The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story (2015 Lifetime)

The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story (2015 Lifetime)

Cast: Joey Coleman, Ashley Alexander, Frank Rose Bailey IV

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Synopsis (via Lifetime)

Launched in 1992 as a companion for “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place” quickly became a giant television hit in its own right. Originally designed to be an authentic, grounded look at 20-something life in Los Angeles, the program soon became “90210”‘s the soapier yet equally popular counterpart. The ‘Unauthorized Melrose Place Story’ highlights the remarkable behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the series, including cast drama, Heather Locklear arriving to “save” the show, and the actors begging their writers for even wilder storylines to make them fan favorites.

Thoughts

Aaron Spelling and Darrin Starr make a speech at some event. They are celebrating the success of 90210 and decide to make a show about 20 somethings. They want to push the envelope by casting a black actress and a gay character.

Casting is underway. The list of people they pass on is more impressive than who they actually cast. Courtney Cox, Jason Bateman, and Matthew Perry are all looked over. The cast does include Doug Savant, Amy Locane (Who later killed someone in a drunk driving accident.) and Josie Bassett. An actor name Stephen Dale is fired for being too fat and is recast with Andrew Shue (Picked out by Tori Spelling at the dinner table.)

The show is marketed as the next big thing, but the reviews are terrible. The ratings start strong due to the buzz but trail off. A bunch of recasting happens. People come and go making the show soapier. The show still struggles, and Heather Locklear shows up on set and blows everyone away.

We’re successful montage happens where the cast walks red carpets and signs autographs.

The cast starts sleeping with one another offset. The cast women do a photoshoot for Rolling Stone, and the men in the cast are upset. They crop out one of the girls, and it creates drama.

Doug Savant’s gay character finally gets to film a gay kiss on television. It is the first on TV. Doug Savant is an activist for LGBTQ rights, even though he is not gay himself. The kiss airs, and it is edited out.

Marcia Cross gets her iconic head scar scene. It is a watercooler moment and earns the biggest ratings so far. Darren Starr jumps the shark and goes campy as hell. Darren eventually walks away from the show to focus on more serious television, like Sex and the City? Aaron Spelling is upset with him for walking away from what they created together.

Before he goes, the film an explosion at Melrose Place. The actors all have fun filming an exploding scene. Then we get a recap of what the cast is doing now. No one cares.

The End!

Side Note

Actors who play Tori Spelling and Aaron Spelling are back here.

Minority Report: Camera Man, Rhonda Blair/Vanesa Williams (Played by the same actress?)

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Overall rating

🔪 (1 Knife)

🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)