With the venerable Fox show getting a makeover in the coming season on The CW — and with ongoing tales about the return of stars from the original series – it seemed like a good time to revisit the original, one episode at a time. …

I'll be watching episodes in order, starting with the two-part pilot. All viewing will be from the DVD releases, so I may not be saying much about music because of substitutions on video. (There's a scene in the pilot, for instance, where a spoken reference to music does not appear to fit the track being played.) You can also follow along via CBS.com, which has episodes in its TV Classics area; Hulu also links to those.

So let's see how I can make this work.

"Pilot," Original air date Oct. 4, 1990.
Synopsis: Minnesota twins Brenda and Brandon Walsh (Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley) have moved to California and are juniors at West Beverly High School in Beverly Hills. Brandon is 30 seconds older than Brenda. Both were "achievers" in Minneapolis; Brandon worked for the school newspaper and was a cross-country star, while Brenda was in drama club, and both had good grade points. Brandon is a bit of a geek, with a monster-face alarm declaring "wake up." Brenda, meanwhile, is promptly pegged as the more socially conscious, obsessing over what she will wear to school; she asks to skip school to go shopping. She later explains to Brandon that this is her chance to start over, to "be somebody."

But they are not prepared for the upper-crust at West Beverly, represented at first by expensive cars. (When we see the faculty arrive a bit later, their cars are noticeably shabbier.) There are also indications that West Beverly has some racial diversity; two African-Americans in designer suits are seen walking across the campus, as are two young men in Arab garb. But the students we get to know in the pilot include Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering), the sports-car-driving ex-boyfriend of Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), a pretty blonde who has just gotten a nose job and is more interested in nightclubbing than school. (Kelly's posse includes Donna Martin, played with no distinction by Tori Spelling.) Also, David Silver, a non-cool freshman who loves the idea of West Beverly, even though he and best friend Scott (Douglas Emerson) are out of the social elite. Also on the outside is Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris), who is smart — editor of the school paper, the only one in Spanish class who actually knows Spanish — but poor. The last big revelation in the pilot is that she is using a fake address to get to attend West Beverly. (Dylan McKay, Luke Perry's character, is not in the pilot.)

Brenda and Kelly meet and bond when Kelly keeps a fat girl from sitting with her in chemistry class — by claiming the seat is saved for then-stranger Brenda. Brandon and Andrea, who has an almost immediate but unspoken crush on Brandon, meet through the newspaper. And Steve and David interact after Steve, drunk at a party, is driven home by David; even though David damages Steve's car, they reach detente. There are also notes about the Steve/Kelly past; she dumped him, but he insists that he dumped her and that she was "bad in bed."

The major plots in the pilot involve Brandon and Brenda facing Beverly Hills temptation. For Brandon, that takes the form of lonely rich girl Marianne Moore (Leslie Bega), while Brenda is drawn to handsome lawyer Jason Croft (Maxwell Caulfield).

Marianne is sexually aggressive with the virgin Brandon; he urges her to slow down, and she is grateful for someone who likes her for herself, not for sex. But when other students wonder if Brandon is getting after it with Marianne, he does not deny it, and the false story flies through the school — even getting them declared "wild things" on the school's radio station.

Brenda, meanwhile, has met Jason after slipping into a club with fake ID; Kelly, who planned the club outing, is turned away at the door. Brenda pretends to be a college student. They keep dating, and Brenda's schoolwork suffers. But — at Kelly's urging — Brenda decides she has to confess, not least because she thinks she is in love with Jason, and she is ready to let him be her first sexual relationship. But when she does tell him that she is a 16-year-old high school junior, Jason is infuriated and takes Brenda home, shattering her dream of intimacy. After a teary (but hardly confessional) moment with her mom, Brenda gets back to work on her chemistry assignments.

Marianne, meanwhile, confronts Brandon over what people are saying about their relationship. Ashamed, he goes on the radio to declare that nothing happened between them. But when he asks Marianne to go out again, she declares that she is going to try to spend the evening alone — and when he asks if they can go out later, she gives him a gentle "I'll call you." When trying to explain himself to Andrea, Brandon follows her home, learning her address secret but promising to keep it.

And so life begins at West Beverly.

Thoughts: I remember disliking this when it first aired, but it doesn't seem quite as bad now. Doherty and Priestley are pleasant enough. The much-joked-about age difference between actors and real high-school students, especially in the show's later years, is not so glaring here. Green and Spelling were 17 when the show premiered, Garth was 18, Doherty 19, Priestley 21. On the other hand, Zierign was 26 and Carteris was 29.

And, in the context of current TV and films, the "90210" pilot now looks a bit quaint, and surprisingly gentle. There are social standards — the fat-girl scene, for one, and a hot party comes with the declaration of "no freshmen" — but Brandon and Brenda slide into the system remarkably easily. And while the overall argument is that the Walsh kids are not Beverly Hills scale — their shared car, for one thing, is shabby — they can conveniently become well-heeled, especially when you look at Brenda's extensive wardrobe for her dates with Jason. The show also indicates that the Walsh parents (Carol Potter, James Eckhouse) are hands-on — several discussions of curfew, including Mom asking Kelly about it, to Kelly's surprise — in contrast to Kelly's laissez-faire mom and Steve's unseen, famous-actress mother; but curfew-breaking seems remarkably easy, and Pa Walsh is very little seen. As I said, there are nods to diversity — including significant air time for the school's vice principal, who is African-American, and a black deejay on the school radio station — but the core cast is still white.

Notes:

– Look for Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, billed only as Djimon, as the club doorman who lets Brenda but not Kelly in.

– Leslie Bega was a veteran of high-school series, having co-starred on "Head of the Class."

– The reference to Brenda being in the drama club in Minnesota establishes a theatrical element in Brenda's life that will be revived in the new, CW "90210," where Brenda comes back to direct a school production.

– Maxwell Caulfield also did the old-guy/young-woman thing as singer Rex Manning in "Empire Records." Creepier there, though. In real life, he is married to actress Juliet Mills, who is 18 years his senior.

– "Marianne Moore" is also the name of a renowned poet.

"The Green Room," first aired on Oct. 11, 1990.

Synopsis: The opening is a surfing scene with Brandon riding the waves, then seeing a beautiful, blonde beach girl. It's a dream, but one that foreshadows the days ahead, when Brandon will indeed surf, though not well, and meet a blonde surfer, Sarah, played by Heather McAdam. Brenda, meanwhile, reintroduces her brother to Kelly and Donna, allowing Donna the worst-delivered line (and possibly worst line, period): "Your brother is dope." We are also reminded that Steve and Kelly are at odds since their breakup, and that David loves the babes in high school.

