So … 90210 finally debuted on The CW last night to much anticipation and speculation about the new incarnation of the hugely successful and beloved Beverly Hills, 90210 from the early ’90s. Right off the bat I have to admit that my fears have been put to rest, the new version of the hit series (thus far) seems to have all the necessary elements to make it a big hit for a whole new generation of viewers:

So as not to spoil anything for those of you who have yet to see the 2-hour series premiere last night I’m putting my comments about the show behind the cut. After the jump, check out my take on the new 90210 …

I gotta confess, I was really skeptical about last night’s premiere. I dunno why, but I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder before I even watched the first ep. I think I was just really clinging to the original series way too much and had convinced myself that the new incarnation wouldn’t be good or would ruin the feel of the original. I am happy to report that that isn’t the case. I found the updated 90210 very fresh while still paying due respect to the original series:

In all honesty, I was worried in the first 10 minutes. I felt the blow job scene that we were shown before the first commercial aired smacked of desperation … thankfully, that tone didn’t really hold for the rest of the series premiere. I loved the mix of new and old … it felt familiar and yet modern. It was really very cool seeing Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty on screen again … I was happily shocked that Kelly Taylor (Jennie‘s character) is a mother of a 4-year old boy — and we don’t know who the father is just yet! I hope they keep that secret for a while, I love the not knowing. Shannen still has that Brenda Walsh vibe about her … it’s as if no time had passed, to be quite honest. I’m really looking forward to seeing more eps, I think I’m hooked already. Interesting that Silver is Kelly‘s little sister (who was born on BH, 90210). It never occurred to me that Silver is her last name and not just a nickname … she is, of course, David Silver‘s (Brian Austin Green) little sister as well. Love it! I also noted that the saucy grandma’s friend (who is the grandmother of the jock kid on the show, whose name I don’t know yet) was played by Linda Gray — who played Hillary Michaels in the failed TV series Models Inc. (which was a spin-off of Melrose Place which, of course, was a spin-off of Beverly Hills, 90210). I don’t think that Linda Gray plays the same character … but it would’ve been GENIUS if her characters were the same. She would’ve been the only actor on the show playing a character that was spun-off from a spin-off on a spin-off of the original show :)

OY! There was just so much going to talk about … I noted there was a Zuckerman-Vasquez on the West Beverly High newscast, clearly the daughter of Andrea Zuckerman (thanks CH) and I would love it if the meatheat LAX jock asshole turned out to be a relative of Steve Sanders — they’ve got the same hair, after all. I really love Rob Estes character as father/principal … I really like the whole thing … as did over 4 million other folk, 90210 was the highest rated scripted show premiere in CW history. Well done. I don’t know that I’ll be recapping the show on a weekly basis but I’ll deffo be watching. So … what did y’all think?

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