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CW chief talks 'Melrose Place'
The CW held a cocktail party for TV critics Monday at 90210's Peach Pit. But a gaggle of reporters was soon besieging network head Dawn Ostroff not about the current show, but about a possible new version of Melrose Place.
The project is in active development, she says, and talking with a writer about penning a pilot. There were reports last month that One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn would develop the show and hand it off -- similar to what Rob Thomas did with 90210 before passing it off to Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah -- but Ostroff now says he won't be involved.
Nor can she say who will be writing the pilot: "We're in the process of negotiating with someone, but I can't say who yet because the deal's not done."
So what can she tell us? Like the original, which was spun off from Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1992, the new Melrose Place would focus on people in their 20s "who are trying to get their lives started."
"They're all ... in either their first or second jobs, and it's all about life in L.A.," Ostroff says. "What the original Melrose Place did was it was great drama, great storylines, but it didn't really capture L.A. It wasn't a show that went out and really captured the feeling of Melrose, which we think is an opportunity we can take advantage of. We envision the show being stylized and really getting the feeling of Melrose, of Hollywood, of that whole cultural scene."
What about the show's tone? one reporter asked. Will it be "earnest first-season Melrose or crazy, Kimberly-blows-up-the-apartment-complex Melrose?"
"We've actually had that exact conversation," Ostroff says. "I think it's certainly not crazy [and] people being blown up in the beginning. I think initially you've got to really get invested in the characters, but I also think it can't be so dramatic and sort of sleepy that not enough is going on. Our fans really love some of that heightened drama, as they can see when they watch One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl."
The CW will also probably follow the 90210 template of populating the show with mostly new characters and a few familiar faces from the old Melrose Place, from Heather Locklear on down.
"We've talked about everyone, but we haven't talked to anyone yet," she says. "... Of course Heather would be one of the people we talk about, because when you think about Melrose Place she's one of the first people you think of."
No one is watching "90210" so why do they feel the necessity to resussitate "Melrose Place"? I mean, did all of the writers in Hollywood forget how to come up with new ideas during the strike?
This is such a stupid stupid idea.
bhm1304 | Jan 13, 2009 1:50:01 PM | #@bhm1304: Nobody's watching the show? Why is it getting decent ratings? Why is it being renewed? Why are there reviewers who are praising it for the new stories?
Clearly you're stuck in the past and cannot see the innovation of refreshing classic material for a whole new generation. You're not the demographic they want. You can turn off your TV now.
Matt | Jan 13, 2009 2:08:10 PM | #People tuned into Melrose to see the off-the-wall drama and crazy plots. To offer up a new Melrose without those ingredients would be a marketing and network disaster.
The only thing that could make that mistake worse would not bringing back our number 1 scripted show: Smallville.
Dawn Ostroff | Jan 13, 2009 2:33:38 PM | #I think starting a spinoff with Amanda (Heather Locklear) would be a mistake, because of how the original show finished up. Amanda is happy with Peter on an island they bought after faking their own deaths. I would prefer to see Thomas Calboro back as Michael Mancini (as he was the only star of Melrose to last from day one to the end) owning the apartment complex they are at. You don't have to focus on Michael Mancini, but you can certainly have him come around for a visit or two. That also opens to the door for possible returns of Lisa Rinna (mother of Michael's baby), Josie Bisset (Michaels first ex), and even Alyssa Milano who played his sister Jen...plus a slew of others. Also if you wanted to build Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner back in as Amanda and Peter, only Michael knows where they are and taht they are still alive. So if one of the creators for this is reading this please look first towards Thomas, because through Michael you can bring just about anyone and everyone back to the complex for a visit for the most part.
Matt | Jan 13, 2009 3:33:02 PM | #Unless it has the original cast. It's just another prime time Soap Opera. Why call it Melrose Place without Locklear, Savant, Leighton, Bissett,Thorne Smith, etc.
Knight Rider got off great because it had Hasslehoff in the pilot and has a black car. KR rocks because it sticks to the original idea, just modernized.
Bionic Woman sucked because they disregarded the past. All of a sudden Jamie Sommers is still 20 something, has turned brunette and has a kid.
When you have a re-make it has to stick the original idea or people. No Linsday Wagner no Bionic Woman. No Locklear no Melrose. A Black Car with a One Man That Can Make A Difference (with a Former Soap Star)and a hot brunette mechanic and you have Knight Rider, just with some extra people thrown in.
Steve | Jan 13, 2009 4:01:00 PM | #Since the new "Knight Rider" rocks, as someone has posted, I guess that is why NBC has reduced its full season order from 22 episodes to just 17 and will have the series finish its season before the sweeps period starts in March (it's being pushed back from the traditional February due to the digital conversion) and will replace it with another cheap reality series?
"Knight Rider" rocks? Yeah, right. It's disasters like this that has forced NBC to hand over five hours of its schedule to the painfully unfunny Jay Leno.
Xander | Jan 13, 2009 9:05:40 PM | #knight rider is possibly the worst scripted show on tv, makes daytime soap stars look like oscar winners...
Juilian | Jan 14, 2009 5:02:45 AM | #I'm disheartened that Mark Schwahn isn't going to pen the pilot. One Tree Hill, and it's refocus on the characters in their twenties, has been amazing, and he has the ability to write crazy but keep the story grounded in the characters past, presents, and future. It's a shame that deal didn't work out.