Although Brandon is now a sportswriter for the newspaper, Andrea assigns him an editorial about being a transfer from the Midwest. Brandon then runs into Scott at tech class; bullies begin to badger Scott, but Dylan McKay saves him, warning the two bullies that "I'm not in a good mood today." Brandon is impressed, introduces himself to Dylan and Dylan invites him to go surfing. At the beach they meet up with Sarah — also called Betty — and two knucklehead surfers; Sarah explains to Brandon that "the green room" is the "gnarlest place" in the ocean. She also concludes that Brandon is "really nice." Brenda, meanwhile, goes shopping with Kelly and gets sticker shock over $150 jeans; she ends up sewing her own imitation-designer jeans at home.

Steve gets a phone call from his mother, asking him to be nice to David since his father is a producer making a show that Steve's mom wants a role in.

Claiming he has to work on his editorial, Brandon goes out — meeting Dylan. They hang out on Sunset with the three people from the beach, then go the Bel Age hotel. Dylan gets them into a room and orders room service; Brandon, indignant, leaves but Dylan explains that he lives in the hotel and the room he seemed to break into is actually his father's "corporate pad." Brandon still leaves. But Dylan — who, among other things, reads the poetry of Lord Byron, who is also "mad, bad and dangerous to know" — is proving to be more complicated than his bad-boy image; at the end of the episode, we see how lonely he is in his hotel room, his parents distant both physically and emotionally.

Beach party. Steve pretends to be nice, briefly, to David, who is puppy-dog happy as a result — and ignores Steve's saying that their parents know each other, though Scott tells David that can't be right. Brandon sees the beach knuckleheads, who are getting drunk. Dylan apologizes to Brandon, and they make up. But Sarah, drunk, almost drowns while surfing and has to be saved by Brandon and Brenda. The doctor at the hospital says Sarah is an alcoholic. Brandon ends up calling his editorial "The Green Room." Brenda thinks it's beautiful, and Andrea approves. Steve, meanwhile, discovers that David's father is not a producer and he has been nice to "the wrong dweeb."

Notes: There have been some noticeable changes between the pilot and this episode. Brandon still has the geeky monster-face-alarm but is demonstrating some more cool; his hair is noticeably less mullet-like than in the pilot. The Walsh house is also different. The vice principal, so evident in the pilot, is unseen, and the school deejay is heard but not seen. The hint of diversity in the pilot is nowhere to be found this time.

Still, "The Green Room" is in certain respects a reprise of the pilot. Brenda is still dealing with the idea of social acceptance in Kelly's free-spending crowd, although she is more practical in this one. As for Brandon, having befriended the lonely Marianne in the pilot, here he's the kindly presence for surfer Sarah. While his behavior was not entirely admirable with Marianne, he is pure Boy Scout with Sarah, refusing an invitation to drink, and attacking the knuckleheads for letting her surf drunk. Steve and David, pushed together in the pilot by Steve's drunkenness, are pushed together this time by the ambitions of Steve's mother.

Because Brandon and Brenda are so much more sensible than in the pilot, "The Green Room" feels like a bit of a step back. But by softening them, it's making room for the more complex Dylan, who is not only the Poor Little Rich Boy but a contrast to Kelly and Steve, who take their privilege for granted. Still, the show is already showing a need for a new plot.

Other items of interest:

According to the closing credits, the beach girl in Brandon's dream is Kelli Brook, who more recently was one of the "cougars" on the NBC reality show "Age of Love." Several online references also say she is the voice of Steve's mother Samantha in the episode. You can see more about her here.

Dylan lives at the Bel Age Hotel, now known as the London North Hollywood.

Luke Perry was 25 when he began playing Dylan. (For the ages of the other principals, see my previous post about the series pilot.)

Andrea's name is pronounced both as ANN-drea and AHN-drea by different characters in the episode.

"Every Dream Has Its Price." Originally aired Oct. 18, 1990. The Walsh kids face more money issues, and adults get decent air time!

Synopsis: Although they're still not at the center of the episode, "Every Dream" does at least give the Walsh parents, Jim and Cindy (above), some narrative time of their own. It mainly involves Cindy trying to adjust to life in LA, and to a Jim who always seems to be working; even what she thinks is a present for her turns out to be an exercise suit Jim bought for himself. Still, to help out, Jim hires a housekeeper — but she does not speak English. Cindy gradually learns to cope. And she overhears one of Brenda's friends declaring that her mother would never be seen cleaning. Still, Cindy is trying to hold onto her Minnesota values, especially when it comes to parenting; when Brenda gets in trouble (see below), Jim is much more willing to shrug it off than Cindy is. And Cindy has to deal more with Brenda's troubles, and is the one that Brenda's friend comes to in order to save Brenda from further parental scorn.

As for the kids, the adjustment to the move from Minneapolis is getting more difficult. Brenda is running into roadblocks from the parental units when she wants to spend money the way her rich friends do. She's also facing competition for the attention of new best friend Kelly, when Kelly's childhood friend Tiffany Morgan (Noelle Parker) shows up at West Beverly. But Tiffany has problems, including a compulsion to shop-lift. Brenda, not knowing about Tiffany's issue, is tempted to boost an expensive vest but — thanks to the lessons she is learning from reading "Les Miserables" in school — stops short. But Tiffany sets up trouble for Brenda, first by hiding stolen clothes in Brenda's closet, then by using Brenda as an unwitting stooge in one of her shoplifting schemes. They get caught, and Brenda has a hard time convincing her mother that she's done nothing wrong. She also learns from Kelly that Tiffany has a history of stealing things — including Steve, when he was Kelly's boyfriend.

"Les miserables, c'est moi," declares Brenda, whose dialogue is especially stiff in this episode. And her problem gets bigger when the new housekeeper finds the stolen clothes in Brenda's closet. But Brenda is reluctant to rat out Tiffany.

Meanwhile, Brandon goes job hunting. At first he is unsuccessful, but he finally gets hired at a tony restaurant. He's basically a bus boy, and getting run hard. Doing so makes him aware of the plight of the working poor. "These guys I work with — Vietnamese, Israelis — they're like Grandpa was, coming here with no money. They get completely exploited." Brenda tries to draw comparisons to the Walsh's new maid. But Brandon says the maid is paid fairly while the guys at his job are "working for pine nuts."

Later, on the job, Brandon learns that the workers are not even getting minimum wage. He quits, promising the restaurant manager that there will be an expose in the West Beverly newspaper. Dylan, who is dining at the restaurant when Brandon quits, takes Brandon to … wait for it … the Peach Pit! "Real food for real people," Dylan declares. The owner, Nat (Joe E. Tata), offers Brandon a job. He accepts.

Back at the Brenda, she confronts Tiffany, who gives one of those lonely-rich-kid speeches that the show is already using too often. But the talk persuades Tiffany to go to the Walsh house and tell Brenda's mom, Cindy that she, not Brenda, took the stuff. "Why don't you try stealing your parents' attention?" Cindy suggests. A grateful Brenda overhears Tiff's confession.

At the end, Brenda draws on her experience for her paper on "Les Miserables" and why people steal. Cindy says the paper is "beautiful."

