Teen Drama Links for September 19, 2023
I’m furious over “90s Con” and that “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast members took part in the convention this past weekend — but not for the reason you might think.
Yes, I think it’s inappropriate that “90s Con” took place despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
But what’s really had my blood boiling since this convention date was announced is the fact that it was held on Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest times of the year for members of the Jewish faith. Observing this most important holiday means not participating in any activities (no traveling, no working, no writing, no commerce) — much less festivities like “90s Con.”
This convention is already exclusive enough, as only those fans with the financial means can take part. I wrote about the financial burden associated with these types of events earlier this year. And now, instead of fostering inclusiveness, the organizers went and made it even more exclusionary by holding the event on a weekend when most Jewish fans could not attend.
They wouldn’t hold this convention, and the actors wouldn’t participate, on Christmas or Easter. Well, Rosh Hashanah, with Yom Kippur, is like our Christmas and Easter, so I find this incredibly disrespectful. And I think it’s shameful that several Jewish “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast members participated despite the holiday.
Fab Five Events was supposed to hold its convention this past weekend as well, with a handful of “One Tree Hill” cast members set to attend. It was only postponed due to the actors strike. Had it taken place as originally scheduled, I would’ve been just as outraged over the timing as I am with “90s Con.”
It’s hasn’t always been easy being a Jewish teen drama fan. Sadly, this past weekend is another reason why.
See more on this issue as it relates to “One Tree Hill” in “Best of the Rest” below.
SAG-AFTRA Strike Update
News and notes…
So, as noted above, “90s Con” still took place despite the ongoing strike.
Teen drama participants included Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills, 90210), Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills, 90210), Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills, 90210), Ian Ziering (Steve, Beverly Hills, 90210), Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210), Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills, 90210), Gabrielle Carteris (Andrea, Beverly Hills, 90210) and Lee Norris (Mouth, One Tree Hill).
Garth launched “I Choose Me” merchandise at the event with Kelly’s face on it. Given that you’re not supposed to promote your character from stuck work, this seems in direct violation of the strike rules. Same with Spelling’s “Donna Martin Graduates” merch. Of course, Garth and Spelling have yet to even acknowledge the strike is happening even though it affects their podcast (and careers), so I can’t say I’m surprised — but it’s outrageous nonetheless.
I can’t help but wonder how the writers-producers feel (especially given the writers strike) about Garth and Spelling profiting off of lines of dialogue the writers-producers created.
Ziering also broke the strike rules by showing off a “Beverly Hills, 90210” calendar. (Instagram)
As a reminder, here are the rules regarding what is and isn’t permissible at conventions (and similar rules apply to social media): long version / short version.
You can watch the “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast panel here.
It wasn’t until eight-ish minutes in that the strike sorta came up, with jokes about former SAG-AFTRA president Carteris “keeping track” of no-no references to the show and characters.
Spelling seemed to be making a concerted effort to not make references (ironic, given her merch sales), while Garth, Ziering, and Green named things they shouldn’t have.
I did think it was odd, though, that Carteris seemed to stop Green from talking about “Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test.” That is not struck work, so he should’ve been free to discuss it.
It wasn’t until about 37 minutes in that Carteris was specifically asked about the strike and what people should know about it. She celebrated the union allowing them to be at the event and mentioned some of the issues actors are striking over.
Notably, Carteris didn’t post on social media about the event at all — but apparently she, too, was selling show-related products, which is just stunning to me.
Also of note: Doherty announced an iHeart podcast called “Let’s Be Clear” that will launch on November 13.
Describing it as a “live interactive memoir,” Doherty said, “So you get to hear everything that I’ve refused to say before. I’m spilling the tea, people, but nicely.”
Hmm. Doherty has yet to appear on “9021OMG” (also from iHeart) or “The Beverly Hills 90210 Show.”
I was extremely turned off by Green chewing gum throughout the panel.
