No, Travis and Taylor are not Lucas and Peyton.
I’ve seen all the memes in recent weeks comparing Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to Lucas and Peyton on “One Tree Hill” — and they’ve been driving me bonkers.
Sure, do the photos of Kelce and Swift celebrating at the AFC championship look cute side by side with the photos of Lucas and Peyton in the season 4 state championship episode? They do. Even Hilarie Burton endorsed it.
But visual aesthetics is where the similarities start and end. Beyond that, these moments have nothing in common.
Swift went on to the field to celebrate with her boyfriend after his football team’s win.
Peyton went on to the court to celebrate with her fellow cheerleaders after their basketball team’s win.
Swift and Kelce were a couple.
Peyton and Lucas were not.
That moment is not Peyton and Lucas, girlfriend and boyfriend, celebrating together like Swift and Kelce.
It’s Lucas having an epiphany and realizing Peyton is the girl he wants to be with and kissing her.
This false comparison went viral — seriously, my Google alerts blew up — with countless outlets picking it up and running with it. But I’d bet most of the people penning those stories never even saw the “One Tree Hill” episode in question and have no idea the actual context.
I’m not trying to be a spoil sport. I know some would say I’m taking this too seriously. I just think accuracy matters. It’s fun when our teen dramas get attention (and as I pointed out last week, they don’t get it enough). But if you’re going to do it, at least make sure it makes sense. This instance doesn’t.
And yet, now with Sunday’s Super Bowl, the comparisons have continued, again with Burton’s support (and Chad Michael Murray’s in an Instagram Story).
So l will repeat: Lucas and Peyton are not a couple celebrating a championship. They are two people deciding in that moment they want to be together. THAT is the reason for the PDA.
But there is another comparison I can get more on board with…
Teen Drama Links for February 13, 2024
Listicle Links
Reminder: All lists and articles relate to the teen dramas or teen drama stars in some way.
“How to Watch the Beverly Hills 90210 Franchise (Including Key Episodes)” (Movieweb)
I’m only including this for you guys to spot the mistakes.
“Wide receivers in drag: A look back at that messy gay football arc on ‘Dawson’s Creek’” (Queerty)
Catch the mistake here too?
Related: The Evolution of LGBTQ Teen Drama Characters (TDW)
“The Hottest Teen Romances: ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ ‘Dawson’s Creek’ & More” (TV Insider)
These aren’t the relationships I think of when I think of “hot.”
“It Still Stings: 20 Years Later, The O.C.’s Infamous Oliver Storyline Remains Deeply Frustrating” (Paste)
This was written by Kelly Martinez.
“Coach FW24 Has Us Living Out Our Gossip Girl Fantasies” (Interview)
This interview is with Jeremy O. Harris, who appeared on the “Gossip Girl” spinoff.
“17 Fashion Pieces to Achieve Blair Waldorf’s Iconic Style in 2024” (Us Weekly)
“Is Kelly Rutherford Lily Van Der Woodsen in real life?” (RUSSH)
“Kelly Rutherford’s Instagram Provides All The Style Inspo You’ll Ever Need” (The Zoe Report)
“10 Average TV Seasons Saved By Great Finales” (Screen Rant)
“10 Times TV Shows Course Corrected After Failed Seasons” (Screen Rant)
“10 TV Episodes Perfect To Watch On Valentine’s Day” (Screen Rant)
Related: Revisiting TDW: Favorite Valentine’s Day Episodes (TDW)
“20 Must-See Valentine’s Day Episodes from Your Favorite TV Shows” (Movieweb)
“TV Loves to Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Anything But Love” (PRIMETIMER)
Couple of mistakes here as well.
“An Exhaustive List of Ways TV and Movies Make Us Cry” (Vulture)
“Will Forte and Nicole Sullivan Aren’t Angsty Teens — They Just Voice Them on ‘Clone High’” (Cracked)
“One Pretty Creek? Why hosting massively popular teen dramas is in Wilmington’s DNA” (StarNews Online)
“PHOTOS: The teen dramas filmed in Wilmington” (StarNews Online)
Best of the Rest
The teen drama stars in Super Bowl commercials on Sunday: Gabriel Macht (Tal, Beverly Hills, 90210), Jason Wiles (Colin, Beverly Hills, 90210), Chris Pratt (Che, The O.C.), and Gina Torres (Gabriela, Gossip Girl).
Macht gave an interview behind the scenes of his T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Steve Young, who appeared on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” was in an ad, too.
Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) was among the celebs at the actual game.
Candy Spelling briefly spoke about daughter Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) at a Grammys event. (Fox News)
I hate linking to this outlet.
Tiffani Thiessen (Valerie, Beverly Hills, 90210) did an interview tied to her partnership with Nutrafol. (People)
Hilary Swank (Carly, Beverly Hills, 90210) will be interviewed today at the first-ever Spirituality & Faith in Entertainment Breakfast. (Variety)
At Saturday’s DGA awards, Shawn Levy (Howard, Beverly Hills, 90210) lost in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series. (The Hollywood Reporter)
From the red carpet: “‘Deadpool 3’ Filmmaker Shawn Levy Won’t Leak Anything About Movie As ‘It Would End With My Untimely Death’ At Hands Of Ryan Reynolds” (Deadline)
Another: “Shawn Levy Teases the ‘Heart and Soul’ of Stranger Things' Final Season” (People)
Levy will receive the Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind in honor of his work on “All the Light We Cannot See.” (Deadline)
Babyface, who appeared as himself on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” was on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” (YouTube)
There is an additional clip.
