Just as Fox's 21 Jump Street injected the cop drama with a dose of hip, Beverly Hills 90210 infused the primetime soap with youthful energy. Like Aaron Spelling's Dynasty, most characters don't lack for disposable income, except for middle-class twins Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty, Heathers). Created by Darren Star (Melrose Place), the class-conscious concept scored an instant hit. In the two-part Tim Hunter-directed pilot, the teens have just arrived from Minneapolis. "Nobody knows me," Brenda tells Brandon on their first day at West Beverly High. "I can be anyone I want." The two soon befriend Steve (Ian Ziering), Kelly (Jennie Garth), Donna (Spelling's daughter, Tori), David (Brian Austin Green), and commuter student Andrea (Gabriel Carteris). Then there's Dylan (Luke Perry), who debuts in the second episode ("The Green Room"). A poetry-reading surfer with a shady past, he's the James Dean of the piece, and Brenda falls hard for his bad-boy charms. Guests include Debbie Gibson ("East Side Story") and Matthew Perry ("April is the Cruelest Month"), while recurring characters include understanding parents Cindy (Carol Potter) and Jim Walsh (James Eckhouse) and Peach Pit manager Nat (Joe E. Tata).
Cast and Characters
Shannen Doherty as Brenda Walsh (1990-1994)
Jason Priestly as Brandon Walsh (1990-1998)
James Eckhouse as Jim Walsh (1990-1995)
Carol Potter as Cindy Walsh (1990-1995)
Jennie Garth as Kelly Taylor
Ian Ziering as Steve Sanders
Luke Perry as Dylan McKay
Gabrielle Carteris as Andrea Zuckerman-Vasquez (1990-1995)
Brian Austin Green as David Silver
Tori Spelling as Donna Martin
Joe E. Tata as Nat Bussichio
Tiffani-Amber Thiessaan as Valerie Malone (1994-1998)
Broadcast History First Telecast: October 4, 1990 Last Telecast: May 16, 2000 Number of Episodes: 296
Number of Seasons: 10
Original Network: FOX
October 1990- August 1992, FOX, Thursday 9:00-10:00pm