My Problem with BH90210

Some people want more and more of their favorite things.

Not me.

I rather leave good things, and especially great things, alone.

I believe in going out on top and staying there. I believe in setting the standard and keeping it there. I believe in leaving well enough alone.

This is why I was extremely disappointed when “BH90210” was announced last year.

But this story starts back in 2000: When “Beverly Hills, 90210” ended after 10 seasons, yes, its ratings were down fairly significantly from the show’s heyday. But there was no denying that an iconic series was closing an unprecedented chapter in television history with legendary status. Apart from retrospectives, like 2003’s “Beverly Hills, 90210: 10-Year High School Reunion,” such legacies should speak for themselves.

Now fast-forward to 2008, when “90210” — or as I call it, nu90210 — came on the scene. Though Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills, 90210), Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210), and Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) reprised their roles on this CW spinoff, other cast members expressed disinterest in participating in the project or any other kind of reboot. Some even said it was wrong to revisit the series without producer Aaron Spelling, who passed away in 2006, and that it was time to move on. Spelling and Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills, 90210) didn’t even participate in the aforementioned 2003 special, in which Garth and other cast members reflected on the series.

In 2013, Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills, 90210) told The Hollywood Reporter, “I don’t want to ride the coattails of what I did. That to me would be sad. I feel like what I did in the past, that’s so far in the rear view mirror, that to try and ride the coattails would be pathetic.” In 2018, Priestley reiterated his disinterest in a reboot, explaining why he didn’t appear on The CW’s “90210” (though he did direct an episode).

Take Luke Perry (Dylan, Beverly Hills, 90210) as another example: “If you’d asked me that question at another time, it would have been a quick no,” he told TV Guide in 2017, with the magazine noting the actor “can’t imagine how a reboot with the original stars would work without [Aaron] Spelling.” But to be honest, that interview worried me because Perry was actually expressing his willingness to consider doing something.

Days later, on January 27, 2017, I sent an email to myself that said:

Circa 2008 -- It was all: Leave it alone, can't do it without Aaron, the story is done, everyone is moving on.

But now fame and money calls. You realize you can't escape the connection, so why not capitalize on it?

But what -- do you pretend nu90210 never happened? (I do.)  Do you undo the happy endings from the series finale?

The legacy has been tarnished enough. Leave it alone.

I sensed the “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast was changing its tune. And I sensed it was for the wrong reasons. In my email, I also included this relevant quote from another teen drama star, Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill): “Whenever you extend it, what happens is they have to tear it apart to put it back together again.” Burton was talking about why she wasn’t interested in rebooting “One Tree Hill.” Her sentiment was spot-on.

So perhaps needless to say, when it was reported in December 2018 that Garth and Spelling were shopping around a show with Mike Chessler and Chris Alberghini, both of whom worked on nu90210 (CUE SCREAM), I was worried. (For my problems with nu90210, just read this.) When FOX announced in February 2019 that it was officially bringing the “Beverly Hills, 90210” gang back together for a new series, I was upset… to say the least. Joe Adalian, a revered TV reporter and an editor for Vulture, even shared one of my tweets on the matter:

TVMoJoe @TVMoJoe

From a major #90210 superfan.

Shari Weiss @sizzlemaker

"Beverly Hills, 90210 left an indelible impact on pop culture and an entire generation..." with a "powerful legacy." THAT'S EXACTLY WHY IT SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.

When, the very next day, it was reported Perry had suffered a stroke — on the same day the reboot was announced, no less — I was angry. If there was ever a sign that something was a bad idea, that it was the wrong time to move forward… this was it. Then we all know what happened on March 4.

I tweeted then:

Shari Weiss @sizzlemaker

I am saying it now: This "90210" BS show should be canceled before it even starts out of Luke's memory.

Shari Weiss @sizzlemaker

Any suggestion that they now do the show IN his memory will ring false. It will be nothing but an excuse to capitalize and exploit.

Shari Weiss @sizzlemaker

And please, if this godforsaken show goes forward, do not use Luke's death as an excuse to put Kelly and Brandon back together. And how do you do COMEDY after this? End it. Now.

Still, they indeed chose to move forward, with the cast insisting the show would be done in tribute to Perry… just as I worryingly predicted. Among the other things that troubled me over the months that followed:

• The comedy component, spearheaded by Spelling. I always loved Spelling’s comedy as Donna. I always hated Spelling’s personal brand of comedy, including on “Mystery Girls” with Garth.

