Teen Drama Links for April 23, 2024

We’ve already seen the “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast attempt to exploit the show, its name, and its place in pop culture with “BH90210.”

Now more recent efforts to profit off the series, including one announced just last week, have me enraged. 

Last Tuesday, Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills, 90210) announced she is hosting a new iHeartRadio podcast called “I Choose Me.” This comes more than three years after she launched sweatshirts with “I Choose Me” on them and less than a year after she rolled out a full merchandise line with the phrase.

The problem? Garth did not come up with “I Choose Me.” This is a line of dialogue from an episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210” written by executive producers Jessica Klein and Steve Wasserman. Prior to her passing in 2022, Klein spoke specifically about writing that line. Now Garth has co-opted it and turned it into her brand.

In other words, Garth is making money off a statement she didn’t create and the person who did create it does not get the same monetary benefits. Sure, before her death, Klein would get royalties for writing the episode and now, I assume, her estate does. But those residuals are tied to the episode being streamed, etc. Her estate is in no way compensated for the ways in which Garth has taken something Klein wrote and used it to sell merchandise and, now, a podcast.

This is no better than Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) plastering “Donna Martin Graduates” on merchandise, as she did last year, and selling it for her own profit while the writers of that episode and line of dialogue, Klein and the late Wasserman (or rather, their heirs), get nothing in return.

I suppose a counter argument would be that neither line, “I Choose Me” nor “Donna Martin Graduates,” is trademarked. But they are part of copyrighted material that is Paramount’s intellectual property. I have approximately zero expertise on IP rights and the legalities of Garth and Spelling monetizing someone else’s intellectual property, but even if it’s all legal, I have to ask: Is it moral? Is it ethical?

I have, for years, highlighted on the original TeenDramaWhore, in this Substack newsletter, and on my social media the blatant attempts by the cast to capitalize on “Beverly Hills, 90210” for their own fame and financial gain. Frankly, it sickens me. They acted on the show. That belongs to them. Nothing else does — not the characters, not the dialogue. 

As part of my day job, I spend hours and upon hours working on material designed to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses and side hustles. I have no problem with Garth, Spelling, or any other cast member developing their own business. Spelling recently launching her “MisSpelling” podcast is a good example of that. It’s totally her own thing. Same, for example, with the wine line launched by Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills, 90210), and the cookbooks written by Tiffani Thiessen (Beverly Hills, 90210).

What I do have a problem with is them operating business endeavors based on something that, simply put, does not belong to them. All this to say: I think Garth should be ashamed.

Teen Drama Links for April 23, 2024

Listicle Links

Reminder: All lists and articles relate to the teen dramas or teen drama stars in some way.

• “This TV Character Quiz Should Be A Walk In The Park For Any Big TV Watcher” (BuzzFeed)

• “10 of the most annoying main characters in TV history — sorry” (Business Insider)

• “20 TV Characters Who Are Actually Insufferable” (CafeMom)

  • This angle seems to be a popular one last week and this week.

• “10 shows to watch if you miss Friends” (Hidden Remote)

  • I never before considered “Friends” and “One Tree Hill” similar, but apparently here we are.

• “TV’s Worst Series Finales of All Time, Ranked” (TVLine)

• “The Richest Characters On TV, Ranked” (Bustle)

• “The Classic TV Show You Should Binge Watch Based on Your Zodiac Sign” (On Air with Ryan Seacrest)

• “Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Songs as TV Couples: ‘Veronica Mars,’ ‘IWTV’ & More” (TV Insider)

  • Love this story idea. Reminds me of this piece I wrote…

• “40 celebrities who often get confused for one another” (Yardbarker)

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Best of the Rest

• Several films with teen drama connections will screen at the Tribeca Festival. (Deadline)

• Here are the official announcements for Garth’s podcast… (Instagram / People)

  • Some shade here: “As much as I love talking about 90210 and the episode content from the past, it stimulated this urge in me to talk about something more important, somehow. Something more important to me, I guess. Something a little bit more relatable…”

  • And the irony in this statement: “I don’t care about self-promoting.”

  • Also: “Jennie Garth Says It ‘Makes Me Proud’ to See How Daughters Have Matured: ‘They Grow Up So Fast’” (People)

  • And: “Jennie Garth Relives Steamy Kiss with Gavin DeGraw on What I Like About You: ‘He Didn’t Know That Was Coming’” (People)

    • DeGraw, of course, performed the “One Tree Hill” theme song — and this is just one of What I Like About You’s teen drama connections.

• Garth will participate in the “Her Turn to Podcast Summit” next month. (Her Turn to Podcast)

• Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210) and Spelling were on each other’s podcasts. (Let’s Be Clear / MisSpelling)

  • Notably, Doherty is the first guest on Spelling’s podcast.

