90210, is That a Zip Code or a Formula?

Because it all seemed very formulaic to me, and it just didn't have to be.

And every plot point was so telegraphed. Surprise me, please!

But I will tell you what I loved. I loved that Jessica Walter (below right) decided that she would play her role like a gay man from the late 70s. She was brilliant, the only moments of joy in an otherwise predictable first hour.

And I loved seeing Shannen and Jennie back on camera together in hour two.

And the BJ Dustin gets in front of West Beverly was a nice touch, along with the reference to Andrea's daughter (?) in the first few minutes.

But the rest? Eh.

Dustin Milligan (above) is gonna break out from this cast, if for no other reason than he carries the Dylan mantle down to looking at least five years older than any of this on-screen friends.

Then again, anyone watching the show won't be bothered by that at all.

The adults are hotter this time around. No disrespect to James Eckhouse (who I just saw in the movie Big again the other night) and Carol Potter, they just are.

Rob Estes? How long before he's in a closet with one of the hotter girl students? We already know from the pilot that he has a track record.

Lori Laughlin just seems out of place in the neighborhood.

The kids are all much too mature. Again. But that's American TV in the years since Dawson. I blame you, Kevin Williamson.

But hell, the ratings were apparently enormous, though they came in fifth among the networks, they won the demo (TVByTheNumbers):

The series debut (return?) of 90210 to the CW brought 4.91 million viewers back to the storied zip code and a demo adults 18-49 2.7 rating and 9 share was the top demo result of the night and earned the CW the nightly 18-49 demo win. And 90210 was #1 in the adults 18-34 demo as well earning a 3.1 rating / 9 share and humbling the competition in that demo for the night. It’s silly to compare those numbers with the previous 90210, but the embattled CW has to be very happy with the results, it rarely sees 4.91 million viewers tuning in to anything. If last night’s ratings were “mindblowing” I await the adjectives from the CW PR department today.

But as far as me? I'm done.

My time was better spent on BBC America's Skins, from Brit broadcaster E4. Wrote about it yesterday. Actually got a comment on the post from one of the writers. Click the link to read it, I'll be elevating it from the comment section for a post later.