When Gilmore Girls premiered back in the Fall of 2000, I was (foolishly) determined to avoid adding another so-called ‘chick show’ to my Felicity and Buffy regimen.  But a co-worker had snagged a screener copy and implored me to check it out.  I wound up calling her halfway thru the episode to say how brilliant it was—and remained happily devoted until the series concluded.  Now, TV reviewers are noting Gilmore similarities in Privileged, the new CW sleeper-hit dramedy which flew under the promotional radar, but has quickly struck a chord with critics and fans.  Here’s just a small sample of the national acclaim:

We got our first look at the 90210/Privileged pairing last night, and aside from the ‘family bowling night’ plot wedged into the first hour, this promises to be a solid evening of drama and quirky comedy for a long time.  The CW can credit two blonde actresses for much of the success.  While I didn’t see her work on the original series, Jennie Garth (Kelly) is a real force in Beverly Hills.  She, of course, proved very adept at physical comedy on What I Like About You, but in confronting her drunken mother (a delicious guest-shot by semi-retired Ann Gillespie), Jennie’s dramatic skills rose to a new level—their scene was easily the episode’s highpoint.  The bubbly actress represents the key link between 90210 generations, as fans eagerly await the revelation of which former boyfriend is her son’s deadbeat dad.  Later, Joanna Garcia (newly-red and loving it) lived up to the non-stop press accolades she’s received, appearing in nearly every moment of Privileged and nailing an array of emotional showdowns.  If Hollywood hadn’t taken notice before, they’re seeing one of the most-talented and winsome young actresses on television.  Series creator and writer Rita Mimoun (of Everwood and Gilmore Girls fame) compares her to Lauren Graham, which is off-the-charts praise.  And talk about seamless-compatibility:  The CW’s Monday and Tuesday 9pm dramas have retained nearly 100% of their lead-in audiences.  Your thoughts?

Watching this week’s series premiere of 90210, I became very appreciative that Shannen Doherty agreed to reprise her role as ‘Brenda Walsh’ fourteen years after she unceremoniously left the original zip.  Few TV actresses are as compelling and addictive—her talents elevated the first three seasons of Charmed—and this four-episode stint was a big score for The CW.  Shannen’s legendary off-screen antics seem to have only enhanced her charismatic image, whether it’s a battle with ‘90s co-stars Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling, shockingly-brief marriages to Ashley Hamilton and Rick Salomon, or run-ins with L.A. traffic cops.  Spelling’s recent memoir labels Shannen a “bad influence,” and this week’s National Enquirer headline proclaims she’s ‘terrorizing the set’ of 90210.  Fun reading, maybe…but it’s fiction, as Doherty and Garth have patched up their formerly-tense relationship, and young star Shenae Grimes (Annie) praises the 37-year-old actress for helping her navigate the early grind of a pop-culture hit.  Of course, 90210 is a soapy drama, so Brenda Walsh won’t be leaving the Hills without some heated exchanges—maybe even some retribution for Kelly stealing Dylan away from her back in the day (click below!).  Trust me, these next three episodes are not to be missed.

Sunday nights will be laced with biting comedy.  That’s my first impression after watching The CW Fall Preview Show, which airs twice this coming weekend.  Hosted by Privileged stars Joanna Garcia and Anne Archer, the half-hour special gives an overview of our seven new network series—including a first peek at the Sunday lineup, where laughter rules.  Two actresses simply jump off the screen in their roles: Jaime Murray on Valentine and Laurie Metcalf on Easy Money.  Noted for her characters on Hustle and Dexter, sultry British-born Jaime camps it up (incognito) as Greek goddess of love Aphrodite; while in “the world of payday loans,” Laurie thinks more like Tony Soprano than an offbeat mother running the family biz.  We also get a glimpse of original Beverly Hills mommie dearest “Jackie Taylor,” played by returning 90210 alum Ann Gillespie.  Look for a big showdown between her and daughter Kelly (Jennie Garth) concerning offspring issues early this fall.  The preview show follows a Jason Priestley movie (Calendar Girl) this Saturday, so we’re in full 90210 mode.  Check out the teasers, then get ready for the real thing Monday night when Season Premiere Week begins on WBNX.

Dustin Milligan has as much off-the-wall personality as any actor on The CW.  This fall he’ll play star jock “Ethan” on 90210, but last night he was again featured on the reality/farce Ghostfacers episode of Supernatural, where he guest-starred as intern “Corbett,” smitten with his boss—then smote by a creepy ghost.  The young Canadian was euphoric about his comical role.  “I had heard a lot of really, really good things about, not only Jared (Padalecki) and Jensen (Ackles), but the entire crew.  People said it was a lot of fun to work on,” he tells BuddyTV.  “When this (job) came up I freaked out, just because of the way we were shooting it.  There was no crew.  Like, they were outside our set on the stage, but we had 360-degree closed sets.”  He adds that “the improvisation we were allowed to do and the freedom we had while shooting was an experience that I’ll never forget.  Honestly, it was such a blast.  Such a blast.”  Click here to visit the network’s Ghostfacers webpage, and don’t be surprised if the fictional hunters are spun off into an online series—Dustin is anxious to reprise his now-phantom character.  For the time being, though, he’s content being a ‘playah’ at West Beverly High.  Check out his interview below: 

Jessica Walter reminds me a lot of Leslie Nielsen, another actor known for dramatic guest-starring roles on ‘60s and ‘70s television who found a comedic lease on life—and a whole new audience—late in his career.  Jessica is now grande dame of the core family on 90210, a lush role fans hope will mirror her outlandish “Lucille Bluth” character on Arrested Development.  Surrounded by a dream cast, Jessica easily stood out among her younger co-stars in the series many (including me) contend is the flat-out funniest comedy ever created, and she’ll have ample scene-stealing moments in the new CW sudser.  Aside from her AD popularity, Jessica rose to fame as disc jockey Clint Eastwood’s deranged stalker in the 1971 thriller Play Misty For Me, also the first film directed by Clint.  She went on to win an Emmy for her TV movie serial, Amy Prentiss, and just celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with actor Ron Leibman, who WBNX fans may recognize as Rachel’s sardonic father, “Dr. Green,” on Friends.  While the veteran actress has an impressive resume in theatre, film and television spanning nearly five decades, Jessica Walter is living proof that good things come to those who wait.  Click below to enjoy a great AD clip with her and Liza Minnelli (aka, “Lucille 2”), and don’t miss the long-awaited two-hour premiere of 90210 in just 27 days!

The news from West Beverly High just keeps getting better!  As if Shannen Doherty’s return to 90210 isn’t dramatic enough, the series just signed Kellan Lutz as a recurring lacrosse jock and Meghan Markle as the school’s sexy vixen.  Kellan has a rabid online fanbase, and is poised for phenom status when his Twilight film hits theatres in December.  He plays “Emmett Cullen,” part of a unique vampire coven in the first movie based on Stephenie Meyer’s popular series of novels.  Released in 2005, Twilight sat atop the New York Times Best Seller list for 11 straight weeks!  The main characters are hot teens and young adults, and fans of the books are near delirium awaiting the big premiere—in fact, anticipation is so great, Twilight is the featured cover story of the latest Entertainment Weekly hitting newsstands today.  Bringing Kellan aboard is a huge bonus, as his legion of YouTubers are now pledging devotion to the much-buzzed-about CW soap.  Click below for an introduction to the free-spirited young actor.