BH90210‘s Shannen Doherty Reveals Luke Perry’s Death Changed Her Mind About Participating in the ‘Reboot’: ‘I Definitely Wasn’t Going to Do It’
Twenty years after Beverly Hills, 90210 signed off, the cast is back with a whole new series set in the same old ZIP code — minus one key cast member, of course.
The original 90210 stars have reunited for a very meta sequel series, BH90210 (debuting tonight at 9/8c on Fox), which sees the veteran actors playing exaggerated versions of themselves as they work together to pitch a fresh TV version of 90210. That includes Shannen Doherty, who says she had no intention of participating in the series… until the recent death of co-star Luke Perry.
“I definitely wasn’t going to do it,” Doherty told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Wednesday. “I knew that the show would get sold and do well with or without me. They didn’t need me. So it just wasn’t, at that moment, what I wanted to be doing.” But “when Luke passed away, things drastically changed for me, and I felt like it was a great opportunity to honor him.”
Doherty now says that she’s “really glad I made that decision, because now I get to sit up here with a lot of people that I respect and I love… we went on this amazing journey together where we also got to really sort of heal through losing somebody who means the world to all of us.”
The cast also revealed that Perry was involved in the original discussions with Fox about BH90210. “We had had conversations with him about it, yes, and he was fully in support of it,” co-star Jennie Garth said, while noting that Perry was still under contract with Riverdale when the show was being pitched, so he wouldn’t have been a full-time cast member.
But “we talked about him actually guesting on the show,” co-star Gabrielle Carteris added. “He had been a part of some of the conversations we actually had as a group when we were at the studio.”
She would have left the series anyway, even if she agreed to do it and appeared on the show. Doherty has developed a notorious reputation for being difficult with directors, producers and cast members.
Mark dont be negative if you cant say something good go and be negative somewhere else
It’s an open comments section where people get to voice their opinions about the stories, even if you don’t like those opinions. There is no rule on this website that only positive things can be said. No need to tone police, Pussywillow.
Mark please have several seats.
yeah cool, the reputation she had from like 25 years ago. People change in half a lifetime.
I watched the show once it went into syndication and it really hurt my feeling when Brenda and Dylan broke up and she ultimately left the show for good. Brenda and Dylan had a chemistry so strong you could feel the love and it left me wanting more. The writers tried to make Kelly and Dylan this great love story but to be honest their vibe didn’t jive, I didn’t feel the real chemistry, kind of fake, like they were acting, which they were but when are watching a movie or something you want to connect. And, as I continued to watch this show for the next 6 or 7 seasons it never quite measured up to the first 4 or 5 seasons. Shannon (Brenda) was the one that made BH90210 interesting; the best actor on the show.
Pretty cute show tonight. All the actors look awesome. Tori is still fun loving. Luke not there very sad but appropriate ending using a metaphor of HEAVEN where I’m sure my actor from Ohio as I am and lived twenty minutes away.
I think you do a amazing job and everything that you do is wonderful, no matter what others may say you are a great actress. So bring it on girl I wish you can do another charms. Love you
Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry’s chemistry was like no other. Shannen was a big part of why 90210 was successful ! Luke Perry stated that as well . It was exciting to hear Shannen decided to be part of the reboot! Hats off to an awesome tribute to Luke Perry ! He will be missed ! RIP LP