With the premiere of the highly anticipated 90210 last night, it feels like the Fall season has officially begun and I'm compelled to do a little morning-after commentary. A simple rundown of the evening's best and brightest, as far as I'm concerned...

Most Likely To Succeed: New series 90210. Sure, we've only seen one episode so far -- well, technically, two -- but I do believe the new 90210 crew deserves high fives all around. It didn't suck. Despite the naysayers, the negative commentary and the low expectations, exec producers Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah delivered a solid two-hour premiere. They managed to smoothly integrate a few of the old BH characters we're so very familiar with -- Brenda, Kel and Nat -- into this updated version of the 90210 world, and -- what can I say -- I was entertained (not to mention amused by The Hills-like soundtrack and quick tours of L.A. scenery that welcomed us back from every commercial break). But while I was interested in the new kids on the block, it was the nods to the original series that really put a smile on my face. Among them, Annie and Dixon's adjoining bedrooms with a bathroom in the middle (a la the Walsh twins), Brenda's mention of the Peach Pit Mega Burger that Brandon is apparently craving these days, and of course the continuation of the Mel Silver is a whore storyline. But at the top of my list was the appearance of Ahhh-ndrea Zuckerman's love child, Hannah Zuckerman-Vasquez, as the Blaze's news anchor. Not only did she look like she could be the former high school newspaper editor's kid, but Ryan Eggold's character worked this little dig in, while watching her on West Bev's broadcast: "What is that girl, like 30?" Was that a wink to the fact that Gabrielle Carteris was, in fact, like 30 when she booked Beverly Hills, 90210 back in the 90s? Um, yeah, I think it was.

Nicest Smile: This distinction goes to 90210's adorable, yet somehow sexy Dixon Wilson (Tristan Wilds), the adopted son of Harry and Debbie Wilson and brother to Annie -- who, incidentally, smiles way too much if you ask me. What are you so happy about, woman? You're alright, but not nearly as cute as your brother, so quit it with the smug mug. Aren't you supposed to be kinda sad about your Kansas boyfriend or something?

Cutest Couple: Greek's Cappie and Rebecca, who ran around the Cyprus Rhoades campus yesterday, scamming freebies from people who took pity on Rebecca for her family's very public humiliation. The situation yielded this quote from the shamed Senator's daughter: "I have to admit, Cappie, you've proven that scandals do have an up side. This must be what it feels like to be Heidi and Spencer." Ha! ...Honorable mention goes to dorky Dale (and Rusty) for hilariously working in that Murder She Wrote ref. Nice job.

Unsung Hero: Secret Life of the American Teenager. I haven't yet seen the hour, but I just know there was some ridiculously funny line that we could be laughing about right now. I just know it. If you've already seen the ep, perhaps you have a suggestion. Or maybe you'd like to weigh in with your own commentary on last night's TV. Don't let me stand in your way...

Comments

Gotta be first to agree - 90210 did NOT suck. I actually enjoyed it, and thought they paid homage when they needed to....i will watch again! Kudos!

Jana | Sep 3, 2008 9:04:19 AM | #

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Yeeeess! 90210's my new favorite show, hate to admit it :)

P | Sep 3, 2008 9:16:25 AM | #

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"the continuation of the Mel Silver is a whore storyline" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!

P | Sep 3, 2008 9:17:00 AM | #

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The show was completely insulting to old fans.

So all of a sudden we see Hannah? Last we heard, they were living around New Haven because Andrea was going to try Yale finally. We can't just have Hannah back in LA without explaining where Andrea and Jesse are. It just doesn't make sense. And they probably thought they were throwing us a bone but it wasn't worth it.

It was good that they provided details on how Kelly ended up a guidance counselor. But they completely failed to mention her PR business that she started in the series finale. Do we just pretend that didn't exist?

Weird that they mentioned another male principal before Harry. What ever happened to Mrs. Teasley? Even after high school, we still saw her, even in the series finale.

In season 10, Jackie and Mel were separating after the whole strip club fiasco with Gina. So we're supposed believe they got back together again and then split AGAIN to make Silver's story about Naiomi be true? And that's why Jackie is back on drugs after 18 years of being sober?

And Palisades definitely wasn't West Bev's rival back in the original.

A reunion with Brenda and Kelly without mentioning their old friends? Kind of weird.

I'm dying to know what Rob Thomas' original pilot was, since they've said it's so different from this one.

Here's hoping the pace slows down, the stories get more accurate, we get Dixon's adoption back story, find out why in hell the Peach Pit changed styles, and some answers regarding Sammy's dad and how/why Brenda and Kelly saw each other years ago.

Shari | Sep 3, 2008 9:30:32 AM | #

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I loved the new 90210, and I'm glad it's back in rotation. I'm already into the story lines and being an older fan of the original I have no complaints. They don't need to go into every single detail to explain the current status people this is a new show primarily with hints of the past so I'm fine with weaker ties to the old. It's nice and different to see Brenda and Kelly it's like they are completely different anyway to the old versions of their characters so I don't want to get too hung up on the past so as not to cloud where they are headed now. Can't wait to see what's next. Oh and that rich hottie is too hot to be true I fear he is going to turn out to be a bad boy and I don't want to get attached.

Luz | Sep 3, 2008 9:48:47 AM | #

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I am surprised by this response. I was bored to tears. Most of the message boards I looked at seem to agree with me.

