Confession time: I'll be watching the spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210 when it debuts on The CW on Sept. 2.
The original show debuted while I was high school, and like the rest of my friends, I tuned in regularly to watch the trials and tribulations of Minnesota teens Brandon and Brenda Walsh as they tried to fit in with the lifestyles of the rich and famous in sunny California.
But this time, it's not the teenagers I'm interested in — it's the moms! (Wow, I feel old just writing that.)
Here's a rundown of the women in regular and recurring roles on the spin-off — now called simply 90210 — including one actress who hasn't been announced anywhere else yet, but who will be very familiar to AfterEllen.com readers.
Lori Loughlin (Summerland, Full House, Secret Admirer)
Character: Debbie Wilson
Mother to: Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes), an aspiring actress, who wants to fit in with the cool crowd; and Dixon Wilson (Tristan Wilds), a smart bad boy with behavioral issues.
Description: Married to Harry Wilson, Debbie was an Olympic athlete but is now working as a personal trainer and is considered the "cool" mom. The spin-off revolves around her family.
Why I like her: I developed a crush on Lori Loughlin in high school because she wore a tie in the cheesy teen '80s movie Secret Admirer (aka The Letter). (Yet I still didn't know I was gay! Some people are denser than others.) I even watched Summerland (2004-05), just because she was on it. Both seasons! Yes, I'm getting help.
Jennie Garth (the original 90210, What I Like About You)

Character: Kelly Taylor
Mother to: Unnamed 4-year-old
Currently: West Beverly guidance counselor
Why I like her: It's Kelly Taylor! My affection for poor little rich girl Kelly in the original 90210 was cemented when a lesbian with whom she survived a fire confessed to having a crush on her, and Kelly didn't freak out. (That's what passed for a positive lesbian story line back then.) My feelings for her waned over the years, however, as she was saddled with various sad-sack story lines (like the endless coke addiction one), but even at her worst, Kelly Taylor always had layers — or at least, what amounted to layers for the '90s. She was also arguably the least annoying female character of the original cast (Brenda was always complaining, Andrea Zuckerman was boring most of the time, and Donna was just, well, Donna.)
Christina Moore (Mad TV, That '70s Show)

Character: Tracy Bennett
Mother to: Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), a spoiled and attractive rich kid.
Description: A promiscuous Beverly Hills MILF.
Why I like her: Eh, not sure if I do yet.
Jessica Walter (Arrested Development)
Character: Tabitha Wilson
Mother to: Debbie Wilson (Lori Loughlin)
Description: Alcoholic matriarch who was a famous actress in the '70s
Why I like her: Lucille lives!
And now for the exclusive casting news!
Maeve Quinlan (South of Nowhere, 3Way)

