Seriously is there any male over the age of 30 looking forward to the 90210 premiere tonight more than myself? Well probably, but I bet not that many. While my expectations are low for this new version, I have to say I am quite interested to see what the writers come up with. Although I don't know how much I am going to be able to relate to a show where the main characters are now half my age, although I hope the casting people have stuck to the old 90210 formula of casting actors in their 20's and 30's to play teenagers. And while having Kelly and Brenda returning is a good way of getting fans of the old to tune in (and who can forget Nat? Really, Nat? What was Ian Ziering too busy doing Surreal Life 8?) its really the new kids that have to have some draw to keep viewers new and old. And even though I really don't care for that actress from last season's Nip/Tuck (that show needs to retire after this next season) I will give her a chance, as it probably was the material last season that was so bad. So I will keep my hopes high but my expectations low for tonights 2 hour premiere, of which I am even attending a 90210 premiere party. Yes I know my life is sad. And besides, DeGrassi has proven that you can update a classic old show and make it both a success and be of quality (or so I am told). I just hope Dylan McKay makes an unexpected cameo or at least gets a mention that he is off surfing in Baja.
So here are is my top 10 list of my favorite 90210 characters, and no boring-ass-Matt does not make an appearance.
10. Steve Sanders- yes this guy did have his moments, especially his awesome racist moment from season 1. but this guy seriously could not act.
9. Andrea Zuckerman- the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks of Beverly Hills. Is there really a bad side of the tracks in Beverly Hills? Is it like Palo Alto and East Palo Alto? Why they saddled the one girl with the highest aspirations with getting pregnant and pretty much not achieving any of her goals is beyond me. Although she did get a talk show after 90210 was over, anyone remember that?
8. Jim Walsh- The RZA of the Walsh clan, Jim was a pretty strong figure in the first season or two of 90210, although his parenting skills come into strong question after all the stuff he let his kids get away with. I did always like how he looked out for Dylan and he did provide some good comical moments with Brandon, but upon review of watching the first couple seasons on The Soap Opera Network, it has come to my attention that this couldn't really act, and he was one of the adults on the series! I guess its like Degrassi in that the older actors are worse than the younger ones, which is why he isn't higher on this list.
7. David Silver- This guy went from being a side character to somehow aging a few years so he could graduate with the rest of the cast and attend the prestigious CU, which for some reason looked a lot like Pepperdine. He also went from being shorter than a midget to the tallest of the cast. And when all the other main cast members left, they somehow made his and Donna's relationship the center of the show, with their marriage being the finale. I will forgive him for his rap aspirations, how the hell did this guy get members of the Pharcyde to help him with his solo album?
6- Valerie Malone- Yes she is not an original cast member, but she was better looking than all of them and has represented project Spelling before anyone not sharing the same name. Our little Kelly Kapowskin (sp?) got all growned up and made me a very happy man by replacing Brenda as the bitch on 90210. Although Valerie was more shady than Brenda ever was. Thinking of Valerie Malone makes me happy.
5. Cindy Walsh- I hope she has learned Korean and is doing well, I always like that she stood up for the Dylan/Brenda relationship.
4. Brenda Walsh- I really think Brenda had multiple personality disorder, thus explaining the outbursts of anger out of nowhere and LaVerne and Brenda DuBois. Brenda really makes the first season watchable and I look forward to seeing how she is in the remake. And she went on to star in Jailbreakers, one of the greatest films of all time, now available on DVD.
3. Kelly Taylor- Another reason to watch 90210 for me was my Kelly Taylor crush. How can you not want to a rescue a woman when she gets raped (twice, almost 3 times!!!!), shot, hooked on drugs, converts to Scientology, burned in a lesbian ring of fire and is sexually harassed on the job? And even worse than all of that, dating dumb-ass Matt. What she ever did to Aaron Spelling is beyond me.
2. Brandon Walsh- I think I need to hand over my keys to him since I am so excited for the new 90210. Brandon's moral fiber is stuff of legend on this show, yet doesn't stop him from cheating with the Playboy playmate who also wrote for the Beverly Blaze. And he probably supports McCain, I still love this guy. Bring back the hockey mullet Brandon and make a return appearance.
1. DUH, its Dylan McKay- By and far 1 for me on this show is the brooding junior James Dean Dylan McKay. Only Kelly has seen less drama than this guy, first his dad dies and comes back from the dead and is played by two different actors, and then his wife with a very nice complexion bytheway is killed by the guy who he thought killed even though his dad wasn't really dad and oh yeah is also his father-in-law. He also gets carjacked, hooked on drugs many times and has to rescue lame Noah from an extortion attempt. But he also did get the holy trinity of 90210 (Kelly, Brenda, Valerie, and even Gina for good measure) and gets the girl at the end of the series. All that and his hair never looked out of place.
Thats all for now kids, tune your tv, tivo, or dvr tonight at 8. 90210 forever motherfuckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!