• The insistence the premise was some kind of stroke of original genius when all the way back in 2000 we already had “Grosse Pointe,” the one-season WB series created by none other than Darren Star (creator, Beverly Hills, 90210) that parodied the behind-the-scenes of a fictional teen drama, along with other BTS satires like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and even Spelling’s own “So NoTORIous.”

• The showrunner and multiple writers quitting while “BH90210” was in production.

I had serious concerns about the quality, about the motivations, about the legacy of the original series being further degraded after nu90210. These fears were only further exacerbated in early August 2019 as reviews started to trickle in:

• “Every show in TV’s recent boom of reboots and revivals is trying to cash in on nostalgia for and awareness of a familiar brand name. Few are going about it as relentlessly, or at such a skewed angle, as ‘BH90210’… There’s also, for that matter, already been a satire about what it was like working on the original series: the WB’s little-watched Grosse Pointe, which has the distinction of coming from 90210’s own creator, Darren Star. (And which was significantly funnier than ‘BH90210’.)” (Rolling Stone)

• “The execution is all flimsy. Less than two days before the premiere, there were no final credits for writing or directing on the pair of episodes sent to critics; whether or not that's the reason every scene feels less like it was written and directed than given a topic and a stopwatch is unclear… If you want to see anybody trying to explore anything interesting about reboot culture or the aftermath of juvenile stardom or the impact ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ had on the TV landscape or on Fox as a network (and what it means that the reboot is as much a part of the redefining of New Fox as the original was to defining original Fox), you're out of luck. Whoever wrote or directed these episodes, there's nobody steering this ship with a hand confident enough to handle that.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

• “Aside from not knowing what its audience wants, the show also doesn’t seem to know what it is. We’ve already established that it lacks the dramatic intrigue of the original series, but with scripts largely devoid of humor, it doesn’t quite work as a comedy, either… While ‘BH90210’ is good for a quick nostalgia fix, the novelty doesn’t last long, leaving you with a convoluted, low-stakes dramedy that — like its audience — deserves so much better.” (TVLine)

• “Ddiehard fans might worry that something like BH90210 could sully their memories of the series. But ‘BH90210’ is so wildly different from anything you could imagine, it almost seems impossible. Unless the mere fact that it exists ruins things for you, in which case I cannot help you.” (TV Guide)

• “When ‘BH90210’ satirizes its stars’ desire to revamp their dormant careers, the truth is a little too real to be funny.” (Variety)

• “It’s both a timely sendup and another example of anachronistic, cash-grab comebacks in the ‘Fuller House’ vein.” (Time)

• “To all of the die-hard Brandon Walsh fans fantasizing about afternoons at the Peach Pit, I’m sorry to report that ‘BH90210’ is no exception to this trend of reboot flops.” (The Daily Beast)

Of course, we all know you can’t judge a book by its cover. I was never not going to evaluate the series myself on its own merits. And after dedicating so many years to “Beverly Hills, 90210,” MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW, how could I possibly not tune into “BH90210”? It wasn’t even a question. And just as I did in my TeenDramaWhore.com days, I tracked virtually every news article, interview, and review leading up to the debut of “BH90210,” and I shared the highlights on Twitter.

When the show finally premiered, I spent six weeks watching live and taking notes, which I tweeted out after each episode. In the interest of full transparency, to see exactly what I liked and what I didn’t in the moment, I am sharing all of those reactions here as originally written. Warning: There is much snark ahead. I make no apologies for it.

Episode 1

• Actually really fascinating that they went with alphabetical order for the opening credits. I guess that was the "fair" way. I would've liked to see the original order.

• Notably, they didn't do alphabetical order in the executive producer credits.

• The end of the opening "fantasy"... yeah, pure awful. And the quick cuts really, truly hurt my head.

• Nice to see Brian and Tori still have chemistry, genuinely. Heartbreakingly, I didn't feel it between Jason and Jennie. And that comes from a Brelly fan. (My second-favorite couple after Dylan-Kelly.)

• "I'm an open book. You can ask me whatever you want." That FOXNY interview this week suggests otherwise.

• Yeah, Shannen would never get that fan reaction from me.

• Drunk Jennie reminded me of drunk Kelly in "Spring Breakdown." I don't know if that was intended as an easter egg. The other "eggs" were more obvious.

• I really don't understand playing versions of yourselves but changing things, like BAG's "wife" being a pop star versus an actress and making Jason's wife a publicist.

• And casting Vanessa and La La seems like it was done for no reason except to avoid diversity criticism.

• Also, Jason is an adoring father in real life. To make this Jason a jerk happy to not have kids...

• And given that you are happily married in real life, why have your fictional selves have an affair? Brandon and Kelly were a thing, yes, but Jason and Jennie never were.

