REACTION: 9021OMG Episode 32

The “9021OMG” podcast went on a camping trip, at least figuratively, on Monday.

“Camping Trip,” a beloved installment of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” is the seventh episode of season 2. The gang takes an end-of-summer trip that, like many television trips, doesn’t go quite as planned. The hour was written by Karen Rosin, wife of executive producer Charles Rosin, and directed by Jeff Melman. This is the first of 11 helmed by the director.

Jennie Garth (Kelly) and Tori Spelling (Donna) shared last week how excited they were to watch this episode. What’d they think now that they did? You know I got the goods… good, bad, or indifferent.

9021OMG Episode 32, “Silver Lining”

• They started with their usual random chit-chat, this time on topics like Tori’s oldest daughter’s birthday, Jennie’s dynamic with Stella, a sleepover Jennie hosted for Stella and Liam years ago, Stella’s obsession with Harry Potter (which Tori didn’t remember discussing on a prior podcast, though Sisanie and Jennie did), the cost of Cameos, the meaning of “ping,” etc. Tori: “Tom Felton just got way too much airtime. Let’s move on.”

• Jennie: “Should we get right into it for a minute? Because we have some exciting things in store later.” This was about eight minutes in. Tori gave the synopsis. Not sure where it was from. Jennie, once again, wrongly credited Darren as being one of the episode’s writers.

  • Before we know it, a minute really is going to be how long they discuss the episodes for.

• Tori joked about reading the names of all the actors in the episode and then cracked, “Let’s read the list of our fellow castmates who have not come on our podcast.” Jennie: “Okay. Starting with Jason Priestley, followed by Shannen Doherty, Ian Ziering, Luke Perry obviously, Brian Austin Green… James Eckhouse.” Tori said they need to have James on sooner than later. 

  • Uh, what are they waiting for?

  • Apart from perhaps James (and obviously Luke), it seems they’re making clear that the other cast members haven’t been on because they haven’t wanted to come on. Yikes.

• Tori brought up Gabrielle confirming that the slap with her and Shannen in the last episode was real. She shared what Gabrielle told her, with Gabrielle claiming it was not discussed in advance that the slap would be real. She also apparently said she couldn’t discuss it further on the podcast, but would tell Tori and Jennie privately what went down. Jennie and Sisanie were in disbelief.

• Tori said a fan reminded them that Jennie was slapped on the show by Vanessa Marcil. Jennie: “Oh, good to know.” She didn’t remember, of course, but blamed it on not getting to that episode yet. Jennie: “You’d think I’d remember something like that… I hope it comes back to me.”

  • Another reason she should remember: It was the episode Jennie herself directed.

• Getting into this particular episode around 11 minutes in, Jennie liked the vibe as the group departed for the trip. She called Steve “the travel Nazi.”

  • Guess no one told Jennie that Nazi references like that are offensive. They should’ve cut that line from the podcast.

• A mere minute into discussing the episode, there was immediately a (brief) tangent about Tori’s real-life habit of overpacking.

• Jennie liked that Dylan went on the trip. Tori speculated the reason the characters don’t actually go to Yosemite in the episode is because it was cheaper to do a motel storyline. Tori lamented filming in the cabin, calling it “maybe the least fun ever.” Jennie: “Really? It looked fun.” But of everyone being pissy, Jennie quipped that it was “Lord of the Flies for a minute.” She thought Andrea was cute with the spider freakout and Sisanie thought it was interesting that Brenda, not any of the guys, took care of it. They thought Brenda had “mom” / Carol Potter vibes in the episode.

• Jennie saw the boom three times in the episode. Sisanie was proud of herself for seeing it once. Jennie called it her “obsession” and told fans to write in when they see it. With this being a prevalent problem, Tori questioned why the issue wasn’t resolved at the time of filming or in post-production. Jennie speculated there were limited shots to work with.

