Tag: 90210

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Interview With the BBC!

Got a comment on my blog this morning from a man named Iain Mackenzie who works for the radio station BBC Radio 1 out of New York. Iain is currently in LA doing a piece on the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and he thought that, while in town, he’d record a brief segment on the new 90210 series that is coming out this fall. He wanted to interview me as a sort of 90210 expert. How cool is that?? Good to know I’m an expert on something! My parents must be so proud. LOL 🙂 Anyway, I was very excited to do the interview and met up with Iain this morning at – where else? – Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.

Iain is the US news reporter for BBC Radio 1 and an all around nice guy. We had a great chat about life and Hollywood and, of course, the first 90210 series and its stars. It seems he was quite a bit obsessed with the show back in the day, too. 🙂 He asked me some questions about the new 90210, if I thought it was going to be a hit, and why I thought the first 90210 became such a huge phenomenon. Iain was super friendly and I had an absolute blast doing the interview. I can’t wait for it to air!

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: BBC Radio 1 is the second biggest radio station in the UK, with over 13 million listeners each week. Iain reports on the Newsbeat program which broadcasts twice a day. You can listen to Radio 1 on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channel 11. You can also listen to the station on Radio 1’s website. I am not sure when the 90210 segment will air, but hopefully I can get an audio file of the interview to post here.

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Fresh Prince House – For Real This Time!

Major Fresh Prince of Bel Air fan Bryan posted a comment on my original Fresh Prince post asking me to please, please, please find the actual location of the mansion used as the Banks’ house on the 90s show. Bryan told me he had been looking for this location for years and every tour book seemed to have gotten it wrong. Being that I know the feeling of complete desperation in not being able to find a location, I made it my mission to find the house for him! I am sad to say it took me a really long time! I have literally stopped to take a picture of every single colonial style mansion I have driven by over the past month to compare to a picture Bryan had sent me of the Fresh Prince house. I was absolutely convinced I had located the right house on two separate occasions, but after coming home to compare pictures, I found I was completely wrong.

Then the other night, a lightbulb went off in my head. I decided to look at a filming locations website – the same one where I located the Shark House. Why I didn’t think of this sooner, I have no idea, because in a matter of minutes I was pretty sure I had found the house! I immediately emailed a picture of the house to Bryan and he confirmed it for me, as did the location company. Then I set off to Brentwood (NOT Bel Air) to stalk the house.

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Unfortunately my pictures came out absolutely horrible!! There are many trees in front of the Banks’ mansion and I could not get my camera to focus correctly on the house through the trees. My dad, who has a much better camera than I do, has promised to stalk the house with me later to take some better pics. The good news, though, is that if you drive by the house, you can definitely see it clearly through the trees and I am so happy to report that it looks EXACTLY the same as it did back in the Fresh Prince days. I was just standing there waiting for a taxi cab to drive up with dice in the mirror. 🙂

An ironic side note – I randomly watched the pilot episode of 90210 the other night and featured on that episode, big as life, was the incorrectly identified Fresh Prince house from my first post! It was used as the location of the Beverly Hills mansion where Brandon and Brenda attend their first West Beverly High party. Since both the pilot episodes of 90210 and Fresh Prince were filmed around the same time back in 1990, my thought is that people and neighbors saw 90210 being filmed at the house and since neither show was well-known at all at that time, heard it was a show about “Beverly Hills” and got it confused when a show about “Bel Air” premiered. Through incorrect word of mouth and communication error, the location wound up in tour books as the Fresh Prince house. That’s my theory anyway. 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: The Fresh Prince house is located at 251 N. Bristol Avenue, at the corner of Bristol Avenue and Parkyns Street, in Brentwood. Katherine Heigl’s sister’s house from the movie Knocked Up is located just up the road at 531 N. Bristol, but unfortunately that home is now gated and not much can be seen at all from the street. The incorrectly identified Fresh Prince house, where the Walsh twins went to their first Beverly Hills party, is located in Bel Air, at 417 Amapola Lane.

