Oh Brenda. Ordering a banana daiquiri as your drink of choice at a "hot L.A. club". See, just one of the many reasons this show was kind of good before it got so bad. Brenda is an inexperienced high school kid from Minnesota, suddenly thrust into L.A. When she gets into a bar underage and is put on the spot to order a drink she goes with a banana daiquiri. Should have tipped off stupid Rex Manning, but you go Brenda. After knowing that Steve turns into superdad later, I now find his personality a lot less repulsive during the pilot, and I love how he calls Kelly a bitch.

He didn't? Must just be me daydreaming then...

Ugh, Kelly infuriated me in that episode. "Don't try to make this my fault!" "How dare you tell your brother that I'm the reason you're not doing this for him!"

Thank God Matt finally threw it in her face: "Excuse me, you bitch, but you ARE the reason I'm turning down the most important request my only brother has ever asked me to do for him. YOU ordered me not to do it, and I'm pleasing you before my own brother. Now can I get you anything? Should I polish your diamond shoes before or after I wash your hair for you?" Of course, I may have paraphrased that a bit.

About a gazillion things should have tipped off Rex, like Brenda saying that she and her entire sorority transferred to UCLA from Minnesota. If the guy didn't realize that Brenda was full of it at that point, then he was just too dumb for words.

I believe the line was "You talk about responsibility. How about you learn to take some?" LOL - loved it. I rewound it 10 times the last time it aired. You go Matt!!

Yep...go right back to NY. LOL.

I wish we had the internet and TWOP the first time the pilot aired. That said, I know it's been over 15 years now, but could Andrea BE anymore of an uppity little bitch? When she asked Brandon which story he'd rather cover- the toxic waste disposal in the chemistry department or the women's water polo team match, right after Brandon said his experience was as the SPORTS EDITOR at his old school, and then had the audacity to accuse him of being sexist and lazy, I just wanted to punch her in the face. Girls like Andrea ruin the whole feminist movement.

I had totally forgotten that Djimon Hounsou was the bouncer at the club...and Mary Ann whatshername played one of Tony Soprano's girlfriends who caught on fire.


No, she couldn't be. She was a sanctimonious wet blanket from day 1. Unlike Steve, who I LOVE this time around, I still have much hate for Ohndrea. I have no idea how Brandon put up with her constant preaching.

Also, I really liked Brenda's hair in the pilot, and I finally get to enjoy Kelly again who I only liked for the first 2 seasons.

So, I watched "I choose me" over the weekend, and I know Kelly's a self-righteous bitch and all, but where does she get off following Brandon around for the next couple of episodes saying, "Just because I didn't want to marry you doesn't mean I don't want a relationship."? Sorry, but choosing yourself, and telling two men (in front of one another) that "I'll love you both til the day I die" does not a relationship make.

Man, I would love to see where all these characters would be in 2006. Donna and David would have divorced (due to his infidelity) and gotten back together (due to her inevitable pregnancy). Kelly and Dylan would have broken up a zillion times but get back together every time because they are soul mates. Janet and Steve and the baby (blanking on her name) would live happily ever after in subplot heaven (the only happy characters are the peripheral ones). Oh, and some new brunette on the block would be after all the boys, giving Donna and Kelly ample reason to hate her.

Well, now that I feel like I have accomplished something of truly dubious worth (namely watching every single episode from Pilot to Finale), I have to say that Steve Sanders is clearly, clearly the best character on the show.

Like to the point where I would kind of like to hang out with Ian Ziering except for his ridiculously stupid name pronunciation and his tendency for leaving poor brainless Playboy models/ex-wives in the financial lurch.

The greatest thing about Steve was at the party, they shot him from the chest up for the first few scenes, and then, when he's talking to Brandon, there's a wide shot and he's got a sports coat and shorts on. It's so Steve. Only he could get away with it.

You know, I was editor of my high school paper, and I'm currently editor of my college paper, and the one thing I've learned is that you need people who want to be there. You can't isolate them like that. I really disliked Andrea at first, but by the end, I really kind of felt for her. She's so weak. I give major props to the 90210 writers, too, for always keeping them apart aside from a few kissses. There were plenty of reasons to pull the trigger on an actual relationship, and it seemed like it was setting up for it, and they pretty much broke convention. I really appreciated that.

