EXCLUSIVE: The question is whether this is a really smart or really stupid decision by The CW’s boss Dawn Ostroff. I’m told a contract controversy is preventing Tori Spelling from joining that so-called “edgy, contemporary spin-off” of the ’90s hit 90210 on the network this fall as planned. 
Insiders tell me that Tori was hired to reprise her role as fashion boutique owner Donna Martin for just “$10,000-$20,000” per episode. But then Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty were signed for “$35,000-$50,000” a show. When Tori found out her former co-stars were getting paid way more than she was, she got pissed and demanded equal pay. But the network suits have refused. So now my sources tell me that Tori has pulled out of the series, which premieres with a 2-hour special on September 2nd. “She thought she deserved parity, and she’s got a point,” an insider explained to me. (UPDATE: The CW has confirmed today that it has no deal with Tori, despite mentioning Donna Martin’s name in its initial press release.)
That’s because, for some bizarre reason, Tori is a reality show ratings hit by Oxygen’s low standards. (Last Tuesday’s Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood was the most watched telecast in the history of that execrable women’s cable channel as 1.4 million viewers saw the episode where Tori gave birth to her 2nd child.) And Spelling wrote a bestselling book besides. Showing once again that it doesn’t pay to underestimate the terrible taste of the American public…
As for Tori, she has told the media only that the timing didn’t work out for her to appear in the 90210 pilot because she was giving birth. “So we’ll see what happens later in the season,” she said last week on CBS’ The Early Show. One insider tells me it wouldn’t be surprising if Tori and the show eventually agree to bring her onto 90210 as a November sweeps stunt. Hmm.
You may remember that, back on May 29th, I wrote that the talk of Hollywood was when, not if, The CW’s Dawn Ostroff would be fired. After all, she got her job by the skin of her teeth after programming as badly as she could at the old UPN and brown-nosing Les Moonves who was making a power-play move on Warner Bros’ Barry Meyer. Well, I recently learned that Ostroff managed to buy herself more time on the back of 90210. Insiders tell me that her future, and the entire future of the fledgling network, rests on the teen show’s fall ratings. As a source explained, “Since Gossip Girl opened with a 3.1 for women 18-to-34 and still can’t get ratings, then 90210 has got to open with a ‘4’ in front of it for women 18-to-34 if The CW and Dawn are going to survive into 2009.”
Personally, I think that she should be forced to pay $20,000 per episode to be allowed on tv. Directly to me.
I thought Tori owned 90210. Didn’t her Dad give her the show in the 90’s? Her and her brother?
After BIONIC WOMAN last season, which one will win the award of the most unnecessary remake of a tv show: 90210 or THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO?
How is this show gonna be “edgy” or cool if they bring back the whole damn cast of the original show? MOVE ON.
I think that the initial hiring of Tori was the stupidest and most obtuse creative move ever. No one in the intended audience for this show could care less about Tori Spelling. NO ONE.
For that matter, they will barely give a shit about the other old cast members. There will be a ratings blip as former viewers watched the first episode or two to see the old cast members. And then the show will be on its own.
I really hope that The CW doesn’t go the way of flesh as shows like Supernatural (which I enjoy) would presumably disappear as well. Also a fifth network gives people somewhere else to sell their stuff and considering how flat the market is that’s a life line for some.
Though to be honest, at this point it really does seem like The CW’s demise is a certainty. When the very future of a network is hinging on a remake of a Aaron Spelling show ‘starring’ Shannen Doherty exit visas are imminent.
In saying that…I don’t wish to reduce Ms Ostroff to a a superficial image but…..
…she really is a good looking woman. The best looking network head ever? Unfortunately Moonves’ lantern jaw keeps her from taking that crown that she’s a looker none the less.
It’s stupid things like this is why it’s so hard to business in Hollywood. The folks running it would rather complicate things with silly games like this than just do the job.
They should know that trying to squeeze one, especially an entertainment press magnet like Tori Spelling, for less money would just create bad buzz for the show. But they did it anyway. If they wanted to pay her less without the fuss, offer her the same money per episode, but write her into fewer episodes, and say they’re giving her more time for her other professional/family commitments.
It’s called strategy.
I think that the initial hiring of Tori was the stupidest and most obtuse creative move ever. No one in the intended audience for this show could care less about Tori Spelling. NO ONE.
Tori’s done a pretty good job managing her image since 90210. By doing indie films like House of Yes and Trick (in between all those Lifetime woman in peril movies), followed by the self-mockery of her VH1 sitcom, she’s managed to grab some respect from the gen-xers who always hated her as part of the 90210 behemoth. She may not have moved on to bigger and better things, but she’s actually managed to keep the 90210 die-hards and earn some fans from the least likely corners.
If the CW is hoping that names like Rob Thomas and Jessica Walter are going to get a few extra eyeballs to check out 90210, despite hating the franchise when they were in high school, Tori would help that.
When’s the Gilmore Girls revival?