• Also, are we supposed to think Jennie would be okay sleeping with a married co-star?

• It also makes no sense to have Jennie hate Jason when that is actually so far from reality. There were never any known issues about them having trouble getting along.

• Does Jason not know when he left the show? "Brandon Leaves" is the fifth episode of season 9 (or the sixth, if you count the special episode that aired two weeks prior).

• Either way, not the fourth episode of season 9 (even when you consider he wasn't in the episode the week before his departure). Was there no fact-checker?

• Why would Ian want to have his "wife" cheat on him when promoting his family image [and] his actual real-life wife is so much a part of his brand?

• Making Gabrielle question her sexuality as some kind of plot twist is just gross. There are real people who struggle with that every day.

• Part of the reason I was dreading this show is because I can't stand Tori's "comedy." Update: I still can't.

• "I can’t believe we’re all here." "I wish that were true." Very uncomfortable.

• And when you're "acting" your reaction to a mention of "Luke," I just don't want to see that. That said, the ending zoom-in genuinely moved me.

• So: Why couldn't have this been just a two-hour TV movie? That's what this felt like it was the start of. Does it need to be a six-parter? (Oh, right... money.) 

• Going in with expectations as low as I had, it wasn't absolutely atrocious. Just totally unnecessary and does nothing to help or even uphold the legacy. As I have maintained all along, it just should've been left alone.

• By the end of the original run, those who still considered Beverly Hills 90210 a joke as opposed to a show that changed television were misguided, to say the least. But this IS a joke.

• It also feels manipulative: The fictional Tori wants to reunite for money. And that's exactly the reason the real Tori is doing this. And so many people are willingly feeding into that.

• I'm not saying there's no more story. But just because you CAN tell more stories doesn't mean you SHOULD. I've said this for years (see: OTH seasons 7-9).

Upon additional reflection, I further tweeted:

• There are lots of posts on the FB page attacking people who didn't like the premiere, claiming that means they aren't "true fans." Being a "true fan" doesn't mean being a sycophant. It doesn't mean unconditional loyalty and that you must love everything.

• You can be a true fan and have constructive criticism. You can be a true fan and not willing to accept just anything. Being a true fan means wanting NOT what's best for you as a fan and NOT what's best for the people behind the scenes, but what's best for the legacy of the show.

• I can't write this off as harmless fun. I take it all very seriously. The original show, its legacy and how it affected myself and others is too important.

• I also see some supposedly "true fans" attacking others for not knowing or understanding the premise. Not everyone kept up with all the pre-premiere stories and explainers. And you should be able to tune into a pilot episode and understand it without outside help.

• And even with all the explainers, some people are asking, "Did Jason really cheat on his wife with Jennie?" And, "When did Gabrielle become a lesbian?" This confusion isn't their fault.

• In making this show, they chose to muddy the waters rather than clear things up. You're trying to "humorously" address old rumors by... checks notes... making new ones.

• How does that help the original's iconic status? All of this just takes away from that.

• I've even seen professional TV critics attacked on the FB page for daring to write a negative review. And I've seen the cast called "genius" for this premise. Apparently they don't know Curbed, Episodes, Fat Actress, Grosse Pointe, etc.

• And let's not forget that in 2003, Tori and Brian didn't even want to be part of the "10-Year High School Reunion" special. And circa 2008, several insisted they couldn't revisit the show without Aaron, it was time to move on, stories were done, it should be left alone, etc.

• Obviously, they're entitled to have their feelings toward the show evolve. But the motives color it all.

• And while it's no secret I was and remain angry over nu90210, I've been wondering how that cast is feeling seeing all the attention the original cast is currently getting. In a lot of ways, they're... forgotten. I actually kinda feel bad for them.

• Anyway, these thoughts have just been running around in my head the last few days. Being obsessed with the show means thinking about it more often than not, for better or worse.

Episode 2

• Considering Brandon wasn't involved in the diet pills storyline, it makes no sense for Jason to be the one to reference it. They should've picked something else.

• Am I the only one bothered by the camera work? It's probably intentional but the shakiness hurts my head.

• Jennie calling Tori a "publicity whore"... well...

• Good on Gabrielle walking straight in to court. Courts don't usually care for autograph signing.

• Tori standing before the judge and pleading her case = Donna standing before the school board and pleading her case.

• That's got to be the fastest crime-to-sentence timeline.

• Yeah, thanks Tori. For this whole freakin' fiasco.

• I would say everyone laughing at the "reboot" idea was funny... if this didn't actually become a reality.

• "There's money to be made here." Ding, ding, ding.

