Thirdly, 90210 needs to introduce a realistic authority figure. These teachers are hip, handsome idealists, well versed in teen-speak and always approachable. I mean, Rob Estes plays the principal. Cute, fun Rob Estes! Remember Mrs. Teasley from the original show? Mrs. Teasley didn't mess around! Mrs. Teasley almost didn't let Donna Martin graduate, for God's sakes! The students of West Beverly need someone to fear and resent. (And no, the 24-year-old windblown hottie who plays the ''tough'' teacher doesn't count — he makes detention and/or paddling look appealing.) Now, I'm not saying we need Mr. Hand or anything, but the last time I checked, there was a ''school'' component to high school. Even TV high school. (FYI, Kelly Taylor is the school guidance counselor, which means any student who becomes addicted to coke, has a nose job, gets caught in a fire, or pretends to be a lesbian will have a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. She's been there, kids.)

Finally, the protagonist — in this case, fresh-faced Annie — needs to make a few mistakes. Brenda Walsh was interesting because she was flawed and insecure. Annie is cheerful, warm toward her parents, and ''accidentally'' gets the lead in the school play. Brenda was an endearingly bad driver; Annie gets a perfect score on her permit test. You see where I'm going. Obviously, a Brenda clone would be uninspired, but teens do eff up once in a while. In fact, the joy of the original series was watching the characters self-sabotage over and over again.

That's all I got. Aside from those gripes, the show is supremely entertaining. Wait, one more thing — bring back Dylan! I've heard Luke Perry is inexplicably balking at the prospect, but surely they can meet his price. Hey, maybe Annie could be Dylan's jailbait girlfriend, thus sullying our heroine and placating the ''mature fans'' simultaneously! Man, when it comes to solving problems, I'm better than Nat.

More 90210:
90210's debut episode: The EW review

Tori Spelling Revisits Smallville! Is 90210 Next?

The CW Orders More Episodes of 90210

90210: Meet 10 New Faces

90210: Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth talk about their reunion

90210: Behind the scenes with Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth at their EW photo shoot

Originally posted Nov 06, 2008 Published in issue #1020 Nov 14, 2008 Order article reprints
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