Melrose Place (2009 TV series)
| Melrose Place | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer |
| Starring | Katie Cassidy Colin Egglesfield Stephanie Jacobsen Jessica Lucas Michael Rady Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Shaun Sipos |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 44 minutes (60 including commercials) |
| Original release | |
| Network | The CW |
Melrose Place is a television drama series for The CW Television Network. It is the fifth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise, and a continuation of the hit 1990s primetime soap drama Melrose Place, featuring a group of young adults living in a West Hollywood apartment complex. Smallville producers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer will be the executive producers on the series.
Production
This series will feature more on-location shoots from the real Melrose areas of Los Angeles than the previous installment. [1]
Development
On September 23, 2008, Marc Malkin of E! Online reported on the possibility of a new Melrose Place spin-off in the vein of the Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off series 90210. According to Malkin, original series star Lisa Rinna was at TV Guide's post-Emmy party and was quoted as saying "I've heard a rumor of them bringing back the show like they did 90210" and "I heard that it's somewhere at The CW." However, Malkin also reported that "a rep for the CW insists there are no plans to bring back Melrose Place".[2]
In October 2008, TV Guide reported that series creator Darren Star said that the spin-off was a possibility that he'd be interested in pursuing and acknowledged that it has been up for discussion. However, he also noted that no official discussions about the spinoff have taken place. Later that month, The CW and CBS Paramount Network Television said they were in fact "exploring" the possibility of creating a new version of the series.[3][4]
In January 2009, The CW entertainment boss Dawn Ostroff said she had not found a head writer for the new Melrose. Ostroff also told reporters that unlike the original series, the Melrose reboot will try to capture life in the Melrose neighborhood.[5] Entertainment Weekly reported that The CW had been talking with Smallville show-runners Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin about shepherding the update.[6] It was confirmed Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer were officially hired as showrunners/Head Writers of the spin-off. They also revealed the names and descriptions of the characters who would be featured on the series, including the son of Grant Show's character Jake Hanson, David Patterson.[7]
On February 24, E! Online reported that the CW honchos have greenlighted the pilot episode of Melrose Place. The reboot will follow the original formula and chronicle a group of twentysomethings dwelling in Los Angeles' perpetually trendy Melrose neighborhood. Davis Guggenheim, who directed and won an Academy Award for An Inconvenient Truth, will helm the pilot episode. Married to Elisabeth Shue, Guggenheim boasts the added bonus of being brother-in-law to Billy Campbell himself, Andrew Shue.[8] Additionally, it was reported that unlike its sister show, 90210, Melrose had a fully developed pilot script which was being kept top secret.[9]
On April 15, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz announced on her Twitter that filming would commence that very week.[10] On May 19, it was confirmed the series had been picked up by The CW.[11] On May 21, 2009, The CW announced that the show will air following 90210 on Tuesday nights. This is a similar tactic that the original Melrose took, as it was unveiled in the time slot following Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1992.[12] Also, the first pictures of the new Melrose cast including original castmember Laura Leighton were released.
