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Five Ways to Fix the New 90210

BuzzSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:30:00 -0700

Well, here we are, several weeks into the new 90210, and I don't think I'm alone in feeling that it could be better. Much better. Don't get me wrong—I want to root for this reboot! It's been a lot of fun seeing Brenda and Kelly together again on my screen, and there are moments every week that make me feel like things are improving.

But it's not happening fast enough — so I thought it through and came up with five ways to fix this puppy. There's so much potential and it's not too late, if the powers that be would just take these simple recommendations:

No. 5: Increase the wardrobe budget. I have a hard time thinking of another instance when the clothing on a TV show was this distracting. This is 90210! Annie and Dixon (and the rest of us) are supposed to be awed by the extravagant threads these rich kids sport each day! As it stands, they look like most people I know who have gone a little nuts at Forever 21. A few of the outfits have been worth noting, but in general, the clothes should be way more envy-inducing. Wardrobe is key to setting the right tone and context for a teen drama, especially one with a fish-out-of-Kansas theme central to its premise.

No. 4: Speaking of which, focus in on that fish-out-of-water stuff. So far, the show lacks a certain urgency that the first 90210 had (and Gossip Girl has in spades). We need to see how high the stakes are for Annie and Dixon to fit in with this uber-wealthy, fast-moving crowd. But Annie doesn't seem to want for anything the others have, and she's had an easy time fitting in and making friends (she and Silver resolved their "issues" in a single episode!). And Dixon's already got the girl, for Pete's sake.

To see my top three, just

Link Time! 9/2

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:38:23 -0700

Five reasons why Scott Porter should play Ryan on Brothers and Sisters. — The Ausiello Files
Dr. Horrible lives on with comics and a soundtrack. — Give Me My Remote
Have your pop culture tastes ever mortified you on public transportation? — Popwatch
New Neko Case songs? Why yes, my day has been made. — Stereogum
What other Chuck Palahniuk novels are headed for big-screen adaptations? — Cinematical
Wentworth Miller talks about Prison Break's latest reinvention. — The TV Addict
Republican National Convention viewing alternative: TCM's political movie night. — TV Squad
Hey, why weren't Brian Austin Green and Luke Perry talking in the New York Times oral history of 90210? — Vulture

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90210 Revives Brenda Walsh?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:39:30 -0700

There's a lot of chatter today about this Entertainment Weekly item that Shannen Doherty is in talks to join the new 90210, reprising her role as Brenda Walsh and theoretically joining Jennie Garth as the second original cast member to appear in the show's new generation.

The deal is far from done: Doherty has reportedly told the show's producers that she's interested, but 1) she wants to know what the story is first, and 2) she wants more money. There's also the little issue that she and Garth weren't exactly BFF back in the day, but Garth told Michael Ausiello that "A lot of time has passed, and I'm a big girl. I'd have no problem with her coming on the show." But it's interesting to contemplate: How would 90210 work Brenda into the story? And would you want to see it?

Also, is anyone else starting to think that all this focus on the old 90210 is the wrong tactic for promoting the new show? They've got Garth. They've got Jason Priestly directing a few episodes. They might have Doherty. They even have the Peach Pit. So what's going to make this 90210 different or worth watching? Will it all just feel like a rehash of the original, but with older cast members at (let's face it) worse times in their careers? I hope we get some signs of the new show's personality soon.

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First Look: The New 90210 Gets a Promo Video

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:24:42 -0700

"You wanna live in the zip. . . you gotta live by the code."

Yup, that's the super cheesarific tag line at the end of this new promo video for the CW's resurrection/retooling of 90210 (which just found a dad in former Melrose Place guy Rob Estes). The beginning of the promo made me howl with laughter as the classic theme music starts up again and the new kids basically reenact parts of the original 90210 intro. This quickly ends, though, and we launch into the little interviews with the cast of the show.

The most bizarre part of all is seeing Jessica Walter in this setting, since she will always and forever and ever be Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development in my eyes. I hope she gets to provide a lot of the funny lines in this show.

