MELROSE PLACE
Premiere Date: July 8, 1992
Finale Date: May 24, 1999
Created By: Darren Star
Overview: A spin-off of BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, this potboiler followed the love lives of neighbors in a trendy L.A. apartment complex. The original format of self-contained stories was quickly serialized after opening to lukewarm reviews, and the addition of Heather Locklear’s bitchy Amanda spiced up ratings.
We Knew Them When: MP frequently tapped into talent from daytime, including series regulars Grant Show (Jake; ex-rick, RH), Jack Wagner (Peter; ex-frisco, GH et al), Marcia Cross (Kimberly; ex-kate, OLTL), Patrick Muldoon (Richard; ex-austin, DAYS),
Lisa Rinna (Taylor; ex-billie, DAYS),
Kelly Rutherford
(Megan; ex-sam,
GENERATIONS),
Kristian Alfonso
(Lauren; Hope, DAYS),
Antonio Sabato, Jr.,
(Jack; ex-jagger, GH),
Linden Ashby (Brett; ex-curtis, LOVING),
Rena Sofer (Eve; exlois, GH; Quinn, B&B et al) and Nancy Lee
Grahn (Denise; Alexis,
GH). From Night To Day: MP alums who subsequently worked on daytime include Vanessa Williams (Rhonda; Valerie, DAYS) John Enos (Bobby; ex-bobby, Y&R), Jamie
Luner (Lexi; ex-liza, AMC), Megan Ward (Connie; ex-kate, GH), Greg Evigan (Dan; ex-jim Harvey, GH) and Stacy Haiduk (Colleen), who recently popped up on DAYS as Kristen and Susan.
Crossing Over: Jennie Garth (Kelly) was the most frequent guest from 90210 (Kelly dated Jake); Brian Austin Green (David), Ian Ziering (Steve) and Tori Spelling (Donna) also appeared.
Spin Cycle: MODELS, INC., set at a top L.A. modeling agency, ran from 1994–95 and starred Linda Gray, whose character, Hilary, was introduced on MP as Amanda’s mother. MP also got a one-season reboot on The CW in 2009, set in the original complex with new tenants. Several actors from the original appeared, including Locklear, Thomas Calabro (Michael), Laura Leighton (Sydney), Josie Bissett (Jane) and Daphne Zuniga (Jo).
We Had It Covered:
MP landed on Digest’s 4/12/94 cover, featuring Courtney Thorne-smith (Alison), Andrew Shue (Billy) and Locklear; the 9/27/94 cover, featuring Bisset, Calabro, Cross and Leighton; the 3/28/95 cover, featuring Locklear and Calabro; and the 10/10/95 cover, featuring Sabato, Jr. and Locklear;
Trophy Case: MP won the People’s Choice Award in 1993 for Favorite New Dramatic Series.