Kevin Williamson (creator, Dawson’s Creek) has signed an overall deal with Universal Television and has four projects in the works: TV adaptations of Rear Window, The Game, and The It Girl, as well as an original concept called “The Waterfront.” (Deadline)
Like “Dawson’s Creek,” “The Waterfront” will be set in Williamson’s native North Carolina.
Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson’s Creek) and Michelle Williams (Jen, Dawson’s Creek) reunited at a Chanel event. (InStyle)
Busy Philipps (Audrey, Dawson’s Creek) did interviews about co-parenting and the garage sale event she was hosting.
“Busy Philipps on Co-Parenting With Ex Marc Silverstein: ‘Being Able to Communicate Is Important’” (Entertainment Tonight)
“Busy Philipps and ex-husband throwing ‘divorce sale’ at NYC thrift shop” (New York Daily News)
“Busy Philipps Wants You (And Your Ex) to Throw a Divorce Sale” (Vogue)
“Busy Philipps Had an Emotional Garage Sale in N.Y.C. — and Even Bestie Michelle Williams Donated” (People)
Sarah Shahi (Sadia, Dawson’s Creek) will be among the leads in an untitled Hulu series from “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman. (Deadline)
Seth Rogen (Bob, Dawson’s Creek) did interviews about his new coffee line.
“Seth Rogen on His Cannabis-Inspired Brand Houseplant’s First Coffee Line: ‘It’s a Very Winning Combination’” (The Hollywood Reporter)
“Seth Rogen Enhances the Wake to His Bake With New Coffee Line” (Los Angeles Magazine)
Rogen is executive-producing and guest-judging “The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down.” (CBC)
Alex Highsmith, who appeared on “Dawson’s Creek” as a baby, returned to Wilmington to see his high school jersey retired. (StarNews Online)
Related: Living in Capeside and Tree Hill (TDW)
The casting director for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants revealed Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) and Olivia Wilde (Alex, The O.C.) were up for the role that eventually went to Lively. (E! Online)
Nicholas Gonzalez (DJ, The O.C.) did interviews about his “La Brea” storyline.
“‘La Brea’ Star on Penultimate Episode Shocker: [Spoiler] Had to Die ‘Because I Was Playing the Character’” (TV Insider)
“Nicholas Gonzalez Compares ‘The Good Doctor’ & ‘La Brea’ Deaths” (TV Insider)
“San Antonio’s Nicholas Gonzalez says bittersweet goodbye to ‘La Brea’” (My San Antonio)
“La Brea Star [Spoiler] Talks Shocking Death, What’s to Come in Series Finale” (NBC)
Also: Gonzalez was given an honorable mention for “Performer of the Week.” (TVLine)
“Drama Queens” — hosted by Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill), Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley, One Tree Hill), and Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) — is nominated for Best TV & Film Podcast at the iHeartPodcast Awards. (iHeart)
Related: The State of Teen Drama Rewatch Podcasts (TDW)
Bush will be at SXSW as a speaker for She Media Co-Lab’s Future of Health event. (Instagram)
Season 2 of “Sullivan’s Crossing,” starring Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill), will premiere on CTV in April, with timing for The CW still to be announced. (Instagram)
Jana Kramer (Alex, One Tree Hill) is taking her “Whine Down” podcast on tour again, with two dates announced so far. (JanaKramer.com)
Bryan Greenberg (Jake, One Tree Hill) and wife Jamie Chung did another interview about Junction. (The A.V. Club)
Greenberg will recur in the MGM+ series “Emperor of Ocean Park.” (Deadline)
Joe Manganiello (Owen, One Tree Hill) and Sofia Vergara have settled their divorce. (TMZ)
Maria Menounos (Jules, One Tree Hill) officiated WWE star Daria Berenato’s wedding. (People)
Michael Copon (Felix, One Tree Hill) will be at Planet Comicon in Kansas City next month. (Instagram)
Cullen Moss (Junk, One Tree Hill), Vaughan Wilson (Fergie, One Tree Hill), and Colin Fickes (Jimmy, One Tree Hill) have signed on for Friends with Benefit’s “20in23 Redemption Weekend.” (Facebook)
Gavin DeGraw, who has appeared on “One Tree Hill” and performs the show’s theme song, announced a world tour. (Twitter)
Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) will star in a thriller called Unholy Night. (Deadline)
Westwick’s co-stars include Ed Speelers, who worked with Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) on “You.”
Kelly Rutherford (Lily, Gossip Girl) opened up about how she “Rebuilt Her Life After Losing Custody of Her Kids.” (People)
Also: “Kelly Rutherford Reveals the Secret Behind Her Effortlessly Elegant Style — and Those Elevator Selfies” (People)
Rutherford will be giving a “masterclass” at Series Mania next month. (Variety)
Andrew McCarthy (Rick, Gossip Girl) discussed his Brat Pack documentary at the Television Critics Association Press Tour. (USA Today)
Rachel McCord, sister of AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210), revealed she will be undergoing heart surgery for a heart condition. (Daily Mail)
I publicly revealed my own heart condition and heart surgery for the first time last year. (The Heart Dialogues)