Beverly Hills 90210 was the classic Teen drama that changed the world of television forever. Revolving around twins Brandon and Brenda, the series documented their lives as they moved from Minnesota to a more glamorous place, Beverly Hills.
The soap opera was first seen on October 4th, 1990, directed by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling. Like most series of those times, Beverly Hills 90210 had a single camera setup and would run for 45-95 minutes. Despite being produced by Aaron Spelling, who was known for hits like Charlie’s Angels, The Rookies, and Family, the show was met with an underwhelming response.
It was only after the creators decided to air a “summer special” that Beverly Hills 90210 finally started getting the recognition it deserved. The series soon became one of the most watched shows on Fox, particularly due to its fresh themes portraying teenagers and their lives as they go from high schoolers to adults.
Most of the other TV shows on Fox at that time were just reruns, and when a new season of Beverly Hills 90210 was aired that fall, it garnered many viewers and eventually became a global pop culture phenomenon. One thing that lead to the downfall of the show after a few seasons is the fact that most of the cast was either replaced, written out, or removed due to various reasons.
Why Did Shannen Doherty Leave 90210?
Shannen Doherty was one of the first cast members to leave the soap drama. She was cast in Brenda’s role after Aaron’s daughter, Tori Spelling, had suggested she be cast in the show after seeing her performance in the comedy movie Heathers. After being granted the role, Shannen started appearing late on sets and would often have an uncaring attitude toward the other cast members.
Producers were tired of her inability to be on time and listen to their advice. Things got so worse one time that Doherty and Jennie Garth, who plays Kelly Taylor on the show, got into a physical fight that had to be stopped by other people working there. Despite several warnings, Shannen continued being indifferent and had to be written out of the show. This was supposed to happen before the 4th season of Beverly Hills 90210 was aired, but Doherty requested that she be allowed to be a part of the 4th season.
After being featured in the 4th season, Doherty’s attitude worsened, and she even cut her hair off mid-shooting, which was the final straw for the producers. She was written out of the teen drama by sending her back to Minnesota for college. Season 5 was aired without Brenda, and the show still seemed to be doing well at that time. It started losing its ratings after season 6, and this was affected more when Tiffani Thiessen and Jason Priestly left 90210.
The news of Shannen Doherty and her behavior with other co-stars was making headlines at the time, and a special hotline was launched where people could report whatever gossip they had on Shannen. She eventually became Hollywood’s “Bad Girl” of the 90s.
What Happened To Shannen Doherty After Leaving 90210?
Despite having a bad image in Hollywood, Shannen continued to be a part of various movies and TV shows. She was fired from another Aaron Spelling show called Charmed after reportedly having a feud with Alyssa Milano, another cast member on the show.
After a few years, Doherty herself admitted that she regrets having had a callous attitude in the past but was over it and wanted to focus on being a better person. She was going through a turbulent life, with her father battling an illness that could have contributed to her being that way. In an interview held in 2010, she accepted that she had a bad reputation but also implied she was evolving and was in a much better place than before.
In the year 2015, Shannen was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and continues fighting it at present. After her leave from Beverly Hills 90210, she worked in shows like North Shore, Scare Tactics, and The New Normal.
When a revival of Beverly Hills 90210 was announced in 2019, she was cast as Brenda once again, but the show was eventually canceled after a few episodes. She also starred in a television series inspired by her first movie, “Heathers,” where she played the role of a mother. Her latest project includes starring as Brigadier General Barbara Dobbs in the 2021 movie Fortress.
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