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The original cast of "Melrose Place," circa 1993.
photo courtesy of Fotos International/Getty Images
photo courtesy of Fotos International/Getty Images
First, there was the new "90210," and fast on its heels is an updated version of "Melrose Place," coming this September to the CW.
A screener of the show landed on our desks last week, and we couldn't resist taking a peek, having been addicted to the original series, which debuted in 1992.
Directed by the usually high-brow Davis Guggenheim (an Oscar winner for "An Inconvenient Truth" and husband to Elisabeth Shue), the new "Melrose" pilot showed that some things haven't changed since the original series, created by Aaron Spelling, ended 10 years ago.
Most
notably, the set, which appears to be the same two-level
terracotta-colored apartment complex with a pool in the courtyard.
Original cast members also make an appearance: Laura Leighton returns as crazy Sydney Masters, now Melrose Place's landlord, and Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini. (Josie Bissett is also rumored to be on the show, but she isn't in the first episode). And true to form, there is the usual mix of amazingly improbable drama, twisty relationships, ulterior motives, but so far, very little sex.
The rest of the cast is very new and very young. Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is the most recognizable face, playing 18-year-old Violet Foster, a "good girl" whose odd behavior hints at future insanity.
Trying to fill Heather Locklear's shoes is 22-year-old Katie Cassidy, who so far is just a pale imitation as manipulative Hollywood publicist Ella Simms.
There is also the Grant Show-ish Colin Egglesfield, as chef Auggie Kirkpatrick (previous credits include 180 episodes on "All My Children"), "90210" transplant Jessica Lucas as teacher Riley Richmond, former "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Greek heartthrob Michael Rady as her boyfriend Jonah Miller, Australian actress Stephanie Jacobsen as doctor-in-training Lauren Yung and Shaun Sipos as Dr. Mancini's bad boy son, David Breck.
So far, we all agree that it's not quite the original. Does that mean we aren't anxious for the second episode? Abolutely not.
All we need next is a redo of the highly underrated, one-season-wonder "Models Inc."
Original cast members also make an appearance: Laura Leighton returns as crazy Sydney Masters, now Melrose Place's landlord, and Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini. (Josie Bissett is also rumored to be on the show, but she isn't in the first episode). And true to form, there is the usual mix of amazingly improbable drama, twisty relationships, ulterior motives, but so far, very little sex.
The rest of the cast is very new and very young. Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is the most recognizable face, playing 18-year-old Violet Foster, a "good girl" whose odd behavior hints at future insanity.
Trying to fill Heather Locklear's shoes is 22-year-old Katie Cassidy, who so far is just a pale imitation as manipulative Hollywood publicist Ella Simms.
The cast of the new "Melrose Place" attends the CW network upfronts.
photo courtesy of Bryan Bedder/Getty
photo courtesy of Bryan Bedder/Getty
There is also the Grant Show-ish Colin Egglesfield, as chef Auggie Kirkpatrick (previous credits include 180 episodes on "All My Children"), "90210" transplant Jessica Lucas as teacher Riley Richmond, former "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Greek heartthrob Michael Rady as her boyfriend Jonah Miller, Australian actress Stephanie Jacobsen as doctor-in-training Lauren Yung and Shaun Sipos as Dr. Mancini's bad boy son, David Breck.
So far, we all agree that it's not quite the original. Does that mean we aren't anxious for the second episode? Abolutely not.
All we need next is a redo of the highly underrated, one-season-wonder "Models Inc."
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