Anyway, to get a glimpse at the new Beverly Hills kids (and parents),

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:30:35 -0700

We appear to have a mellow movie weekend ahead of us in terms of new releases, but there is still lots out there to keep you busy. Which movie are you headed to this weekend?
Holy cow, it was a busy week for TV! The network upfronts gave us a lot of good stuff to look forward to this Fall. Fox added some cool-looking sci-fi shows to its roster while the CW charts a clear path forward, littered with rich kids.
Speaking of the CW's rich kids, are you excited for the new 90210 now that we've got some pictures? And what do you think about the series Surviving the Rich (based on the book How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls)?
Hooray for Reaper! It will not be canceled, which I assume is a great relief to its star, Bret Harrison, who I had the honor of interviewing!
There were a lot of trailers out on the Web this week some good, some not so good. I thought Edge of Love looks breathtakingly gorgeous (and so romantic!) and I'm really intrigued by Woody Allen's latest all-star flick.
Is it just me or does it seem like only people raised in the '80s are running the show down in L.A. right now? They're bringing Fraggle Rock to the big screen and. . . wait for it. . . a cereal box mascot movie (yeah, it's odd, just read the post).
James Frey, author of the bestselling memoir A Million Little Pieces (which later turned out to be more fiction than anything else) has a new book out and it's getting stellar reviews. Are you open to reading his stuff?
Definitely make time to check out what's new on iTunes because there's some great stuff out this week, including Duffy and Death Cab for Cutie. And if you're curious about who's singing that sweet little tune on the diamond commercials, I have the entire song here.
Also, the new Flight of the Conchords video for "Ladies of the World" is. So. Funny.

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Are You Excited for the New 90210?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:30:01 -0700

It's official: The 90210 spinoff — now known as simply 90210 — will be on our TVs this Fall. Jennie Garth is absolutely on board to reprise her role as Kelly Taylor, now a Beverly Hills High guidance counselor, confirming some buzz we heard a while back. And there are still rumors that Tori Spelling could join the show as well. The news about this spinoff has been coming fast and furious from the moment it was announced, so now that we know so much about a show that hasn't aired even a single episode, I have to ask: Are you excited for 90210? Or are you sick of it already? Source

Are You Excited for the New 90210?

Yes, I'm excited! I can't wait to see this remake.

No, I'm over it! I truly could not care less.

I'm not sure yet. I might watch, but I'm not holding my breath.

Other (tell me below)

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:30:58 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below, you can now rent or own the fourth season of Beverly Hills 90210, which — according to Netflix and my memory—includes moments like Andrea finding out she's pregnant and Brandon meeting Bill Clinton!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on an astonishing true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the one-time glamorous editor of Elle France living the high life when he suddenly suffers a stroke and is rendered paralyzed except for the movement of one eyelid. From a premise that sounds unspeakably bleak, director Julian Schnabel (nominated for an Oscar for his work on this film) takes Bauby's own words and whips them into a film imbibed with gorgeous images and touching performances to tell what is actually a very hopeful and life-affirming tale.

I enjoyed this movie very much and think you should consider bumping it up to the top of your queue today. Special features include a featurette titled "Submerged: The making of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"and a Charlie Rose interview with Julian Schnabel.

Two more titles after the jump, so

Jennie Garth Leaves CBS Pilot . . . For 90210?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:30:55 -0700

Could the 90210 spinoff be getting one of the original residents of the zip code to join the cast? That's the speculation after Jennie Garth left her CBS pilot suddenly after a read-through on Monday.

Garth was supposed to play the female lead in My Best Friend's Girl, a comedy about tension that develops between two best friends when one starts dating the other's wife, but she left in what was described as "a mutual decision." And the Hollywood Reporter says Rob Thomas, who wrote the original script for the spinoff, had been courting her to return as Kelly Taylor — possibly playing a fashion design teacher at Beverly Hills High.

