TVSquad

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Finally, season 4 of Alfred Hitchcock Presents is on DVD. I say finally because this season contains one of my favorite episodes of any TV series ever, "Man with a Problem," with Elizabeth Montgomery, Gary Merrill, and Peter Mark Richman. It has a great twist ending (you can watch it here). I have to start buying this show on DVD.

The Golden Age of Television DVD is a Criterion Collection set and includes some great live TV episodes, including "Marty," "Days of Wine and Roses," "The Comedian," "Requiem for a Heavyweight," "No Time For Sergeants," "A Wind from the South," and "Bang The Drum Slowly." Also comes with extensive commentaries and interviews and a booklet.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Hmmm...no idea why there's a new edition of Alias' season 5 coming out tomorrow. There was another version of the season already released, but it has been discontinued. I wonder if there's something different in the set that will tick off fans who bought that deluxe Alias Complete Series Set with Rambaldi Artifact a while back.

And the fourth season of Felicity too. Maybe it's J.J. Abrams' birthday?

• Alias - Season 5 (new edition)
  
• Ben 10: Alien Force - Season 1, Vol. 3
• Beverly Hills, 90210 - Season 7

So what's Jeremy Jackson been up to?

Jackson played David Hasselhoff's son Hobie on Baywatch many moons ago, and he's now one of the cast members of VH1's new celebreality (gah) show Confessions of a Teen Idol. He'll be joined by former Real World star Eric Nies; Christopher Atkins, the star of The Blue Lagoon; and former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jamie Walters. Which makes me think that maybe the title of this show should be Confessions of a Former Teen Idol, since all of these guys are in their late 20 or 30s or 40s.

Actually, without even watching this show I can tell you what these people are up to: they're starring in a new VH1 reality show. They're trying to get back into the business in a big way, and I guess these days that means first starring in a reality show. Which, by the way, starts on January 4.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Wow, they're really coming out with DVDs really quickly these days, eh? A Colbert Christmas aired just last night, and 24 airs tonight, and both of them will be on DVD tomorrow. Will you buy them or just tape/Tivo them tonight?

Soon TV shows will be released on DVD before they're even filmed.

• 24 - Redemption
• Beverly Hills, 90210 - Season 6
• The Colbert Report - A Colbert Christmas
• The Doris Day Show - Complete Series
• Family Affair - Complete Series
• Freaks and Geeks - Complete Series
• George Carlin - It's Bad For Ya
• Gomer Pyle, USMC - Season 5
• The Mod Squad - Season 2, Vol. 1
• The Pink Panther Show - Ultimate Collection
• The Real Ghostbusters - Complete Series
• The Red Skelton Show - Complete Series
• Super Dave - Super Stunt Spectacular Vol. 1
• Superman Animated - Doomsday
• The Tudors - Season 1 Uncut

Whatever the critics say, 90210 did score a ratings win for the CW. It was the highest-rated scripted series premiere in the network's two year history.

It didn't do overwhelming numbers for a network show (it was watched by 4.9 million viewers and had a 2.6 ratings among adults 18 to 40), but it is better than the CW has done before. If the show can continue to do well in the ratings, the CW may actually cancel that "going out of business" sale.

I have to agree with Joel's analysis about the reasoning behind not sending the screeners to critics: it wasn't made for them. Bad reviews from the myriad of old male critics would have only hurt the ratings. Gossip Girl also got a boost in the ratings, so don't count the CW out of the race yet. Now I'm waiting to see if the major changes on Smallville pay off.

Don't expect to see Brandon Walsh hanging out with the rest of the gang at The Peach Pit when the new 90210 debuts this fall. Jason Priestly, who played Brandon throughout 90210's original incarnation has revealed that he has in fact been approached by CW execs about reprising his role--but that he has turned them down.

Priestley, who is currently promoting a one episode directing stint on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, seems to be more interested in taking a seat behind the camera than donning his acid-washed jeans in front of it. While Walsh appeared in nearly 250 episodes of the teen soap, he also directed 18 of them. Despite turning down the CW's original offer, he seems quite interested in taking a seat on the director's chair.

The reunion never stops. Now, Joe E. Tata is reviving his role as Nat, the owner of the Peach Pit, for the new version of 90210. His character will be appearing in the pilot. It is uncertain whether the character will have a recurring role within the new series.

"The coin's in the air for me," Tata told The Associated Press. "I guess it comes under the heading of magic test: Let's see if the audience still remembers me."

He joins a reunion of Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, and possibly Shannon Doherty in the new series. Jason Priestley has yet to be confirmed.