Comments: Although I noted above, "Every Dream Has Its Price" — also known as "Every Dream Has Its Price (Tag)" — gives the Walsh parents some air time, but that, too, has a price. The episode is very light on the teen players other than Brenda and Brandon — and Tiffany, a guest star who gets more screen time than most of the regulars. But in showcasing the parents, "Every Dream" is really trying to be something serious, even literary. After last week's reference to Lord Byron, we now get Victor Hugo.

But the episode isn't all that good. For one thing, it feels as if — Dylan's brief appearance notwithstanding — it could have run before the second episode, "The Green Room." (See below.) Indeed, Brenda — surprisingly puffy-faced in this episode –is much more well-adjusted about the money situation in "Green Room," where she makes her own fashionable clothes, than in "Every Dream." Brandon's job-hunting is a step forward, but that storyline is wrapped up too abruptly, with Brandon's promise of an expose and his exiting his bad job for the bound-to-become-the-cast-hangout Peach Pit.

Moreover, "Every Dream" marks the third straight week of A Girl With a Problem — loneliness and a bad rep for Marianne in the pilot, alcoholism for Sarah in "Green Room" and now shoplifting for Tiffany in "Every Dream." In addition, much the way "Green Room" was capped by Brandon's editorial, "Every Dream" is capped by Brenda's "Les Mis" essay; in both cases, the high praise from another family member includes the word "beautiful." This is awfully early for a show to be spinning its wheels.

As a commenter Annie notes on the post about "The Green Room," the show became less about big issues and more about soap-opera behavior. "Every Dream" underscores why it had to change direction, since its ideas about how to handle big issues seem limited. And that may offer some explanation of why the ratings were not good during the first season.

Items of interest:

The exterior of the Peach Pit has a classy-restaurant look, even if the interior is diner-like. (Apparently this will change in later episodes.)

Nancy Paul makes her second appearance as Miss Rye, the newspaper advisor (in "The Green Room") and an English teacher — pushing "Les Miserables" — here. For sci fi fans, she later appeared on the show "Space Precinct" but, according to IMDB, has no screen credits since the mid '90s. After "The Green Room," I expected to see much more of her; she seemed to take a real interest in Brandon.

Season 1, Episode 4, "The First Time." Premiered Oct. 25, 1990. Brandon has sex, Brenda's hot for teacher. Dylan wears some tragic pants. Synopsis and comments after the jump.

Synopsis: Brandon is missing Minneapolis, complaining about the lack of fall in California, too much heat, no leaves changing color. Then he gets a phone call from "Minneapolis Sheryl" (Paula Irvine), his ex-girlfriend from back home. She's coming to visit. Word spreads at school, and Brandon has conversations about it with Andrea, Dylan and David Silver (basically a complete stranger to Brandon, introducing himself as "Steve Sanders' friend.") Meanwhile, Brenda, Kelly and Donna are all fascinated with their handsome algebra teacher, Matt Brody (Tim Dunigan). Matt asks to talk to Brenda after class; she fantasizes, but he just wants her to babysit.

Brandon and Brenda get home to discover that Sheryl has arrived early. The reunion is warm. That night, Brandon asks Sheryl to sneak into his room. She is hesitant, but late at night does so. Cindy, suspicious, hears the doors and knows something is up. She asks Jim to talk to Brandon; he agrees, but the next morning Brandon and Sheryl go out to see the sights before Jim can have The Talk.

All is going well until Brandon takes Sheryl to lunch at the Bel Age so she can meet Dylan. She is intrigued by his glamorous life and his offer to get them into Contact, a hot club (which ends up looking like every other club on "90210" so far). Sheryl asks Brenda about Dylan, who says he's "a bit of a wild child." That night, Sheryl asks to ride in Dylan's Porsche while Brandon takes Brenda to babysit.

Dylan and Sheryl have preceded Brandon into the club, and Brandon has had trouble getting past the bouncer. He also finds the other two dancing close. Confrontation ensues, Dylan says Sheryl hit on him, Brandon punching Dylan. "You better figure out who your friends are," Dylan warns. Brandon confronts Sheryl, who tells him that she had sex before. She takes off in a cab.

Meanwhile, Brenda is learning that hunky teacher is a mess at home — bitchy wife, bratty kids. It kills her crush. When she gets home, Brenda finds Cindy going through Sheryl's things; turns out Sheryl has run away from home.

Brandon goes the Bel Age to talk to Dylan; Sheryl is there. "The girl's got problems," Dylan declares while Sheryl is hurling in the bathroom. Turns out she is unhappy with her life at home and felt safer and happier with the Walsh's — so Brandon saw the happy Sheryl, not the sad one. She also admits that she ran away from home. Brandon's solution: ice cream. When she and Brandon go back to the Walsh house, she calls her mother. She then flies home, but not before telling Brandon that sex was special with him and he is a wonderful lover — which Brenda overhears.

After Sheryl leaves, Jim tries to have The Talk with Brandon while they play basketball, although the discussion includes awkwardly phrased Jim questions like, "Sheryl get off OK?" Brandon notes that they had the sex talk when he was 10, and that Jim should just tell Cindy that "we were careful."

Comments: The fourth episode in a row with A Girl With A Problem, which should tell you how stuck "90210" is, and how much it is trying to reach a female audience. Also, the focus continues to be on Brenda and Brandon; Dylan is a little more in the mix, albeit in the context of Brandon's story, but Kelly and Donna remain window dressing. Brandon's self-righteousness is at least bent a little into hot-headed behavior. Cindy and Jim seem to have settled even more into contrasting parental styles: she wants to be involved while he is willing to let them make mistakes.

On the issue of teen sex, the episode does at least deal a bit with responsible behavior. Before they have sex, Sheryl asks Brandon, "Do you have protection?" And he does. Then, at the end, Brandon tells his father that he and Sheryl were "careful." But the sex between Sheryl and Brandon is still idealized, with Brandon extremely cheerful the next morning and Sheryl's telling him he was wonderful, so there's no hint to the teen audience that real-life sex can be more complicated, especially for a first-timer.

Other notes:

– Paula Irvine, who plays Sheryl, went on to star in "Phantasm II" but seems to have gotten out of acting. One old "Phantasm" site said she married, had kids and was majoring in communications somewhere, but that's about all I could find.

– Tim Dunigan, who played Matt Brody, has a modest list of IMDB credits after "90210" — although it notes that, seven years earlier, he played Face in the original "A-Team" pilot before being replaced by Dirk Benedict. Still, of the Brody family, the most notable actor is Ross Malinger as the bad-behaving son; he went on to, among other things, playing Tom Hanks's son in "Sleepless in Seattle."

– Andrea's name pronunciation continues to vary, as AN-drea and AHN-drea at different points in the episode.

– A couple of serious fashion tragedies in "The First Time." Dylan, at the high school, is wearing blue checked pants that fall somewhere between pajamas and parachute pants. Genuinely ugly, and way out of character for Dylan; I can imagine some discussion about getting him into cooler clothes, and then considerable regret when they saw the result. Also, Jim plays basketball in a red tank top that's just not a good idea when you're as big a fur-ball as James Eckhouse.

