The '90s Are Officially Back: 'Melrose Place' May Be Resuscitated

Catfights, big apartments, and beautiful roommates could soon be back on prime time -- the CW network, which recently scored a ratings coup with a relaunch of Beverly Hills, 90210, is considering a redux of Melrose Place.

The original nighttime sudser starred Courtney Thorne-Smith, Grant Show, Josie Bissett, and Andrew Shue, airing on the Fox network from 1992 to 1999. The Aaron Spelling-produced show was a spin-off of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 and began its life as an earnest portrayal of young people in Los Angeles. When Heather Locklear was brought in to boost ratings in the middle of the first season, the show caught fire and became a soap-operatic sensation.

Melrose Place was novel for its outrageous story lines as well as featuring Matt Fielding, a gay character played by Doug Savant. At the time Matt was one of the only gay characters featured on television.

The CW is expressing interest after scoring good ratings with 90210, a 21st-century retelling of the '90s high school drama that starred Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, and Luke Perry. (Neal Broverman, The Advocate)

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. Page 1 of 1

READ COMMENTS (1) MORE \ EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Dan
Date posted: 10/29/2008 5:49:00 PM
Hometown: San Francisco

Comment:
So, will the gay character be anatomically correct this time? It seems that poor Doug Savant's character's sexuality was limited, for the most part, to verbally reminding people he was gay.

More Online Only

Commentary Progress in the Midwest
A city native and strong supporter of Kalamazoo's effort to keep an anti-discrimination law reflects on a hard-won campaign.

Commentary What Marriage in Maine Meant for Me

Dana Hernandez is a straight white married mother of two young children. But in campaigning for No on 1 and reporting Election Night outcomes for Advocate.com, defeat hit her like a ton of bricks.

Marriage Equality Terri White Stages Her Leather Encore

Last year, acclaimed stage performer Terri White was homeless and living in a public park. On Sunday, she and her partner held a leather-themed commitment ceremony onstage following her triumphant Broadway turn in Finian’s Rainbow.

Music Ghost Story

Out singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile discusses working with her childhood mentor, coming out publicly, and joining next year's Lilith Fair.

News View From Washington: GOP Upheaval

Now that the only pro-marriage equality candidate in New York's 23rd Congressional district, Republican Dede Scozzafava, has dropped out of the race, Tuesday's election holds any number of political lessons for both the GOP and the LGBT community.

Books Hot Sheet: Ditto Knocking 'Em Dead

This week might not bring anything to the screen other than a Boondock Saints sequel, but there are plenty of reasons to sit at home on the couch or head to your local concert venue.

News Features Sailor Speaks Out
Sailor Joseph Rocha endured years of hazing until he spoke out — then he was discharged for revealing his homosexuality. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is itching to suit back up.

Music Rainbow High

Busy Broadway heartthrob, gay rights activist, and former Advocate coverboy Cheyenne Jackson chats about his Finian’s Rainbow revival, his politically charged cabaret CD, and laying around in his underpants (pic on page five).

Marriage Equality For Maine, The Time is Now
Money is on their side and the polls look optimistic, but volunteers fighting to preserve marriage equality in Maine are prepared for a fight to the finish.

Television Another Tough Broad

After being outed by a Nazi and locking lips with a hook-up three times in one episode, Christine Woods's tough-talking FBI agent Janis Hawk on ABC's FlashForward might just be prime time's best gay offering — who isn't in Glee club, that is.

Books In Sickness and in Health

Mary Cappello’s memoir Called Back takes readers on a white-knuckle journey through the experience of cancer treatment in America — especially disorienting to navigate as a woman and a lesbian.

Books An American Crime

Best-selling novelist Patricia Cornwell made headlines last week when she filed suit against a New York investment firm for losing $40 million of her money. But she'd much rather talk about her new book, hate-crimes legislation, and Angelina Jolie.

Comedy Gilded Lily

After conquering Broadway, movies, and television, out funny lady Lily Tomlin prepares for the final frontier — Las Vegas.

Entertainment News Ricky Martin, No Shirt and a Baby
Ricky Martin knows how to get the camera's attention. Take a look at the many pictures of Ricky uploaded to his Twitter account in the past three months, always shirtless, frequently carrying one (or both) of his babies.

Television Fresh Blood
With True Blood a bona-fide cultural phenomenon, producer Alan Ball offers tantalizing hints about what to expect on season 3.