I still think it’s hilarious (and shitty) that Priestley and Ziering initially signed on to do the Fab Five event but then pulled out to join the others at “90s Con.” No doubt “90s Con” pays better and they saw the profit opportunity in being able to team up with the girls to sell group photo opportunities.
Ziering and Spelling also used their time together to hawk their MLM products on Instagram, ugh.
Ziering also plugged the MLM scheme during the panel and told people to contact him if they’re interested in joining. Gross.
Also: I don’t know why it took me until yesterday, more than two months into the actors strike, to think about the season 8 episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210” where Brandon is hired to work at a newspaper whose journalists are on strike and has to decide whether to be a scab. Seems like some people could benefit from rewatching that right about now!
And on the topic of conventions, Friends with Benefit said in a recent post: “We just want to thank everyone for being as patient and understanding as possible with our updates/announcements for the 20in23 Fundraiser Weekend. As long as this strike is ongoing, we must still follow all guidelines. We still intend on giving One Tree Hill the recognition and proper celebration it deserves. We ask for your continued patience and positivity during this time!” (Facebook)
WGA West president Meredith Stiehm (writer, Beverly Hills, 90210) spoke about the writers strike on “The Lead.” (CNN)
Busy Philipps (Audrey, Dawson’s Creek) is auctioning the opportunity to take a pottery class with her to benefit The Union Solidarity Coalition, which is raising funds for crew members who have lost health insurance due to the actors and writers strikes. (eBay / Instagram)
Someone commented on Philipps’ post: “I would just Make you recite lines from Dawson’s Creek 😂😂.” She replied, “You would have to feed them to me one by one cause honey i don’t remember a single word.”
The cast of “New Girl,” including Max Greenberg (Young Sandy, The O.C.), is auctioning a Zoom chat. (eBay)
I was very surprised to see Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) specifically discuss “The O.C.” as she makes the press rounds for “Neighbours.” While she’s free to promote the Australian show, “The O.C.” is struck work and can’t be discussed per the strike rules.
You can read the rules regarding things like this here.
I’ve compiled Barton’s new interviews in “Best of the Rest” below.
“2023 Writers and Actors Strike: Celebrities Who Joined Picket Line” (TooFab)
Teen Drama Links for September 19, 2023
Listicle Links
Reminder: All lists and articles relate to the teen dramas or teen drama stars in some way.
“13 Child Actors Who Returned To School And Got Severely Bullied, Teased, Or Treated Differently” (BuzzFeed)
“The Best ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Characters, Ranked by Likability” (Collider)
Such embarrassing errors in this! Like, I can’t even believe this was published. I was really tempted to contact them and point out every mistake.
“Tate Donovan: A Journey Through His Acting Career” (TVOvermind)
“One Tree Hill: 20 Best Episodes of the Series, Ranked” (Movieweb)
“‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Is The CW’s Most Promising New Show — And It Stars Chad Michael Murray” (CraveYouTV)
Also: “‘Sullivan’s Crossing’: A Cast and Character Guide for Your New Favorite Small-Town Drama” (Wide Open County)
“Where are they now? The cast of Gossip Girl’s real lives, partners and more over 16 years after the series premiere” (nine.com.au)
“Sex Education, Gossip Girl To Mismatched, Epic Teen Shows On Netflix That You Shouldn’t Miss” (Mashable India)
“Blake Lively resurrects Serena Van Der Woodsen at New York Fashion Week” (Vogue France)
“All About Blake Lively’s Parents, Ernie and Elaine Lively” (People)
“6 Best Elevator Makeout Scenes” (CordCutting.com)
Written by me — and I included not one but two “Gossip Girl” scenes.
“10 ‘90s TV Shows the Teens in ‘Yellowjackets’ Would’ve Watched and Loved” (CordCutting.com)
I had a blast editing this. It was written by TDW friend Media Melanie.
“11 Cozy TV Shows With Perfect Fall Vibes” (Screen Rant)
“10 ‘90s Teen TV Actors Who Became Box Office Stars” (Collider)
Catch the mistake in this? Hint: It has to do with this.