• "See you in another 30 years" doesn't make sense since it was (almost) 30 years since the show premiered, NOT since they last saw each other.

• Yes, it would seem money management AND producing isn't genetic. At least if you ask me. Which of course no one did.

• I just don't care about Jason's wife having a secret and Jennie's daughter wanting to act and whatever else. Why should I?

• "Is this a comedy or is this a drama? This almost reads like it doesn't know what it is." Yep.

• And Jason did indeed direct one of these six episodes. Quid pro quo.

• Gabrielle has no reaction to Jason cheating on his wife? Because she wasn't exactly faithful either?

• It's about being your most authentic self? Then why make the fictional version of yourself LGBTQ when you aren't really? Beyond the confusion you're causing, you're exploiting what is a legitimate issue for many as a scandalous "twist."

• This isn't genuine "diversity and inclusion." It's queerbaiting. "It's an important story for me to tell." But is it really?

• Did they purposefully cast actresses inferior at acting to play Brian and Jason's wives? I don't imagine B-listers (or A-listers) were clamoring to get cast on this, but they could've done better than La La and Vanessa... no?

• What's bringing back more memories than anything is the 9:30 commercial break. That was always my favorite one. It meant snack time! (Raspberry sorbet, to be specific.)

• Ian and Tori going in on scammy stuff together... just like in real life.

• "Secret best friend." BAG and Shannen sure have been chummy on the press tour.

• With more than 20 minutes still to go in the episode, this Google Alert came in: "'BH90210' Fans Still Struggle to Understand Show in Episode 2."

• Maybe a glare, but looks like there was dent and black mark on Jennie's metal front door. Did they then show a different front door going into the table scene with Jennie and her daughter...?

• Seeing them do community service just makes me think of Dylan doing community service.

• "90210 needs a facelift." That's just it. It didn't. It needed nothing but to stay on its pedestal untouched.

• This show does feel like one big commercial.

• Another 10 years? I really can't fathom that.

• I was wondering where the paparazzi were while they were doing community service... and then they showed up.

• Yes, I suppose this really is an exercise in narcissism.

• "It has nothing to do with the money." You couldn't pay me to believe that.

• Why would Jason's injury lead to a discovery about his fertility? And who didn't see this "twist" coming?

• If BAG's wife is the monumental star she supposedly is, we're supposed to believe there isn't security to stop people from leaving random stuff at their door?

• We end on... a stalker trope? And a hint at Gabrielle and Christine becoming... something? And we know they're only pushing Jennie and Jason because of Brelly. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

• So: To some extent, I liked this episode better than the first one. But STILL. Even if you write this whole thing off as harmless, then it's also pointless... which is also damaging to the legacy.

• "Remember how Beverly Hills 90210 changed television?" "Yeah, and then remember how they got back together for that cockamamie show."

• An iconic show doesn't need a footnote like that.

I later added:

• "Pretty Little Liars" comparisons are making me laugh... because it's so pathetic.

• Also, when they were all discussing (on the show) getting back together for the reboot, there was no discussion of whether they should do it without Luke. Of course if they had, that probably would've annoyed me too.

• And going back to the "true fan" stuff from last week. You can be a true fan of the original and not like the new. After all, there are many supposedly "true fans" who only like the first four seasons with Shannen when there were six others.

• I like the later seasons, even 9 and 10. Does that make me a "truer" fan?

• Great comment I saw: "I think viewers must be confusing enjoyment of seeing the cast together again onscreen with the actual quality of the show." Completely agree.

• Another: "As a classic fan, I did indeed know what it was. I simply don’t find it funny to watch Tori Spelling continually remind everyone that she’s hard-up for money, and that’s why she needs the reboot to happen..."

• "...Since that’s probably not that far off from her actual real life, it seems rather pathetic, not something about which to laugh."

• Another: "I knew the premise, but what drove me away is how corny it was, and it seemed as though there was little effort in the scripts. All of the humor was low-hanging fruit that translated into groaners more than laughs..."

• "...I was embarrassed for all involved by the time that first hour was done, including myself. Embarrass me twice? No way."

Episode 3

• Black and white noir? Really?

• And then the end of that "dream" just made it even worse.

• I say this as a big Brelly fan: I'm STILL not feeling the chemistry. It's just forced.

• "Turns out that kick in the nuts was a real kick in the nuts." Okay, that was a decent line.

• "Accidental unprotected sex? That's your excuse?" Okay, that was decent too.

• But why would Jason go to Gabby's? Until the reunion, they were seemingly out of touch.

• "Reality crap"... not that far off from this.