• “Börje — The Journey of a Legend,” featuring Priestley, will be available to watch in the U.S. next month now that Viaplay is expanding access through Amazon Prime. (Advanced Television)

• Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills, 90210) and Ian Ziering (Steve, Beverly Hills, 90210) did interviews at Steel City Con. (E! Online / E! Online)

• Vanessa Marcil (Gina, Beverly Hills, 90210) revealed she had COVID that led to pneumonia and a hospital visit. (Instagram)

• Hilary Swank (Carly, Beverly Hills, 90210) reflected on her career in a new interview for Ordinary Angels. (The Times)

• David Lascher (Kyle, Beverly Hills, 90210) was on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” (YouTube)

• Walton Goggins, who appeared on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” was named “Performer of the Week” for his work on Fallout. (TVLine)

• Eva Longoria, who also appeared on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” will be featured in a Bollywood musical called Christmas Karma. (Deadline)

• “Suits,” which starred Gabriel Macht, who also appeared on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and Meghan Markle, who appeared on “90210,” is returning to syndication via MyNetwork TV. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Vanessa Lachey (Camille, BH90210) was on “The Talk” with other cast members from the “NCIS” franchise. (YouTube)

• Busy Philipps (Audrey, Dawson’s Creek) did an interview tied to her partnership with Altos Tequila. (OK!)

• Philipps was also on the “Overheard LA” podcast. (Apple Podcasts)

• “Neighbours,” which featured Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) in last year’s revival, was nominated for Outstanding Daytime Drama by the Daytime Emmys. (TVLine)

• “Beyond the OC,” the new podcast hosted by Melinda Clarke (Julie, The O.C.) and her daughter CG, will finally launch on May 2. (Patreon)

  • You may see a familiar face on an upcoming installment…

• Paul Wesley (Donnie, The O.C.) is renting his Topanga home for $16,000 a month. (realtor.com)

• Paris Hilton (Kate, The O.C.) shared the first photos of her daughter as part of the promotion for her new song. (People)

  • Also: “Paris Hilton & Sia on Their New Song: ‘She Brought Something Out of Me That Nobody Ever Has’” (Billboard)

  • And then there’s this: “EXCLUSIVE: Paris Hilton Wants to Create the Future of Self Tanning” (WWD)

  • More serious: “Paris Hilton speaks at California Capitol to advocate for changes to ‘troubled teen’ facilities” (CBS News)

• Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill) did an interview about the new season of “Sullivan’s Crossing.” (Yahoo)

• Murray and his “Sullivan’s Crossing” co-star Morgan Kohan were also on CTV’s “The Good Stuff.” (Instagram)

• Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) is doing press for the new season of “True Crime Story: It Couldn’t Happen Here.”

  • “Hilarie Burton Morgan champions forgotten cases in second season of ‘True Crime Story: It Couldn’t Happen Here’” (CBS News)

  • “Hilarie Burton Morgan on return of ‘True Crime’ series” (NBC New York)

• Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley, One Tree Hill) revealed she’s filming a movie in Paris. (Instagram)

• Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) did an interview at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where she was also on a panel. (Los Angeles Times)

• Bush hosted one of the stops on Phil Rosenthal’s tour. (Instagram)

• Here’s another Shantel VanSanten (Quinn, One Tree Hill) interview about “FBI: Most Wanted.” (Parade)

• Tyler Hilton (Chris, One Tree Hill) was on “Dad Dinner,” hosted by Ryan Hansen (Shep, Gossip Girl). (YouTube)

• Joe Manganiello (Owen, One Tree Hill) will star in and produce a film adaptation of Mountain Man. (Deadline)

• Brett Claywell (Tim, One Tree Hill) and Grace Holcomb (Baby Jenny, One Tree Hill) are the latest to sign on for Friends with Benefit’s “20in23 Redemption Weekend” festivities. (Facebook)

• Huey Lewis (James, One Tree Hill) did more press for The Heart of Rock and Roll.

  • “Huey Lewis Is Rocking Broadway With 2 Musicals Featuring His Discography” (The View)

  • “Huey Lewis reveals 1 regret from legendary recording of ‘We Are the World’” (ABC News)

  • “Huey Lewis Remembers ‘We Are The World’” (Sherri)

  • “Huey Lewis Calls Musical Inspired by His Band’s Songs a ‘Creative Outlet’ After Losing His Hearing” (Billboard)

• Kid Cudi, who appeared as himself on “One Tree Hill,” broke his foot while performing at Coachella. (Twitter)

• Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) wrote a tribute to America Ferrera, with whom she starred in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, for the TIME100. (TIME)

  • Lively herself made the TIME100 back in 2011.

• Leighton Meester (Blair, Gossip Girl) is the face of a new St. John and Edie Parker campaign. (ABC News)

• Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) will star in a reboot of “Sandokan.” (Variety)

• Evan Mock (Aki, Gossip Girl spinoff) has launched a new collection with Slowtide. (DSCENE)

• Tavi Gevinson (Kate, Gossip Girl spinoff) produced a zine about Taylor Swift. (Vulture)

• You can win tickets to a Los Angeles screening of Prom Dates, featuring Zion Moreno (Luna, Gossip Girl spinoff). (Collider)

• Am I the only who’s noticed Michael Steger (Navid, 90210) in this new commercial for Progressive? (YouTube)

  • Interestingly, he and his family are also in an IHOP commercial. (Instagram)

• Kim Kardashian, who appeared on “90210,” will executive-produce the Netflix series “Calabasas,” an adaptation of the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now. (Deadline)

  • Notably, Deadline describes the show as “in the vein of The O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210.”