The story notes that Garth might have left the CBS show for other reasons, including the recent death of her father. But let's just go with the 90210 speculation for a moment: Would that be a step up for the show — or a step down for Garth? Would you be more or less inclined to watch the spinoff if Kelly Taylor were a regular on your TV screen again? After all, she was one of your favorites . . .

Meanwhile, Tori Spelling desperately wants to join the show, which seems like it just spells disaster all around. No word yet on whether she's been contacted by the producers, but for some reason, I'm going to guess no.

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Link Time! 4/15

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:30:27 -0700

BestWeekEver has the new poster for Beverly Hills Chihuahua and has declared voting for the 2008 Oscars officially closed.
In celebration of tax day, TV Filter has a tribute to TV's greatest accountants.
Lucky lady PopSugarUK got to see Bjork live! Check out her thoughts here, and stay tuned for her reports from the upcoming Breeders concert.
Popwatch has posted a hilarious challenge: sum up classic movies in three lines.
TV Squad has a list of 10 awkward TV moments, and amazingly, only one is from The Office.
According to CasaSugar, Sting's NYC condo unit is freaking awesome.
TV With MeeVee wonders who really likes The Price is Right enough to buy a box set.
Give Me My Remote is less excited about the 90210 spinoff now that Rob Thomas isn't writing it anymore, but The TV Addict has some better news with a photo of cast addition AnnaLynne McCord.

Link Time! 4/1

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:35:29 -0700

Give Me My Remote introduces us to the first resident of the new Beverly Hills, 90210: this guy (Dustin Milligan, pictured at right)!
Cinematical has a heads up on the essential reading list to get everyone brushed up on all things Batman before The Dark Knight comes out this summer.
Vulture lists 10 terrible music slumps, including dark periods from Madonna, Bob Dylan, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The Film Experience also braved a viewing of the atrocity that is Amy Heckerling's I Could Never Be Your Woman, just as I did. I feel validated.
The idea of Chris Cornell as an indie rocker just about blew Idolator's mind.
Stereogum has the latest kooky, colorful music video from Bjork.
On the 45th (!) anniversary of General Hospital, a TV Squad writer lists off six things that keep her tuning in daily.
Want to talk Dancing with the Stars? TV Cocktail is your place.
In light of the upcoming Tina Fey-Amy Poehler comedy Baby Mama, LilSugar wants to know: Would you consider being a surrogate?
If you're feeling paranoid today, Pop Candy has a list of some of the biggest April Fool's pranks on the web. Don't get fooled!

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Rob Thomas = The New Josh Schwartz?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:32:06 -0700

OK, so it's not like Josh Schwartz needs to be replaced — with Gossip Girl and Chuck both coming back for second seasons, the OC ingenue is doing just fine, thanks. But Rob Thomas, creator of the late, great Veronica Mars, seems like he's about to give Schwartz a run for his money for the title of busiest man in TV.

We were impressed when Schwartz got two pilots last season; Thomas now has three: a remake of his own 1998 show, Cupid for ABC; a Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff for the CW; and, most recently, a remake of New Zealand's Outrageous Fortune, also for ABC. Whew.

It's not just the sheer volume of work that makes me think Thomas is the Schwartz of this year's pilot season. They've got some other things in common, too:

They both discover unheralded young talent. Schwartz gets to claim Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody, and a big chunk of the cast of Gossip Girl. But Thomas has a big-time rising star in his own back pocket: Kristen Bell. Does one sassy teen detective trump a whole quiver of rich kids?
They both write great teen heroines. Thomas' Veronica Mars experience is what gives me hope for the 90210 project, while Schwartz takes the Dawson's Creek-style "nobody talks like that, but man, I wish they did" dialogue to a whole new level.
They both respond well to adversity. Just months after Schwartz's first show was canceled, he was back with two pilots — both of which have gone on to become buzzed-about series. Thomas spent his year post-Veronica Mars bouncing around various ABC shows (Big Shots, Miss/Guided), but now he's found his footing by reworking three older series — including one of his own that he wants to do better.

