Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley’s Hookup, Tori Spelling’s Money Woes and More: Breaking Down What’s Real From the ‘BH90210’ Premiere

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FOX

Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley’s Hookup, Tori Spelling’s Money Woes and More: Breaking Down What’s Real From the ‘BH90210’ Premiere

The men and women of TV’s most iconic zip code are back with a twist. Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris and Shannen Doherty may play heightened versions of themselves (with the same names) on BH90210, but life definitely imitated art during the Wednesday, August 7, premiere. The quasi-revival kicks off with a nostalgic dream sequence — Donna and David are more in love than ever, Kelly and Brandon run the Peach Pit and Steve and Andrea are looking to “exchange an egg” (a callback to the season 2 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, where the duo attempt to get into a private club with Emily Valentine’s guidance.) Things between Tori, Jennie, Jason, Brian, Ian, Gabrielle and Shannen aren’t quite as peachy, however. While Tori and Jennie are close (just like Spelling and Garth in real-life), the rest of the gang are gearing up to see each other for the first time in years at a fan convention in Las Vegas. While there are clearly differences between the characters and the actors who portray them (no one’s real-life spouse is on the series, for example), there are also glaring similarities. The character Tori, for her part, is the daughter of the Beverly Hills, 90210 creator and the one who wants the show back on the air. Like Spelling, Tori filmed a series of reality TV shows with her husband and has several kids. (While Tori has six kids with husband Nate, played by Ivan Sergei, Spelling is a mother of five.) [jwplayer bRo6wWmH-l3ahXupL] Jennie, for her part, is going through her third divorce, admitting she’s been burned romantically as many times as her Beverly Hills, 90210 character, Kelly. In real life, Garth nearly split from third husband David Abrams in November 2017. Like Priestley, Jason is an actor turned director. A major difference is that Jason is married to a publicist named Camille [Vanessa Lachey], while Priestley married makeup artist Naomi Lowde in 2005. On the show, Jason discovers Camille is pregnant, but Priestley and Lowde are parents of two. Carteris’ role as the SAG-AFRA president is reflected through Gabrielle’s same title in the quasi-revival, while Green’s marriage to Megan Fox is seemingly poked fun at through Brian’s relationship with wife Shay, a more successful musician referred to in the premiere as a “red carpet assassin,” played by La La Anthony. Ian and Shannen’s characters have less-obvious comparisons to Ziering and Doherty, but keep scrolling for a complete breakdown of how the onscreen drama of the quasi-revival compares to the real lives of the cast of BH90210. BH90210 airs on Fox Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FOX

Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley’s Hookup, Tori Spelling’s Money Woes and More: Breaking Down What’s Real From the ‘BH90210’ Premiere

The men and women of TV’s most iconic zip code are back with a twist. Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris and Shannen Doherty may play heightened versions of themselves (with the same names) on BH90210, but life definitely imitated art during the Wednesday, August 7, premiere. The quasi-revival kicks off with a nostalgic dream sequence — Donna and David are more in love than ever, Kelly and Brandon run the Peach Pit and Steve and Andrea are looking to “exchange an egg” (a callback to the season 2 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, where the duo attempt to get into a private club with Emily Valentine’s guidance.) Things between Tori, Jennie, Jason, Brian, Ian, Gabrielle and Shannen aren’t quite as peachy, however. While Tori and Jennie are close (just like Spelling and Garth in real-life), the rest of the gang are gearing up to see each other for the first time in years at a fan convention in Las Vegas. While there are clearly differences between the characters and the actors who portray them (no one’s real-life spouse is on the series, for example), there are also glaring similarities. The character Tori, for her part, is the daughter of the Beverly Hills, 90210 creator and the one who wants the show back on the air. Like Spelling, Tori filmed a series of reality TV shows with her husband and has several kids. (While Tori has six kids with husband Nate, played by Ivan Sergei, Spelling is a mother of five.) [jwplayer bRo6wWmH-l3ahXupL] Jennie, for her part, is going through her third divorce, admitting she’s been burned romantically as many times as her Beverly Hills, 90210 character, Kelly. In real life, Garth nearly split from third husband David Abrams in November 2017. Like Priestley, Jason is an actor turned director. A major difference is that Jason is married to a publicist named Camille [Vanessa Lachey], while Priestley married makeup artist Naomi Lowde in 2005. On the show, Jason discovers Camille is pregnant, but Priestley and Lowde are parents of two. Carteris’ role as the SAG-AFRA president is reflected through Gabrielle’s same title in the quasi-revival, while Green’s marriage to Megan Fox is seemingly poked fun at through Brian’s relationship with wife Shay, a more successful musician referred to in the premiere as a “red carpet assassin,” played by La La Anthony. Ian and Shannen’s characters have less-obvious comparisons to Ziering and Doherty, but keep scrolling for a complete breakdown of how the onscreen drama of the quasi-revival compares to the real lives of the cast of BH90210. BH90210 airs on Fox Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Shane Harvey/FOX

Tori Lost Her Virginity to Brian

On the show: As Tori prepares to see Brian for the first time in the premiere, she is anxious and reveals the twosome hooked up offscreen. 

“I lost my virginity to him,” Tori tells Jennie, who notes the deed was done “on the show.”

“Life inmates art, remember?” Tori replies before she reunites with Brian. Later in the episode, the two share tons of tequila shots — and sparks fly between them. 

In real life: While it’s unclear if Spelling lost her virginity to Green, in the actress’ 2008 memoir, sTORI Telling, she revealed that she had an “insta-crush” on Green and admitted that she cheated on her then-boyfriend with her costar.