John | Sep 3, 2008 10:17:17 AM | #

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i loved it. It's fun and trashy. I hope they keep it that way.

Jonathan | Sep 3, 2008 10:30:16 AM | #

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I didn't watch 90210.

Chad | Sep 3, 2008 10:47:10 AM | #

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I totally got into 90210 last night. I thought it was really well made, and I am not even a big fan of the original (only watched it when my sister made me).

ric | Sep 3, 2008 10:57:09 AM | #

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That guy Cappie is such a tool! Why do girls like him?

Mike | Sep 3, 2008 10:58:56 AM | #

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Cappie is the bees knees.

Julie | Sep 3, 2008 11:35:01 AM | #

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I have to give kudos to 90210. I thought the integration of the old could seem cheesy and pointless. But they found a way to make it all make sense and fit together in a way that didn't seem like they were trying too hard.

Mandy | Sep 3, 2008 12:09:06 PM | #

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Shari - i agree with you on Mrs Teasley. Also, I'm bummed about Jackie's apparent relapse. But all in all I agree with Korbi's review.

BTW YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ THE ROB THOMAS DRAFT. It was a true insult to all fans.

KorbiForever | Sep 3, 2008 12:39:30 PM | #

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I liked 90210.It doesn't even compare to the original.I loved the original.

Linda | Sep 3, 2008 1:41:10 PM | #

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Hooray for Korbi...this posting was so reminiscent of the sadly missed "Quickie" it made me smile...even if I didn't 100% agree with your assessment of the new take on the old zip code!

90210 2.0 didn't suck but it wasn't that great either...sorry but some of the cliched teenage stories were whipped out faster than that "you-so-knew-he-saved-it-and-was-going-to-show-it-to-her" pentapus!

Having said that, the teacher is freakin' hot and I found it refreshing that the Kirsten and Sandy wannabes had an open & honest discussion about his unknown love child instead of him already harbouring a dark secret from his wife in the series premiere!

Great to see Kelly, Brenda, & Nat...and the nods & inside joke to the old show were cute!

One question though: based on Brenda & Kelly's conversation, do we know that Sammy is in fact Brandon's?

Thanks again for your take on the show Korbi. I will stick with it for now, even just to support the smiling too much Canadian star and my favourite (on-line or otherwise) television gossip!

Kath (canakaty) | Sep 3, 2008 2:25:28 PM | #

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GOOD GRIEF PEOPLE. You are not going to get a continuation or retread-It's new new new-if you want retread get out your vhs box sets and travel down memory lane-give the new show a chance-or would you rather see brenda and kelly(et.al) back in high school as students?-somehow I think not. While trying to appeal to the OLDTIMERS the network realizes there is a whole new generation to appeal to-get over it or find a new show. And trust me this is not to be rude to die-hard fans-it's just a fact-so forgive me if I have offended anyone.

david s | Sep 3, 2008 3:23:42 PM | #

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Brando is not the father. Why would he send a message w/ Bren to tell Kelly when she was talking to the father on the phone? Delicious herring. And yes it is TV, but Brandon wouldn't leave Kelly and his kid for a job.
Mr McKay on the other hand...

JT Hutt | Sep 3, 2008 4:11:28 PM | #

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Dylan wouldn't leave his child. No way, not after his childhood with his parents leaving him. Hoping Brandon is the father.

Crystal | Sep 3, 2008 5:09:45 PM | #

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The kid was blonde. Steve Sanders is obviously the father. Discussion over.

Jdub | Sep 3, 2008 5:22:19 PM | #

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I absolutely LOVED the premiere. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it since I was such a huge fan of the original but it's looking good so far.

After watching I just had to upload Shannen's first new scene as Brenda. Seeing her, Nat (Joe E. Tata) and Kelly in the same scene totally gave me goosebumps! haha

Here's the link for anyone interested - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKasGhX4sJM

Ryan | Sep 3, 2008 6:08:28 PM | #

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QUIT PIMPING OUT REBECCA AND CAPPIE.. Noone CARES.

Cutest Couple? Come'on she told Cappie he was beneath her. Daddy drama or not, Cappie is NOT beneath her. She oviously has used Cappie to tick Casey off and made Cappie look like a slacker scumbag to tick her dadddy off. Quit pimping out someone who treats Cappie and everyone else like DIRT, because she's a spoiled wench.

Cappie and Casey are the heart of that show and if the wirters don't realize that soon, they'll lose almost 90% of their viewer's, that are only tuning in mainly for them. Read the POLLS. C/C DOMINATE THEM. R/C are like Heidi and Spencer of Greek. NOONE likes them and she's dragging Cappie down with her.

Cappie and Casey FTMFW!!!!!!! | Sep 3, 2008 7:48:40 PM | #

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angry poster above, you are a moron. ftmfw.

Rich | Sep 3, 2008 10:22:07 PM | #

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to shari: please go watch the original 90210. you posted the exact same statement on E! and you will never be happy with the new 90210 because they are not going to answer all your questions or even care about minor inconsistencies.
ps-i didn't know so many people managed to watched every ep of the original. it started when i was in grade school and i don't think i was still watching when i graduated high school because it had become so stupid

mugs | Sep 4, 2008 6:01:20 PM | #

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