At this rate, why even bother having new cast members? Aren't having all these original members back expensive enough as it is? I wish every relaunch of a series had so many original cast members involved. Actually, when I think of shows like Battlestar Galactica, maybe that's not such a good idea.

With The Shield getting set to call it a day, Jay Karnes (Detective Wagenbach) could use a new gig. As is so often the case when looking for work, it's good to have friends. Karnes has landed a new role on FX's Sons of Anarchy, which just happens to be created by Kurt Sutter, writer/executive producer of The Shield. He's signed up for six episodes as an ATF agent named Scott Kohn.

There should be less gunplay involved for Meghan Markle (Deal Or No Deal) and Kellan Lutz (The Comeback). The pair have joined the CW's new version of 90210. Markle will take on the role of Wendy, one of the West Beverly High vixens who takes advantage of her looks. Lutz is on board to play star lacrosse player George Evans. Lutz is 23 and Markle is 26, so it would appear that they've kept that same age appropriate casting the original was famous for. Personally, I just really like the idea of a Deal Or No Deal model being cast on 90210.

So Shannen may be coming to the new 90210, and Jennie is definitely in the cast, and Tori will miss the first few episodes because she just had a baby, but generally speaking, there's been lots of buzz and interest in the upcoming, 2008 version of Beverly Hills 90210.

While CW gears up for the new, SOAPNet is happy to celebrate the old.

On Saturday, July 26th, SOAPNet will glory in the 50 hottest moments of the original Fox series. From 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., ET/PT, three beach-oriented episodes of the show will be shown back-to-back-to-back, with six interstitials that will reveal from 1-50, the hottest "moments" in BH 90210 history.

The new 90210 has yet to air but it's already created a tremendous amount of buzz. The return of actresses Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth from the original series has made news, as well as Luke Perry's words that he won't be coming back and Jason Priestley letting the world know he'd be available to direct.

But what about Brenda?

Well, in his new perch at Entertainment Weekly, Michael Ausiello reports that his sources -- producers Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah -- have confirmed that Miss Shannen Doherty is in formal talks to join 90210 in her original role, Brenda Walsh.

Let's hear it for second chances. 90210 is looking like a reunion as well as a new series.

It seems that Tori Spelling is making a cameo is the first episode. She will speak a few lines to the new cast of teen girls at the local mall. She joins Jennie Garth as a cast member from the original series that will be appearing in the new one. Considering that her father produced the original series, I'm surprised it took her so long to sign on.

Actress Jennie Garth, who portrayed Kelly Taylor in almost 300 episodes of the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210, will appear on the series' spin-off set to premiere this coming fall season on The CW. The actress, who will appear in a recurring capacity on the spin-off, will reprise the same role that helped put her on the map in the 1990s.

It's not unusual to see original cast members make their way in spin-offs. And when said spin-offs have teens attending school, it's a regular occurrence to see the original cast member be part of the school's staff. Kelly Taylor is no exception here. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Kelly Taylor will become a guidance counselor at West Beverly Hills High. Nothing more is known at this point about the character and if other 90210 original cast members will join her on the show.

Jennie Garth was also part of the cast of What I Like About You and of Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars.

It's a step up from Baltimore. Tristan Wilds, who played Michael on The Wire, is playing the male lead in the 90210 spinoff. Wilds will take on the role of Dixon, the adopted son of the Harry and Celia Mills. The Mills family is shaping up to be much more entertaining than the Walshes. Jessica Walter and Lori Loughlin have already been cast as the grandmother and mother, respectively. I can't wait to see Michael having family dinner with Lucille Bluth and Becky from Full House.

In other 90210 casting news, Michael Steger is playing Navid, producer of the West Beverly High's TV news show. I'm not familiar with Steger, but I'm thrilled that Wilds is returning to TV.

The new Beverly Hills 90210 is busy casting and coming together, but it doesn't seem like any of the stars from the original Fox hit will be involved. Don't look for Brandon Walsh among the characters, at least not with the man who created him. Jason Priestley admits that nobody from the new 90210 has even contacted him about an appearance. In a brief interview with momlogic.com, Jason said, "I'm certainly open to it. I loved working on that show. I loved everything I did on that show. I had so many jobs on that show, I loved it so."

On the other hand, Priestley makes it abundantly clear that he has no interest in following in the dancing footsteps of two of his 90210 castmates, Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth, by joining Dancing With the Stars. He just can't dance and he makes no bones about his inability to do a Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly turn. His hobby is on the race track, not the dance floor.