www.resident.com • August 12-25, 2008 • Vol. 20, N0. 53 • $2.95 She's Back EXCLUSIVE Jennie Garth Returns to Beverly Hills PLUS Gossip Girl’s Matthew Settle Dishes the Dirt on the Show’s Second Season FALL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE Music, Art, Theater and More: Event Picks from Famous New Yorkers COVER She’s back! Jennie Garth returns to the small screen on the new 90210 and reprises the role that turned her into a televi- sion icon. By Rachel Bowie elly Taylor has been through a lot. teen drama 90210, a spin-off of Aaron Spell- Resident: 90210 has to be one of tele- During her time at West Beverly, the ing’s original series. Although her character is vision’s favorite zip codes. Did you fictional high school she attended the same, this time, Garth roams the halls of ever imagine that the day would come on the television series Beverly Hills, West Beverly with a different purpose, play- where you would get to reprise your 90210, she saved her mother from a ing a guidance counselor and helping her role as Kelly Taylor? Kcocaine addiction, slept with her best friend’s students through the challenges they will un- Jennie Garth: I never thought that the boyfriend and overdosed on diet pills, all be- doubtedly face growing up in L.A.’s wealthi- show would come back from the dead. For fore graduation! But with age comes wisdom est zip code. As gossip swirls around which me, it was tucked away nice and neat and and Kelly is all grown up now. In fact, so is cast members will be back from the original it had a beginning, a middle and an end. I Jennie Garth, Kelly’s real-life alter ego. This series and whether or not 90210’s second really didn’t foresee this happening. At first, fall, Garth returns to the zip code that made generation will be able to achieve what the I was in shock and not OK with it, but once her famous, reprising the role she played for first did, Garth makes one thing clear — she I finally warmed up to the idea, I thought, 10 years on the new (and much-buzzed-about) can’t wait to return to her roots. “why not have it come back?” It was such a 26 • Resident The Week Of August 12, 2008 COVER great show and so many people loved it so played by Luke Perry. How does he many opportunities in this business so why much. If the viewers want to watch it, then fit into the picture now — is he men- would I turn my back on it? My career posi- why not? tioned at all? tioning is that I have a family now — I have The original series definitely had an There is a chance that Brandon [played no aspirations to travel the world and be a impact. It was a show that succeeded by Jason Priestley] or Dylan are still in the movie star. I want to raise my family and when so many other teen dramas of picture for Kelly. You’ll see that in the first work if I can. For me, this just worked out. its kind didn’t … episode. I don’t want to give it away. It’s at I have no ego issues with going back to the The show meant so much for television his- the end of the first episode and it will keep show or playing the same character — I’m tory because it paved the way for so many the old fans really intrigued and wondering proud of it. I know that Tori shares the same teen dramas, but it didn’t always get the what’s going to happen. I myself don’t even feelings that I do. credit at the time. In retrospect, people say know how it’s going to end up. Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty and think that, but when we were doing the Not only are you returning to the are both returning. What is it like to be show, it wasn’t critically received and there show, but a few of your former cast- back on set with a few familiar faces? was no mention of it in that respect. I think mates are as well. Did you discuss So far I’ve worked with Ann Gillespie who now maybe the show will have a second this opportunity with any of them be- played my mom [Jackie Taylor] on the origi- chance to make another difference in the fore officially signing on? nal series. It was great to reconnect with her. history of television. I spoke with Tori [Spelling]. I think that a She left the business and she’s now a min- You play a guidance counselor on the few of the other cast members might be a ister in West Virginia. She came back and show, a perfect fit for your charac- little wary of going back to this. My feeling did one day of shooting last week and it was ter’s psychology background. Tell me is that Beverly Hills, 90210 is the show that wonderful to see her and it felt good. For the about your role on the show. made me who I am today. It gave me so most part, 90210 feels like a whole new So many terrible things happened to Kelly. She has so many dramatic memories from all her story lines that I figured she could put all of her wisdom to good use. As the guid- ance counselor, I’m right in there with the kids. I’m friends with the new principal at West Beverly and play one of the backbones of the school because I’m an alum there. One of the young girls on the show ends up being my half-sister and I end up getting in- volved possibly with one of the other faculty members. There is a lot that is going to be happening. For me, I wanted to really pay homage to the first show and keep giving the viewers little bits of things they want to see from the original series. How has the new show evolved from the first generation? What similari- ties can we expect to see? It’s about a family — fish out of water, moves to L.A. with two kids — very similar to the Walsh family. They come into this high school where everybody is seemingly more advanced and fancier than they are and they have to sink or swim. The show is also really about the relationship of the kids with their parents. The show jumps right into finding out why these characters are the way that they are, looking at the way they were raised and how that has affected who they are. When we last left off, Kelly seemed Dustin Milligan and Anna- Lynne McCord on 90210 on the path to romance with Dylan, Courtesy the CW Resident The Week Of August 12, 2008 • 27 COVER work experience because it’s all new people. I 90210 follows your role on Dancing whether you really want to know or not. know Shannen’s coming on at some point, but with the Stars this past season. All You can turn the volume down and pretend I didn’t work with her for many, many years so of your recent projects seem to have that it’s not happening or you can embrace I’m not sure how that’s going to go. been a lot of fun for you. What’s next it and use the show to open up channels of on the horizon? discussion with your own kids. Other than 90210, I’m currently working on If you could offer advice to the cast of a couple of endorsements and charity orga- the next generation of the show, what “Beverly Hills, 90210 nizations. I can’t take anything more right would it be? now. Between juggling my family and work- I would advise them to take it all with a grain ing a couple days a week, that’s enough. of salt and to realize that in the big picture, is the show that made You are a mother to three girls with in the big scheme of life, this is just a little husband Peter Facinelli. Your oldest flick. A little blurb on the radar. It doesn’t daughter, Luca Bella, is probably get- define who you are. You have to keep your me who I am today.” ting close to the age where she might sense of self through it all. start tuning in to the show. How do It’s been eight years since the origi- you feel about that? nal series ended. Looking back, After Shannen’s early exit from the se- Maybe in a few years, I’m not quite there how would you say that your life has ries the first time around, how is it for yet. She’s 11 and, I will say this, the show changed? you knowing that she’ll be returning? is very provocative. If you remember the I think my life is just fuller now and I’m very I’m really willing to give her the chance original series, it dealt with current issues content and happy with where I am. For the to show that she’s a different person now. that were sometimes hard to handle and most part, I’m just older now. That’s it. Hopefully her work ethic is what it should this show jumps right in there.