The TV Zone

The CW shot out a bunch of clips last night JUST TO REMIND THE WORLD that Tori Spelling will be back - or I should say, will join - "90210" next week, and dutiful servant of the CW's publicity machine that I am, here they are, or some of them... The first, then please head south to the jump for more.

Oh Donna, Donna...How has life been for you? Where's David? Have you lost your virginity yet?

Continue reading "'90210': Tori's back" »

We've got the first pictures of Donna Martin - Tori Spelling - back on "90210." ....With Diablo Cody.

(For some reason, I never expected to use the names "Tori Spelling" and "Diablo Cody" in the same sentence, but I guess you wouldn't call the above a "sentence" either...)

Tori looks good, and by "good," I mean well-nourished here.

The logline from the CW, and yes, the episode airs next Tuesday, as if you didn't know...

"Kelly (Jennie Garth) and Silver (Jessica Stroup) are surprised when Donna (guest star Tori Spelling) shows up at their door, straight off a plane from Japan. Annie (Shenae Grimes) and Dixon (Tristan Wilds) decide to spend their spring break on a road trip to visit someone from Dixon’s past, while Ethan (Dustin Milligan) decides to step out of his bubble and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) joins the Habitat build after learning that Liam (Matt Lanter) is also attending, but is clearly out of her comfort zone. While Kelly and Donna are dining on sushi, Diablo Cody (guest starring as herself) convinces Donna to design a dress for her for a red carpet event. "

It's 10 p.m. (and I don't know where my children are), but good news just can't be held back - "good" if your definition of "good" is a "full season pick-up" of "90210."

Just announced. It's official. "90210" has saved the CW Network. Dawn Ostroff is a happy camper.

Here's the key graph from the presser:

"The CW’s drama “90210,” quickly becoming one of the most popular series among young women, has been picked up for a full season of episodes, it was announced today by Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, The CW.

“The successful addition of ‘90210’ has taken The CW another step forward in building a cohesive schedule that defines this network as a destination for young women with shows that get our audience talking -- and watching,” Ostroff said. “We’re very excited about the chance to watch this ensemble of newcomers and familiar faces coalesce and grow together as we move forward.”

I know - BORING. But...they should be excited. "90210" - which Yours Truly declared not half bad in his review - has legs, even if they're kinda skinny ones. Next year, an Emmy?

Now, about those children...

At least they coulda waited until sweeps. At least they coulda waited until Luke Perry actually said he might reconsider a return. At least they shoulda given this a little bit more back story - like, what really did happen to Dylan McKay after that wedding (was it a wedding? I don't entirely remember.), and how is it that he fathered a baby (let's see) five years ago, when "Beverly Hills 90210" ended EIGHT years ago, and...

I'm losing you: Dylan's the father of Kelly's kid. That was the big reveal on last night's "90210," and it wasn't such a big reveal because everyone in the world, up to and possibly including Prez Bush and certainly Sarah Palin KNEW the father was Dylan.

I mean, really? Who else could it have been? Steve? David? Ummm, Nat? Not bloodly likely.

Jennie Garth had this to say to People Mag about whether this reveal will finally finally finally convince Luke to at least make an itsy bitsy cameo on the show:

"I would love to work with Luke [Perry] again. I love him dearly. And I also would love to work with Jason [Priestley] again. It’s a great question for the producers. I would be nothing but totally happy to have either of them there."

And the answer's still...no.

This is big news, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to sit down.

Have you sat down yet?

Good. Well, here it is. Oh wait, you've already read my headline, so you know what I'm about to lay on you: Shannen Doherty is "in talks" to join the "Bev Hills 90210" remake, although I must say that the phrase "in talks" as it applies to Doherty seems rather tame: I'd prefer "in screams."

So let's go with that. Shannen Doherty is in screams to return to the show that made her Shannen Doherty. Perez Hilton is reporting this ayem, and I'm of a mind to believe it. The reasons are evident. She's trying to sell one of her Malibu homes (how many does she have? I don't know. Hold up your hand and count your fingers). Her TV career, such as it once was, has been reduced to "Breaking up with Shannen Doherty." She is now, and pretty much ever has been, famous for being infamous. Why not be in screams to return to this re-make?

If true -- and again, I believe it -- then this would catapult this show (which could actually save the entire CW from cancellation) into a whole new realm. Of course, a great and exciting realm. First of all, the newbie would have to deal with a vast amount of back stuff -- like where DID Brenda disappear to after season four, and was her love with Dylan forever and ever, or just one of those prime-time fling things?

And of course, if you bring back Brenda, you gotta deal with Dylan -- who was, I'm also insulting you with this utterly needless reminder, Luke Perry. What about Dylan? Will the producers try to get a cameo outta Luke? Will he even show up to the same room as Doherty? And Brandon? He's roaming out there in prime-time limbo, too. With Brenda onboard, that's going to have to be resolved too. It's not enough to write the script this way: Brenda: "Oh yes, I still deeply love Dylan, wherever he is ... Brandon's on the phone? I'll take it..."

Jason -- will you too take the call from the producers?

Meanwhile, if you're still with me, here's a six-minute clip from the 10-year reunion. Proves that the rest of the cast doesn't TOTALLY hate Shando, but then these are actors. One never knows, does one?