“40 Unexpected Acting Cameos By Celebrities Who Aren’t Actors” (Cracked)
“17 Actors Who Demanded That Their Beloved Characters Be Taken Out Of The Show” (Bored Panda)
“17 Actors We’d Want to Narrate Our Lives” (Movieweb)
“10 TV Shows to Watch if You Love Riverdale” (Movieweb)
“The 10 Best Movies and TV Shows Featuring the Cast of ‘Emily in Paris’” (Collider)
“The 18 Best Jewish High Holiday Movies and TV Episodes” (Hey Alma)
“The 20 best TV shows set in New York City” (Yardbarker)
“The 10 Most Awkward Thanksgiving Dinners in TV History, From ‘Friends’ to ‘Ginny & Georgia’” (Wide Open County)
Related: Teen Drama Thanksgiving Episodes (TDW)
“Can’t wait for Sex Education Season 4? Watch these 5 addictive teen shows on Netflix till then” (GQ India)
“The Most Toxic TV Couples Of The Early 2000s” (Elite Daily)
Spot the mistake?
Related: Chuck and Blair: An Abusive Relationship? (TDW)
“The Best Olivia Rodrigo Needle Drops in Movies and TV, Ranked” (Movieweb)
“Shooter Cast and Character Guide” (Movieweb)
“Supplementary Listening: The Age of the TV Recap Podcast” (34th Street Magazine)
“The best dressed guests in the front row of New York Fashion Week” (HELLO!)
“The Best Dressed Men at New York Fashion Week: Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and More” (GQ)
Best of the Rest
This was a really interesting read: “Can The CW Survive Without Superheroes and Teen Soaps?” (Variety)
Related: The WB vs. CW (TDW)
Green did a number of interviews tied to “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” and Australia’s “The Masked Singer.”
“Brian Austin Green Shares Update on Shannen Doherty Amid Her Cancer Battle” (E! Online)
“Brian Austin Green Shares How ‘Tough’ Tori Spelling Is Doing Amid ‘Difficult’ Chapter” (E! Online)
“Tori Spelling’s ‘90210’ co-star Brian Austin Green says she'll be ‘stronger’ as divorce rumors swirl” (Fox News)
I hate linking to this outlet…
“Masked Singer: Brian Austin Green on the one thing he can’t stand about Australia” (Yahoo)
“EXCLUSIVE: Brian Austin Green unmasked as Crash Test Dummy on The Masked Singer Australia” (New Idea)
“‘I couldn’t speak or walk’: 90210 star’s health scare” (Herald Sun)
Tiffani Thiessen (Valerie, Beverly Hills, 90210) was on the “Clean Plate Club” podcast. (Apple Podcasts)
Emma Caulfield (Susan, Beverly Hills, 90210) is among the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” cast members voicing the Audible series “Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.” (TVLine)
Jessica Alba (Leanne, Beverly Hills, 90210) did interviews to promote the BabyList Showroom, which featured products from The Honest Company.
“Jessica Alba Opens Up About ‘Really Healthy Relationship’ with Her Kids: ‘Learning from Each Other’” (People)
“Jessica Alba Reveals Why She’s No Longer Going to Therapy with Her Daughters” (People)
“Jessica Alba’s Comments About Her Bond With Her Kids Are Sweet as Honey” (E! Online)
Slightly amused by this “showroom” display as there is a similar setup in my company’s headquarters, as we share office space with The Honest Company.
Glimpse Kyle Richards (Anna, Beverly Hills, 90210) in the trailer for Beautiful Wedding. (YouTube)
This is a sequel to Beautiful Disaster, which featured Green, Michael Cudlitz (Tony, Beverly Hills, 90210), Autumn Reeser (Taylor, The O.C.), and Rob Estes (Harry, 90210).