• Aw, Joe E. Tata being used as a punchline. Poor guy.

• "This is a billion-dollar property." A bit of an exaggeration, no? But it also furthers my point: When you have something so valuable... you can exploit it or respect it. We know what they chose.

• So... they're teeing up Ian and Anna?

• How many viewers actually knew Carol really is a counselor IRL?

• Jennie sent her daughter to stay with her stepdad? Not her actual dad...?

• "Did you two bang?" "That is disgusting." Also kinda decent.

• Jennie's point about the double standard — Jason cheated too — is fair. Does seem hypocritical.

• When Jason said "Well, mom, this was fun," I very much saw/heard Brandon in that.

• BAG thinking Zach looked familiar certainly adds fuel to the "son" theories.

• Bodyguard is... HOT.

• Why is Shay so unlikable? She could be a super-successful pop star and be, you know, NICE.

• I wouldn't equate experimenting with your sexuality to going "method" for a role.

• Ian and Anna getting off on the wrong foot and fighting... just like Steve with Clare, Carly, Janet, etc.

• "Him or me." Well, obviously you would pick Jason considering he's integral to the cast. Not much of an ultimatum, IMO.

• Also funny that potentially firing the writer is an issue given this... https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/bh90210-fox-showrunner-writers-quit-1203218094/

• Tori downplaying her whatever with BAG is funny given all the years she's spent playing it up.

• No love scenes for Donna and David? Leave all that in the past? No thank you.

• I feel more chemistry between Jennie and Tori than I do Jennie and Jason. And I hated "Mystery Girls."

• "What if I care about Jason Priestley?" Another decent line.

• Aren't writers, like, in writers' rooms with a team and not just sitting there on set tinkering with the script?

• Apart from David "having a secret affair with Mrs. Walsh after college," was "love child" meant to be another hint?

• Are we supposed to believe Brian and Shay don't have a nanny?

• If the cast was out of touch for years, why would Brian know what Ian's house looks like?

• The way Ian is upset about the changing norms with men/women kinda feels like the way Steve would be.

• "I wouldn't drink that" made me laugh.

• So Jason couldn't handle Ian on his own? Needed Brian's help...?

• And they're teeing up Jennie and Wyatt too, I presume. He also, uh, reminds me of my financial adviser.

• Why did they pick "Camille" as the name of Jason's wife when the show had a legit character with that name?

• Props to Jason for coming clean.

• Can anyone really imagine Tori traveling with just that tiny suitcase?

• This is the kind of Tori comedy I can't stand.

• That sketch of the cast photo was really cool. I did a TDW post on that photo back in 2009. And most people still don't know it was originally taken with Douglas, not Luke. https://teendramawhore.com/2009/08/29/lets-compare-scenes-er-photos/

• Weekly sessions with Carol Potter? I don't think she's in any episodes beyond this one, but I guess we'll see.

• So... Christine asking Gabrielle out for a drink... Sweet as a friend? Or inappropriate as the network exec? Imagine if it was a male exec. I mean, even consider it in light of the Ian/Anna stuff.

• Welp, we're officially halfway through the season. At least I liked some of the lines this episode.

• Eager for the ratings tomorrow. Haven't seen the show trend since the premiere.

Episode 4

• They did a great job making Gabrielle, Tori, Jennie, and Shannen look like their younger characters in the "fantasy" opening, especially Gabby.

• The "you said you liked me" chainsaw bit is one of my most detested parts of the original series. Hated it then, hated it now.

• "Some of your castmates are brilliant social media whores." Some in particular.

• "These people are really nice. They're horny, but nice." So accurate.

• We're supposed to believe Shay is this superstar, but that's what she sounds like without auto-tune?

• This is the first time I noticed: "Inspired by the series 'Beverly Hills, 90210' created by Darren Star."

• "I heard there are some issues on 'Empire.'" You don't say. But surprised FOX was okay with that joke.

• "Tori Snowing" was not Tori's fake audition name.

• "I auditioned for Kelly. Imagine if I got the role?" "Oof, distaster." Funny.

• Kyler reminds me of Johna Stewart-Bowden (older Erica). They really look a lot alike.

• Seeing Busy in a commercial during BH90210 is kinda like TD worlds colliding.

• Appreciate the Samantha Sanders reference.

• Anna saying she watched the original show twice... amateur.

• Also just realized her name is Anna... another repeat character name.

• Why would Steve become an Oscar-winning actor?!

• "I hope the script is heavy on Brandon and Kelly love scenes." Why would it be? Kelly ended up with Dylan.