I still dislike the pilot, but it's nice to see it again. Casa Walsh numero uno isn't near as good as Casa Walsh numero dos, however.

It still surprises me, upon watching the pilot, how much younger GabCar looks than the rest of the cast (except for SIlver and Scanlon, of course) in the first few episodes. I don't know if it's how she's dressed, her makeup or hair or her general demeanor, but when I found out that she's closer to Cindy and Jim's age than the rest, it originally threw me for a loop.

Of course, she ages about thirty years from season two to season three, so the world will make sense again, soon.

Some questions from the pilot episode:

1. What happened to the valet service at the school?
2. Where did those 2 Arabic looking students go?
3. What happened to the overweight girl that no one wanted as a lab partner?

When I'm not watching this episode or "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" I get the plot about Brenda and her date confused with the FTaRH plot about what's-her-face's date with the stereo salesman.

I actually felt a tiny bit bad for her given that the entire scene was dedicated to how awful it would be to be associated with her. I assume she pulled a reverse Andrea and took a bus to the poor side of town to go to school.


I recall that the producers decided that this was over the top and cut it out after the pilot.

Can I just say that I kind of loved the pilot? The huge cellphones, the clunky looking laptops, bad hair and even worse clothes. I also think Steve is kind of awesome, with the blazer/shorts combo and the much more aggressive attitude. Heck, even Cindy expressed more attitude than she ever did in her five year run with the one toss of the box with the toaster at Brandon.


I really think it had to do with the glasses and hair cut. Once they tried to make Andrea more glamorous, she started looking her age, in the worst way.

Did anyone else notice that Jim was clearly not in the pilot? The one scene they showed was of him in the kitchen of the Casa Walsh we all know and love, and it clearly was not the same kitchen that the rest of the characters are in later on. IIRC, they got rid of the original actor playing Jim and reshot all his scenes, even if it looks kind of ridiculous given that they used obviously different sets.


I agree, but Andrea is just so nasty about it with her dumbass test to see if Brandon really wants to be on the paper. As was mentioned before, he was the freaking sports editor! It would only make sense that he would want to cover a story on sports. I do like that they actually have Andrea ride the bus to school with the maids. Why not just have her wear a t-shirt that says "Poor" and make it easier for everyone?

Oh no, I'm agreeing that Andrea's a bitch here. She shouldn't try to isolate people. When people want to write, especially people with CREDENTIALS, you let them write. You never try to send away people who want to be there. It's impossible to find good high school journalists.

I really tried watching part one of the pilot, but for some reason, I just couldn't get into and flipped to other channels (then I think I might've fallen asleep). Hopefully, I didn't miss anything "good." I'll try to get through the second part tonight. I do remember Maxwell Caulfield; I think he's kind of hot, and I loved Grease 2 (what?! It's a fun, cheesy movie). It still shocks me that he's married to Tabitha on Passions (way to go Tabitha!).

ETA With regards to Andrea, I really related to her in high school, but I caught the smug arm raising and the stupid test for Brandon, and agree, she was rather bitchy.

Much as I felt bad for her, I love that scene now because it was so in character for Kelly to be that superficial, and to only give new girl Brenda the time of day because she was less of a social pariah than the other girl.

Still love when Brandon has to eat alone at lunch - this was before he became the coolest kid at school and I began to hate his smug ass.

Andrea was truly obnoxious, wasn't she?

What is this weird subplot with the spanish teacher and the vice principal? I don't remember it and I've seen the pilot tons of times.

Man, I'm hooked all over again. I've been waiting for the show to start all over again (hated the later seasons) and props to SoapNet for really sticking to the schedule. Oh, how I love the Brenda years!!!

I kind of laughed at the stupidity of the bouncer, if five girls come up in a group and four of them have fake ids that make clear they are 16, what are the chances that the one girl you choose to let in is really 21?


