Presented with a photo of Ryan higher than Chace Crawford, 90210 readers offered up a bunch of entries for this week's caption contest.
We've got to be honest: many made less sense than Ryan himself in this scene.
But at least user "Mad Rocks" reminded of us a classic Ashton Kutcher movie and won the top prize as a result. His/her submission is below and we thank everyone for playing. Remember to do so every week!
DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR????????
We had so much hope for 90210 this season. The show narrowed its focus to its new, core characters; it set up a storyline that would take Annie to a dark place; and brought in Jen Clark to serve as the show's resident villain.
In the end, though, these developments didn't add up to a particularly exciting season. We examine why in this TV Fanatic Report Card (previous site evaluations include The Vampire Diaries and The Good Wife)...
Best character: Naomi. She's still written too inconsistently, as the show either portrays her as an outright bitch or a a total humanitarian. It needs to find a nuanced balance. But producers made the right decision in shifting the focus from the boring Wilsons to the more interesting Clarks, at least.
Worst character: Annie. She was too sunny in season one, too dour in season two. The hit-and-run angle never came together, and Shenae Grimes never sold her character's state of mind. She over-acted in every scene, an especially troubling fact because this lengthy storyline required subtle, ongoing pain, something Grimes most definitely does not specialize in.
Best episode: To Thine Own Self Be True. Silver and Kelly buried their mother during this installment. We got a glimpse at some seriously heartfelt acting by Jennie Garth and Jessica Stroup.
Best storyline: Gia and Adrianna... at least for a couple episodes. We were happily proven wrong about this relationship, as it came across as more than a ratings stunt. At first, 90210 treated the gals with the same time and respect as any other relationship. But it then made Gia out to be an insecure cheater and quickly jettisoned her from the cast. It would have been nice to really dedicate many months to this unique dating arrangement.
Hopes for 2010-2011: Slow things down, couples break up and get back together on an almost-weekly basis. Viewers need reasons to care about relationships, which can only happen if they remain steady. Also, give us some actual bad boys or girls. There's very little conflict between friends and characters. We need some trouble makers to stir things up.
Grade for season two: C. Look, we don't need this to be as extreme as Gossip Girl. But we do need more original, suspenseful storytelling. Teddy's father doesn't want his son seeing Silver? Liam's birth dad shows up for five seconds, then leaves? Deb barely smooches her Yoga instructor? This is boring, mundane, cliched material.
The one supposedly significant storyline, Annie's hit-and-run, resulted in absolutely no pay-off. The show has a lot riding on Naomi's season-concluding rape now, as fans won't stick around for much longer if this risky situation is not handled well.
We offered up a difficult photo for readers to caption up this week, but many gave it their best shot.
The winner was "katrina11," though, for channeling The Pussycat Dolls in her entry. Check it out below, underneath the photo.
Did you lose out? Don't lose hope! Just come back and play every week! Thanks to all participants in this week's 90210 Caption Contest!
Javier: "Adrianna, don't you wish your BOYFRIEND was hot like me?"
90210 will return to The CW this fall on Monday nights, airing prior to Gossip Girl. That's an important programming note for fans to remember.
What else will be different about the show and its characters as they embark on season three? The network has sent out the following press release, which gives us a few hints. (TV Fanatic guesses/commentary appear in bold)...
The third season welcomes the West Beverly kids to their senior year of high school. It’s the time of college acceptances and lovers’ rejections, the time of prom dates and promises betrayed, the time of spring break, break-ups and make-ups – but as is always the case in Beverly Hills, it all happens in a world of sun and fun, palm trees and warm sea breezes, success and excess.
From the very beginning of the school year, the lives of the West Beverly group will be shaken up in a way none of them could ever imagine. And from this new starting point, their journeys will take them to staggering new heights and terrifying new depths. We’ll see the rise of a pop sensation (Javier?) and the fall of a group of friends (the gals?), the beginning of a new love (Ivy and Dixon?) and the end of a professional dream (Adrianna?), the creation of an unlikely family (Jen/Ryan/baby?) and the demise of another (the Wilsons?).
And that’s just the first week of school...
It’s now or never for the students of West Beverly, and they’re not going to waste a moment of time. Expectations are high, hormones are raging, and scandals are hiding around every corner. From the brightest moments of love and happiness to the darkest hours of shame and fear, senior year at West Beverly promises to be an unforgettable journey.
The question is: Will you come along for the ride?
We got a solid turnout this week for the latest 90210 Caption Contest...
... and we also got a submission that multiple users acknowledged as the funniest. Who are we to disagree with them?
Therefore, congrats are in order for "Lana," who submitted the entry posted underneath this photo. Thanks to everyone that played and remember do to so every week!
Liam: Okay let's go over this again: your name is not Ariel, I'm not a prince and if you sing "Under the Sea" again, I will strangle you with this rope.
Annie ran over a homeless man and killed him to conclude season one of 90210.
Ironically, this became the storyline that simply won't die. Fans have been distressed with the length of time it dragged on for, as well as the fact that it culminated in... nothing. Annie simply decided to confess to her parents on the season finale.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, though, Shenae Grimes says there's STILL more to come.
