CNN is reporting that Joe E. Tata is returning in the role of Peach Pit diner owner Nat for the new incarnation of Beverly Hills 90210. Tata, who was part of the original series that aired from 1990 to 2000 on Fox, said Tuesday he was wrapping up his scenes for the pilot episode of CW’s version of the show. It’s uncertain if his character will remain part of the series, he said. The drama about two high schoolers from the Midwest who move to California and enroll in West Beverly Hills High School debuts September 2.
Other alumni of the first 90210 appearing on the CW show are Jennie Garth, whose character of Kelly Taylor has become a high school guidance counselor, and Tori Spelling as Donna Martin. Garth will be in several episodes, while Spelling is set for one episode so far, the CW said. Shannen Doherty reportedly is in talks to return as Brenda Walsh. The network declined to comment on Doherty.
Laurie Metcalf is joining the CW’s new drama series Easy Money. The show, part of the CW’s new Sunday lineup programmed by MRC, revolves around a family of loan sharks and centers on the matriarch (Metcalf), who runs the biz, and her middle son. The drama, from writers Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, is slated to air in the Sunday 9 p.m. hour.
Rob Estes is set to star in the Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff on The CW. The 90210 spinoff centers on the Mills, a three-generation Beverly Hills family. Estes will play the father, Harry Mills, who takes a job as principal of West Beverly High, his alma mater, after he moves his family from Kansas. This is the second Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff for Estes, who played Kyle McBride on Fox’s Melrose Place. Estes most recently co-starred in ABC’s Women’s Murder Club.
The CW is leaving Monday and Thursday nights intact, while adding only three new series to its weeknight schedule: the Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff; drama Surviving the Filthy Rich; and reality show Stylista. Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill will keep their Monday slots at 8 and 9 PM, respectively, while Smallville will continue to lead in to Supernatural on Thursday nights. Tuesday night will feature the all-new lineup of 90210 at 8 PM, leading into Filthy Rich. On Wednesdays, Ameica’s Next Top Model is staying at 8 PM, followed by Stylista, a reality show from the creators of “Model” and “Project Runway” that will feature contestants competing for an editorial job with Elle magazine.
Comedies Everybody Hates Chris and The Game will relocate from Sundays to Fridays, filling part of the void that will be left after WWE SmackDown’s move to MyNetworkTV. The comedies will air from 8-9 PM, followed by a repeat of America’s Next Top Model. As previously announced, the CW has partnered up with Media Rights Capital to program its Sunday primetime programming block next season. Details are yet to be announced.
Reaper will return at midseason.
Continue reading The CW Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
The CW has picked up cult-favorite supernatural drama Reaper for a second season. Reaper will return for 13 episodes midseason and will likely be paired with Supernatural on Thursday nights after Smallville concludes its season. The network made the decision Monday, going down to the wire on picking up the series before the CW’s upfront presentation to advertisers the next day. Reaper has a devoted fanbase, but has struggled in the ratings. Most recently the show averaged about a 1.0 rating among adults 18 to 49. The show initially impressed critics with its strong pilot directed by Kevin Smith, then seemed to creatively stumble. Recent episodes, however, have fans saying the show is back on track with a more serialized storyline and sharper wit.
The CW on Sunday picked up the Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff to series. The network also renewed comedy The Game and went for a full night of Tyra Banks/Ken Mok fashion-themed reality shows with the pickup of Stylista.
The 90210 spinoff centers on a three generational Beverly Hills family. Original cast member Jennie Garth has signed on to recur, reprising her role as Kelly Taylor from the original series who now will be a guiding counselor at her alma mater, West Beverly Hills High. Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, who rewrote the pilot script and are exec producing the pilot, are staying on as showrunners.
Continue reading The CW Picks Up 90210 Spinoff, Renews The Game
Lori Loughlin has joined the CW’s Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff. The show centers on the Mills, a three-generational Beverly Hills family. Shenae Grimes will play the family’s teenage daughter Annie Mills, which attends West Beverly Hills High School. Loughlin will play the mom, Celia Mills, a former Olympic Games medalist in cycling.
The CW is enlisting Spider-Man franchise director Sam Raimi to scare up a few viewers this summer, reports Variety. The network has given an eight-episode order to 13, a nonscripted horror-themed series from Raimi and reality veteran Jay Bienstock. The duo will executive produce, along with Raimi’s Ghost House Productions partner Robert Tapert. The project will premiere sometime this summer. Casting is under way to find the show’s 13 contestants.
The CW announced its post-strike premiere dates and episode orders for its returning scripted series:
The Game, March 23, nine episodes
Smallville, April 17, five episodes
Gossip Girl, April 21, five episodes
Reaper, April 22, five episodes
Supernatural, April 24, four episodes
Everybody Hates Chris has already completed 22 episodes; the remaining 12 originals will begin airing March 3. Aliens in America completed 18 episodes. The eight remaining originals will air March 2-23 and April 27-May 18.
World Wrestling Entertainment and The CW are ending negotiations to keep primetime series SmackDown on the air. WWE issued a statement saying the companies “have agreed to conclude our partnership,” citing a January 31 deadline. The program will remain on the air until the end of the current broadcast season. While the WWE statement expressed gratitude to CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves and CW president Dawn Ostroff, it also signaled that negotiations have already begun with other networks. Smackdown had been a two-hour block on both The CW and its predecessor,
UPN, for the past decade.