– No mention of the Peach Pit job Brandon got in the previous episode.

"One on One." Original airing: Nov. 1, 1990. Brandon learns about racism, Brenda take drivers ed.

Synopsis: As the previous episode ended with Jim and Brandon playing basketball, "One on One" begins with them playing. Fortunately, Jim has given up the ugly tank top from the last episode in favor a T-shirt. As they play before Brandon goes to school, Brenda complains about having to wait, and tells Cindy she needs a car of her own. But first, she has to take drivers training at school. As Brandon and Brenda go to school, Brandon notes that Brenda will be taking drivers training "again."

At school, Brenda awkwardly says hi to Kelly and Donna, ending the chat with "bye-ee." "Your sister has gone totally Beverly Hills," Andrea observes.

Brandon, partly to please his father, tries out for the basketball team. So does Steve Sanders. Sanders insists the lineup is preordained, but Brandon shows good hustle, embarrassing Steve on several plays; Brandon makes the first cut while Steve doesn't. Steve insists the team is stacked with jocks from outside Beverly Hills sneaked up through a minority opportunity program.

Meanwhile, Brenda fantasizes about race-car driving in her training class. But in Minnesota she failed the test twice — and was dropped from the course quickly on a third occasion.

At the Peach Pit, Brandon tries to bond with one of the African-American players; as he joins friends, Brandon hears one saying that Brandon has no chance of making the team. But at home, Jim is excited about Brandon's tryout and gives him pep talks. After dinner, Kelly urges Brenda to sneak out with her to double-date at a Janet Jackson concert; Brenda demurs, insisting she is "the world's worst liar."

Kelly sees Brandon in his room, playing sock basketball and imagining he is with the Lakers. The next day, Steve tells Brandon he went to a Celtics-Lakers game and rooted for the Celtics. Suggest that it's because the "Irish guys" have to stick together.

David tries to bond with Steve. David and Scott work together on their tech project. The black player shows up at tech class and hasn't finished his assignment, nor does Brandon remember seeing him in class before. Brandon presses Andrea to investigate the minority opportunity program.

Brenda is learning to drive but has a problem when she is distracted by the sight of Henry Winkler. Jim shows up at basketball tryouts, making Brandon uncomfortable. Brandon also gets bumped by the black players. After practice, Andrea tells Brandon that one of the black players, James Townsend, has no grade point at West Beverly. Brandon questions James, who is angry and defensive.

Night. Jim keeps pushing Brandon about the team. Brenda gets a call from Kelly; Janet Jackson has canceled, her date is drunk and she needs a ride home. Brenda takes Brandon's car to pick her up; she runs out of gas and then the car is stolen. Brandon, after getting a lesson in mayo from Nat, goes the library, where he sees James. Who explains that his father has worked for the Beverly Hills library, which makes James eligible to go to West Beverly, and that he was transferred into West Beverly four weeks into term — so no grades yet. He accuses Brandon of being a racist.

Getting home, Brandon is told his car has been stolen — from the Walsh driveway. But he figures out it wasn't there, and Brenda confesses. She also realizes that her fear of driving goes back to a childhood incident.

Brandon talks to James at practice, and admits that he wanted James to be ineligible because they are both going for the same position on the team. They make up, and shoot a few. Later, James makes the team and Brandon is assigned to the B squad. Jim admits that his tales of high school glory are based on a fluke. Brandon's car is found — it had been towed by police — with Brenda's keys in the ignition.

Comments: Written by executive producer Charles Rosin, who would be a major force on "90210" for years, "One on One" starts inching toward what the show would become. While the Walsh family is still the centerpiece, we get a little more of Kelly's life, a couple of scenes of David Silver, and some insight into Steve that is not pretty — his racism is noticeable and unapologetic. (When other black players say hello to Brandon, Steve says West Beverly is "our" school, not theirs.) After weeks of A Girl With A Problem, we get a different kind of issue story. Also, when Jim and Brandon shot hoops in "The First Time," the hoop seemed unusually low to me, for the sake of the actors; "One on One" faces that, with two characters noting that Brandon seems too short for basketball.

That said, the show has some holes; if West Beverly is importing players, why do Brandon and Andrea quit after finding out about just one? Why is the B team not mentioned until the end of the show? Brenda appears to have an accident during drivers training, but nothing comes of it. Similarly, the episode ends with Brenda's keys found in Brandon's car, and so before we see the consequences to her for lying to her family — and to the police.

Absent Brenda, how did Kelly get home? And nothing we have seen in the show so far, including "One on One," gives us any reason to believe she is the "world's worst liar"; she's a pretty good one. So it's not a great episode, but it's a slight improvement over previous weeks.

Other items of interest:

– James, the black player Brandon deals with, is played by Tico Wells, who later played Choirboy in "The Five Heartbeats."

– In the scene where Brandon and James make peace, James is wearing a T-shirt that on the back has a series of words used to describe African-Americans, starting with the n-word at the top.

– The Lakers, Brandon's team, were in Minneapolis, Brandon's hometown, before moving to Los Angeles. (The Lakers name comes from Minnesota being the Land of 10,000 Lakes.) But Brandon, who up to now has talked a lot about missing Minnesota, could have been a fan of the Timberwolves, who had begun play in the NBA in 1989.

– This appears to be the first episode where Brandon's car is called "Mondale," after Walter Mondale, the famed Minnesota politician.

– When Brenda gives herself a driving pep talk — "You're a good driver. You're a great driver. You're a terrific driver." — I couldn't help but think of Dustin Hoffman's "very good driver" dialogue in 1988's "Rain Man."

Season 1, Episode 6. "Higher Education." Originally aired Nov. 15, 1990. Brandon has an ethical dilemma, Brenda wonders if blondes have more fun — and the Dylan-Brenda romance takes a first step. …

Synopsis: Brandon is working at the Peach Pit when he sees his history teacher, Mr. Danzel (Bill Morey). Brandon tries to make small talk, but Danzel is chilly. Next day in class, Brandon gets a C on his work. Danzel grades on the curve, 10 percent A, 10 percent F, the rest C's — "for mediocrity," he says. Steve, meanwhile, gets an A.

Brandon is Mr. Crankypants over his C. Andrea offers to study with him. Later, when they do study at the Walsh house (in Brandon's room), Brandon is snotty, calls Andrea condescending and other things, and she storms out. Next class: Another C for Brandon.

Meanwhile, Kelly and Brenda admiringly look at Dylan's backside as they follow him downstairs. (This will be significant later in the episode.) Kelly asks Dylan whether he likes long or short hair; he says he likes blondes — but he gives brunette Brenda a come-hither look that she seems to pick up on. Chemistry!