Not to mention, if networks keep pushing so hard for reality programming, pretty soon a huge percentage of our comedies and dramas will be written by these two guys. To see a short promo for the show Thomas most recently signed on to remake, about a criminal family that tries to go legit, just

Who Should Play the New Inhabitants of 90210?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:50 -0700

Since we now have an outline of the main characters for the rumored 90210 spinoff, my brain can't stop thinking about who might be cast in these roles. While these new characters have updated traits and hobbies (emo! YouTube!) they are, as some have pointed out, more or less the new versions of the original cast. While we all have our old favorites, I think it's really fun imagining the young stars who could play these updated versions of the original Kelly, Brenda, Donna, etc. Also, some of the original 90210 actors were, like, 30 years old when they played teenagers so I'm going to expand my own fictional casting reach as such.

For example, I could totally see Kristen Stewart (In the Land of Women, Into the Wild) as Annie, the emo girl looking to get popular, and Victor Razuk (Lords of Dogtown, upcoming Stop-Loss) as her adopted bad-boy brother, Dixon. I loved Kevin Zegers in The Jane Austen Book Club and could see him as the jock. Also, this Nickelodeon actress screams Daphne Silver to me. What do you think? Any hot young stars come to mind to fill these slots?

For a reminder of all the new characters and their descriptions, and to tell me who you're thinking could play them,

Introducing the New Rich Kids of 90210

BuzzSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:35:11 -0700

For a show that's not official yet, we sure are hearing a lot about the new Rob Thomas-penned Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff. The Hollywood Reporter got its hands on a detailed description of the series, Variety pieced together details from various casting notices to put together a pretty darn full picture of what the show will look like, and Thomas himself talked to People about his plans. It still doesn't have a title, but that's about the only thing it's lacking.

It always starts with the parents on shows like this, and here we've got a grandma in the mix: Tabitha Mills, a 60-ish actress and alcoholic (par for the course here) who Variety says "was a major star in the 1970s and had been linked to everyone from Warren Beatty to Jack Nicholson." She's moved to her 90210 estate after yet another stint in Betty Ford.

Living close by is her do-gooder son, Harry Mills, who graduated from Beverly Hills High in the 1980s and has decided to move home from Kansas City (according to Thomas) or St. Louis (according to Variety) to help his mom out. He gets hired as the new principal of BevHigh, and his wife, Celia, is an ex-Olympic athlete who finds her niche in the Golden State as a personal trainer. As for the children, well:

Annie, 16, is an emo kid and drama nerd who's trying to make it with the cool crowd.
Dixon, also 16, is a "supersmart bad boy who has lingering social and behavioral issues" — and the casting notice is neutral on his physical description, which Variety speculates could mean he won't be white.

But that's just the family. Are there more teens in this soapy, sun-soaked universe? Why, of course there are! Just

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you missed Amy Poehler's impression of Project Runway's Christian on SNL I highly recommend kicking your weekend off with this clip.
ER has been around since 1994 and might be back for yet another season — and they're even courting older stars to return. The '90s are hot right now as the big news out of the CW is that they're looking at a spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210. Any characters from that hit show you'd like to see again?
Check out the trailers for two cool action thriller trailers out right now: The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton and Righteous Kill starring super acting duo Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Norton also made news this week with talk about developing an Obama documentary.
There was a lot of scary movie remake news this week that struck me as mostly odd, involving more Michael Bay projects and tomatoes that kill.
What do you think of the new Breeders song? And did you hear? You'll be able to get the new REM album on Facebook!
Some things don't need a part two — I'm looking at you, Lost Boys 2. However, somethings should be recast (just for fun!). What actors do you think could fill the big shoes of the characters in Jerry Maguire?
Whether or not you thought letting Idol contestants sing the Beatles was blasphemous, America loved it, and next week the top 11 will be singing more from that songbook. Let's hope Kristy Lee Cook leaves the fiddles out this time.