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"I am a Spring Princess!"

One of my favorite lines of all time from Beverly Hills, 90210 was said during the Spring Dance episode from the show’s first season. In the episode, Kelly gets nominated for Spring Queen making her a “Spring Princess” in the interim until the awards are announced. When Kelly arrives at the Walsh’s house on the night of the dance, she finds that she and Brenda are wearing the exact same dress. A fight ensues and Brenda tells Kelly to go change her dress to which Kelly responds “Brenda, I am a Spring Princess!” Love it! Now whenever my boyfriend asks me to do something I don’t want to do, like clean the dishes, I always say “I am a Spring Princess!” LOL

Anyway, the store where Kelly and Brenda first find their matching dress is located in a small section of Rodeo Drive called Rodeo Collection. The Rodeo Collection is a specialized outdoor mall of sorts, although it doesn’t much look like any of the malls I frequent. Rodeo Collection is a five story, 66,000 square foot conglomerate of high end stores and it is set up in the style of a European Piazza. There are meandering walkways, gardens, and terraces mixed in with some very ritzy boutiques. Rodeo Collection was actually only used for the exterior of Brenda and Kelly’s prom dress shop; the interior looks like it was most likely just a set built on a studio sound stage. Rodeo Collection was also featured each week during the opening credits of 90210. It was also used quite a bit in the movie Body Double.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Rodeo Collection is located at 421 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. If you get a chance, after stalking the Rodeo Collection, go visit Crumbs bakery at 9465 Santa Monica Boulevard for some yummy cupcakes! 🙂

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Andrea Zuckerman’s “Valley” House

I must be on a 90210 kick this week or something, because here I am again blogging about my fave 90’s show. 🙂 My buddy Mike over at MovieShotsLA just gave me the address of Andrea Zuckerman’s house from 90210, so I had to run right out and stalk it! On the first season of 90210, Andrea Zuckerman lived out of district, in the “Valley” and used her grandmother’s Beverly Hills address so that she could attend West Beverly High. In reality, Andrea’s house is actually a lot closer to Beverly Hills than the Walsh home is. Ah, the magic of TV.

Andrea’s house looks almost exactly the same as it did in the 90210 days. The house is a really cute Craftsman style home and I am actually really surprised the producers didn’t choose a more dumpy house to use as they always seemed to emphasize the fact that Andrea was poor and how she lived in the “highly undesirable” Valley. The neighborhood is actually not that great, though, and I wouldn’t recommend stalking this location at night. You can see this house in the 90210 pilot episode when Brandon follows Andrea home after getting into a fight with her at school.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Andrea Zuckerman’s house is located at 540 North Gramercy Place in Hollywood.

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The Peach Pit

Got a comment Tuesday night from Kevin who asked if I had a picture of the Peach Pit location from 90210. I briefly blogged about the Peach Pit on my first 90210 post a few months ago, but at the time I didn’t have a picture of the filming site. In reality, there were actually three different locations used as the Peach Pit during 90210’s ten year run. During the first season, two different storefronts were used. For the very first few episodes the exterior of an Apple Pan restaurant was shown as the Peach Pit. I found this location thanks to fellow stalker Mike over at MovieShotsLA. After only a few episodes, though, producers moved to a new exterior to film the Peach Pit. Unfortunately I have yet to find that location. 🙁

During the second season and throughout the rest of 90210 ‘s run, a Ruby’s Diner in Pasadena was used as the Peach Pit. Ruby’s is a 50’s style restaurant chain that can be found all over the Los Angeles area. The one in Pasadena was a favorite of mine when I first moved to LA. It wasn’t until my third or fourth time eating there that one of the waitresses told me it was the location of the Peach Pit. I about died! There I was eating at Brenda and Dylan’s favorite hang out and I didn’t even know it! 🙂

Sadly, Ruby’s closed its doors back in 2005 when it lost its lease. An Italian Restaurant took over after Ruby’s closed and painted the exterior of the building yellow. That restaurant also shut down and the space is currently vacant. The location is not very recognizable anymore as the 90210 gang’s hangout. The only thing that remains from the 90210 days are the Peach Pit’s exterior double doors.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: The Apple Pan Restaurant which was used as the Peach Pit in Season 1 is located at 10801 West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Peach Pit from Seasons 2 through 10 can be found at 45 South Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.

