. The series was introduced via the characters Hillary Michaels, the mother of Melrose Place's Amanda Woodward, and model Sarah Owens—both of whom had appeared in a multi-episode run on the former show.
A third spin-off from the show is currently airing, which focuses on a family from Kansas who move to Beverly Hills when their grandmother suffers from alcohol addiction. It aired on the CW Network on September 2, 2008.
Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty reprised their roles as guidance counselor Kelly Taylor and actress Brenda Walsh. During the fourth episode of the season entitled, "The Bubble," Brenda reveals to the audience in a rather heated conversation with Kelly, that the father of Kelly's son is none other than Dylan McKay.
The Rap duo, Insane Clown Posse, released an EP titled Beverly Kills 50187, whose title is similar to the show's title.
Star later produced a series Grosse Pointe, which satirized the production of a high-school soap opera being filmed in Los Angeles. The show was clearly a 90210-style show.
The short-lived The Ben Stiller Show did a parody of this show, The Heights and Melrose Place called Melrose Heights 90210-2420 that portrayed the cast as superficial, self-absorbed, and self-pitying. A typical episode's "issue" was a character getting a headache, which affected all the other characters. Each episode would end the same upbeat song (resembling The Heights hit single "How Do You Talk To An Angel") performed by the whole cast with new lyrics for each episode.
Another aspect of the show that was the subject of parody was the fact that a number of the show's cast members were in their mid-to-late 20s and not teenagers. In particular, Luke Perry and Gabrielle Carteris were singled out for most of the criticism regarding being too old to play teenage characters. Carteris was 29 during filming of the first season, Perry was 23, Jason Priestley turned 21 prior to the show's premiere, and Ian Ziering was 26. Brian Austin Green (then 17), Shannen Doherty (19), Tori Spelling (17) and Jennie Garth (18) were the only cast members to have started the show as teenagers who grow older later on in the show.
Saturday Night Live did their own parody of the show when Jason Priestley hosted in 1992. In the episode, it is announced that the zip code 90210 would be changed to 90218. Several of the kids took offense to it and reacted in different ways (Kelly and Donna go shopping, Dylan gets drunk, Brandon keeps taking everyone's keys and putting them in a lock box feeling they are not able to drive, etc.). In the end, the zip code reverts back to 90210 after protest.
The short-lived Fox Television sketch show The Edge did a parody of 90210 that mocked Tori Spelling. During the sketch, the character of Tori constantly says, "I can do whatever I want because this is my Daddy's show." Aaron Spelling took offense to this, and asked for an apology from the producers of the show (he never got one).
The Mickey Mouse Club did a parody sketch called Beverly Hillbillies 90210, combining the characters of both 90210 & The Beverly Hillbillies. In 1999, Christina Aguilera from the Mickey Mouse Club made a cameo performance on Beverly Hills 90210 as herself performing at the PPAD for David Silver's surprise birthday party, season 10 episode 2: Let's Eat Cake. Music from former MMC members Justin and JC of N Sync also was originally used during several opening title sequences during the mid to late seasons of 90210.
MADtv made its own parodies of the show as Beverly Hills, 90210 B.C. set in prehistoric Beverly Hills. When Luke Perry made his high profile return to the series, MADtv did a second parody entitled Beverly Hills 9021-H20 which had the characters being stalked and killed off by Luke Perry, who had rejoined the cast as a masked killer who was a parody of Michael Myers of the Halloween film series.
Czech TV Nova parody show Tele Tele made parody of the show known as "Heverly Debils". Three mini-episodes (about 10 minutes each) were filmed.
GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan released a song called "Killah Hills 10304", an ironic reference to the show's title in a song about crime and a rough neighborhood.
Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
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1989-1990 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best New Family Television Comedy Series |
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Won | Best Young Actor Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series | Douglas Emerson | ||
Nominated | Best Young Actor Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series | Brian Austin Green | ||
Nominated | Best Young Actress Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series | Jennie Garth | ||
Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a New Television Series | Shannen Doherty | ||
1990-1991 | Won | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series |
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Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Shannen Doherty | ||
Won | Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series | Brian Austin Green | ||
Won | Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series | Jennie Garth | ||
Nominated | Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Television Series | Tori Spelling | ||
1991-1992 | Won | Favorite Young Ensemble Cast in a Television Series |
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Nominated | Best Young Actor Recurring in a Television Series | Cory Tyler | ||
Won | Best Young Actress Recurring in a Television Series | Dana Barron | ||
1992-1993 | Nominated | Best Youth Actress Guest Starring in a Television Show | Sabrina Wiener | |
1998 | Nominated | Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actress | Danielle Keaton | |
1992 | Golden Globe Award | Nominated | Best TV-Series - Drama |
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1993 | Nominated | Best TV-Series - Drama |
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Nominated | Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama | Jason Priestley | ||
1995 | Nominated | Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama | Jason Priestley | |
1992 | TP de Oro | Won | Best Foreign Series |
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1993 | Won | Best Foreign Series |
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1995 | ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Won | Top TV Series |
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1995 | Emmy Award | Nominated | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Milton Berle |
1996 | BMI Film & TV Awards | Won | BMI TV Music Award |
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1999 | Teen Choice Awards | Nominated | TV - Choice Actress | Jennie Garth |
2004 | TV Land Awards | Nominated | Favorite Greasy Spoon |
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Nominated | Favorite Teen Dream - Male | Luke Perry | ||
2006 | Nominated | Most Happening Greasy Spoon or Hangout |
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2007 | Nominated | Break Up That Was So Bad It Was Good | Luke Perry & Shannen Doherty |
CBS Home Entertainment has released the show on DVD in Region 1. Due to music licensing most of the original music has been replaced,[7] as well as (starting with Season 2) some episodes edited from their original broadcast versions. Deleted songs include "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover", "Losing My Religion" and "In The Mood".
For reasons that were never made clear, the first three season releases used promotional pictures from their succeeding seasons instead of the actual promotional pictures that were taken while the seasons aired. Due to the group pictures from the fourth season being used on the third season DVD and the absence of Shannen Doherty in later seasons, a collage of still photos was used on the fourth season DVD. As well, photos of Jamie Walters and Kathleen Robertson would appear on season 5 DVDs.
Individual Release
DVD Name | Year | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Additional features |
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The Pilot Episode | 1990 | June 15, 2004 | None |
Season Sets
DVD Name | Ep # | Year | Region 1 | Region 2 (Swedish edition) | Region 4 | Additional features |
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The Complete First Season | 21 | 1990-1991 | November 7, 2006 | November 15, 2006 | November 1, 2006 | Audio Commentaries from Darren Star on select episodes "Beginnings with Daren Star" Featurette Meet the Class of Beverly Hills 90210 Six Degress of 90210 - Who Did What To Whom Season One - The Recap *No special features on Region 2 or Region 4 DVDs. |
The Complete Second Season | 28 | 1991-1992 | May 1, 2007 | July 27, 2007 | May 3, 2007 | Meet the Walshes - Carol Potter (Cindy Walsh) and James Eckhouse (Jim Walsh) take a reflective look back at their days on the Beverly Hills, 90210 set Our Favorite Valentine - Christine Elise remembers her unforgettable role at the edgy and misunderstood Emily Valentine "Everything You Need to Know About Beverly Hills, 90210, Season 2" |
The Complete Third Season | 30 | 1992-1993 | December 11, 2007 | March 24, 2008 | December 6, 2007 | "7 Minutes in Heaven" featurette "The World According to Nat" featurette "Everything You Need to Know About Beverly Hills, 90210, Season 3" Episode guides (menu-based stills) |
The Complete Fourth Season | 31 | 1993-1994 | April 29, 2008 | May 28, 2008 | June 5, 2008 | A Look Back with Charles Rosin The Loves of Season 4 Beverly Hills Moms Everything You Need to Know about Beverly Hills, 90210, Season 4 90210 Genre Benders 7 Minutes in Heaven |
The Complete Fifth Season | 31 | 1994-1995 | July 29, 2008 | February 9, 2009 | October 2, 2008 | N/A |
The Complete Sixth Season | 32 | 1995-1996 | November 25, 2008 | TBA | TBA | N/A |
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