I don't remember it either, I just keep wondering where the heck Mrs. Teasley is, or was there a very special episode I missed where we find out that this vice principal and Mrs. Teasley are one in the same?

I think that Shannen looks so fresh and pretty in these early episodes. They all do....they do look like high schoolers to a certain extent (except Dylan). I LOVE these first seasons. If they ever put them out on DVD, I think the first few seasons are the only ones I would want to own.

I think they had to add that scene in to make the show an hour long. As I recall, the pilot was 90 minutes, which they've divided into 2 hour-long shows, so they had to pad it a little for it to fit. However, I've only seen this episode a couple times, so I'm not 100% sure.

So Jason turned out to be kind of creepy. How many guys actually tell girls that they will be expected to put out on the next date?

And how many high school radio stations are allowed to broadcast which students are having sex with each other?

I noticed also Kelly had a different mom, and they did a horrible job editing in Jim's scenes, like when Brenda comes to show off her dress before her date, Brandon clearly no longer has a mullet and yet again the house has changed.


They really are great, I'm amazed at how far the show got from its original premise by the end.

"Kind of creepy" is right. "I should sue your parents?" WTF was that all about? Chill out, lawyerboy.

I had totally forgotten about 90% of the pilot. Actually, I think that's a good thing - these episodes dragged and dragged. IIRC, I started to really get into the show during that extra summer season, when everyone hung out at the Beverly Beach Club...

...Oh, who am I kidding. This was awesome. Steve having a beeper in class? Brandon's mullet? Kelly's enormous brown eyebrows? Spelling's nosejob, phase one? Andrea in glasses? And the awesomely awesome duo of a crepe see-through babydoll over a black unitard and biker shorts, complete with black combat boots? Not to mention the adorable, young BAG, pre-voice-change (awww). Awesome.

I found a site that has some good, but somewhat short, clips of the show up to the 5th season (I think) here.

ETA: even more clips here.

That was kind of cool, who knew you could hook a beeper up to your car alarm? 1990 really was quite a year.

And I can't think of anything more obnoxious than a teacher who insists on playing music during a quiz.

All I could think when Andrea said she was happy she could finally bring a friend home was: "But you don't have any friends!"

And here I thought I was done recording this show. I find myself loving these old episodes so much. I'm going to have to read the recap of the pilot again.

Is there a reason why they haven't? I mean if Season 3 of Murder She Wrote and any Season of V.I.P. can be released than why not BH?


Even though he's supposed to be an annoying dork, he's actually infinitely less annoying than when he became "popular". Maybe he was too young to be PMSing 24/7.


I know, and I totally didn't get the steel tray with the smoking volcano thingy whatever. For some reason that teacher reminded me of Mr. Shorofsky from Fame.

I can't for the life of me understand why lycra bike shorts went out of fashion. Just so flattering!

When does Dylan show up? I missed the first episodes the first time around so I'm really enjoying watching them, even if they are slightly boring. And wow, Shannen Doherty looks so pretty, much better than in later years.

I believe he's in today's. "Mad, bad and dangerous to know. That was him, and that's me."

I love how Cindy blamed herself for Brenda's dalliance with Rex Manning.

I'm so excited the older episodes are back!! Watched Pt 2 of the pilot last night. "I thought it wouldn't matter if I told you the truth about my age." Yeah sure! I had stopped TiVoing the last season because it sucked so much but now I'm back baby!

LOL Kelly's mom. "You woke up Bob!"

The same reason why a lot of shows have trouble coming to DVD--music licensing. They can't put a show on DVD without getting the rights to the music they had included in the episodes (the rights to use it on the air is completely different from the rights to put it on a DVD intended for repeated home use). And with a show like 90210, that's a whooooooooole lot of music to get the rights to. They either have to get the rights or remove/edit the music they can't get approved. (From what I understood, the DVD releases for certain seasons of Dawson's Creek and Married with Children, and I'm sure other shows, used a different song for the theme song because they couldn't get the DVD rights to the originals.)

Many the first 3 season of 90210 were the greatest.

