News Roundup: 90210, One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and The O.C.
Noticed that the finalized artwork for the Beverly Hills Season 9 DVD is significantly different from the preliminary art, and both are significantly different from the original photo. First the original photo was altered to photoshop in Luke Perry (Dylan). Then they decided to also add in Vanessa Marcil (Gina) and cut out Vincent Young (Noah). This makes the second season in a row with Young missing from the cover art, even though he was a regular the entire season, unlike Perry, Marcil and even Jason Priestley (Brandon) and Tiffani Amber Thiessen (Valerie). Missing in all three photos, however, is Daniel Cosgrove (Matt) who was also a regular that season, albeit not from the beginning (though he is in one of the faded background images). Expect me to still be griping about this when the set is released on February 2nd.
ABC News has an interview with Candy Spelling (wife of Aaron, mother of Tori; Beverly Hills 90210).
Digital Spy has an interview with Matt Lanter (Liam, 90210). Some of it is outdated for us, since the show is just premiering in the country where the site is based. Most interesting is that he says he's pretty sure there's going to be a season 3–and then is bold enough to say the show could last "four or five years."
They also have an interview with Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna, 90210), which also covers things we've already seen but also has spoilers.
MTV made New Year's resolutions for Ryan (Ryan Eggold, 90210), Dan (Paul Johansson, One Tree Hill) and Jenny (Taylor Momsen, Gossip Girl). Zap2it and The Wrap have good resolutions for The CW.
Star News has a brief article on Brett Claywell (Tim, One Tree Hill) and the amazing work he's been doing on One Life to Live. It's truly remarkable.
Blair (Leighton Meester, Gossip Girl) is still in the running in the Girl on Top tournament.
You can vote for Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) and Chace Crawford (Nate, Gossip Girl) as the stars you would kiss on New Year's Eve.
The new season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, starring Shailene Woodley (Kaitlin, The O.C.), premieres Monday on ABC Family.
Tags: 90210, Aaron Spelling, ABC Family, ABC News, Adrianna, Beverly Hills 90210, Blair, Blake Lively, Brandon, Brett Claywell, Candy Spelling, Chace Crawford, Dan, Daniel Cosgrove, Digital Spy, Donna, Dylan, Gina, Girl on Top, Gossip Girl, Jason Priestley, Jenny, Jessica Lowndes, Kaitlin, Leighton Meester, Liam, Luke Perry, Matt, Matt Lanter, MTV, Nate, New Year's, New Year's Eve, Noah, One Life to Live, One Tree Hill, Paul Johansson, Ryan, Ryan Eggold, Serena, Shailene Woodley, Star News, Taylor Momsen, The CW, The O.C, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Wrap, Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Tim, Tori Spelling, Valerie, Vanessa Marcil, Vincent Young, Zap2it
Favorite Holiday Episodes
It's that time of year. Whether snow is falling by you or not, it's likely holiday fever is running rampant.
Television shows, including teen dramas, are known for considering the holidays to be "gifts"–easy excuses for getting all the characters together in one place and having drama ensue. But when this is done year in and year out by seemingly a bazillion shows each year, it can become stale after a while.
In the teen drama world, there's been a few gems. This week we'll take a look at some of my favorite Christmas-Hanukkah-New Year's-Plain Ol' Winter episodes, show-by-show.
TODAY: Beverly Hills 90210
1. Episode 3.16, It's a Totally Happening Life
The title is obviously a reference to It's a Wonderful Life, the plot of which the show kind of toys with. In this episode, two angels–one who is trying to advance in the angel world–take a look at what should be a normal day for our Beverly Hills gang–albeit, one with fighting among nearly all the characters and a bus ride that could prove deadly. One of the angels serves as a narrator, explaining to the other the dynamics among the characters (it can be quite humorous at times) and even pausing or rewinding as it jumps from storyline to storyline and back again. I remember hating this episode years ago but as I watch it now, I see the storytelling as creative instead of annoying and the message heartfelt instead of cheesy. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that one of the storylines centers around one of my favorite love triangles, Brenda-Dylan-Kelly.
2. Episode 5.14, Injustice For All
Beverly Hills 90210 was on for 10 years, which means it had quite a few Christmas episodes. Heck, even one of the characters–Donna–shared a birthday with the holiday. But nothing gave me more pleasure than when they incorporated Hanukkah into the mix. As a member of the tribe–though, to be honest, one who alternately hates and loves the religion–I always feel pride when pop culture gives Judaism some attention. It's partly why I identified with Andrea so much (one major difference: no marriage and baby in college for me!). In this episode, Andrea throws a Hanukkah party and we get latkes and dreidel games, just a few episodes after a chilling storyline on anti-Semitism (Episode 5.11, Hate Is Just A Four-Letter Word).
3. Episode 6.16, Turn Back the Clock
Like my first pick, this episode sheds the linear storytelling format in favor of flashbacks. As some of the characters sit around recounting a disastrous New Year's Eve, they're slowly joined by more and more of the gang who provide additional details. The episode also features performances by The Corrs, including a great rendition of the holiday classic "Auld Lang Syne."
Come back tomorrow for a Dawson's Creek Christmas gone wrong!
Tags: Auld Lang Syne, Beverly Hills 90210, Chrismakkuh, Christmas, Hanukka, Hate Is Just A Four-Letter Word, Injustice For All, It's A Totally Happening Life, New Year's, New Year's Eve, The Corrs