Teen Drama Links for December 14, 2021

I want you all to take a big leap… and watch “The Big Leap.”

In truth, it isn’t actually a big leap at all. Assuming you have a Hulu subscription, you just have to go here and hit play. It’s 11 episodes at roughly 42 minutes apiece — not a huge commitment at all. In return, you’ll get laughter, tears, love, heartbreak, and some really amazing dancing.

The premise is fairly straightforward: A group of seemingly disparate people audition for a dance reality competition. We follow not just the contestants, but also the behind-the-scenes machinations of the reality show, led by a producer played by Scott Foley (Cliff, Dawson’s Creek).

Think “Glee” mixed with “The Office” (though I admit I haven’t seen a full episode of either, ha). The series is a dramedy that falls more on the light side of the scale, which is why it has brought me such joy the last few months. I watch a fair amount of TV, but each time I watch “The Big Leap,” I feel my cup getting refilled. It is that mood-boosting.

The one downside? Though “The Big Leap” is streaming on Hulu, it’s a FOX original, and it seems quite unlikely to be renewed given its low ratings. Don’t let that deter you from watching, though. If 11 episodes is all we get, it would still be such a gift. You may want more, but I promise you, you’ll also feel completely fulfilled.

Teen Drama Links for December 14, 2021

• “47 Bad (And I Mean Really Horrendous) TV Storylines That Honestly Should’ve Never Happened” (BuzzFeed)

• “28 Outfits From The ‘Gossip Girl’ Reboot Episodes 9 And 10, Ranked From ‘You Deserve A Lump Of Coal’ To ‘All I Want For Christmas’” (BuzzFeed)

• “Beverly Hills, 90210” is featured on the new Paramount Plus channel “Nostalgic Hits.” (Variety)

• When I first read about this “Survivor”-style competition with celebrities, I thought it might’ve been what Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) was secretly filming earlier this year… but she said she was in Malta and this was apparently shot in Panama. (TMZ)

• Snooki called it an “honor” to work with Spelling on “Messyness.” (Page Six)

• “Messyness” and “Deliciousness,” the former of which features Spelling as a panelist and the latter of which is hosted by Tiffani Thiessen (Valerie, Beverly Hills, 90210), have been renewed by MTV. (Deadline)

• “The Highs and Lows of Rewatching Amanda Bynes in ‘What I Like About You’” isn’t just about Bynes’ role but also the character played by Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills, 90210). (W)

• Larry Sellers, who appeared in two season 5 episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died last week at age 72. (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Kyle Richards (Anna, Beverly Hills, 90210) will appear in Halloween Ends. (Variety)

• A majority of the staff for the iHeartPodcast network, which produces “9021OMG” and “Drama Queens,” have voted to unionize. (Deadline)

• Paul Sciarrotta (executive producer, BH90210 / producer, 90210) is writing and executive-producing “Only to Deceive,” a pilot for ABC. (Deadline)

  • Note the article wrongly refers to Sciarrotta as “a producer on the original ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’” He was not involved with the original FOX series, but rather The CW spinoff.

• “2021 in Review: The Biggest Plot Twists” features a “Virgin River” storyline with Alexandra Breckenridge (Kate, Dawson’s Creek). (TVLine)

• Seth Rogen (Bob, Dawson’s Creek) is in talks to star in a movie about Chippendales. (Deadline)

  • Ian Ziering (Steve, Beverly Hills, 90210) had a gig as a Chippendales dancer back in 2013.

• Greg Berlanti (executive producer, Dawson’s Creek) is executive-producing “Landing” for Peacock. (Deadline)

• Ruby Rose’s accusations about Berlanti and Jared Padalecki’s short-lived dispute with Jensen Ackles (CJ, Dawson’s Creek) are both featured in “2021 in Review: The 13 Biggest TV Controversies of the Year.” (TVLine)

• Julie Plec (producer, Dawson’s Creek) is executive-producing a pilot called “Sky on Fire” for ABC. (Deadline)

• “The 12 days of Christmas TV specials” includes a recommendation for “The O.C.” (The Sydney Morning Herald)

• Olivia Wilde (Alex, The O.C.) is on the cover of the January issue of Vogue. (Vogue)