"I was really happy with the way our show runner, Rebecca [Sinclair], chose to handle the situation," she said. "While everyone else [was] going through their momentary incidents and dramas, this [was] kind of lingering with me the entire season, which was kind of daunting.
"She really played up the subtlety. But, we do finally get closure for Annie, or at least we think we do. Of course, no show will end in that pretty little package. So there are many surprises that you’ll see."
Please, 90210 writers, make them worthwhile.
Grimes said the storyline's resolutions will bring in other characters, as well. Here are more snippets from the interview:
On the involvement of other characters: "We’ve gotten the hint that it may involve Teddy because of the whole license plate thing at the very beginning of the season... It does play kind of a key factor in the resolution of it all or the lack thereof. But it certainly involves more people and hopefully takes the onus off of Annie’s shoulders."
Will Jasper return? I have no idea. There’s no real indication as to where the character will go.
On Annie and Liam: The story doesn’t really evolve the way you think it will. They’re kind of misleading you a bit. The relationship and the closeness that Annie and Liam are forming is much more than just any physical attraction... I don’t think it will be the demise of Naomi and Annie again.
Does this interview make you more or less excited for season three of 90210? Sound off in our forum now!
Season two of 90210 came to a fiery conclusion last night.
What did you think of "Confessions?" We gave the season finale 3.5 out of 5 stars.
There's plenty still to discuss and analyze from the episode and the show overall, though. Below, our weekly TV Fanatic Round Table tackles various topics and encourages readers to chime in here or in our 90210 forum...
Which cliffhanger has you most on edge for season three?
M.L. House: Was there really any cliffhanger aside from Naomi's situation with Mr. Cannon? The episode didn't really leave us wondering too much about Navid and Adrianna, Dixon and Ivy, etc. But the Naomi development and interesting and risky. Let's see how it's handled.
Dr. Shepherd: I felt ripped off by the lack of actual cliffhangers. No one was on the boat when it blew up?!? Annie simply confessed without any repercussions?!? I'm struggling to come up with multiple suspenseful storylines here.
The Barnacle: I'll say Liam and Jasper was a cliffhanger, only because I hope Liam killed that annoying psycho.
Will you miss Harry?
M.L. House: No. Like The OC, the show has to either embrace its adults... or ignore them completely. You can't have it both ways. If 90210 has chosen to ignore the Wilsons, that's fine. Best of luck elsewhere, Rob Estes.
Dr. Shepherd: I actually win. As principal of West Beverly, Harry had potential to play an actual role in the kids' lives, but the series never went there. Feels like a missed opportunity to me.
The Barnacle: Nope. I look forward to Deb being on the open market. Call me!
Feelings on the 90210 season finale are mixed.
Many fans were left breathless by the (disturbing) final scene with Naomi, while others can't believe there was no payoff to Annie's boring hit-and-run storyline. Read our take on the episode NOW.
One things viewers typically can agree on, though, is that this show possesses one of the best soundtracks on television. Browse through our 90210 music section now and sample a few singles from "Confessions" below...
Over the last few weeks, many 90210 fans have grown disenchanted with a show whose storylines muddle along, always focusing on relationships that aren't grounded in any kind of realism or pacing.
So, did the season finale change that point of view? Did "Confessions" leave you yearning for the September premiere to arrive ASAP? Let's analyze the state of various characters and gauge reader opinion...
Dixon and Ivy: These two remain cute together, but my head is spinning trying to keep up with the state of their relationship. Last week, they started the episode as a couple. They, they broke up over an Australian trip. Then, they made up. Then, Dixon confessed that he kissed Silver. So they split again. Then, he apologized (in grand fashion!) and now they are together... again. That's A LOT of back-and-forth over the course of two weeks.
Let's hope 90210 just keeps this pair together and let's viewers actually form an opinion on Divy (or Ixon?).
Teddy and Silver: Snoooooze. These two also broke up and got back together about 17 times in the last couple episodes. There's no chemistry between the actors, there's no reason for us to really believe they're in love. Seriously, can anyone say they care about Seddy (or Tilver?).
Adrianna and Navid: They are back together. Yay! And the reunion was live, for all to see on their West Beverly TV screens. Romantic! But Javier is apparently gonna stick around and try and woo Ade. Boo! Please, 90210, just let a couple remain happy and steady. Is your only source for storyline tension to continually place pairings in jeopardy?
Jasper: Seriously, if he's on the show still next season, we may abandon ship.
Ryan: I really hope the show does give him more room to shine in the fall. All we've really seen of his downfall is Laurel offering Ryan some pot, and that caused him to fall off the wagon. But Ryan Eggold is a quality actor and a custody battle with Jen would provide him with solid material.
In light of the disappointment expressed by most 90210 fans over how this season concluded (i.e. boringly), we've awarded this week's top prize to "Emily."
That user got inside the head of stars Trista Wilds and Gillian Zinser for her entry, which is posted underneath the photo. Harsh? Yes. Accurate? You decide.
Thanks to everyone that played and remember to do so every week. God luck and enjoy!
Tristan: Another love triangle Huh?
Gillian: Yeah the Department of Good Ideas cranks out another one.