“I’d had my eyes on him from the moment we did the pilot,” Spelling wrote. “There was some puppy love there … He’d flirt with me, then blow me off. One summer we kind of dated, in that undefined, group date, hookup kind of way.” 

While filming Donna and David’s wedding in the original series finale, Spelling had “a surge of wondering” if she was still “in love” with Green. “It seemed so real on camera. I told Jennie Garth I still felt a connection with him, but she said it was probably a normal side effect of the plot,” Spelling wrote. “As we played out that fairy-tale wedding, I was swept up in the romance of it all … Afterward it faded away and I realized Jennie was right — it was just filming." 

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FOX

Behind-the-Scenes Drama With Shannen

On the show: The cast takes multiple digs at Shannen in the premiere. “The silver living? At least Shannen won’t be there,” Tori tells Jennie on their way to the Vegas reunion. When Shannen ends up calling in via video chat, the group is less than excited.

In real life: It’s no secret that Doherty’s exit from Beverly Hills, 90210 after season 4 was celebrated by the cast at the time. Spelling, Garth and Priestley all wrote about the tension with the Charmed alum in their respective memoirs. 

"She really and truly did not give a s—-t,” Priestley wrote in his 2014 book, Jason Priestley: A Memoir. ”It was a very cool attitude, until it wasn't."

Spelling and Garth recently recalled the latter nearly getting physical with Doherty on the set after she pulled up Garth’s skirt during a scene. 

“We were teasing, yeah, I didn’t care for that,” Garth said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday, August 5. “Like who does that? I wouldn’t do that to someone. … I’m pretty sure I got in her face. We are just both very strong, Aries women. We don’t back down no matter what.”

Credit: Shane Harvey/FOX

Jennie’s Marital Issues

On the show: Jennie’s third marriage is on the rocks during the premiere — and she nearly hooks up with a pig farmer (until he refers to her as her former Beverly Hills, 90210 character, Kelly.) 

In real life: Us Weekly broke the news in November 2017 that Garth and third husband David Abrams hit a rough patch. A source told Us at the time that the pair, who wed in July 2015, were taking time apart. While Abrams filed for divorce in April 2018, he withdrew his divorce petition 10 months later after they reconciled.

Garth was previously married to musician Daniel B. Clark from 1994 to 1996 and Peter Facinelli from 2001 to 2013. While Jennie has one daughter on BH90210, Garth and Facinelli share three daughters: Luca, 21, Lola, 16, and Fiona, 12.

As for the pig farmer, Garth and Spelling revealed during a joint appearance at AOL Build earlier this month that the character was inspired by former Bachelor Chris Soules, dubbed “Prince Farming” by ABC in 2015.

Credit: Shane Harvey/FOX

Jennie and Jason Hookup

On the show: Jennie made it clear on the series that she wasn’t a fan of Jason. However, after she opens up to him about her marriage woes, the twosome end up in bed together. 

“People see me and they think I’m Kelly Taylor, or no one,” Jennie said, to which Jason replied, “I see you.” (Cue the steamy makeout montage.) 

In real life: Garth and Priestley have stayed on friendly terms since wrapping the ‘90s drama. The What I Like About You alum even told Andy Cohen on WWHL earlier this month that he was her favorite onscreen kiss. 

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FOX

Tori’s Money Woes

On the show: Tori’s financial struggles and inability to pay her bills prompt her to have an epic meltdown at the fan convention, leading her to steal Donna’s spring dance dress from a display case. After Tori and her costars end up in jail for the incident, which she live-streamed on Instagram, she comes up with the idea to do the reboot to make money.

In real life: Spelling wasn’t pleased when Good Day New York host Rosanna Scotto questioned if she was able to pay her bills on Tuesday, August 6. 

“Am I able to pay my bills? Yeah, thank you. I am,” Spelling quipped after telling Scotto her questions weren’t appropriate. 

However, Spelling and husband Dean McDermott have made headlines for alleged money struggles following their 2006 wedding. In February, the pair were served with papers in their case against City National Bank. According to court documents obtained by Us, the couple allegedly declined to pay back a $205,000 debt. Radar Online reports that the court case was postponed in July.

Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FOX

Gabrielle Is Bisexual — and Hooks Up With a Fan

On the show: Gabrielle agrees to film the 90210 reboot because Tori is down for a story line about Andrea exploring her sexuality. The idea was born after Gabrielle kisses an Andrea superfan during the convention. 

In real life: Carteris has never come out as bisexual, but in 2013, she showed her support for the LGBTQ community through a SAG-AFRTA resolution recognizing and supporting the union’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members’ rights in the workplace. Carteris married husband Charles Isaacs in 1992. 

Credit: Shane Harvey/FOX

Ian’s Wife Is Cheating on Him

On the show: While Ian claims to have the perfect marriage to his wife, played by Ali Liebert, during the premiere, he discovers she is cheating on him when Tori and Jennie answer an accidental FaceTime from her in bed with someone else. The incident leaves Ian revisiting the pair’s prenup at the end of the episode. 

In real life: Ziering was married to Playboy model Nikki Schieler from 1997 to 2002. While there was no infidelity at the end of their relationship, Schieler did slam Ziering to Entertainment Weekly in November 2005. ”Being a Ziering has crippled my career,” she told the outlet. ”People think I took him for all this money, but I didn’t get anything. I get no monthly checks. He didn’t even help with my moving-out expenses. I had $40,000 to my name and I blew through it all.” 

Ziering’s rep denied her claims at the time, telling the magazine, Schieler “was compensated above and beyond the prenup because she fought it.”

In 2010, Ziering married Erin Ludwig, with whom he shares daughters Mia and Penna.