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Now Wear This!

For those who haven’t yet heard the good news – Jennie Garth has officially signed on to star in a recurring role on the new Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off that is going to air on the CW. Although Brenda was always my fave 90210 character I still have to say YAY! Jennie will be reprising her role as Kelly Taylor, who is now a guidance counselor at West Beverly High.

I thought I’d do a little 90210 blogging in honor of today’s big news! During the 7th Season of 90210, Donna and Kelly opened up a clothing boutique called “Now Wear This!” A few years ago, as I was driving on Melrose Avenue, I spotted the location of the shop and almost got into a car accident I was so excited! When I first saw the location, the site was just a vacant storefront and pretty run down, but a few years ago it became home to a restaurant called El Guapo Mexican Cantina – which, according to reviews, is a very happening spot and a supposed celeb hang out. I have yet to eat, there, though, as anytime I have a hankering for Mexican food I head over to the BEST Mexican food in LA, Don Antonio’s. But it looks like I am going to have to check out El Guapo’s someday soon!

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Donna’s dress shop is located at 7250 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. It is just down the street from both The Groundlings Theatre – famous improv school and alma mater to countless celebs – and People’s Revolution – Lauren Conrad’s new workplace.

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Brenda and Dylan’s First Date

Ever since I saw the Season One episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 entitled “Isn’t it Romantic” waaaaay back in 1991, I have been absolutely obsessed with finding the movie theatre where Brenda and Dylan went on their first date. While stalking in Studio City a few weeks ago, I happened upon a Barnes and Noble bookstore located in a former movie theatre that looked like it might be the very same theatre from 90210. When I went inside to talk to the staff I discovered that sure enough, the former Fox Studio City Theatre was indeed the location of Brenda and Dylan’s first date. In the episode, Brenda, Dylan and Brandon attend a Marx Brothers film festival at the theatre. Later in the episode, Brenda gets stood up by Dylan at this same theatre.

The Fox Studio City Theatre has been used as a filming location on several occasions, most often in commercials. The theatre was a Studio City staple for over 50 years, until it closed its doors in 1991 and was purchased by a bookstore named Bookstar. A few years later, Bookstar, too, closed its doors and became a Barnes and Noble. Thankfully, the exterior of the theatre remain unchanged and looks just as it did back in the 90210 days. Even the old time ticket booth is still standing. You can see a vintage photograph of the old theatre here.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: The former Fox Studio City Theatre, now Barnes and Noble, can be found at 12136 Ventura Boulevard. The Barnes and Noble is a very cool place to walk around as it still has the feel of an old Hollywood theatre. It is located in an adorable part of town, with lots of cute boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops.

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Sherman Oaks, 90210

Kelly Taylor\'s house My buddy Mike over at MovieShotsLA just told me the address of Kelly Taylor’s house from my fave show of all time Beverly Hills, 90210, so today (my first day off since quitting my job) I ran right out to stalk it! I was absolutely floored to see Kelly’s house in person, as I had been trying to stalk this location since the 90s! Kelly’s modern style house looks almost exactly the same as it did back in the 90210 days, except that some very large trees have been planted in front of the home. I wonder if they were planted to keep stalkers from coming by to take pictures. 🙂