• Watch Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) in the full trailer for “Good Sam,” which is executive-produced by Jennie Snyder Urman (co-executive producer, 90210). (YouTube)

• Jamie Chung opened up about caring for her newborn twins with Bryan Greenberg (Jake, One Tree Hill) in a conversation with Ashley Graham. (Facebook)

• The Evan Peters (Jack, One Tree Hill) appearance on “WandaVision” made this list of “2021 in Review: The Stealthiest Castings and Very Coolest Cameos.” (TVLine)

• “2021 in Review: The Scenes We Desperately Wish We Could Unsee” includes a moment with Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) on “You.” (TVLine)

• Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) referenced “Gossip Girl” in her reaction to husband Ryan Reynolds’ new Peloton ad. (Us Weekly)

  • Reynolds’ ad is in response to the new “Sex and the City” spinoff, “And Just Like That.” “Sex and the City” was created by Darren Star (creator, Beverly Hills, 90210).

• Taylor Momen (Jenny, Gossip Girl) “Dishes About Upcoming Tour, Her Love of Renys, and Death by Rock and Roll.” (WCYY)

• Armie Hammer (Gabriel, Gossip Girl) has left a treatment facility after seeking help for an assortment of issues. (People)

• Watch Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl) in the teaser for Netflix’s “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.” (YouTube)

• Eric Daman, the costume designer for both versions of “Gossip Girl,” detailed the “Show’s Next Round of Iconic Looks” from the second half of the spinoff’s first season. (PopSugar)

• The second half of the “Gossip Girl” spinoff’s debut season will premiere in the UK on New Year’s Day. (Digital Spy)

• You can vote for the new “Gossip Girl” in a number of categories for the 2021 JJJ Fan Awards. (JustJared Jr)

• This article makes the case for “Why The ‘Gossip Girl’ Reboot Doesn’t Live Up To The Original.” (TVOvermind)

• Meanwhile, this story argues, “Why the ‘Gossip Girl’ Reboot’s Thanksgiving Episode Didn’t Live Up to the Show’s Iconic Seasonal Dramatics.” (Collider)

• And this article asserts, “The ‘Gossip Girl’ Approach to Polyamory Is a Refreshing Step Forward.” (Teen Vogue)

• Here are “9 Burning Questions for ‘Gossip Girl’ Season 2 on HBO Max.” (TV Insider)

• Sharon (Julie Halston, Gossip Girl spinoff) is highlighted in “2021 in Review: 28 of Our Favorite Scene Stealers From ‘WandaVision,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Ted Lasso’ and More.” (TVLine)

• New interviews with Jordan Alexander (Julien, Gossip Girl spinoff)...

  • “‘Gossip Girl Star Jordan Alexander’s Simple Nighttime Skincare Routine” (Harper’s Bazaar)

  • “PODCAST: ‘Gossip Girl’ Actor Jordan Alexander” (Black Girl Nerds)

  • “In Conversation With Jordan Alexander, the New Queen B of ‘Gossip Girl’” (HYPEBAE)

• Laura Benanti (Katherine, Gossip Girl spinoff) will be one of the celebrity panelists on The CW’s “Would I Lie To You?”. (The Futon Critic)

• Watch Todd Almond (Gideon, Gossip Girl spinoff) perform as part of Playbill’s “Holiday Concert Series.” (Playbill)

  • An upcoming installment will feature Benanti.

• Johnathan Fernandez (Nick, Gossip Girl spinoff) opened up about joining the new “Gossip Girl” and other projects. (The List)

  • This is very long, but very interesting.

• Kathryn Gallagher (Heidi, Gossip Girl spinoff) released a new single called “Apathetic.” (JustJared)

  • Gallagher is the daughter of Peter Gallagher (Sandy, The O.C.).

• The late Jessica Walter (Tabitha, 90210) is remembered in the December 13 year-in-review issue of People.

• Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) calls “90210” his “launching pad” in an interview about his career and the RomaDrama convention. (Nicki Swift)

  • Donovan touched on his two 2021 holiday movies in the chat.

• The December issue of Entertainment Weekly features an article on “Emily in Paris,” with interviews with star-producer Lily Collins (Phoebe, 90210) and creator Star. (Entertainment Weekly)

• Collins’ wedding is celebrated in the aforementioned People year-in-review issue, as is Wilde’s relationship with Harry Styles.