Ashley Tisdale (Nicole, Beverly Hills, 90210) shared a look inside her “New Garden Oasis and Home Office.” (Architectural Digest)
Alexandra Breckenridge (Kate, Dawson’s Creek) was named “Performer of the Week” for her work in the new season of “Virgin River.” (TVLine)
Watch Julie Bowen (Gwen, Dawson’s Creek) in the Totally Killer trailer. (YouTube)
You can receive a bonus digital chapter when you pre-order Alan Sepinwall’s Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History. (HarperCollins)
This chapter was a fun read and included a tidbit I didn’t know, making me even more excited for the book’s release later this year.
As mentioned above, Barton is doing press for the premiere of “Neighbours.”
“Would Mischa Barton Be Down For Potential ‘The O.C.’ Reboot?” (Access Hollywood)
“Mischa Barton on Joining Australian Soap ‘Neighbours’ and Celebrating ‘The O.C.’ 20th Anniversary” (Variety)
Spot the mistake in this?
“From ‘The O.C.’ To ‘Neighbours’ — Mischa Barton Confirms Or Denies Nine Rumours About Her Career” (BuzzFeed)
“Neighbours returns! Stars including Alan Fletcher and Mischa Barton reveal all about the shocks in store — and the not-so-final farewell” (Sky News)
“Mischa Barton: Noughties It Girl makes her return to TV in epic Neighbours reboot” (PerthNow)
“Mischa Barton explains reasons for initially turning down Neighbours role” (Express)
“Mischa Barton found more than good friends filming Neighbours” (Who)
“Bedroom scenes and intimacy coaches: The racy new Neighbours” (The Telegraph)
Ryan Donowho (Johnny, The O.C.) will star in a movie called Art of a Hit. (Deadline)
Ugh: Eric Balfour (Eddie, The O.C.) was also among the people who wrote letters of support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson. (The Underground Bunker)
Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley, One Tree Hill) has signed on for both of the upcoming Friends with Benefit events — “A Holiday in Wilmington: Giving Back Celebration” and “20in23 Fundraiser Weekend” — and is also doing a private meet and greet as part of the former event. (Facebook)
It’s really disappointing they announced this news on the first night of Rosh Hashanah and had tickets for the meet and greet go on sale during the second night of Rosh Hashanah. You know who largely abstains from using the internet and engaging in commerce during that time? Jews observing Rosh Hashanah.
If you couldn’t tell from my introduction above, the lack of cultural awareness and respect and fairness really gets to me. “Let’s announce a big event and open tickets when a portion of the population won’t know about it and can’t engage!” is just as bad as “Let’s hold a big convention when a portion of the population can’t participate!” Ignorance and pure intentions are no excuse.
Oh, and by the way, a ticket to the holiday event costs $5,000. Yes, you read that correctly. The meet and greet will set you back another $500.
Meanwhile, Barry Corbin (Whitey, One Tree Hill) has dropped out of the “20in23 Fundraiser Weekend,” while Lindsey McKeon (Taylor, One Tree Hill) and Matt Barr (Wes, The O.C. / Psycho Derek, One Tree Hill / Keith, Gossip Girl) have signed on for “A Holiday in Wilmington: Giving Back Celebration.”
Grant Hughes filed his response to the divorce petition filed by Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill). (People)
Sean Young (Hope, One Tree Hill) will star in Ode to the Wasp Woman on Off-Broadway. (Deadline)
Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl) “Shares Secrets to Her Decade-Long Marriage With Dax Shepard.” (Entertainment Tonight)
I love that Bell and her family are doing Harry Potter-themed costumes for Halloween. Harry Potter is one of my non-teen drama passions.
Aaron Tveit (Tripp, Gossip Girl) will perform at 54 Below on New Year’s Eve. (Playbill)
AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) spoke about Meghan Markle’s appearance on “90210” while promoting Condition of Return. (Us Weekly)
The film, which McCord is allowed to promote because it has a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, also stars Dean Cain (Rick, 90210).
Also: “Actress AnnaLynne McCord stars in suspense drama film ‘Condition of Return’” (PIX11)
Thanks for tackling a very important subject.