I agree that Amanda should not return to Melrose Place. Why would she want to come back? To remember all of the pettiness of her twenties and thirties? Ridiculous. None of the characters from Melrose Place 1990s should return in my opinion. It's a show about people in their twenties having a go at their first or second jobs. All of the 90s characters have seen their first and second jobs pass by them. Jake, owning Shooters, would be the only character that I could see maybe returning with someone at Melrose Place tending bar.
Melrose Place could definitely make a comeback- but focus on the apartment building being the real star, not past characters.
Eric | Jan 14, 2009 5:33:46 AM | #Yeah, no one is watching the new 90210. It was quickly renewed while ratings were still CW-decent, but last night's was the lowest yet for a new episode, barely reaching a meager 3 million people. That's not good.
Eric | Jan 14, 2009 9:33:17 AM | #Eric, concerning last night's ratings for the new "90210" being the "lowest yet for a new episode", it did air against a little series called "American Idol".
Think that may have had something to do with it?
Xander | Jan 14, 2009 11:38:04 AM | #Matt, do you really know Amanda Woodward? I certainly do, and we all know that her staying at that island would last less than ten seconds - she's a career woman for God's sake! What would Amanda do on a deserted island? Also noone on Melrose used to be together for more than a few months..! Amanda would probably divorce Peter early in season 8 had there been one. When that is said I really want Eve Clearly to return - she had a lot of potential ;D
Dr. Shaw | Jan 14, 2009 2:13:36 PM | #Dr. Shaw, I am glad to see you are still writing from the grave. Your death on Melrose Place was a sad sad night for me. Yes Amanda is a go getter, but I just like seeing her finally happy in the sunset with Peter. I am also a huge Michael fan, and just want to see him back as Dr. Mancini who we can see every now and again, however he should not be a the leading role. I know you still might be bitter with how Michael treated you, but wouldn't you love to see him back as well Dr. Shaw. I am glad the show is on DVD now, because I understand it so much more than when it was originally on. The show started when I was in 5th grade, and that was my rebellion until the show ended. As for Eve, I think it would be interesting to see her escape from jail only to cause havoc everywhere she goes.
Matt
Of course we must have Michael back! I totally agree with you Matt. Mancini kicked ass. Yeah Eve is the new psycho, I'm dead for good this time lol.
Http://mpbitchingboard.forumotion.com
Dr. Shaw | Jan 15, 2009 3:02:12 PM | #I echo the sentiments that Michael Mancini needs to be back in some storyline...but I also think it would be clever to bring back Jamie Luner as Lexi Sterling -- who, as hard-core fans will remember, purchased the apartment complex from Amanda late in the final season.
The only other issue would be getting some of the previous actors away from their current projects for cameo appearances -- i.e. Courtney from "According to Jim," Josie from "Secret Life of the American Teenager," Daphne from "One Tree Hill," Kelly Rutherford to take a week or two away from filming "Gossip Girl" here or there, etc.
There are others who don't have a whole lot going on right now who'd probably be easier to get back, such as Lisa Rinna, Andrew Shue, Grant Show, Brooke Langton, Vanessa Williams, Rena Sofer, etc. Also, Jack Wagner and Heather Locklear would probably do some episodes, but the trick would be getting their characters back from Hawaii.
And PLEASE, PLEASE bring back Jasmine Guy as Caitlin!
Unworking_Writer | Jan 17, 2009 12:16:40 PM | #Bring Back Jamie Luner as Lexi Sterling for Melrose Place 2.0! Her character single-handedly revitalized the final season of Melrose Place. I hope she's still the owner of the apartment building in the remake!!! She is awesome at playing a bitch and she has the acting chops to bring more than a few of MP's original fans to the new reboot! Anyone who's seen Aaron Spelling's 1995-1996 show "Savannah" (on the WB) knows what I'm talking about. She carried that show and could do the same for MP! Also, bring back Heather Locklear for guest appearances. Or better yet, scrap the remake idea, and bring MP back with the actors who were in the original! MP ten years later! That would probably draw even bigger ratings than a remake with actors no one cares about or knows.
Brandon | Jan 19, 2009 1:37:46 PM | #Melrose was to my Generation what Dallas was to my parents...The Guiltiest Must See TV EVER!!! Granted it started off slowly, but once GORGEOUS Locks showed up she turned the show on it's A##. If the show is to function, we don't take trips to the local beanery, we don't cruise at the mall; but what we do do is Lie Cheat Steal Bed Hop Bed Hop Bed Hop. If you have a character who hasn't slept with (2) of his/her neighbors in the complex...you ain't Melrose Place.
And to the Antiquated Moron who asks "has hollywood run out of new ideas." or something stupid like that(who was paying attention)A wise man once said "what' OLD is NEW again" You know, like how your question hasn't been asked only like a million times before! Eat your remote, move to the Dutch Country, TV is not for you.
rande s | Jan 23, 2009 10:05:49 AM | #melrose place ten years later -great idea!!!
dreamer | Jan 29, 2009 8:27:58 AM | #I'll watch it, if Locklear is back. I'd want the off the wall crazy drama of it, more than silly romantic junk. "90210" was far too juvenile for me to stand it for more than a few viewings, save Jessica Walter's great performances (although small). In the end, I'd rather see "Dynasty : The Next Generation" that any of them for an Aaron Spelling update - but I will give this a try.
Jason | Jan 29, 2009 3:08:43 PM | #
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