Since Steve has gotten another A, he invites Brandon to study. Poolside. Steve reveals that his parents have been divorced twice, as well as married to other people. He also tells Brandon specifically what to study for the next test. On the test, the questions all match Steve's suggestions. Later, he admits to Brandon he is getting advance copies of the tests and quizzes.

As Brenda continues to obsess about her hair, Brandon sees Danzel at the Peach Pit. Now that Brandon is getting A's, Danzel is nice to him. He also praises Brandon in class. (Brandon's father will also praise B's grades, and Cindy will tell him to ease up.)

Andrea, now struggling, asks Brandon to study with her. Guilt-ridden, he declines. Later, he confronts Danzel, complains about the grade curve and how Danzel teaches. Mucho snotty. On the next test, Brandon uses crib notes. Andrea sees him, is disillusioned, they argue.

Since Cindy refuses to give Brenda $300 for a high-grade Beverly Hills hair treatment because she thinks Brenda is beautiful as she is, Kelly does Brenda's hair. It's a disaster: mousy brown with dull blonde sections. Brenda has to go to school with it, although she wears one of her famous hats.

Brandon tells Dylan how much he hates Danzel. Dylan says he learned from Danzel the year before. Brandon says all he is learning is how to cheat. Dylan warns: "Watch out, man. You're flirting with bad karma." When Steve offers Brandon the midterm, Brandon is reluctant. He tries to talk to Andrea. She is still furious with him. Then Danzel zaps Brandon in class, pushing him to go deeper than just memorizing information.

Steve comes to the Peach Pit. Tells Brandon that "everybody cheats," offers him the midterm again. Brandon takes it, as Danzel walks in. After work, Brandon sees Danzel outside, waiting for the auto club to change his flat tire. Brandon changes it for him. Danzel defends his teaching style, points out that his much-mocked wardrobe was chosen by his wife before she died. As Brandon is putting the flat tire in the trunk, he drops his copy of the midterm. Danzel hands it to him, apparently unaware what it is.

Brenda goes jogging. Dylan, passing on his motorcycle, turns and stops to talk to Brenda. He doesn't just like blondes. He obviously likes Brenda. Offers to connect her with a hairstylist who owes him a favor. Brenda accepts. "I like your butt — I mean your bike," she tells him. (Remember the stairs at school?) She gets her old hair color. Tells Brandon: "Dylan says it looks incandescent."

Midterm day. Brandon and Andrea have studied all night. They acknowledge their friendship and make up. Danzel hands out the midterm, then tells the class to tear it up. Gives them a single essay question instead. Steve looks stunned. Brandon gets through, and has a nice chat with Danzel after the test.

Comments: "Higher Education" is a key episode in "90210" because it begins the Brenda-Dylan romance. And Donna gets to talk more. But in other respects, it is typical "90210." There's the issue of the week — to cheat or not to cheat. There's Andrea being idealistic and ethical, and Steve once again the bad guy, cheating without any qualms. Dylan is once again the guy with good connections, helping Brenda fix her hair just as he got Brandon a job at the Peach Pit.
But Brandon is almost intolerable in this one — nasty and ill-tempered to everyone because he has never gotten a C before. Because of that, his cheating dilemma is less compelling, and Andrea's scolding more pointed. If he had been shown as worried instead of nasty, then his decision to cheat might seem morally ambiguous to some young viewers, and his final decision a better lesson. This way, he's just a jerk cutting corners for his own needs.

Coming after "One on One," this is also an episode that shows how disjointed "90210" could be before it embraced its serialized aspects; there's no mention of Brenda's driving and Mondale issues, or any hint that she's still under a cloud for lying to her parents and the police. For that matter, the issue-of-the-week approach works against continuity in character development. Since Brandon learns a separate lesson each week, there's no sense that he can apply what he learned in, say, "One on One" to his life in "Higher Education." (And all those African-American students from "One on One" have disappeared.)

Other notes of interest:

– Cindy says "California Girls" was big on the radio the summer she turned 17. (To be more of a California girl, she and "Paula" ironed their hair; Paula's caught fire.) Since that was a big hit for the Beach Boys in 1965, Cindy is about 42. The David Lee Roth version hit the charts in 1985.

– We appear to have finally resolved the issue of how to pronounce Ms. Zuckerman's name. Although Brandon calls her ANN-drea early in "Higher Education," Jim and Cindy are amused to hear it's "AHN-drea," and Brandon introduces her to Jim as AHN-drea.

– Mr. Danzel was played by Bill Morey, a character actor who was often seen on TV. (Check out his credits over at IMDB.com). He died in 2003 at the age of 83.

– The Peach Pit appears to have a new exterior. And, with Brandon working there, it is being established as more of a regular show location. Danzel eats there, and Steve goes there to give Brandon the midterm.

– This is the first episode written by Jordan Budde, of consequence here because he later made a TV series pilot called "The Virgin of Akron, Ohio."

– Dylan's scary blue checked pants make another appearance.

"Perfect Mom." Nov. 22, 1990. Brenda learns to appreciate Cindy, Kelly isn't "the girl who has everything."

Synopsis: There's a mother-daughter fashion show planned at West Beverly. Andrea wants a first-person piece for the paper, and Brandon suggest she do it. When Andrea reminds him that she's conning her way into West Beverly, Brandon suggests that Andrea go with Cindy and Brenda.

Meanwhile, David is shooting footage for a "video yearbook" but he's focusing mainly on Kelly, whom he calls "the girl who has everything." He's planning to do a behind-the-scenes look at Kelly during the fashion show, to get closer to her.

Kelly's house. Her mom, Jackie, and Jackie's friend Nina (Linda Thompson) are chatting by the pool. Jackie's feeling upbeat about her life and her new man, Don. (Nina says Jackie can't do any better than Don "in every department," batting her eyes, but Jackie is oblivious to the suggestion that Nina has also sampled Don's wares.)

Kelly and Brenda arrive. Jackie charms Brenda, calling her "a knockout." That night, Jackie gets ready for a date with Don. She's tramped up. Kelly disapproves. Kelly also noticed that Jackie was drinking during the day and complains; after Jackie leaves, Kelly checks her glass and realizes she was drinking just before leaving, too.

The Jackie-Kelly scenes are contrasted by Brenda talking with Cindy, who is especially domestic-mom-looking, including in an apron. Brenda talks up Jackie, wishes that Cindy would act more like her. Brenda's fondness for Jackie will come up with Cindy again later in an argument over Brenda's clothes.

Daytime. Jackie arrives home. She's a mess, because she broke up with Don. She also wants a drink and is ticked to discover the booze is all gone. Kelly wants Jackie to call her AA sponsor. Jackie won't do it. At school, David chases Kelly for the video yearbook. Kelly and Brenda talk about moms; Kelly tries to explain that Jackie isn't perfect but stops short of talking about substance abuse.