• Those last two lines actually weren't bad: "I thought old friends were supposed to be the best friends. So where does that leave us, Kel?" "Nowhere, Brandon."

• Yes... it's not supposed to be a comedy.

• A suicide joke? Not cool.

• Gabrielle objecting to Andrea's storyline... if only she objected to her own.

• David... a lawyer? That's as ridiculous as Steve being an actor.

• LOL "Anna, you're like 12. How do you even know how you work?"

• The script issues are ironic given this... https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/bh90210-fox-showrunner-writers-quit-1203218094/

• "Anna, we know these characters a little better than you do." Fair. But I wouldn't say they "created" them, per se.

• "We're not going to do anything that disrespects the memory of our show." "We owe them something great." THEN WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!?!?!?!?!

• Ian admitting they need this gig... truth. Sigh.

• Jennie not realizing Gabrielle played Andrea.... stupid.

• Nate saying he's taking off — when we didn't even know he was there. Wonder if a scene was cut.

• Gabrielle discussing her age and feeling like an outsider feels legit.

• Jennie poking fun at her first marriage. Yikes.

• Oh, look. Another suicide joke. What is up with that?!

• And now that's THREE. What were they thinking?!

• Would I rather watch Shannen or Brenda? Brenda any day.

• As I said last week, Ian and Anna = Steve/Clare and Steve/Carly

• "What's 'Growing Pains'?" lol

• Per IMDB, Jennie's character did have a name on "Growing Pains." It also wasn't her only pre-Beverly Hills 90210 role.

• Tori and Brian's chemistry is the only chemistry I feel.

• I don't know why you'd want to start pay disparity rumors that make Shannen look bad, which is all this "twist" is going to do. Also ironic given this... https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bh90210-surprising-cast-salaries-revealed-1231835

• "You threw a script at my head." "You ripped my hair out." I don't get fueling these stories, even in a lighthearted manner.

• Why would Brandon have a wife in every country?!

• Also, did they say earlier this is Jason's club?! Confused.

• They actually haven't shown Gabrielle doing any union work since the brief moment in the pilot.

• "It's not the 90s. We're all supposed to be making the same amount of money." Uh, the "Friends" cast pulled it off in the 90s.

• The PI got into Zach's apartment...?

• Amusing that Wyatt knew Kyler slashed the tire. "You knew?" "Would be a pretty crappy bodyguard if I didn't." Touche.

• I actually wonder what it's like for Gabrielle and Christine to kiss each other after all these years.

• "I'm your son." So a "twist" that was predicted after the first episode. I am rolling my eyes.

• "I'm starting to have feelings for Brian again." Rolling my eyes even more.

• Gabrielle went from being nervous to kiss to immediately spending the night...?

• I guess the quip about she and Jason dating the same girl was supposed to be amusing.

• I would've liked it a helluva lot more if the episode just ended with the cast walking together to the theme song. There was power in that, as brief as it was.

• We're four episodes in and I feel like we're not getting anywhere. On the flip side, thank goodness we are more than halfway through this.

• Let's hope "season finale" ends up being a "series finale."

Episode 5

• Props for making it actually look like the PPAD. That impresses me more than the Peach Pit.

• I am a SUCKER for "Keep It Together."

• I always loved how Kelly, Brenda, and Donna looked in their "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" costumes. But that storyline had nothing to do with David.

• A pilot episode being millions of dollars over budget? Yeah, okay.

• Not sure why Gabrielle's husband signed her card "your favorite husband." He's still her only husband.

• Tori said in a recent interview how she's frustrated about exaggerated plastic surgery rumors... yet cracks in the show that she needs more Botox.

• Okay, it is funny that they joked about the guys getting... excited... during sex scenes. Sometimes they did, in fact, get carried away.

• Why would Anna so directly ask Ian to "Netflix and chill"? There are probably rules against that. But then again, look at Christine and Gabrielle crossing lines.

• And then, ironically, HR and "zero tolerance" are mentioned. Yeah, okay.

• Jennie pointing to Tori: "Oh, I found a lunatic!" Ha.

• So Christine finally brings up her dalliance with Gabrielle being an HR issue and Gabrielle is surprised... despite being the head of the actors' union. Yeah, okay.

• "Those 'I Hate Brenda' newsletter bitches." Ha.

• Saying "all the people on 'Saved by the Bell'" is kinda weird, since that would include Tiffani.

• Did appreciate the Aguilera, DWTS, Apprentice and Surreal Life mentions, though.

• Hilarious that falling down the stairs made Tori think of Ray/Jamie.

