Melrose Place

It may not seem that way, but Melrose Place and 90210 really will return to The CW at some point.

Both shows will finally air new episodes on March 9. While the latter has at least made recent headlines via a slew of casting news - the most notable, of course, Rob Estes' imminent departure - all has been quiet on the Melrose Place front.

The CW has released a new video this week, though, one that teases a few scenes and storyline ahead. Below, for example, get a quick look at Nick Zano in his new role as a doctor on the show...

Are you excited for the return of Melrose Place?

The last time Melrose Place viewers saw Katie Cassidy as Ella Simms, she was being stripped down to her black underwear by Jonah and... sorry, we lost our train of thought.

That might be happening a lot more to male fans of the show when it finally returns to The CW on March 9. Just listen to Cassidy's answer when asked what's on tap for the show:

"I can tell you that there's lots of sex happening... Ella's getting some - maybe from one, maybe from more."

In a word: gulp.

As for Heather Locklear's Amanda, Cassidy provided E! News with a few general spoilers about a showdown between her and Ella:

"She is bad, but we all knew that. I can’t really give away exactly what she does. Ella fights back."

Stephanie Jacobsen was also on hand and asked about the future of her character. Might Lauren - snuggling with David above - soon get out of the escort business?

"Lauren makes a couple of changes," Jacobsen said. "She encounters a few forks in her road, and she makes extreme calls. Let me say that, as the actor who plays her, her path has been very satisfying."

To catch up on Melrose Place, prior to its March return, visit browse through our collection of episode guides today.

We must face the sad truth: every single primetime show is on hiatus until 2010. Before the calendar turns, however, let's take a look back.

So far, the TV Fanatic staff has reviewed the ups and downs of The Vampire Diaries, 90210, House, Heroes, The Good Wife and NCIS in our mid-season report cards.

In this edition: Melrose Place.

Best character: Ella Simms. This is not simply because she wears low-cut dresses and, as proven last episode, black lingerie. Katie Cassidy has taken the bitchy baton from Heather Locklear and run with is like Usain Bolt. The show has still managed to depict a soft side to Ella, however, as her feelings for Jonah appear to be actually sincere. We're excited to watch these two as a couple next month.

Worst character: Violet Foster. She's played by Ashlee Simpson. Need we say more? Fortunately, this "actress" won't be a member of the Melrose Place cast for much longer.

Best storyline: Sydney's murder. Granted, it sort of trickled toward a conclusion - and many viewers weren't happy with the culprit - but Sydney's death created an instant hook for viewers in the pilot. It made it feel like The CW had a solid reason for bringing the show back, while also providing former characters such as Jane with a sensible reason to return for an episode.

Honorable mention: Lauren's two jobs. It's not easy to serve as a doctor by day and moonlight as a hooker at night... without once changing your facial expression.

Grade so far: B.

Hopes for 2010: Ella topless; more death; more sex; more ridiculous behavior; Ella bottomless; a love interest for Amanda.

Agree with our assessment? Our grade? How would you rate the first half of the first season of Melrose Place?

The addition of Heather Locklear to the Melrose Place cast was just the first move in a series of steps that has catapulted this remake into must-watch status.

Over the last few episodes, the primetime soap opera has found its over-the-top footing; placed Katie Cassidy's Ella in the spotlight; ended the boring relationship between Jonah and Riley; and given the boot to its two worst actors.

The result is the most fun you'll find on television on Tuesday nights.

Unfortunately, the show went on hiatus just as it was getting really good. But it will return in January with new episodes, faces and storylines, a few of which are teased below:

Following the best Melrose Place episode of the season, our staff couldn't wait to gather for this week's Round Table discussion.

From break-ups to floating bodies to the sexiest shot in TV history, there's a great deal for fans to analyze and comment on. As always, reader feedback on the topics below is strongly encouraged...

Were you satisfied with the resolution to Sydney's murder?
M.L. House: Absolutely. You knew it wasn't gonna be a main character, but at least the show didn't cop out and pin the deed on some random stranger. Plus, it added the subtle reveal that David is likely Noah's biological father. Scandalous! Awesome!

Dr. Shepherd: Actually yes. It actually made sense (in a Melrose Place kind of way) in how it tied together the suspicious whereabouts of David, Michael and Sydney herself the night of the murder. Violet strangling Vanessa was awesome, because everyone has to die in the pool and because we knew Violet was bad news from the start. Amanda stepping in to get her back with the cops was another interesting wrinkle, as you know she's got ulterior motives.

The Barnacle: Not at all. Unless there's still a way we get to watch Violet get the needle.

Will Lauren be okay?
M.L. House: Physically? Yes. In the eyes of God? Not for many years.

Dr. Shepherd: She will. Her relationship, though? Hearing she's a hooker likely won't go over well with David, who she chastised for his thieving ways.

The Barnacle: Yes. She's actually dating the ideal man when it comes to blurring the lines of morality and decency. David will likely just ask for a threesome and be cool with it all.

