90210MG

Troop Beverly Hills? Not quite. Click here to meet the new class on TV.

Jessica.  AnnaLynne.  Shenae.

You may not be on first-name terms with these girls yet, but come September 2, you will be.  That’s when 90210 revives itself with a new class of West Beverley High students, and if you thought Brenda and Dylan were trouble, just wait.

“We’re very racy, very provocative, and very modern,” says AnnaLynne McCord, whose character Naomi Bennett is so spoiled, so ruthless, and so gorgeous, she threatens to seduce herself straight into a spinoff series based on the pilot alone.   “But the emotions and the issues are very real,” adds Shenae Grimes (yes, “that girl from Degrassi”)… “Like, on most television shows, the girl gets an eating disorder, she cries, her mom solves it… all in one episode.  It’s not like that in real life, and on our show, these characters have real layers that will all peel away very, very slowly.”

And if designer labels and psychological warfare aren’t enough – not to mention pool parties, bar parties, and scenes on a private jet – there’s also a steady shot of nostalgia: Shannen Doherty, the guy from The Peach Pit, and Jenni Garth are all confirmed to guest-star on the series, and actress Jessica Stroup boasts the character name “Silver” – as in David Silver, the alter-ego of Brian Austin Greene.

If all this info leaves you hungry for a 90 sneak preview, we can help:  Tomorrow you'll see an exclusive NYLON podcast, starring the cast of 90210 as they prep for their very own NYLON cover shoot.  But don’t be disappointed if there’s no bitch slaps, catfights, or unprotected sex – remember, these kids are just acting.
FARAN KRENTCIL



This story was published on August 20, 2008.