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90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:38:15 -0700

This week brought us another double whammy of 90210 and Melrose Place. I honestly didn't go into the evening with high expectations - between last week's sexting episode and sibling baddie Jen, I figured both shows would take a breather this time 'round. And they nearly did. However, even though there may not have any murders or nude photos, we still got a few I-can't-believe-they-did-that moments.

90210 won last week's faceoff - could Melrose take it this time? Help me determine which show was more racy (warning: spoilers!) when you read more.

90210 point: The Naomi-Annie war continues. Naomi denies that she ever saw Annie's topless photo prior to the public text message; Annie counteracts by roping in Liam and lying, telling Naomi that they did have sex after all. Annie also throws in her face how every guy she's been with likes her more. Ouch.
Melrose Place counterpoint: We get lots of flashbacks between Sydney and Michael, and just how much dirt she had on him, including her threatening to expose their affair and his involvement in her faux death. Hmm . . . was that enough reason to kill the woman?

90210 point: I thought new preppy Teddy was just a boring nice guy, but drama is a brewin'. Last night, he made nice with Navid on the yacht - and then two seconds later, he tried to hit on Adrianna.
MP counterpoint: Riley doesn't tell her parents or friends that she's engaged, and then after a good wine buzz, she kisses Auggie. Huh?! I guess I saw this coming - Jonah and Riley couldn't be cute and happy for more than four episodes - but I was still sort of surprised.

90210 point: Dixon's head is getting seriously big - what's with his hipster getups? - and he dates an older woman who has no clue about his age. (Wasn't she curious why all of his friends looked 17? Come on.) In an extreme move to keep up the lie, he "borrows" Navid's Lamborghini . . . and ends up in Napa.
MP counterpoint: Violet may be even more bat-crazy than we thought. This time, she breaks into Sydney's apartment, tries on her clothes, and steals one of her dresses to seduce Auggie. I believe the Greeks have a term for this.

90210 point: Looks like Kelly and Principal Wilson may be starting up a secret romance. She sends him a text at the end of the episode, which he hides from his wife, and he suggests getting lunch together.
MP counterpoint: Taryn Manning cameos as a pop star in a weird costume that looked like a robot-alien hybrid. Not necessarily scandalous, but still pretty friggin' weird.

All right, so this is a tough competition, but I'm going to have to call it a tie. Usually I would say that Dixon and Annie gave 90210 the upper hand this week, but Silver made a surprisingly mature move with Dixon's new gal pal, thereby bringing the shows to a neck-and-neck finish. I also have a total new appreciation for Silver now. Over on Melrose, I was thrilled to see the old character interaction in flashbacks (and a preview of Jane's return next week!), but wonder if that's just me, since I watched the old show. Were new viewers bored by that?

What do you think of last night's episodes? Anything in particular that made your jaw drop?

Photos courtesy of The CW

90210 vs. Melrose Place: Which Was More Scandalous?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:33:42 -0700

Last night on the CW, we got our second round of back-to-back fun in the California sun with 90210 and Melrose Place. Heading into the new Fall season, I fully expected MP to be the more daring of the two shows - there was theft, murder, and sex in the pilot alone. On the other hand, while 90210 tried to keep things more wholesome in season one, clearly the writers are cranking things up a notch this year and seem to be leaving those Wilson family values in the dust.

So here's the real question - which episode brought more scandalous, over-the-top moments last night? Can a racy high school text message really compete with the inner-workings of a group of amoral 20-somethings? I'll break it all down and declare a winner when you read more.

90210 point: Naomi corners Annie in the bathroom multiple times, threatening to ruin her life. Bonus point because AnnaLynne McCord totally would have made me cry in high school (or now).
Melrose Place counterpoint: Lauren decides to embrace her new life as a ~~hooker~~ escort with a heart of gold.

90210 point: It was a big night for evil Jen: first she admits that she's just using Ryan to make herself look less like a gold digger. Then she manipulates her poor sister into sending out a naked photo (aka sext) to everyone in school, thus defaming Annie's status as the sweet and innocent principal's daughter.
MP counterpoint: We find out that Auggie's past includes a deadly knife brawl and getting into a stabby fight with former landlord Sydney. He should probably pack his knives and go.

90210 point: To some extent, Teddy knows about Annie's hit-and-run. Annie's life continues to suck.
MP counterpoint: Sydney may be Violet's mom. Violet enjoys floating face down in the pool, striking fear into the heart of Jonah, though I don't really understand what his problem is with a little floating time.

90210 point: Dixon punches out the obnoxious dude responsible for the sext.
MP counterpoint: David steals from his ex-girlfriend's house party while Ella is outside using her powers of persuasion to catch an actor with his pants down.