Excellent Furious D. Unfortunately you are assuming that someone in Hollywood would have the ‘smarts’ to ‘strategize’ anything.
I won’t watch it without Tori on it.
This is very strange. First CW wants Tori, and then they offer her $10,000-$20,000 an episode, which is what you offer someone with basically no experience on a TV show. For example, comedian Artie Lange got $35,000 an episode for the Norm MacDonald show with maybe 10 lines a show, oftentimes less!
The only way Tori would consider this is if they promised that all she’d have to work is, say, a morning one day a week and she could do other work or hang out with her family the rest of the week.
Otherwise, it looks like they’re trying to get her to turn them down so they could say we tried to get her, and make it look like she was the villain.
Say what you want about Tori, but she is a celebrity, she has name value, she apparently has an audience of teenaged girls with her reality show, and this seems like a slap in the face.
If you’re going to talk about never underestimating the intelligence of the American people, rip on a harmful entity like Apatow and co. Tori Spelling seems generally harmless [except for her support of Joe Francis.]
They should not remake tv shows or films unless they’ve got such a good take that it’ll be better or equally good. It seemed more than likely they’d miss the boat on what made that show good, and judging from the promos the boat was missed.
Even the original version only got the show right for the first 3 seasons – then they went very wrong for reasons too detailed for this board.
actually I dont think it is fair to bring back two other castmates and pay them more than Tori. they should all be paid the same. I happen to be one of those viewers who watch tori and dean and I think they a cute family. she does not appear to be a snob. or expect millions of dollars for her baby pictures like some others that are low on talent high on looks.
hearing the same thing, if 90210 doesn’t do well… buh bye dawn. they may actually save money with her not there… those personal “expenses” and on company time seem to be adding up.
I don’t get the bile for Tori.
Like people tuning in to watch Doherty, Garth, the new 90210, or even the old one are displaying anything but terrible taste?
Sure, Spelling is nothing special. But Doherty and Garth are even bigger nobodies at this point. And guest appearances from the original cast may be the only thing that get people to tune in.
It totally seems like they dropped the ball, they should probably pony up to get as many of the original cast members to show up as possible.
I think that bring back the “oldies” is really a stupid idea, anyway. I mean, they could bring some back to make guest appearances every few episodes, if they want to make it FEEL like the original. But, if they’re going to to hire three of the originals back, then, they really should make the pay equal. It’s not fair to do otherwise. Particularly when everyone knows that Tori’s dad invented the show in the first place and everyone hated Shannen Doherty (myself included)…Tori would be the LAST one I’d shaft!
Who knows this show could get cancelled after its first season. But anyway if I wanted to do 90210 I would do a movie version instead of making a brand new series. And I bet the fans of the old show are perturbed with CW over this one. I don’t blame Tori for being upset at all.
Honestly I would prefer a movie version of 90210 with the original cast. A movie version with Melrose Place too.
Forget Tori Spelling the person for a second and remember her character Donna Martin was the heart and soul of the original series. Considering the fact that this show could make or break that dying network this season arguing over 20k per episode is just stupid. The bottom line is she’s worth it, and if I ran that network Id pay it in a heart beat. I must admit I was a fan of the original series and like the idea of bringing back original cast members. Personally I don’t like the new cast of kids from what I see. Im interested what becomes of this program creatively as I’ll certainly watch it in the beginning to see if its half as good as the 90’s version.
It’s amazing to me that Ms. Ostroff is still employed. After the lackluster job she did at the UPN, it boggles my mind that Ms. Ostroff was put in charge of the CW programming.Honestly….”The Farmer Needs a Wife”? “Pussycat Dolls”? At least the WB had had quality original programming: even their “teen” soaps had personality. The only show I watch on the CW is “Supernatural”, which ironically is a remmant of the WB. But even though that show pulls in good ratings for the CW standards, it’s considered a bubble show every year because Ms Ostroff says “she doesn’t get it.” Guess it doesn’t matter if a show is quality or popular or well written if she doesn’t get it. Since the only shows Ms. Ostroff does seem to get are about bratty rich, spoiled kids sleeping around, I share the concern that the CW is soon doomed to be a footnote in media history.
If Tori’s last name wasn’t Spelling, she’d still be
hopping tables, still waiting for her very first
“callback.”
Tori gave birth in June this is August…She gave birth 2 months ago not 5!!! Fact check please.
Not to worry Tori – the show is going to be a big flop anyway – I guarantee.
I wonder if the “fuss” isn’t the goal. Now this old idea will get tons of Tori press, and GASP, her father created the show! The “controversy” creates a great story. Is it all designed to make you forget the show is a turd? (No publicity is bad publicity–that sort of thing.)
Having said that, maybe we shouldn’t give the CW that much credit and it is some petty fight. That sounds about right.
Whatever the case, 90210 is a prime time show that was pirated by AFTRA– so expect about half the pay or less of what SAG scale is if you work on the show with or without Tori.
They should wait ten more years and film the new 90210 in a geriatric facility.