Shannen Doherty Booked On New 90210

LOS ANGELES–It was confirmed at press tour today that Shannen Doherty will be joining the new version of 90210.
Last seen in ther short-lived reality series Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty, the 37-year-old actress played teenager Brenda Walsh on the original series. She’ll play the same character, now a drama teacher, on 90210 (premiering Sept. 2 on The CW and Global). At some point in the new series, she’ll be seen helping to direct a musical at West Beverly Hills High.
A Canadian actress, 19-year-old Shenae Grimes, is essentially playing the new Brenda Walsh n 90210. Both characters come from Middle America and have to fit in with the Beverly Hills lifestyle.
The producers had previously announced that two other actresses from the original, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling, would also be part of the new production. Spelling, however, told me last week when I ran into her at the Hollywood Collectors and Celebrity Show in Burbank (!) that there was still no deal in place for her to join 90210.
“I haven’t heard that,” executive producer Gabe Sachs said today at the CW session. “I don’t think anything’s happened. She was exhausted from having the baby.”
Not too exhausted to hump it up to the Burbank Marriott Hotel last Friday and Saturday, where she sat for hours and signed autographed photos from the original series along side her Canadian-born hubby, Dean McDermott.
The plan was to have Spelling reprise her character Donna Martin, now the owner of an upscale boutique. “When she’s up for it, she’ll be in. That’s my understanding,” said Sachs.
Also returning is Joe E. Tata, who plays Nat, the owner of the Peach Pit. He was at today’s session, at the back where breakfast was set up and the regular waiters at the hotel were made to wear baby blue “Peach Pit” T-shirts.