  • Charles has discussed this numerous times on the “Beverly Hills 90210 Show” podcast. But of course they rather guess what went down than do research or ask someone who would know.

• Jennie thought the “husband and wife duo were super-cute,” but she thought it was “creepy” when they started to hook up in Brandon and Andrea’s presence. Tori wondered if that was done to suggest romantic tension between Brandon and Andrea, but Jennie didn’t think so. She cracked that Andrea looked like she wanted to watch the makeout. Sisanie called it “so awkward” that the honeymooners invited Andrea and Brandon in in the first place. Tori said it was because they’re “so nice.”

• Jennie recalled becoming friends with someone during her “first honeymoon” and said that person is still a friend today. It was a guy, which cracked Sisanie up. Tori’s mind was blown. Jennie plugged the dude’s law firm. There were cracks about “red flags” that Jennie should’ve known about her marriage then.

• Sisanie said they have a special guest coming on, but Jennie interrupted to say she wanted to say one more thing about the episode. She said she was watching when her husband came home during the scene where Brandon and Dylan go on a hike. He called it the “prequel to Brokeback Mountain.” Jennie called it a “friend hike.” 

• Jennie then brought up the stunt doubles. Sisanie said the cliff scene was “still suspenseful for me as a fan.” Tori recalled watching this episode as a teen and being “so excited” over that moment for Brandon and Dylan’s friendship. Jennie said they looked so “handsome” that her husband was getting weirded out. But the stunt doubles made her laugh. Superfan Sisanie: “I didn’t notice the stunt double… Why would they need a stunt double?”

  • Wow, Sisanie. Wow. That horrible stunt casting for Jason / Brandon is something fans still discuss almost 30 years later… and you didn’t even notice that a stunt double was used?!

• Tori said this episode was the first time they took a group photo where they put the camera on the floor and all looked down at it. Jennie didn’t remember doing that and said they’d never do that angle today. But it reminded Jennie of the characters’ huddle at the end of the episode, which she seemed to like.

• After JUST 11 MINUTES of discussing the episode, they went to break and then Sisanie read aloud the email in which Matthew Laurance — who is NOT in this episode — agreed to come on today’s podcast. But she read it to mock him, because he used ellipses after every sentence. What a way to welcome a guest, Sis.

• Tori then wrongly said Matthew was on for “all 10 years.” Apparently they already forgot they just covered his first episode, which was a season 2 episode.

• Matthew shared that he’s in Lexington, Kentucky, and an ESPN Radio host because he “has a face for radio.” Tori was surprised to find out he’s a “big sports guy,” saying it wasn’t their “common thread.” Matthew then cracked that no one ever asked about him and his interests during the whole time he was on the show — the focus was always on them. Jennie: “It’s so true, though.”

• Jennie referenced some of Matthew’s other work and brought up his twin brother (who, as I’ve pointed out, appeared on “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill”). Matthew detailed how he pursued acting while his brother started as a producer on “SNL” before deciding to become an actor too. Matthew was flabbergasted by his brother’s decision and said it brought up jealousy issues from their childhood. They were then estranged for about five years. They were up for the same parts sometimes, but their agents would try to schedule their auditions at different times. That said, his brother did not audition for “Beverly Hills, 90210,” but people would often mistake them for one another when out in public and it was “really hard” for them to deal with. He shared how they became close again, with Matthew calling his brother his “absolute best friend in the world.”

• Tori brought up Matthew being in St. Elmo’s Fire, but said she didn’t realize it til she watched the movie with her kids. Matthew joked that the success of the Brat Pack and the “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast is because of him. He said working on that film was “incredible” and that Andrew McCarthy (Rick, Gossip Girl / director) is one of his best friends to this day. Matthew mentioned Andrew’s memoir (which I’ve posted about a few times now) and said he just did a “virtual book sale thing” with him.

