October 4, 1990, was a special day in pop culture. It was the day Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered!
It wasn’t that long ago when we published a list of the best shows of the 90s and one of the shows on that list was Fox's iconic teen soap, Beverly Hills, 90210.
After promoting the article on social media, we received a ton of feedback from our listeners and readers— and many of you felt 90210 should have been bumped up from the number ten spot to number one.
Now, I am not here to argue that Beverly Hills, 90210 is the best show of the ‘90s but I am here to remind everyone that Aaron Spelling’s hit series is celebrating an anniversary this week!
That’s right folks, it was 30 years ago on October 4, 1990, when Beverly Hills, 90210 was released and introduced the world to Brandon and Brenda Walsh— a pair of fraternal twins whose family relocates from Minnesota to Los Angeles. The show began as a fish-out-of-water story as the twins struggle with life in the upscale and star-studded community of California before they transition from high school to college and into the adult world. In addition to chronicling the characters' friendships and romantic relationships, the show addressed topical issues such as sex, date rape, homophobia, animal rights, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders, antisemitism, racism, teenage suicide, teenage pregnancy, and AIDS. Some say that in many ways, 90210 was ahead of its time.
Beverly Hills, 90210 went on to become a pop culture phenomenon, turning Jason Priestly, Shannen Doherty, and Luke Perry into household names while inspiring spin-offs like Melrose Place and winning countless awards over the course of ten seasons.
By turns Beverly Hills, 90210 was heavily inspired by John Hughes, American Graffiti, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High— yet there is something about it that makes it feel unique. This is, after all, a series known for its countless iconic moments that outraged parents across America — from the time Brenda loses her virginity— to Brenda’s pregnancy scare— to Scott Scanlon shooting himself— to David’s drug habit, and so much more. But, put aside the over-the-top storylines, bad French accents, and controversy, no one can deny the impact 90210 had on the TV landscape.
90210 never held back on the drama, the heartbreak, the laughs, and for many of us who grew up in the 90s, it will forever hold a special place in our hearts. There have been better teen shows since, but few can claim to be as influential. 90210 set the template for every coming-of-age show that followed, and for that, we will be forever grateful.