'Melrose Place' may get update

CW, CBS exploring possibility of remake

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

With the success of '90210,' the CW is eyeing a return to '90s sudser 'Melrose Place.'

With a new version of "90210" posting decent numbers for the CW, it was probably only a matter of time before the net dusted off "Melrose Place."

Insiders confirm that CW and CBS Paramount Network TV are exploring the possibility of reviving "Melrose Place," much as it recently returned to Beverly Hills' famed zip code.

"Melrose Place," after all, was a spinoff of the original "Beverly Hills, 90210." The two Fox sudsers helped rejuvenate Aaron Spelling's career in the 1990s, turning the TV icon once again into one of television's biggest hitmakers.

The two shows were paired on Fox's Wednesday night schedule during the first two years of "Melrose Place" before the soap became a Monday night staple.

"Melrose Place" ran on Fox from 1992-99 and turned into a hit sudser after Heather Locklear joined the cast as the scheming Amanda Woodward. Show also starred Grant Show -- most recently seen on CBS Par's "Swingtown" -- as well as Courtney Thorne-Smith, Andrew Shue, Thomas Calabro and Josie Bissett. Skein launched the careers of "Desperate Housewives" stars Marcia Cross and Doug Savant.

Rob Estes joined "Melrose Place" later in the show's run -- and now stars as the father on the new "90210."

The "Melrose" discussions are still in early stages, and no scribes or producers are yet attached. Darren Star, who created the original, is not expected to be involved in this edition.

But network and studio execs have been quipping about such a move ever since "90210" scored big opening numbers on CW in early September.

Original "90210" star Jennie Garth was used as the common thread when "Melrose Place" originally spun off from "90210" -- and was similarly enlisted this year to help relaunch the "90210" brand.