Casting
On February 25, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter reported the first actor cast in the new Melrose Place. Swingtown veteran Michael Rady had landed the Billy-like role of 25-year-old aspiring filmmaker Jonah Miller. He landed the part on Wednesday, a day after the CW officially green-lighted the pilot.[13]
On February 27, 2009, Variety reported that actress Katie Cassidy had landed the Amanda-like role of sharp-tongued bisexual publicist Ella Simms. Cassidy is known for her guest roles on shows like Supernatural and as Zoe on 7th Heaven. [14][15]
On March 9, 2009, Entertainment Weekly reported that singer/actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz was the latest new tenant to be moving into Melrose Place. She'd portray the role of Violet Foster, small-town girl who comes to L.A. with a secret. The character parallels a combination between Melrose originals Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) and Sandy Harling (Amy Locane).[16]
On March 17, 2009, Cloverfield star Jessica Lucas had been cast to play the wealthy and beautiful elementary school teacher Riley Richmond according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lucas had recently guest starred on 90210 as undercover cop Kimberly McIntyre. [17]
On March 18, 2009, Entertainment Weekly reported that original star Heather Locklear decided not to join the new Melrose Place. According to a rep of Locklear, the reason she passed on the chance to join the reboot was because there wasn't a way to bring Amanda back that made sense. [18]
On March 24, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter reported former model Colin Egglesfield had been cast as surfer and chef Auggie Kirkpatrick. Egglesfield portrayed Josh Madden on the ABC soap opera All My Children, also on this same day actress Stephanie Jacobsen from Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles was cast in the role of Lauren Yung, a med student at UCLA, who is living a double life as a high-end call girl. [19]
On March 25, 2009, TV Guide reported that 90210 star Ryan Eggold might make crossovers to Melrose Place as his 90210 character Ryan Matthews. [20]
On April 3, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter originally reported actor Shaun Sipos had landed the role of David Patterson, Jake Hanson's son from the original Melrose Place. David is described as a bad boy with smoldering good looks who grew up as a rich kid but has been cut off from his family's money. [21] Later, it was announced that David's last name would be changed to Breck and that original character Michael Mancini would be his father.
On April 5, 2009, The Hollywood Reporter reported Laura Leighton would be joining the series as her original Melrose Place character Sydney Andrews. Although she was presumed dead after the series fifth season, Sydney is now back at Melrose Place, and while the script is being kept under wraps, sources said she would be the landlord to the new crop of tenants. [22]
On April 6, 2009 People.com reported that Thomas Calabro would reprise his role as Dr. Michael Mancini, the good guy turned cheater [23]
Characters
Main Characters
| Actor | Character | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katie Cassidy | Ella Simms | 2009- | |
| Colin Egglesfield | Auggie Kirkpatrick | 2009- | |
| Stephanie Jacobsen | Lauren Yung | 2009- | |
| Jessica Lucas | Riley Richmond | 2009- | Lucas also appeared on 90210 as Kimberly McIntyre, an undercover cop who had a relationship with Ryan Matthews. |
| Michael Rady | Jonah Miller | 2009- | |
| Ashlee Simpson-Wentz | Violet Foster | 2009- | |
| Shaun Sipos | David Breck | 2009- | Character is the son of original castmember Dr. Michael Mancini. |
Recurring
| Actor | Character | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Calabro | Dr. Michael Mancini | 2009- | Special Guest Star |
| Laura Leighton | Sydney Andrews | 2009- | Special Guest Star |
| Aurelia Scheppers | Ruby | 2009- | Recurring |
References
- ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20270349,00.html
- ^ Melrose Place: Now Under Renovation?
- ^ Studio, CW in Talks for New ‘Melrose Place’
- ^ "Melrose Place" Spinoff In the Works, FoxNews.com, October 29, 2008
- ^ Press Tour Journal: Reviving 'Melrose Place', January 12, 2009
- ^ Exclusive: 'Smallville' bosses mull 'Melrose' remake
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ [[6]]
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2009-02-25). "From 'Swingtown' to 'Melrose Place'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (2009-02-27). "CW casts 'Melrose Place,' 'Vampire'". Variety. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt (2009-02-28). "Pilot News: Cassidy Hits Melrose, McQueen Bites into Vampire". TV Guide. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ausiello, Michael (2009-03-09). "Scoop: Ashlee Simpson moves into 'Melrose Place'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2009-03-17). "Jessica Lucas moves into CW's 'Melrose Place'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (March 18, 2009). "Scoop: Heather Locklear won't join reboot'". Entertainment Weekly.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 24, 2009). "'Melrose Place' adds two more residents". The Hollywood Reporter.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Rizzo, Carla (March 25, 2009). "90210 Star to Join Melrose Place Reboot". TV Guide (magazine).
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 3rd, 2009). "Shaun Sipos joins 'Melrose Place'". The Hollywood Reporter.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 5th, 2009). "Laura Leighton moving back to 'Melrose Place'". The Hollywood Reporter.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20270500,00.html