Photo of Christian courtesy of Bravo

Who Was Your Favorite 90210 Character?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:30:50 -0700

Kind of a tough one, I know, but this morning's news of a possible 90210 spin-off got me thinking about which of the old beloved characters I might like to see return. I admired Brenda's fiery spirit, though the mood swings were grating. Kelly's transformation from vapid L.A. blonde to great BFF material made her hard to hate. Whether struggling to graduate or just stay a virgin, it's hard to imagine the show without Donna. And Andrea's secret crush on Brandon endeared her to me.Ah, but the boys! Was rebellious Dylan more fun than dreamy Brandon? Also, it's kind of hard to ignore the awesomeness that was Steve's mullet or David's rapping. What do you think? Can you even choose?

Who Was Your Favorite 90210 Character?

Brenda — She was melodramatic, I loved it!

Brandon — The all-American boy.

Dylan — Independently wealthy surfer with a Porsche. What's to debate?

Andrea — So smart, and yet adorably dense when it came to love.

Donna — She was so sweet, it's hard not to like her.

Steve — Always scheming, a-mazing hair.

David — He was a nice, normal guy in that popular crowd.

Kelly — She just epitomized "California Girl."

Other (tell us below)

90210 Might Make a Comeback on the CW

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:30:56 -0700

Before The OC, The Hills, and the Upper East Side, there was one ZIP code everyone knew: 90210. And now, it might be coming back.

The CW is developing a modern-day spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210, with Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas at the helm. The show's original creator, Darren Star, isn't involved with this update.

What makes it a spinoff rather than just a show about rich kids in California? That's not exactly clear right now — nobody has said which, if any, of the original characters would be brought back. But we might know more by the end of the month, when the CW will reportedly decide whether to order a pilot for the show. For now, though, let's just speculate: Do you think it's a good idea? Could they make it work? And what characters (if any) would you hope to see return?

Source

Buzz Brainteaser

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:30:00 -0800

Welcome to Buzz Brainteaser, the trivia feature on BuzzSugar! Every weekday I'll test your knowledge about TV shows, music and movies. If you enter in the correct answer, you win points! Name the Oscar-winning actress who played Carly during the eighth season of 90210.
Hint: Carly dated Steve.

The Results Are In: Recast 90210

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:07:37 -0800

Ever wonder what a TV show or a movie would be like if you could be the casting director? Well, now you can with BuzzSugar's weekly Recast challenge! Last week, I kicked things off by asking how you would recast Beverly Hills 90210, and I couldn't have been more pleased with all of the great, creative submissions that came in. I particularly loved Rubialala's idea of casting America Ferrera as Andrea, while FallGirl suggested that Justin Timberlake should play David, since he "thinks he can rap and likes to dance." And though we didn't ask for a new Valerie, I would love to see Valeri's suggestion, Lindsay Lohan, in the role.

But the award for Best Recast goes to WhiplashGirlchild, who found a great new roster of actors who could do this angsty teen drama justice. Here are her picks.

Brandon - Adam Brody
Brenda - Michelle Trachtenberg
Dylan - Tom Welling
Kelly - Hayden Panettierre
Andrea - Amber Tamblyn
David - Justin Long
Donna - Amanda Bynes
Steve - Topher Grace

Recast 90210!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:36:12 -0800

Ever wonder what a TV show would be like if you could be the casting director? Well, now's your chance. The actors who made the characters on 90210 memorable were awesome and all, but what if you could "recast" that series? Who would you pick? For example, what if Dylan were played by Josh Hartnett? Or Brenda by Lindsay Lohan? Can you imagine Kristen Bell as Kelly or Ashton Kutcher as Brandon?

Now it's your turn! Leave a comment below and tell us how you'd recast this TV classic. We'll pick one winner to feature this Friday, Dec. 8, when we launch our new entertainment site, BuzzSugar.com, which will give you the straight story on must-see movies, hot albums, and all of your favorite TV shows.

Characters to recast:
Kelly, Dylan, Brenda, Brandon, David, Donna, Andrea and Steve

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