Melrose Place (FOX 1992-1999, Heather Locklear, Rob Estes)

Published

5 years ago

November 13, 2018

Aaron Spelling-backed TV series launched on July 8, 1992 as an older sibling for Spelling’s puppy-love soap sensation, Beverly Hills 90210. Early episodes of the Los Angeles-set Melrose Place were panned by critics as unduly earnest and dull. Although the show featured the genetically-blessed likes of 90210’s Jennie Garth, (briefly), blue-collar stud Jake (Grant Show), Michael (Thomas Calabro) and Jane (Josie Bissett)–not to mention a ground-breaking mainstream gay character Matt (Doug Savant)–the show’s writers clearly overestimated the caring, sharing ’90s ethos and ratings flagged accordingly.

In November 1992, Heather (Dynasty) Lockyear swept into Melrose Place as Amanda, the archetypal bleach-blonde hard-assed advertising executive, and the show was reborn with gleeful, bed-hopping abandon. A kind of madness took control, and the previously tame weekly plots exploded into overblown sagas of murder, abuse, molestations, and grand-scale manipulation that have since established Melrose as the high-camp soap everybody loves to hate.

In September 1995, 90210 and Melrose Place creator/producer Darren Star attempted to clone Melrose in Manhattan: the new show, titled Central Park West, was an unmitigated disaster, despite the efforts of almost-stars Mariel Hemingway and Lauren Hutton, and, later, ’60s bombshell Raquel Welsh. The 1996-97 TV season saw Melrose Place, replete with several cast members taking daytime soaps, enjoying its best-ever ratings.

production details
USA | Fox – Spelling – Darren Star Prod. | x60 minutes | Broadcast 8 July 1992 – 24 May 1999

Creator: Darren Star
Executive Producers: Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Darren Star

cast
Thomas Calabro as Michael Mancini
Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward
Josie Bissett as Jane Mancini
Rob Estes as Kyle McBride
Kelly Rutherford as Megan Lewis
Jack Wagner as Peter Burns
Courtney Thorne-Smith as Alison Parker
Jamie Luner as Lexi Sterling
John Newton as Ryan McBride
Andrew Shue as Billy Campbell
Doug Servant as Matt Fielding
Grant Show as Jake Hanson
Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds
Marcia Cross as Kimberly Shaw
Linda Gray Hillary Michaels

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Alastair James

Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.