That night, at dinner at the Walsh house, Kelly bonds with Cindy as they make dinner. Brandon has brought Andrea, to ask if she can join Cindy and Brenda. (Andrea's mom, they claim, has to work during the fashion show.) Brenda hasn't told Cindy about the fashion show. Hurt feelings. Brenda, though, says Cindy is overcompensating with her domesticity, that she was more Beverly Hills-like in Minneapolis; Cindy sees her point. Everyone plans for the fashion show.

When Kelly goes home, the house is locked up and she has to use the dog entrance to get in. Jackie is passed out, drunk. The next morning, Kelly has a hard time waking her. Once she does, Jackie does some cocaine to get going. At the fashion show, Andrea, Cindy and Brenda all look very nice, especially Andrea. She enjoys the praise and attention. Jackie and Kelly arrive late; Jackie does coke in the bathroom, and Cindy sees her. Makes for a very awkward introduction to Jackie a bit later.

During the fashion show, Jackie has a complete meltdown while hosting. Kelly is humiliated. Confides at last to Brenda. Brenda notes that her parents aren't perfect either. "At least they're sober," Kelly says.

Later, Andrea, Kelly, Brenda and Cindy all talk at the Walsh house. Much bonding. Andrea praises Kelly as the "strongest person I've ever met" because of how well she copes at school considering her home life. Kelly tells Andrea she's pretty. Then Jackie shows up. Tries to bring Kelly home. Kelly tells her off, wants her to go back to rehab. Jackie storms out, but when Kelly gets home later, Jackie has decided to go to rehab.

Brenda realizes she has not treated Cindy well. They make up. David gives his tape of the fashion show to Kelly, so it won't get around; she is grateful.

Comments: Written by "90210" creator Darren Star, "Perfect Mom" is a good change-of-pace episode, maybe the best episode of the series so far. Part of my reaction stems from Brandon exhaustion, relieved in this episode, where Brandon does little besides set up Andrea for the fashion show and hang out with Jim. And with Brandon at the side of the stage, we don't see Steve and Dylan — even though Dylan appeared to be starting a romance with Brenda in the previous episode. Instead, for the most part, we break free of the Walsh clan. Yes, there's the Brenda-Cindy conflict when Brenda is charmed by Kelly's mom, Jackie. But it's a pretty mild conflict, especially when compared to all that is going on with Kelly and Jackie, who dominate the episode. And Jennie Garth, whom I have not found the best of actresses, does well here with the vulnerability in Kelly. There are also good moments for Andrea and even for David, who gets to be more than the Kelly-stalker he is set up to be.

It's not all plausible, of course, and there are moments that don't quite work. After Andrea bares her soul to Kelly, Kelly's reaction is patronizingly mild — although I have to admit it is also in character for Kelly. Some of Brenda's snarling at Cindy sounds too much like the Brandon rants that were getting tiresome before this episode. Then there's Brenda's dress for the fashion show — like something left over from a sword-and-sandals movie.

But the Kelly-Jackie stuff is pretty good by "90210" standards to date, and the broadening of the storytelling beyond Brandon and Brenda is admirable.

Other notes:

– This is Ann Gillespie's first appearance as Jackie Taylor. In the pilot, Jackie was played by Pamela Galloway.

– As this episode begins, Jackie is dating Don. When we saw her in the pilot, she was having sleepovers with a guy named Bob.

– Jackie's friend Nina is played by Linda Thompson. She was a girlfriend of Elvis Presley and the wife of Bruce Jenner and David Foster. With Foster, she co-wrote "I Have Nothing" from "The Bodyguard"; it was nominated for best song, although it lost to "A Whole New World" from "Aladdin."

– During the fashion show, we see Donna's mother, Nancy, played by Jordana Capra.

– Jackie grew up in Ohio.

The Seventeen Year Itch." Originally aired Nov. 29, 1990. Cindy sees an old boyfriend, Brandon and Brenda ponder their twin-ness.

Synopsis: Cindy and Jim have tried to have a nice dinner to mark their 17th wedding anniversary. It has not gone well. As Cindy undresses, she mopes about this being their first anniversary away from home — meaning Minnesota. Jim, working before bed, is not very sympathetic. In bed, he wants to fool around, Cindy wants to talk first, and Jim gives up.

Next morning, Brenda senses the tension between her parents, while Brandon sees nothing. At school, the West Beverly deejay is leaving and there will be tryouts for a replacement. David is interested but doesn't think he has a chance because he's a freshman. Steve Sanders also plans to try out. The newspaper advisor asks Brandon and Brenda to take part in a friend's study of twins; Brenda says yes but Brandon says no — until he finds out he'll get paid and time off from school.

Cindy is at a garden shop. A guy takes pictures of her. Turns out it's Glen (Stan Ivar), an old friend from college. (Later we learn that Glen, Jim and Cindy all went to the University of Minnesota, which makes them Golden Gophers.) She invites Glen to dinner. We learn that Glen and Cindy dated, but Glen introduced Cindy to Jim. In college, Jim had literary aspirations. Glen offers to take the kids' photos. Jim and the kids go to bed. Cindy stays up late talking to Glen. Later, Jim wakes up and sees Glen and Cindy are still talking.

Brenda and Brandon take part in the twins study. They are opposite a pair of identical twins who have a psychic connection, feel each other's pain and so on. Brenda and Brandon seem utterly disconnected.

Cindy spends more time with Glen, who drives her around in his convertible, takes photographs of her and says that "you and Jim are like night and day." Cindy says opposites attract, but she's clearly not thinking so. Glen invites her to his photo exhibit opening; she says she and Jim will come. Later, she talks to Jim about how fab Glen is. Jim says Glen is a "perpetual teenager." Lots of tension, no Jim-Cindy romance.

Brenda confides her worries about Glen and Cindy to Kelly, says Cindy is acting "really weird — almost like a teenager." Later, Brenda asks Kelly about the signs of divorce, and Jim and Cindy seem to fit a lot of the signs.

Jim has to work, misses the opening. Cindy goes alone (except for all the kids). Glen takes Cindy outside, praises the "stability" of her life but also wants her. Big kiss. At home, Cindy ponders on her balcony. Brenda asks Kelly about signs of divorce; Jim and Cindy seem to fit them. Jim comes home. More arguing with Cindy.

Brenda and Brandon argue during the twins study, and after. Brenda says Brandon is "just like dad," while Brandon says Brenda is "like mom." Later, the kids try to bring Jim and Cindy together by making a quiet dinner for them at home. The adults are still strained, tense; Cindy goes to see Glen later, and the kids see her. They're sure she is having an affair with Glen. She isn't, but things are bad enough that Jim finally goes to Glen, tells him to butt out of Jim's marriage.

Deejay tryouts. First up is Donna, who whiffs. Steve tries, gets mic fright, freezes. David — who has been laughed at earlier for a rap he tried out in the hall — tries to unfreeze Steve and impresses the audience with his mad skills. (OK, so maybe they didn't say "mad skills." But it was weird enough to hear David refer to Vanilla Ice in a favorable way.)