Dylan coming out of the car and panning up Brenda's legs.
Dylan in the shower, Dylan breaking the plant on the street.

and that was only one episode. I went to the msuem of radio and tv last year and that episode was one of the ones I watched.

Ah, good times, another one of my favorites is when Dylan breaks some ribs surfing and Cindy brings him home.

Is she a heavy smoker? That could've made her look tired in later years.

The only memorable early episodes for me were the Brenda episodes (meeting Dylan, her troubled first date with Dylan, getting accused of shoplifting, etc.). Oh, and Kelly's cokehead mom - man, I loved the scene where Kelly's mom MC's the fashion show and is completely obnoxious and offensive. Heh. I actually loved Kelly in that episode.

Ah, whenever Dylan's got the huge BANDAGE wrapped around him. I think he borrowed that one from Jim in the little league episode.

Oh God! Brenda's bangs are so very shitful. And with this episode, we start moving into the Brandon becomes an annoying asshole years. Funny how his hair stayed pretty much the same through all these years, just the length varying now and again. Stupid Brandon.

Word, SwearBaby. I was watching yesterday's episode, and Ahndrea said something to Brandon that went along the lines of, "I don't know why you're with you. She's rich and stupid, and you're down-to-earth and smart."

And I said right back to her, "Wait a couple of episodes, and he'll be neither."

I've alway disliked Kelly. My only favorite later one was when Steve spread the rumor about Brenda sleeping with the director to get a job. Everyone even Brandon thought she did it but DYLAN. Their relationship was the best one and actually most stable thru the years. I bet if Shannen got along better with the rest of the cast Brenda and Dylan would have ended up together.

(snip)

With 90210, there's also the issue that Paramount didn't have the DVD release rights to the show until just this past fall. Artisan had some rights and they released a couple of single-episode DVDs (the pilot and the high school graduation, IIRC) but they didn't have rights to season sets.

Omigod, I thought the same thing! And I loved this little exchange:

Dylan: Minnesota! Wait- don't ruin my reputation
Brandon: The name's Brandon. And don't worry- I wouldn't want to ruin the only real thing you've got.

If Brokeback Mountain jokes weren't so cliche, I would make one right about now.

Yep, she is!

And what's with the music during the ending credits? I don't remember that! The later years, it's just the music from the beginning of the show.

(snip)

HoYay, ahoy! Plus, when Dylan saves Scott from the bullies Brandon is all "who's your friend?"

I am loving this Kelly. I'd rather see a good old-fashioned stuck-up, selfish bitch than a self-righteous, hypocritical bitch any day.

I had totally forgotten how HOTT Dylan The Early Years was. I know "Mad, bad and dangerous to know." is a cheeseball line, but damn if I didn't drool a little. No wonder he was the early breakout star.

In the later episodes he literally looked chewed up and spit out.

Was it his overalls with the one strap undone that did it for you? All I could think was that he left the Byron book out so someone like Brandon would find it and think he was smart and deep.


Heck, what's with the awesomely cheesy opening credits? That whole letter carrier bit taking the letter from Minnesota to Beverly Hills is hilarious.

No, not the overalls...actually, it was his artfully wrinkled forehead (but not TOO wrinkled....yet.) And his James Dean hairdo. He looked durn good.

I agree about the Byron book too. Didn't Byron have sex with animals? I wonder if that had anything to do with "mad, bad and dangerous to know."

(snip)

Am I nuts, or did I hear at the reunion show that Priestley wanted Brandon's hair to remain the same for the entire run of the show? Something about how he never wanted Brandon to change, and his hair was a symbol of that.

Which is hilarious given that Brandon actually makes one of the biggest about-faces in terms of character. In no time Brandon loses that midwestern charm, and replaces it with smug arrogance and tons of pomade. Oh, Brandon. Why don't you love me.

Heh. My brother refers to the Dylan of later years as "the catcher's mit"...but I agree with those who said that he was way hot in the early years of the show.

Does anyone else crack up when they play the screaming electric guitar music when Dylan is being a "badass"? I couldn't stop laughing when he stepped on that guy's surfboard.

And Brenda's bangs looks as if they were hacked at by beavers.