• Jamie appearing would've been a great twist if a) it wasn't spoiled in Jason's interview weeks ago and b) so easily guessed by fans in recent weeks.

• "He was on season 6." Five, six, and seven, actually. Only a main cast member in six.

• Gabrielle saying "so they say" to there being a season 6 makes no sense considering she appeared in the season 6 finale.

• The irony of Jamie performing on BH90210 when his music is cut out of the dvds... sigh.

• Also: It is true that the storyline hurt him / his career. But it was Aaron who decided to give him the ax after making him a regular. https://teendramawhore.com/2010/01/17/beverly-hills-90210-producer-talks-college-years-slams-new-90210/

• Jamie asking Shannen who she is is kinda hilarious. People too often overlook that she was on the show for less than half of the series.

• Jamie also shortchanging himself by only mentioning season 6. It almost feels like they failed to do their research. Shocking, I know.

• Jason shows exactly no surprise at seeing Jamie. Yeah, okay.

• "Will this reboot ever get off the ground?" I wish it didn't.

• Personally, I would've liked to see the cast perform "Hold On" or "Why."

• LOL at Tori confusing "craft brew" with "crafting."

• Now really LOL at Jennie bouncing Tori's boobs.

• So Zach's mom is just an extra? A bit anticlimatic.

• Zach reminds me of a season 1 and 2 Jason/Brandon in terms of looks.

• Gabrielle seems to have a lot of concerns... none of which seem to be her marriage.

• Brian going to Shannen over Tori... ouch.

• How have they still not shot a single scene? If Tori and Brian's scene was the first of the day, and then she pulled out... they just did nothing the rest of the day? And the rest of the cast was on set even though they [had] no scenes to shoot?

• Ian and Jennie's scene was actually kind of sweet.

• And is he getting divorced or what? Since the first episode, it's kind of been left dangling.

• Jennie saying Jason isn't "evolved enough to be a cave man" makes me think of the New Evolution.

• Ian and Anna going from fighting to making out = Steve and Clare

• So the gang has zero questions for Gabrielle and zero questions for Brian? Yeah, okay.

• Will it be more surprising if the DNA test shows Zach is not Brian's son?

• What a stupid scene to end on. All of Shannen's stuff has been supremely stupid.

• I am THRILLED there is only one episode left!

Episode 6

• The Peach Pit definitely didn't have parking like that out front.

• From the back, the curly mullet hair does resemble Steve's early look. From the front, not so much.

• It seemed the "fantasies" were nightmares for the others, but not Ian.

• A wrap party after filming a pilot? Is that actually a thing?

• O.C. reboot? Blasphemous. Just like this.

• Wonder how Josh Schwartz and co. feel about these digs.

• "Often imitated, but never duplicated." Ian used a similar line during the TCA press tour interview, when slamming nu90210. https://www.tvguide.com/news/ian-ziering-rejects-cw-90210-sequel/

• Doesn't Christine, as a Fox executive, have a say in which shows get picked up?

• Gabrielle and her husband are trying to figure things out? She's not going to throw away 30 years of marriage? Since when?

• I guess some unsaid amount of time has passed between the last episode (filming first scene of the pilot) and this episode (pilot has wrapped). And I guess that is the explanation for Gabrielle working on her marriage off-screen and Anna at some point telling Ian she doesn't want to date.

• The red dress story is pretty infamous.

• And now it's three weeks after the wrap party. A time update earlier on would've been helpful.

• Wow. More O.C. references.

• "We did a pilot, maybe that's enough. Can you imagine doing a whole series of that show?" Yeah, seriously.

• Again Tori promoting plastic surgery on the show despite decrying the rumors in the press.

• "Tori Spelling is polarizing, but as Donna Martin she is endearing, especially when she's with David Silver." Accurate.

• I don't think Gabrielle's storyline is "funny." It's unearned.

• "Brandon Walsh and Kelly Taylor together." Sigh.

• "Brenda wasn't a troublemaker. Kelly was. Kelly was a slut." Oh, the fan wars those lines are going to spark...

• "She's late. It's kinda her thing." LOL

• Tori and Brian's talk was really great. Still the only couple chemistry I'm feeling.

• Clever / predictable making it come down to being between them and O.C.

• So no explanation for why Camille had to go to the hospital. Even less reason to be invested.

• Shay didn't handle it the best way, but Brian is indeed shooting the messenger. And La La's acting is still horrible. Brian acts circles around her.

• Jennie's drinking in every episode has been... excessive.

• Of course it got picked up. Now let's hope life doesn't imitate art.

• Wow. Never, ever actually wanted to see Jason and Shannen kiss. But I was wondering if they were going to fit in a "fantasy" for her. Definitely could've done without.