• Matthew called Jennie and Tori “two of my favorite people in the world.” It sounded like he was getting emotional, which isn’t surprising if you’ve watched him on the “Beverly Hills 90210 Show” podcast. He told the same story he shared on that podcast about meeting a fan of the show through friends around the third or fourth season and later bringing her to set, where Tori took her around and introduced her to everyone. Matthew: “I won’t cry.”

• Jennie noted how she, Tori, Brian, and Ann worked with Matthew the most and asked him how he got the role. Matthew: “I just saw both of you with Larry and Chuck and Peter on their wonderful thing that they’re doing.” That might be the most explicit acknowledgement to date we’ve gotten of the “Beverly Hills 90210 Show” podcast. I’m surprised it wasn’t cut. 

• Matthew mentioned it because Charles “corrected” him on how he was cast. Matthew recalled being asked to audition for a father of one of the characters. He had “never really seen the show” and didn’t want to do it. His agent convinced him to go to the meeting, pointing out he had never played a father before, and that’s when he learned that he’d be playing Brian’s dad. Well, he and Brian already knew each from “Circus of the Stars” a few years earlier and had bonded. So now that he’d get to work with Brian again, he was sold.

• Jennie brought up how Mel was introduced, which Matthew called “so cheesy.” Matthew: “That one or two shows turned into nine years… It’s part of the greatest memories I have of my life.” He then told a story about coming across Swedish tourists in Berlin who recognized him from the show. Jennie said Matthew should be “so proud” because the character and he himself had a “lasting impression.”

• When Matthew said he still gets yelled at for getting them all drunk, Jennie exclaimed, “In real life?!” He was referring, of course, to Mel getting blamed for Donna being drunk at prom. Tori rightly told him, “It wasn’t your fault! It was half a glass, a toast!” She told him to “flip it” and say, “If it weren’t for me, there’d be no ‘Donna Martin graduates.’” Matthew said he also gets yelled at for cheating on Jackie with an infant daughter at home.

• Jennie asked Matthew what he’d do if he wasn’t an actor. He said something in sports. He recalled meeting the famous Coach K in the ‘90s and, in 1999, when he told him that he wanted to leave Los Angeles, Coach K invited him to work with him at Duke. So Matthew did that for 10 years, doing radio for the basketball team. During that time, he got married and had two young sons. His wife is from Kentucky and when he was offered a job with ESPN there, they moved. 

• Matthew insisted he’s “really old.” Tori insisted he’s not. Jennie insisted he is. But when Matthew gave his sons’ ages as 14 and 17, Jennie exclaimed, “That’s nothin’! I got a 23-year-old, Matthew.” Matthew: “Excuse me, I’m 71, Jen.” Tori was shocked: “You just blew my mind… What the hell?” Jennie: “You look great for 71.”

• Tori wanted to know what it was like working on “SNL,” calling it one of her “dreams.” Matthew said his year, 1980-1981, was a new cast and they were “hated.” But it gave him great acting experience and he loved seeing all the musical acts, like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Prince. He said he has “wonderful memories” of the people he worked with.

• Tori: “You have the greatest stories.” Matthew: “Oh, you have no idea.” Tori said she and Jennie wish they could have a “do-over” and get to know him and others, like Carol Potter, better back then instead of being so focused on themselves. Tori: “I’m sorry we didn’t ask you about you because listen to the stories you have!” Matthew gave Tori a pass for being focused on herself back then, saying she grew up in a very unique situation and it’s remarkable how well she turned out. He then extended that to the rest of the cast as well.

• Matthew revealed he and Brian just recently spoke for the first time in 25 years… which doesn’t make sense since the show only ended 21 years ago. In any case, he sounded emotional again. He praised how well Brian turned out and again extended that to the rest of the cast. Tori: “Wish we could hug you right now.” Matthew said he’s going to visit L.A. this summer and they’ll get together and “I’ll tell you a bunch more stories that I can’t talk about” on the podcast.

