Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s 26th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This evening honors "90210," an updated spinoff of the '90s series "Beverly Hills, 90210," again focusing on a group of teenagers who attend high school in the glamorous and affluent community of Beverly Hills.

Craig Hitchcock (executive director at The Paley Center for Media in L.A.) opens the evening by welcoming the audience to the Paley Festival and introducing William C. Paley, son of the festival's namesake. Hitchcock then introduces screenwriter Diablo Cody, who serves as the evening's moderator. Cody introduces an episode of the series, "Between a Sign and a Hard Place," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 101259.)

Following the screening, Cody introduces the panelists: executive producer Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair; and cast members Matt Lanter (Liam Court); Jessica Stroup (Erin Silver); Ryan Eggold (Ryan Matthews); Shenae Grimes (Annie Wilson); and Rob Estes (Harry Wilson).

Panelists touch on such topics as: if they were fans of the original series; what Sinclair hoped to preserve from the first "90210" and what she wanted to change; how much research was employed after making one of the principals bipolar; reactions to having characters deal with teen pregnancy; which actors from the '90s show might appear on the spinoff; how Shannen Doherty conducted herself when appearing on the new show; if it's hard for Estes to act in episodes which he also directs; if it was a conscious decision to make the parental characters appear "cool"; Lanter's reception at joining the show mid-way into its first season; whether actors do their own stunts; if the performers inject their own high school experiences into scenes; and how the actors are dealing with new-found fame.

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: what music gets the actors into character; the support system between cast and crew members; why the character of Ethan Ward, as played by Dustin Milligan, is being "phased out"; which characters on the show have proven to be "favorites" with the actors; if the cast members respond well to each other's constructive criticism; what made the actors enter their profession; the manner in which technology-based actions -- such as blogging -- has impacted storylines; and how improv has helped the actors develop their craft.