Exclusive: Jason Priestley Reacts To 'Secret Life' Besting '90210's' Ratings & Puts Brandon Reprisal Rumors To Bed

Last night, cable's newest success story, ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager, ended the first half of its inaugural season with boffo numbers. Attracting more than 4.5 million viewers -- 3 million of them in the attractive 12-34 demo -- it not only beat its own ratings record, but easily bested The CW's new 90210 spin off, which fell 30% from its debut to 3.3 million viewers overall.

Interesting fact: Jason Priestley, who rose to fame playing Brandon Walsh on 90210's original series, directed yesterday's Secret Life of the American Teenager finale. The actor-director was kind enough to call me today from Alberta, Canada where he's currently filming a movie -- which is, by the way, the reason he's been sporting that crazy beard (see below) as of late -- so we could discuss.   

"It's unbelievable," he said of American Teenager's ratings. "I mean, those are the kind of numbers The Closer gets. It's spectacular. The show has done what every network hopes their new shows will do, which is to grow consistently week after week. The audience gets bigger and bigger and that's an indication of good word of mouth. It's really been a great place to go to work." 

When asked what the secret to American Teenager's success is, Jason mentioned all the network schedules saturated with reality television: "I think people are looking for shows to entertain them and there's just so much reality on right now. You can watch Deal or No Deal five nights a week. If I was 18 or 19-years-old, I'd be bored to tears by Deal or No Deal. And I think that American Teenager is offering people a welcome change."

So why did 90210 lose viewers last night, while Secret Life grew? "You know, you can understand why [the network and studio] made the decision to try and resurrect the [90210] franchise," JP said. "But just bringing back the title of what was once a successful show doesn't guarantee the success of the new series. The new 90210 is going to have to stand on its own merit. And that's the way it is with any TV show that's just starting out."

But don't mistake the above comment as a dig on the spin off's quality. Jason told me he has yet to see the show, because he was on an airplane when the pilot aired and had to work last night. He has not spoken to his former 90210 co-stars Jennie Garth or Shannen Doherty (who are currently reprising their roles) since the new series premiered, but did say that he sent Jennie a good luck text and email last Tuesday.

Still, he is familiar with the "Kelly/missing baby daddy" storyline, and laughed when I brought it up. But that doesn't mean Brandon has anything to do with the situation. In fact, Jason solidified my assertion that Dylan, not boyscout Brandon, is the dude responsible for Kelly's kid, saying The CW only approached him to play a small, inconsequential cameo role in the pilot -- a role he respectfully declined.

So how about directing? For now, 90210 is S.O.L. as far as any quality time with Jason Priestley is concerned: "They did talk to me about [directing], but at this point, I'm booked until 2009. It could be fun to go over and shoot one, but I'm pretty busy," he explained.

Priestley is expected back on the Secret Life of the American Teenager set next month to direct three more episodes, and p.s., he tells me he'll be clean-shaven by then: "I've taken a lot of heat in the media for this awful, ugly beard. My God, I've had to hear about it on The Soup, on Best Week Ever. They all think I grew it for fun! Come on guys, I would never grow something like this for fun, it's horrible!" Ha!

Korbi...on an unrelated/related topic...what do you think are the chances of the baby-daddy being one Steve Sanders?! I mean Kelly said it was someone she had history with in high school AND Ian Zierling might be the most willing and able of Kelli's former high-school beaus to take on the role in the new show? Hmmm...

Oh and btw...thanks for featuring info on another hot Canuck...funky beard notwithstanding!!

you know, Kath, the very thought HAS crossed my mind. if Luke Perry refuses to do it, Ian is the only other option... unless they wanna do a weird "But David's just my STEP brother, we're not BLOOD-related!" storyline... ;)

There is another possible route for them to take with the baby daddy--Jake Hanson. Kelly had a history with him in high school and she even said the father was someone she didn't see for years. And Jake seems like someone who would be capable of walking out on a kid. More importantly, Grant Show might actually be willing to do a guest appearance. What do you think?

He should skip the first two hours and just watch last nights episode. It was way better than that mess that happened last week.

Joe it's so freaky that you mention Jake, I was just thinking last night about him!

Dylan and Steve aside Kelly didn't actually date much during high school.

I'm a little sad that 90210 lost a chunk of viewers because if the show doesn't survive Season 1 I will be beyond devastated.

Glad to hear the update on Jason Priestley and so happy he's doing well!

For those that think the kid is Steve's (which it could be) BUT then what about Janet and Madelyn?

Thanks for keeping up updated Korbi!

I was always a Kelly/Brendan fan, and it broke my heart when they didn't go through with the wedding. So, this is a little devastating!

If Sammy's father can't be Brendan, then I'll settle for Dylan. But HELL to the OH NO for Steve being Kelly's baby daddy. YUCK!

BTW--loved the classic Jackie Taylor meltdown. That stuff is classic.

Of all the guys on the original show, Steve is the only one I could see completely neglecting his child. He was always a jerk, so how hard is it to believe that he and Janet could be divorced or that he cheated on her with Kelly at a possibly vulnerable moment in both their lives?

First of I live in ALberta Canada thats cool 2nd 90210 has better acting then american teenager but w/e

Korbi, are you hype for the premiere tonight of "So You Think You Can Dance Canada?" - unless of course 1 of your 1247 DVRs somehow can't gain access to Canadian TV.

Tangent, BTW we in Canada (or at least the GTA) are lucky enough to get Gossip Girl a day early - but we do have to wait 1 hr for 90210 (not that that makes any difference to me since I just tape everything and then watch them later - yes I'm an owl).

Wasn't steve's mom's name Samantha... and little sammy is blond and curly headed?

oooooh, good thinking, kristin. but i don't think the new producers did that on purpose -- they were not big into the old series and that would be a move that only a serious fan would make. also, the original intent was to have dylan be the dad, i believe. but if sanders was the dad, the sammy thing could totally work :)

Jason might want to read up a bit on ratings, as the Closer blows SL out of the water.

I loved Jason Priestley and all, but if he did make a cameo, he'd look like a really hard thirty-two, since he's actually much closer to 40, right? (Isn't that about how old Brandon would be by now?) He probably made the right decision not making an appearance on the new '90210'.

That said, he's still dreamy (um, minus the mountain man facial hair).

Honestly, I can only see Dylan being Kelly's baby daddy. Brandon always did the right thing, and that would be NOT leaving his child behind. Dylan is more of a free spirt and i could see him not handling the whole parent, crying baby thing and leaving. just my two cents...

Okay I have racked my brain and I can't even remember the character Daniel Cosgrove played that Kelly almost married. How far into the future is this show now? Could it be possible that Kelly was pregnant at the Donna/David wedding and that ending things with Dylan? ::Shrugs:: just a thought. I watched the original 90210... I watch this new one but I miss the old faces. I would have been happy with a grown up 90210 and their teenage kids :)

D.

If Dylan ends up being Sammy's dad, I'm tuning out. I will not watch the Dylan character be destroyed anymore. No matter how out there Dylan got, he'd never walk out on his child.