Tony Danza\'s house Coincidentally, last night, on one of my fave stalking sites, I read that Tony Danza recently sold his 6,778-square-foot-home, which just happens to be on the same street as Kelly Taylor’s home! Small world! So I just had to stalk his house today, as well. Tony lives in a ginormous house which is surprisingly quite visible from the road. He purchased the home from Robert Urich back in 1986 and had it completely rebuilt after it was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Tony is apparently selling it due to his recent separation from his wife.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Kelly Taylor\'s House II Stalk It: Kelly Taylor’s house can be found at 3959 Longridge Avenue in Sherman Oaks. Tony Danza’s former manse is located just a few blocks away at 3637 Longridge. Kelly and Tony’s neighborhood is absolutely beautiful, with many huge homes, and I highly recommend stalking it.

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Donna Martin Graduates!

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Can’t tell you how excited I am about Tori Spelling’s new book, sTORI Telling ! I absolutely can’t wait to start reading it!!! I love me some 90210 gossip! In honor of Miz Spellings new tell-all, I thought I’d do a little post about the 90210 gang’s alma mater, the fictional West Beverly High School, which I stalked way back when I first moved to LA. In reality, the school isn’t located anywhere near Beverly Hills. It’s called Torrance High School and it can be found in the 90501 zip code, about 25 miles south of Rodeo Drive.

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I found this location thanks to my go-to stalking guide and I cannot tell you how excited I was to be there in the flesh. When 90210 was on the air, back when I was in high school, I wanted nothing more than to be Brenda Walsh. I loved her cowboy boots, her men’s ties, and (most of all) her boyfriend, Dylan. In high school, I actually changed my phone number to 34-LUKE-3 – I kid you not! (Needless to say, I didn’t have many friends in high school – lol) So, even though it was 7 years later when I finally got to see West Beverly High in person and 90210 was long past its prime, even though Brenda Walsh had long left the show and Donna Martin was no longer a virgin, I was still absolutely beside myself! I never dreamed I’d get to see West Beverly with my own two eyes.

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Unfortunately, Torrance High School looks much better on camera than it does in person. It’s lost a bit of its luster since the 90210 days and it is pretty run down in person, but I loved being there just the same! We visited the school on a weekend and pretty much had free reign to walk around. While many different parts of the school are recognizable from various episodes, most scenes were filmed in the center courtyard known in real life as the Senior Patio. You’ll immediately recognize the center fountain, large archways, and long staircase from various episodes of 90210. The Hello Day, time capsule and senior portrait scenes were all filmed in or around the Senior Patio. You will also recognize the main entrance to the school, which was also featured in numerous scenes.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

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Stalk It: Torrance High School is located at 2200 W. Carson Street in Torrance. The school was also featured in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, She’s All That, Skin, Not Another Teen Movie, and Bring It On, as well as countless other productions. The Senior Patio can be found behind the main school building. I suggest visiting Torrance High on a weekend, when you will have more freedom to explore the property.

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Kelly and Donna’s Beach Apartment

img_1163.jpg Just got a comment from La on my 90210 post – she wishes I had taken my stalking a little further and stalked Kelly and Donna’s beach apartment from 90210’s college years. Come on – don’t you know me by now? Of course I’ve stalked Kelly and Donna’s place. 🙂 This location I found a few years ago – thanks to my good friend Stew. One day he happened to be jogging along the Strand, a beach-side path in Hermosa Beach, and ran right by Kelly and Donna’s apartment. He immediately called me and told me the location so I could stalk it myself.

The beach apartment is adorable – right on the beach in a really cute area of town. How lucky was Kelly to get the cute apartment on the show and the cute guy! No one was hotter than Dylan McKay!

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It:Kelly and Donna’s apartment is located right on the sand at 3500 The Strand in Hermosa Beach, just south of where Hermosa Beach borders Manhattan Beach. Kelly and Donna lived in the second floor apartment on the show. According to one of my favorite stalking sites, Seeing Stars, the house was also used in the movie My Step-Mother is an Alien. The O.C. also used the Strand and Hermosa Beach for much of its filming.