Continue Reading...

Lauren OD'd last night on Melrose Place. So did we on one of our favorite guilty pleasures after the freshman series closed the book on 2009 with a bang - or several.

Holy crap is about all we can say. After so many lackluster episodes brimming with untapped potential, Melrose threw just about everything at us in "San Vicente."

Murder, drinking, drugs, theft, threats, heartbreak, adultery, epic cheesy dialogue from Ashlee Simpson and Colin Egglesfield ... and Katie Cassidy in black lingerie?

That's why you watch Melrose Place!

Read through our detailed episode guide for everything that went down on "San Vicente." Then read on for some of our thoughts on the hour's high points below...

The flashbacks: Finally, we learn who killed Sydney (Vanessa) and what Sydney has or had that Amanda wants (a $19 million painting). Great resolution to the murder plot, with Violet drowning Vanessa. Everyone dies in that pool! The stage is set for quality Amanda drama to come, too.

An adulterous twist: Almost lost in the shuffle last night was Sydney's smart-ass comment (one that ultimately led Vanessa to stab her to death) that David nailed Vanessa five years ago ... and that Noah is also five. Uhh, is David his half-brother's dad?

Ho, ho, ho: It looks like Lauren's side job might finally come back to haunt her after her "client" slipped her something. David gallantly raced to save his new love, but this fledgling couple is going to be on thin ice when he learns what she was up to.

Obligatory, unintentional Violet-Auggie comic relief: A smitten Violet is drawing a portrait of Auggie? Then happens to see his one-second kiss of Riley? Then he relapses immediately as Violet torches the portrait in a fire pit and pretends to brood silently? ROFL!

OMFG, Jonah and Ella! Ridiculous as it was that Jonah and Riley were gassing up the car to elope in Vegas, then broke up for good approximately 25 seconds later, after which he promptly got into Ella's pants, Jella is light years better than Jiley in terms of chemistry. Sorry Riles. He makes the often icy Ella seem almost sweet ... and naked.

Did you like the episode? What were your favorite parts of this jam-packed hour of hotness and borderline over-the-top intrigue? Leave comments with your thoughts!

Here are some Melrose Place quotes from last night ...

Sydney: [to Amanda] Don't you ever get tired of falsely accusing people? Even the lord rested on the seventh day. | permalink

Ella: Wait. I don't want to be just a one-night stand.
Jonah: You're not. | permalink

David: Hey, Violet. Can you do me a favor? I need you to watch over Noah for me. [pause] You're the only one here. | permalink

Violet: She was the only person who ever loved me and you killed her. | permalink

Jonah: Riley and I broke up. For good.
Ella: Oh David, I'm so sorry.
Jonah: Don't be. | permalink

You didn't think Melrose Place would end the year quietly, did you?

This week, the CW drama concludes 2009 with the episode "San Vincente." As usual, the installment's title reveals little about what's to come... but the same can't be said for the clips below!

In the first, viewers discover what Amanda is searching for. Just what did Sydney steal from that safe? Watch and learn:

Meanwhile, the episode's other major development centers around Jonah and Riley.

They head to Las Vegas to elope. But does the couple actually go through with it? Sorry, Jiley fans, but the clip below isn't exactly encouraging.

Continue Reading...

Next week, on the final Melrose Place of 2009...

• ... Jonah and Riley head to Vegas to elope;
• ... Lauren asks David for help;
• ... Amanda and Violet discover a common interest.

As a photo below also depicts, the show will flash back to a scene between Amanda and Sydney inside a church. Click on each pic below for an early look at scenes from "San Vicente."

We'll recap and review the episode soon after it airs.

Check out the official preview for it after this jump.

Continue Reading...

Amanda Woodward might be new to the remade Melrose Place, but this is not:

A slew of top pop and hip hop singles.

Each week, while Ashlee Simpson does her best to embarrass her family name, the CW drama delivers a handful of fun songs for viewers to download. We've collected the latest and updated our Melrose Place music section.

Here is a sampling of what singles were played this week on "June."

• Joy Williams - "One Of Those Days"
• Kat Deluna - "Unstoppable"
• Abi Ryan - "You Know I Like That"

Will David bed Amanda? Will he ever stop stealing from the rich? Is actually a decent human being?

In a new interview with TV Guide, Melrose Place star Shaun Sipos opens up about all these topics and more. A few excerpts follow...

On David's softer side: People need to connect to someone with some humanity. It's nice to show that David has emotions, feelings and vulnerabilities. He's opening himself up to being hurt.

On an upcoming storyline: A girl does catch me stealing and it is one last heist that David has decided to take upon his shoulders. She blackmails him to spend time with her. Her dad is a very bad man.

On hooking up with Amanda: [She] wants something from David. She is looking for something that Sydney [Laura Leighton] left or Sydney had that's of extreme value to her. So she's clocking David, thinking he has some knowledge to where it is or he has it. It is Melrose Place and she may like him, she may have a thing for him. David has been known to go with the older girls.