• Jennie said she wanted to play their rapid-fire game with Matthew because he’d be a “hoot.” Sisanie asked the questions, as usual, starting with his favorite character. Matthew: “Besides Mel Silver?” He went with that. For favorite cast member, he said, “I can’t answer that.” Tori: “Least favorite cast member. I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” Matthew: “Oh, that almost jumped out. That’s for when we get together.” Going back to favorite cast member and excluding Tori and Jennie, he said Brian.

• For favorite couple, Matthew said, “Me and Jackie… before I had the affair with the dental hygienist.” For kiss, marry, kick to the curb with the characters, Matthew said, “I’m gonna be real honest here. I would kiss Tiffani. I’m just saying.” Jennie seemed surprised. Tori called her “very kissable” and reminded everyone that she’s done it. Matthew said if they lived in Utah, he’d marry Tori and Jennie. Tori: “Sister Wives of Mel Silver! You just created a new show!” He didn’t want to kick anyone to the curb. Tori pointed out that he went with the actors, not the characters, and he said it never crossed his mind… even though Sisanie specifically said she was asking about the characters.

• Jennie called Matthew “the real deal.” Tori asked if he kept anything from the show. Matthew: “What kind of props? My dental drill?” He recalled objecting to a script that said Mel was giving a root canal, saying he couldn’t “fake” that. Matthew liked his wardrobe, except for Mel’s wedding attire, and said he’s sure he “stole” some of it. 

• Tori: “Wait, were you on the new ‘90210’ on CW?” He confirmed he wasn’t and he and Tori found this “weird” since he was Erin’s / Silver’s dad.

  • Apparently neither was aware of the hatchet job nu90210 did to Mel and to Mel and Silver’s relationship. You’d think Jennie would know since she was on the show and it tied into her storyline but…

• Matthew: “And you know what? I’m glad. I really am. I want to be associated with our show.” 

  • Damn straight. If only Jennie and Tori had felt the same at the time.

  • Also, this ties into today’s essay exclusively for premium TDW subscribers.

• Tori seemed to be crying as they said farewell to Matthew. When he hopped off, she said how much he helped her back in the day during hard times. Jennie called him “one of the good ones.” Tori: “Can’t wait to get drunk with him this summer and hear some juicy stories. And maybe we’ll let you know what happens.”

• After another break, now more than an hour in and with less than 15 minutes to go, they got back to the episode with Jennie asking for fashion dos and don’ts. Tori called it a “fashion-less episode.” Jennie agreed there weren’t “standouts.” Sisanie called Dylan in a jean jacket with a white t-shirt “so classic.” Jennie: “That’s how you always remember Dylan McKay.” She also praised Dylan and Brandon’s hair in the episode. 

• Jennie brought up Luke’s eyebrow scar and asked Tori if she felt like it became “more prominent” as the show went on. Jennie thought the makeup artist cut his eyebrow hairs to accentuate the scar. Neither remembered how Luke got the scar.

• For favorite lines, Sisanie repeated how she liked the line with the newlyweds inviting Brandon and Andrea in for a toast. Jennie liked Dylan saying, “My mom says my planetary alignment is in severe disarray.” Tori called this “setting the stage” for Iris. Tori liked Donna saying, “You know what they say, it takes two to tangle.” But she butchered it here and said “tango.” Tori: “I, in true Donna form, said the wrong line.” She then messed it up again. Tori: “Whatever, I am Donna Martin!”

• The first fan question was about whether they experienced “yes people” in the industry and how it affected them and whether their castmates did. Tori said how you don’t realize some of the people around you were “yes people” until later on. Jennie said it “sets you up for failure later in your life” and you “have a harsh reality check” when you realize not everything can go your way because the real world isn’t actually filled with “yes people.”

• The second fan question was about how their professional lives changed because of the show, whether people let them down, and if they’d make different career choices. Jennie said their “paths just sort of presented themselves before us” and they made decisions based on what the options were.