Now that I've covered the major plot lines, it's time to declare a winner. It's a tough call, but I've gotta give this round to 90210. Sexting didn't even exist in my own high school days, but now that it's a common phenomenon, I give kudos to the show for what may be its juiciest episode thus far.

What do you think of my assessment? Did I leave out any shocking, noteworthy moments?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Pilot Watch: Melrose Place

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:30:43 -0700

The networks have announced their Fall schedules, but which series will be worth watching? Throughout the Summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's pick is the CW's Melrose Place reboot.

What's it about? As if you don't already know! TV's most scandalous apartment complex is back with a new set of 20-something tenants who just can't seem to stay out of trouble.

Who's in it? Ashlee Simpson, Katie Cassidy, and Michael Rady are among the newbies, while Laura Leighton and Thomas Calabro are among the veterans who will appear.

The good: Right off the bat, the pilot is a lot more fun than what we've seen from 90210. It's fresher and more exciting, and it doesn't feel like it's trying so hard. The cast of characters is a mysterious bunch, but not everyone fits into the typical stereotypes.The crossover between old and new Melrose Place residents is smooth and makes (relative) sense, which makes me excited for potential appearances from other original stars.

The bad: As we're prone to seeing on the CW, there's a big lapse in realism here. It doesn't really make economic sense that most of these kids can afford their lavish digs with their low-paying jobs, though the original series wasn't exactly an accurate mirror of society either. There's also so much going on in the first episode, it might not take very long for the storylines to take a turn for the absurd.

Will I watch? Yup. I'm still watching 90210, too, so it looks like I'll be camping out on the CW on Tuesday nights.

To check out a few new trailers plus a ton of photos, just read more.

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Photos courtesy of The CW

Should TV Series Reboots Bring Back Original Characters?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:30:29 -0700

If nostalgia for Donna, Kelly, and the rest was what got you to tune into the CW's 90210 remake last Fall, you might be keeping the show on your schedule for a while longer: Jennie Garth will be back on the show in season two for at least several episodes. And she's not the only '90s character set to appear on CW shows this Fall: over on the network's Melrose Place reboot, Daphne Zuniga has agreed to guest-star on the show, alongside Laura Leighton, Thomas Calabro, and Josie Bissett.

But after 90210's rocky first season, I'm wondering if Melrose is relying too heavily on its old cast members to build buzz. Before 90210 premiered last Fall, many of you said you were much more excited for the old cast than the new, and I'm not sure if the new characters ever generated the kind of excitement that a Tori Spelling or Shannen Doherty cameo could bring.

Do you think it's wise for these shows to get old cast members on board at the start? Or does it just take attention away from the new cast members and storylines that will have to hold our interest going forward?

Photo courtesy of The CW

Melrose Place: An Extended Look

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:30:52 -0700

We've seen how The CW rebooted 90210, but how will it do with its return to Melrose Place? The network just released a new trailer that gives us our first extended look at the new residents of the famous apartment complex - and I have to say, I'm getting a little excited.

The thing is, I've been jonesing for a show about people in their 20s - Greek's characters are a little young for me, but How I Met Your Mother's are just a smidge too old. So while the rich and ritzy folks of Melrose Place aren't necessarily realistic, I'm still excited to see a show that focuses on people starting out in their careers, contemplating marriage, and basically doing all the other things that folks in their 20s do. And if that gets done with a soapy sheen and a hearty dose of CW glamour, then so be it. I'm not saying this Melrose will be the show of my dreams, but I'm certainly willing to give it a shot.

That said, a few of the twists in this preview (including, uh, the big one at the end) make me wonder a bit about the show's direction - but hey, I guess intrigue is good at this point, right? To check out the longer trailer and another new preview, just read more.

Photo courtesy of The CW

Sneak Peek: Melrose Place, The Beautiful Life, Vampire Diaries

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:15:21 -0700

The CW doesn't present its Fall schedule until tomorrow, but the network delivered a treat today, as photos from new series Melrose Place, The Beautiful Life, and Vampire Diaries turned up online.

The Melrose reboot counts Ashlee Simpson, Greek/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star Michael Rady, and Katie Cassidy among its cast. The Beautiful Life, about models trying to make it in New York, is produced by Ashton Kutcher and stars Mischa Barton. And Vampire Diaries, based on the book series of the same name, stars Degrassi's Nina Dobrev and these two hotties.

To check out the first photos of these three shows, just read more.

Melrose Place

View 4 Photos ›

Vampire Diaries

View 3 Photos ›

The Beautiful Life

View 4 Photos ›

Photos courtesy of The CW

Melrose Place Fans: Sydney Is Back

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:30:26 -0700

Wondering which original-flavor Melrose Place cast members might be adding some sizzle to the Melrose Place spinoff? Wonder no more: Laura Leighton will reprise her role as Sydney in the CW's planned update of the series.