• Ironically, the only upfronts I've been to featured nu90210.

• Did we know Denise was going to be playing herself...? 'Cause that was the guest star fans would be clamoring to see. Right.

• Kyler's outfit (men's shirt, tie) very much looks like one of Brenda's. Intentional, I imagine.

• This Brian-Zach storyline has been quite the roller coaster, even with its predictability. And then the twist I actually wasn't expecting: Jason might be the father?!

• But that photo with Brian and Jason doesn't make sense — they look much younger than they would've been when Zach was fathered if he's 20 years old.

• This does explain, though, why they cast someone who looks like a young Jason (as I pointed out last episode).

• Denise / Robin didn't rebuff Steve. Fact checkers, please.

• I did like Jennie and Jason better together in that scene than virtually any of the ones that came before.

• Well, props for another twist I didn't see coming: Anna being Denise's daughter. But still not a guest star fans would've picked to return. Not by a long shot.

• Gabrielle saying "that's why I'm wearing white." LOL

• "We can't shoot this show in Canada." And yet... sigh.

• If being unable to bring all of them back is the cliffhanger ending, why did they spoil it in the promos?

• And why is the footage shown at the upfront the same footage we saw months ago? Can't we have something new and, preferably, in character after sitting through six episodes?

• Well, let's end it on that final shot. Forever. /end

I further posted:

• Keep a renewal "under wraps for as a long as possible?" Huh? Why? And while I may love Donna/David and Kelly/Brandon, I don't actually want Tori/Brian and Jennie/Jason together. https://www.etonline.com/bh90210-stars-tori-spelling-and-jennie-garth-dish-on-finale-and-season-2-plans-exclusive-132235

• "From our perspective, it was definitely not a limited series... The intention is to go on." Ugh. At least it's not up to you. https://www.thewrap.com/bh90210-finales-season-2-jennie-garth-tori-spelling-beverly-hills-90210-reboot/

• "Spelling and Garth can’t speak for everyone when it comes to the cast’s willingness to do a second season, but they are optimistic." Telling.

• In that interview they also say there weren't taking "jabs" at Empire and The O.C. And they throw FOX under the bus for how this season was rolled out. This... does not seem like how you get a renewal.

• AND they admit they don't know how they'll handle Dylan not being in the reboot. Goodness.

• How can you call this the "cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers" when it was literally spoiled in the promo?! https://ew.com/tv/2019/09/11/tori-spelling-jennie-garth-bh90210-finale-future-interview/

• Jennie also admits there that the end of her storyline with Wyatt was rushed just to service Brandon-Kelly fans.

• Uh, why would Donna have to have scenes with Ray in the reboot? I guess they have even more convoluted plot lines in store.

• And the non-fire stalker stuff is open-ended? I've already had enough of it.

As you can see from my real-time reactions, I was able to give the show credit when I felt it was warranted. But as you can also see, I had an endless amount of gripes. And I still have them today, more than a year later. One person even tweeted me at the time, “I don't understand why you watch #BH90210 because all you do every week is criticize Jennie and Jason (two of the main actors/ characters). If they bother you this much then do yourself a favor and stop watching. Why watch something just to complain about it?”

For the record, Garth is my FAVORITE female cast member. And as a “Beverly Hills, 90210” die-hard, it would be absurd not to watch. But remember: We’re supposed to be fans, not sycophants. We are allowed to be critical thinkers, not lemmings with unconditional loyalty. I don’t fault anyone who does like “BH90210,” but I am puzzled by the adulation for it that continues to this day. “BH90210” was canceled in November 2019 (with The Hollywood Reporter reporting that a whopping “13 writers quit the show throughout its run”), yet I still see comments on social media begging for its return. Wanting more, more, more — of anything — just for your own gratification strikes me at best as misguided and at worst as selfish. We are not owed anything as fans, and we as fans don’t owe the actors anything either.

This shouldn’t be about wanting new episodes, whether in the vein of “BH90210” (a show within a show) or a true “Beverly Hills, 90210” revival (a regular series picking up where season 10 left off). This shouldn’t be about an excuse for the cast to hang out together, to make more money, to get press. It should be about respecting the historic nature of “Beverly Hills, 90210.” And the best way to do that is by leaving it alone.

One final pet peeve: nu90210 meant we could no longer refer to “Beverly Hills, 90210” as “90210.” Then “BH90210” meant we could no longer use that to refer to “Beverly Hills, 90210.” To be clear, “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “90210,” and “BH90210” are three different series. Let’s not confuse them. /rantover

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