• Jennie said it took her a while to figure out what she wanted to do next, which she’s said before, which was weird to me then and is still weird to me now since she pretty much went right into doing “The Street” the same year “Beverly Hills, 90210” ended and then “What I Like About You” followed in 2002. But in her telling, it was about “waiting for the right thing to come around and being selective.” 

• Jennie went on to call herself “lazy” and said it takes a lot to get her to leave the house, even though she loves acting. Superfan Sisanie was surprised to learn Jennie only had one daughter when the show wrapped. When Sisanie asked if she thought about taking time off, Jennie said she “had to pay the bills” and had to maintain her “lifestyle” and “pay for the house and pay for the cars… and all the things you have to do when your life starts to roll like that.”

  • Let me get out my tiny violin…

  • And wait, I thought you chose to wait and be selective with roles? Now you’re saying you couldn’t…

• Tori said she really wanted to do comedy after the show wrapped and signed a deal with FOX to create her own sitcom. She was used to the success of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and having a long-running show, but then had to face the “harsh reality” of the pilot for this new show not even getting picked up. Tori: “You’ve climbed that mountain and then you have to start all over again.” She said she then turned into a “hustler.”

• Jennie said she wishes she had “more of a plan” for her career after the show, “like a business plan.” Everything in her life, from acting to becoming a mom, just “unfolded” before her as opposed to being planned. Tori questioned whether anyone from the show had such a career plan. Jennie said even if they did, it may not have worked out as wanted. Tori said if they had a show like “Beverly Hills, 90210” today, they’d know to think “big picture” and figure out the merch, the spinoff, the etc. 

  • In order words, Tori, you’d try to figure out every possible way to capitalize on it and exploit it, much like you’re trying to do right now.

• Jennie: “We would be rollin’.” Tori: “Hell yeah. We would own private islands.” Jennie: “We would have our own airplane or something.” Tori: “Yeah, we would! We’d have our own faces wrapped on everything.” Superfan Sisanie was shocked to learn they didn’t get a cut of any of the merchandise back in the day. Sisanie: “That angers me.” Jennie: “It should.” Tori: “Like we said, we would do it very [differently].”

• Sisanie said they had a “jam-packed show.” Jennie called it a “good episode.” Tori called it “fun.” Jennie gave the episode title for next week, “Wildfire,” and said it “sounds dangerous” and asked if “there’s fire involved.” They gushed about Matthew again for a second. Jennie: “We’re really happy to be here with you guys every week.”

So they clearly realized the mistake of not having Matthew on two weeks ago so they tried to fix that today, even though he has next to nothing to do with this episode. Still, it was a great discussion, even if we’ve heard some of the stories already. Matthew likes to talk, but he’s very charming and sincere, so it doesn’t rub you the wrong way. It was clearly an emotional conversation. Now imagine how much more powerful it could’ve been for fans if we got to watch it. What a missed opportunity.

I’ve meant to mention this before, but I find it interesting how Sisanie doesn’t say a peep during the guest interviews (for the most part) until she’s invited to do the little game. I mean, it makes sense, I guess, that just Jennie and Tori would reminisce with whoever the guest is. But it just drives home what a third wheel she is.

I’d wager they spent about 20 minutes, if not less, actually discussing today’s episode out of 75-minute podcast. For a “rewatch” podcast, it’s pathetic. And I’m going to keep pointing this out. To not would be letting them get away with it. Not on my watch.

Next week brings the introduction of Emily Valentine, so I’m wondering if they’ll have Christine Elise on for it, particularly since they supposedly got so close with her while filming “BH90210.” Christine is quarantining in Canada right now for “Chucky” (which, as I’ve noted, also features Barbara Alwyn Woods of “One Tree Hill”), so presumably she’d have the time. But it’s also become clear advance planning for the podcast isn’t their strong suit… so who the hell knows what the next installment will bring?!

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