The most popular ZIP code on television is coming back.

The CW is developing a contemporary spinoff of Aaron Spelling's seminal 1990s teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210."

"Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas is in talks to pen the project, which has been put on the fast track by the network.

Details about the spinoff -- including which if any of the characters on the original series will make the transition to the new show -- remain sketchy. CW is expected to make a decision whether to order a pilot by the end of the month.

The spinoff is being produced by CBS Paramount Network TV, which absorbed original series producer Spelling TV two years ago.

Sources said "90210" creator Darren Star is not involved.

CAA, which packaged the original "90210," is said to have been the mastermind behind the idea of spinning off the hit series. The spinoff would bring Thomas back to CW, where his acclaimed series "Veronica Mars" ended its three-year run last spring.

A year ago, Endeavor-repped Thomas developed a spinoff of sorts from "Veronica" -- an alternative fourth season that would have found the title character studying at the FBI Academy. Despite a warm reception for his trailer at CW, the network ultimately canceled "Veronica," but CW chief Dawn Ostroff said at the time that she was looking to do another project with Thomas.

This would be the second spinoff from "90210," which aired on Fox from 1990-2000. The Star-created "Melrose Place" had a successful seven-year run on Fox. It didn't feature any major characters from "90210."

A teen soap about privileged youths living in Beverly Hills would be a perfect companion to CW's buzzworthy freshman drama "Gossip Girl," which revolves around rich teens living in Manhattan.

Spinoffs are hot this development season. Fox is developing two: "Cleveland," centered on the Cleveland Brown character from the hit animated comedy "Family Guy," and a "Prison Break" offshoot set at a female prison.

Last year, ABC spun off its medical juggernaut "Grey's Anatomy" into "Private Practice."

The CW also has a spinoff on its schedule, the "Girlfriends" offshoot "The Game."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...91d3857ca1b70#

I'd imagine quiet a few would be willing to drop by for a visit since none of the original cast members seem to be pretty busy these days (except for Brian Austin Green on SCC). Could be an interesting premise although I'd rather they brought back Veronica Mars or spoke to Joss Whedon about another show from the Buffy universe.

Well, some of th echaracters had kids in the show's run. If you fudged the timeline a bit I suppose you could do a 'next generation' thing with some of the old cast appearing in parental roles.

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/...rss_topstories

I seriously have no idea how I feel about this. My initial reaction was "how stupid" but now i'm leaning towards kinda curious to see the results.

I saw this earlier today and I'm sure I'll watch. It will be interesting to see if they use some of the original players. It's not like any of them made it big.

Me too. I saw it here.

As much as I loved 90210 during its run, I don't know why they would do this when they have Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. It will be interesting to see what happens.

wow, thats news to me. its kinda weird considering the show isnt really that old

I think it's a pretty strong indication that they want another teen show because they're probably going into next season thinking that's it for Smallville and OTH, and knowing that Gossip Girl isn't exactly pulling down the ratings of American Idol, either.

If I were them, I'd play down the 90210 connection to the teens and play it up to their parents. Then again, that would require that they have crafty marketing folks who can get people to watch a show.

If Rob Thomas is really the driving creative force behind the show, I'll probably sample it if I have time.

ETA: This is what we're going to be in for from the networks this year due to the strike and going from there if they decide this fewer pilots movement is the way to go. The most proven ideas will be the ones they go for. I'm not saying we need to fear that they're going to recast The Jeffersons any time soon, but if somebody can throw a slightly fresh spin on an existing (old or currently airing) property, it's going to get attention.

Personally, I'd suggest to a network they try to come up with a fresh twist on the Andy Griffith Show. Set it in a small southern town, but modernize it. Make your new "Andy" not carry a gun. Give him a bumbling deputy. With the right people steering it, I could see it going over well. In the wrong hands, it would be a travesty.

I really don't see the cw marketing their shows to anyone else but teens, but all of us adults watch them all of the time. Supernatural has a broad base of fans young and old, but the CW hates SN compared to its darling Gossip Girl. But I do agree that next season will probably be the last for OTH, this season has been a really good idea to see where everyone is four years later, but a sixth season should give it some closure.

Given the viewership levels of the CW (even after backing out the markets that don't get it), I don't think you can really say any of its shows have "broad" bases of fans or that "all of" any group watches the shows. Trust me -- I have watched my share of stuff on CW/WB/UPN. I'm not trying to bash the shows.

I'm pointing out that UPN and the WB underperformed and the CW has managed to underperform the performance of those two networks. I'd like nothing more to go back to a time when I was watching UPN or WB shows 4-6 hours a week, but the combination of the creative people and the maketing people have underperformed ever since the beginning of the combined network.

ETA: To steer us back on topic, the only reason to re-do 90210 if you ask me is to be able to market the show to both an older and a younger crowd. They're saddling the show with problems right from the start if they don't seriously try to leverage that past.

Half the shows on their network are already 90210 remakes.

How about an Angel spinoff instead???

I will only watch a 90210 if it centers on the Walsh Parents or Nat from the Peach Pit.

Angel spin-off will never happen. Joss Whedon has said many times that he will only revist that world in the form of tv/theatrical movies... as have most of the cast.

Personally I think this could be potentially very fun. I can't wait to see the results.

I trust Rob Thomas with anything.

Isn't Joss Whedon already working on a new series with Elisha Sushka?

EXACTLY what I thought when I clicked this thread!

Except that he's already doing Season 6 in comic book form.

Are there no new ideas in Hollywood?

I'd rather watch a remake of "Melrose Heights 90210-24026":





"Word."

You know, they can make it interesting. Have the Walshes adopt a troubled teenager from Chino. Then center the new stories around him and his friends. Maybe they can hang out at a bait shop or something.

Either that or Bensonhurst 11210 from Hardcore TV:

bring back dawson`s creek also

and why they are at it, Felicity.

I've been watching 90210 , i'm upto Season 7

It was good upto Season 5 or so, now it's a bit silly

Id check out any spinoff for sure

I don't want to see much of the original cast though

If there's anything to make one feel aged, it's seeing that 90210 is now old enough to be considered "classic television".

Are they planning to reactivate the "I Hate Brenda" Fanclubs?

My advice is to stop after S7. It falls off a cliff once they graduate college.