Glen comes to the Walsh house. Cindy says she loves her husband. Glen says he has come to say goodbye — that the better part of his conscience (meaning Jim) has said he has to back off. B&B are outside, and prepare to confront Glen, but he praises their family and they know he means no harm. Group hug: Cindy, Brandon, Brenda. Jim comes home from work early, wants to take Cindy on an overnight, another try at celebrating their anniversary. Happy ending. Oh, and the twin study has turned out OK.

Commentary: After the not-bad episode "Perfect Mom," "The Seventeen Year Itch" is a letdown. It's not just that it focuses on Cindy and Jim, but that it does so in such a slow and dull way. The twin plot's not much more interesting — although it is fun to see Brenda right at almost every turn about what's going on with Jim and Cindy, while Brandon is consistently wrong. And the deejay story seems shoehorned in just as a way to get David, Steve and Donna a little screen time. (Donna's tryout moment is especially useless.)

There are also some odd things in the show's continuity. At her deejay tryout, Donna is introduced as "Donna Morgan," instead of Donna Martin. Brandon once again appears to be free of a regular commitment to working at the Peach Pit. And as far as I can tell, this is the first time that Cindy has had a job. Up to now, she has spent a lot of time in her own garden and cooking — although maybe we're supposed to see this as Cindy's reaction to Brenda's pep talk in "Perfect Mom." Anyway, Cindy is now a landscaper (which is what Glen refers to her as). But Anna, whom we saw hired as Cindy's maid in a previous episode, is now introduced by Cindy as her "assistant."

And, frankly, the Brenda/Brandon parallels to Cindy/Jim sounded weird, not only the argument where each compares the other to one of their parents, but in Cindy's telling Glen that "they're just like an old married couple."

Other notes:

– Glen is played by Stan Ivar, whose long resume includes playing newspaper editor John Carter on "Little House: A New Beginning." The series also starred "90210's" Shannen Doherty as Jenny Wilder. According to one account of a "Little House" cast reunion, Ivar has also said that he has the original TV "little house" on his ranch.

– What is the deal with Glen and ties? He's a globetrotting photog whom you would expect to dress casually; instead, he has a really horrible shirt-and-tie combo when he goes to dinner at the Walsh house, and even wears a tie when squiring Cindy around in his convertible.

– When Jim changes into his pajamas in one scene, he puts them on over his underpants.

– As graduates of U. of Minn., Jim and Cindy are Golden Gophers.

"The Gentle Art of Listening." Originally aired Dec. 6, 1990. Brenda works at a "rap line," Brandon has his eye on an older woman. And, in a classic case of life and art overlapping, Donna wants a nose job.

Synopsis: It's "grudge week" at West Beverly, a series of events with revival Beverly Hills High School, and we're seeing an outdoor rally that is part of it. (We also see that David Silver is now the voice of West Beverly, following up on the deejay auditions in the previous episode, with Scott as his screwing-up sidekick.) Brandon eyes one of the cheerleaders, but also notices that a freshman girl is eyeing him. Brenda is enjoying the rally, but Kelly and Donna insist on leaving — to shop.

Later, Brenda returns home in a bad mood. She's tired of shopping and wants to do something meaningful. Brandon tells her about a "rap line for teens" where Andrea volunteers. Brenda later approaches Andrea, who is skeptical to the point of snottiness about Brenda getting involved, but Brenda persists. But she has to go through training, which that night means just watching the other volunteers at work. She hears calls about parent problems, drugs and a kid masturbating. Kelly also calls about a crisis — "Donna just told her mom she wants to get a nose job" — but Brenda is not amused.

At the Peach Pit, Brandon sees Nat getting an acupressure massage from Nina (Kim Gillingham), who also gives Brandon a massage and seems to be hot for Brandon. He is very interested, especially later, when Nina wants Brandon to come to her place so she can try out her herpal-wrap technique.

Back at the rap line, Kelly is late picking up Brenda after it down for the night; going back inside to call Kelly, Brendan gets a call from an unidentified girl and talks to her. After much hesitation, the girl asks, "How do you know if you've been raped?" And Brenda thinks she recognizes the voice.

Next day, Brenda goes to Andrea for advice but Andrea, patronizing, thinks Brenda wants to quit. But she shows up at the rap line that night, to Andrea's surprise; as they are closing up, the girl calls and says she has been raped again. At school, Andrea tells Brenda how impressed she is with the way Brenda handled the call, while Brenda is on edge because she keeps listening for the girl's voice in the school crowds.

Brandon goes to Dylan for advice about his "older woman" Nina. Brandon calls her "hot but in an organic way — kind of like Debra Winger." Dylan is very amused by Brandon's questions. The audience is equally amused later, when Brandon gets to Nina's apartment and sees she has a fella.

Meanwhile, at the rap line, Brenda waits for another call. Finally, very late, with Brenda and Andrea having waited, the girl calls again. When she hears Brenda talking to Andrea, she gets angry, feeling that Brenda has broken a promise not to tell anyone. But Brenda recognizes the girl's voice as Bonnie (Lisa Dean Ryan), a sophomore cheerleader, and goes to Bonnie the next day. Bonnie downplays the incidents, and verbally attacks Brenda. But that night, after a grudge week rally, when two jocks attack Bonnie in the school parking lot, the police arrive and arrest them; Brenda — who is on hand with Brandon, Andrea and Carol (the rap line supervisor) — has figured out when the attacks are taking place.

And Donna doesn't get a nose job — but her parents promise her a new car instead.

Comments: While this episode could have been easily promoted as about date rape, it's not really about that. Yes, a guest actor has been raped, and that is taken very seriously, but the episode is more about the way Brenda deals with the girl on the phone than it is about date rape itself. It focuses more on the issue in the title — "The Gentle Art of Listening" — with Brenda listening carefully to the girl on the phone, and Brandon so fantasy-wrapped that he doesn't really listen to what Nina is saying. As was the case in "Seventeen Year Itch," Brenda here proves more perceptive than Brandon.

Of course, the episode sets Brandon up to a certain extent; while the words Nina says are not deliberately forward, Kim Gilliingham's intonation leaves open the possibility of something more, Nina never mentions that there's a man at home and Nat, who seems to know a lot about Nina, doesn't mention a significant other when Brandon quizzes him about Nina.

"The Gentle Art of Listening" does give other members of the ensemble some screen time, and clear oles. Both Kelly and Andrea are more unpleasant — Kelly because of her social snobbishness, Andrea because of her contempt for West Beverly's social rituals (and her misjudging Brenda because she sees her as part of the social elite). Kelly's bitchiness is especially strong when she calls Brenda at the rap line, through her contemptuous, "Do we still want to be a social worker?"

Jim, meanwhile, is out of town for this episode. Cindy, who was working in "Seventeen Year Itch," appears to have lots of free time again; she's volunteering two days a week at the recycling center.
Dylan is the cool man of the world, and something of an older brother to the still-naive Brandon; the scene where Brandon wants advice about Nina is pretty funny. Not much insight into Steve in this episode. David now has an identity, as a deejay, and Scott — sad to say — is more clearly defined as David's dopey friend.