Character: Constance
Mother to: Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes), a theater star who develops a serious drug addiction.
Description: An overbearing former actress and stage mom whose constant pressure drives her daughter to do drugs.
Why I like her: It's Paula on steroids! Maeve tells us she makes her first appearance in the fifth episode, and as we all know from SoN, she can play a mom from hell like nobody's business. I hope poor Adrianna isn't planning to come out as a lesbian!
Read details about 90210's premise and characters on the show's Wikipedia page, and also check out casting suggestions for a lesbian version of the show in the blog post 9021-Lesbo. As we get closer to the premiere date, we'll do a rundown of the teen girls on 90210, but I'm already wondering how they can possibly compete with Serena and Blair on Gossip Girl.
Yay Maeve! :) Now I'll
Yay Maeve! :)
Now I'll definitely have to give this show a try
My cousin will make me
My cousin will make me watch this - and now I have an excuse, go Maeve!
"Even in death Gabrielle, I will never leave you"- Xena
Maeve! Okay, so I was on
Maeve! Okay, so I was on the fence, but now I am definitely committed to the new series! Two former N-stars for the price of one AND a Wire alum! It doesn't get any better!
"The quick to think are never sure"
--Tiresias, Oedipus Rex
I'm really excited about the
*MILF ALERT*
Just when I thought I was safe from ever being pulled into watching this show!
"I hope poor Adrianna isn't planning to come out as a lesbian!"
But is it alright if I hope Constance and Debbie Wilson have an unexplored past together that they decide to rekindle and explore now?
:)
Don't worry Sarah
Don't worry Sarah, I was apparently pretty dense as well since I didn't realize that I had the biggest crush in the world on Kelly Taylor, and not on Dylan (not to say that Luke Perry isn't/wasn't attractive, just not quite my cup of tea). And Aunt Becky was the only real reason to watch Full House. I am so excited for this it's a bit pathetic, but I really couldn't care less. And the teenagers (who hopefully have the ability to act) will provide most of the goings-on, but I hope they realize that they need to focus on the moms as well, otherwise they are wasting their time employing such talented and gorgeous women.
"It might make Elizabeth Hasselbeck cry, but we're gonna do it."
yessss
Make September come quicker!!
(on a side note, i noticed a minor typo in someone's name...the girl who plays daughter Annie Wilson is Shenae Grimes, not Shanae :p)
Secret Admirer
dylan
I am soooo looking forward to watching this. I used to wish that I was Luke Perry (Jennie or Shannen? what a dilemma!!). I was set on changing my name to Dylan when I was a teen (figured I'd get all the girls...).
Sarah, you are completely right about Lori Loughlin! I've never known anyone who has seen Secret Admirer! I loved her in that film! In my version (the one in my head), she had a secret crush on Kelly Preston...
Does anyone know when 90210 will air in the U.K?? And has anyone heard anything about the theme tune?? I'm hoping it will stay the same.
Maeve!!1!eleven!
And for the recod, I'm not interested in the teenagers either. It's all about the moms. Hmm. Creepy. *off to call the therapist*
Maeve!!!
I can't pretend like I wasn't going to watch before, but knowing that Maeve is going to be on the show has given me more motivation.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
I'm just watching it for...
WHAT??
Maeve?
Hotness Overload
I've always had the biggest crush on Jennie Garth! Now reading that Maeve is going to be on it too, I'm so there.
I also remember reading that Shannen Doherty will be coming back as Brenda. That should be enough grist for the backstage drama rumor mill.
I'm really excited about this, and that totally worries me!
MAEVE!!!! OK, I am
MAEVE!!!!
OK, I am totally tuning into this now!!
Jessica Walter is in
Jessica Walter is in this?!?!
I am SO watching this now!
Maeve
!!
Lovin' the way you think! I completely agree!
:)
Ooopsy!
Lori and Maeve are beautiful and hot...
Thanks Sarah for the update and something to look forward to this fall. I am a big fan of Lori Loughlin and I, too, saw Secret Admirer and Summerland. I was never a fan of 90210, but this may take a second look. Congrats to Maeve!
Maeve! Whoop!
was not interested in
maeve!
totally gonna tune in for maeve.
Lori & Maeve
Confession - I was in middle school during the original show and hated/never watched it. When I saw that AnnaLynne McCord (hated her from Nip/Tuck) was going to be on it, I didn't think I'd watch this either. But with Aunt Becky AND Paula, I think I might be swayed to start watching it - at least for a little while...
But these teens have to be something else to compete with Serena & Blair and if it messes with House on Tuesday nights, well, 90210 loses.
Yay hot moms!
I never watched the original, but I've had a bit of a thing for Lori Loughlin ever since she was on Birds of Prey and had a whole lot of femslash-inducing chemistry with Dina Meyer. So yay for her!!
And yay for Maeve!!! That's awesome!! If all these hot moms are given enough screen time, I just might be able to watch this show. (Although honestly, I have to admit my first thought was 'but how will this interfer with 3Way?')
Was not really intrested in
Was not really intrested in this show but now im so gonna watch it cos Maeve is in it :D
I'll deny it, if asked...
...but, after seeing the casting here, I'll be secretly watching - not that I will admit it to anyone.
Maeve will rock as the mom from hell, and will look damn hot doing it. It's worth tuning in just for that.
And Jessica will just add to the fun. We know she can do alcoholic, self-involved mother exceptionally well. Lucille lives indeed!
Any road is a good road when you don't know where you're going.
Okay, I was super excited
So excited about MQ!
I was only 1 when the original show premiered, but being that my mom became a fast fan after it premiered, I watched many episodes of the original with her! I wasn't too sure about making it for a new generation, but it looks like this show is going to be really good!
I'm especially stoked about Maeve Quinlan! I enjoyed her on SoN and I loved her in 3-Way, so I'm happy she's gonna be on 90210 as well!
A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space betw
90210 Maeve
You had me at Lori. But then you had to go and add Maeve? Holy Hotness. I'm in.
I have a crush on Jennie Garth now (thank you W.I.L.A.Y.), but on 90210 I was all about Andrea. I used to think I had a crush on Dylan. I even had his poster on my wall. I realize now, I wanted to BE Dylan.
And as someone said above Aunt Becky was the best reason to watch Full House. I also watched Summerland for her.
ohhhh man, at first i was
ohhhh man, at first i was wary of this newfangled 90210 redux but i'm totally, unabashedly excited for it now. jennie garth still totally has IT.
unrelated but did anyone else predict that andrea was going to come out during the first season? i just watched it and i totally thought that was going to be her "secret" during the "skeletons in the closet" episode. *andrea head twitch*
Nose Bleed Moms
Hell yes! I was a little weary of watching the show because I loved the original. I think I've seen almost every single episode. Yeah I admit it.
Holy cow, Lori and Maeve! Sweetness and I have to contain the nose bleeds. I'll always remember Lori fondly on my favorite childhood TV show Full House. She was always hot!
Thanks Sarah
My not so secret love for MILFS
Needless to say i will be tuning in- not to mention the fact that Maeve is in it! Good for her :D
*Let no man bring you so low as to make you hate him* -Booker T. Washington
*sucess is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm* -Churchilll
Same here
Awesome moms. I feel old too.
Can they please bring back Emily Valentine?
- - - - - - - - - -
-Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
I blog, therefore, I am
it's mother superior! =D
I was already curious to see
interesting..
Shenae Grimes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!! I'm excited about Maeve & Jenny Garth just like everyone else but I have a HUUUUGGEEE crush on Shenae Grimes...Her character was the most interesting last season on Degrassi!!! O and she's SUPER HOTT!!!!!!!!!
http://jusjay.blogspot.com
KELLY TAYLOR
First of all (lemme get this off my chest)
I took me all the way up to Garth's appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars' to LITERALLY forgive Kelly Taylor when she took Dylan behind Brenda's back. I was so angry that damn season. I wasn't feeling her attitude before that and then I really didnt like her after that. But thank goodness Jenny Garth is a sweetheart in real life, because that damn Kelly Taylor was a closet lesbian whoremonster...
2nd...Im ready for Meave and her 90210 debut