Not only is she back, she's . . . reanimated? I mean, the girl got run over by a car at the end of the first Melrose's fifth season. But apparently she's been fine all along - or, at least, functional enough to return as the landlord to a new generation.

Scheming, immature, and totally dead Sydney . . . as a landlord? That sounds like Melrose Place logic at its best. Something tells me they're going to have some 'splaining to do if this show makes it to TV, but I'd tune in just to see how the writers explain this twist. How do you think they'll justify bringing Sydney back from the dead? And which other Melrose cast members need to hurry up and join her?

Source

Ashlee Simpson and Libby From Lost Nab Jobs at the CW

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0700

The CW has two pretty high-profile spinoffs in the works for the Fall TV season - one of Gossip Girl, one of Melrose Place - and over the past couple of days, they've gotten busy adding some big names to their casts:

Ashlee Simpson has nabbed a role in the Melrose Place spinoff, returning to the network that gave her a breakout job on 7th Heaven. In Melrose, she'll play Violet, "a bright-eyed but shrewd small-town girl and recent LA transplant who has come to town with a secret." She joins Michael Rady and Katie Cassidy in the ensemble.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Watros, aka Libby from Lost, will play Celia "CeCe" Rhodes in the Gossip Girl spinoff, tentatively titled Lily. She'll be the '80s version of awesome grandma CeCe played by Caroline Lagerfelt in the present-day GG. Meanwhile, the show has also added Ryan Hansen (Dick from Veronica Mars) as Shep, who's got a futile crush on Lily's sister, Carol (Krysten Ritter).

So, what do you make of Ashlee's return to full-time acting? And could you imagine Cynthia Watros, Brittany Snow, Kelly Rutherford, and Blake Lively all being related?

Source

TV Casting News: Scott Wolf, Katie Cassidy, Anastasia Griffith

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:30:31 -0800

As pilot season continues in Hollywood, I've got a fresh round of casting news, including Scott Wolf's next TV job and some plans for the new Melrose Place. Check it:

Scott Wolf has been cast in ABC's remake of V, which is about aliens known as "the visitors" trying to take over Earth. Wolf's role is as a TV newscaster who begins to spread the aliens' messages. The show was originally a cult hit in the '80s. This would be Wolf's first regular TV role since The Nine in 2007.
Katie Cassidy, formerly of Supernatural and currently starring in the upcoming Harper's Island on CBS, has also landed a role in the Melrose Place remake. Her character is Ella, "a stylish, alluring and ambitious publicist." She joins the previously cast Michael Rady.
Anastasia Griffith, aka Katie Connor on Damages, is the latest person cast in NBC's Trauma. She'll play "an EMT whose paramedic beau died in a helicopter crash."
Teri Polo of Meet the Parents fame (though I still think of her character on Sports Night first!) has been cast in Washington Field, a CBS pilot about an elite FBI squad. Eddie Cibrian has also been chosen for the ensemble.
And finally . . . Life on Mars may have been canceled, but it sounds like Gretchen Mol is already in talks for Eastwick, alongside Lindsay Price.

Source

More TV Casting News: Michael Rady, Sarah Drew, LL Cool J

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:30:36 -0800

Lindsay Price's new job wasn't the only TV casting news that's caught my eye this week. It's pilot season in Hollywood, and the jobs are coming fast and furious. Here are a few of my other favorites:

The CW's Melrose Place spinoff has its first cast member, and it's a good one: Michael Rady will play Jonah Miller, described as "a cute and quirky 25-year-old aspiring filmmaker who makes his living as a videographer of weddings and bar mitzvahs for the rich and famous after moving to Los Angeles with his fiancee a year ago." The Hollywood Reporter notes that the character sounds a bit like Andrew Shue's Billy from the original series - which is funny as Shue's brother-in-law, Davis Guggenheim, will be directing the Melrose pilot. Rady also plays Max on Greek and was Laurie's love interest, Doug, on Swingtown.
Sarah Drew, one of the people I hoped to see more of in '09, will star in the new TV-themed pilot from Shonda Rhimes, as will Eli Stone's Jason George. In Inside the Box, George will play a correspondent at a Washington news bureau, while Drew will play a newcomer at the network.
Wondering what LL Cool J is up to these days? Well, here's your answer: He's signed on for the proposed spinoff of NCIS, playing a former Navy Seal who now works in the undercover unit. The spinoff will begin later this season with a special episode of NCIS.
Always good to see the Beeper King getting work: Dean Winters, aka Dennis the Beeper King from 30 Rock, will play the father of an abducted girl in ABC's mystery pilot Happy Town.

Source