The script also begins trying to be franker and more risque. The straightforward reference to masturbating is one example.

A last note:

– Bonnie, the cheerleader calling the rap line, is played by Lisa Dean Ryan, best known as Wanda on "Doogie Howser, M.D."

"Isn't It Romantic?" Originally aired Jan. 3, 1991. Brenda and Dylan get closer. Steve learns a valuable lesson.

Synopsis: Brenda is bored, stuck with babysitting and renting "Dirty Dancing" from the video store. But when she sees Dylan, sparks fly, to Brandon's dismay. Jim isn't a fan of Dylan, either, or of his earring.

More sparks when Brenda accidentally sees Dylan in the shower (although Dylan HAS left the bathroom door open) and Dylan sees Brenda seeing him. Since Brenda's babysitting job has fallen through, Dylan invites her to go to "Animal Crackers" at the Marx Brothers festival, with Dylan and Brandon. But Brenda gets testy at the movie when an unnamed blonde is friendly to Dylan. Still, she hangs around and they have fun, eating takeout food at Dylan's house.(Dylan's dad has closed the suite at the Bel Age, for unexplained reasons.)

Later, Brenda tells Kelly about being with Dylan, and Kelly is convinced something is happening. But a lot of the students have sex on the brain because sex-ed class, with a guest speaker, is about to get going; Scott is nervous about it, but David is convinced that sex ed turns girls on. Steve and Brenda are also in the class with Scott and David, but Steve doesn't take it all seriously.

Brandon gets a cold, so Brenda goes out solo with Dylan. Jim is displeased, since Dylan's father is known in business as an "unethical bastard." Back at the Marx Brothers festival, Dylan asks Brenda, "What say we shine on this movie?" They go to Dylan's place, where Dylan's dad is in a furious meeting with associates; he and Dylan have a shouting match. Upset, Dylan starts to get a drink but Brenda stops him — since he has to drive her home. They argue, yell, and finally Dylan breaks down in tears. "Dad just gets to me," he says. Brenda is touched by his vulnerability and pain. They hug and kiss. Dylan takes her home, but they have connected.

Back at school, Scott doesn't have a sex-ed consent form, because he's afraid to ask his mother to sign. Dylan and Brenda are close, and Brandon doesn't like it. At home, Jim tells Brenda not to see Dylan; Brandon does not defend his friend, but Cindy says "I like Dylan." Still Brenda is upset. She and Kelly make a plan to pretend she is at Kelly's while she goes to bed with Dylan; Kelly advises Brenda about protection and shares from her stash of condoms.

At school, Brandon warns Dylan not to hurt Brenda, and says that she's a virgin. "What kind of jerk do you think I am?" Dylan says. But when Brenda waits to meet Dylan at the Marx Brothers festival, he never shows. "I thought I was special," she laments the next day. "He doesn't let people in," Brandon says. Brandon tells Dylan off, and we learn that Dylan has moved out of the house where he was living after leaving the hotel suite.

Back at the sex-ed story, the teacher's car has broken down so Steve has to pick up the guest speaker, Stacy Sloan. Steve pretends to be the teacher, and tries to woo Sloan. She brushes him off.

Dylan goes to Brenda, apologizes, says he didn't show because he was helping his father pack, that he had to flee the country because he was about to be indicted over securities fraud. They make up, but Jim arrives home, runs into Dylan and argues with Brenda about seeing him. But Brenda stands her ground, and even indicates she would have sex with Dylan.

Sex-ed lecture. Brandon and Dylan patch things up before. Steve is outed by Sloan. After a brief introduction by Andrea, Sloan alludes to her meeting with Steve and then reveals she has AIDS. Urges the students to use a condom and foam during sex, and to make sure their partner is not infected. Steve listens closely. So does Brenda.

Jim and Dylan have a talk where Dylan demonstrates he is a good guy. But when they are alone later, Brenda asks Dylan if he has had unprotected sex. He finally admits he has. He's ready to get tested, but Brenda still says "I'm scared," and they slow things down. For now.

Comments: "Isn't It Romantic?" is another major step in the development of "90210" from earnest family drama into a melodrama with a continuing story. The biggest demonstration of that, of course, is the big leap forward in the relationship of Brenda and Dylan. While there was chemistry before, this episode establishes them as a couple, and gives them both a solid emotional connection; Brenda is feeling something close to love, and hitherto cool customer Dylan reveals his pained and lonely side. That change in Dylan is also setting a tone for future episodes; the bad boy who knows all has a very difficult relationship with his father and, as Jim indicates, his father has a bad reputation of his own.

The episode also continues the recent shift toward greater frankness in language and content, notably with Kelly not only talking about "protection" (a vague word preferred in some TV to explicit references to birth control) but showing condoms, and with the straight talk about AIDS. Of course, Stacy Sloan could also have preached abstinence, but she is talking to an audience — both at the school and in the audience at large — that is not interested in saying no. So she at least makes an argument for condom use and for knowing your partner's AIDS history. And then the episode shows how someone does that, by having Brenda ask Dylan directly about his sexual history. And the episode over all is plainspoken about a big issue, and has lured the audience into paying attention with all the romance and arguing before making a hard right turn into the AIDs revelation and discussion.

That said, there were other parts of the telecast that just didn't work. Jim's varying reactions to Dylan don't play well. Scott has been reduced to meekness and idiocy, as if David's inching toward cool required him to become more of a doofus; it's especially unfortunate that, after Stacy Sloan has said she has AIDS, that Scott slips into the lecture and asks foolishly, "What did I miss?" And having Steve and Brenda in a class with Scott and David is an awkward way to move the story along — even more awkward than giving Andrea her few seconds on camera by having her introduce Sloan. (Donna at least gets her brief screen time a little more logically, as she and Kelly help Brenda dress for her big night with Dylan.)

Other notes:

– Dylan's father is played by Terence Ford, the brother of Harrison Ford and a successful photographer.

– Ford is the first of three actors to play Dylan's dad on the show.

– Stacy Sloan is put up at the Bel Age, the same hotel where Dylan lived in his father's suite.

"B.Y.O.B." Originally aired Jan. 10, 1991. Brenda and Brandon deal with alcohol, Dylan offers another biographical tidbit.

Synopsis: Donna's parents are going to Cabo, so it's party time ("strictly A-list" at Donna's house). Brenda asks Dylan to come with her, but he's going surfing at Baja — and doesn't seem all that interested in partying. Brenda persuades Brandon to go with her. Meanwhile, Jim and Cindy are thinking slap-and-tickle thoughts about their own getaway to Jim's corporate retreat in Palm Springs.

Party time. Everyone well dressed (Brenda has her hair up. Way up.) and booze is flowing. Brenda has a drink but Brandon passes. Steve offers to make him a "virgin margarita" but puts booze in it. Brenda notes that Kelly is drinking. "My mother drinks," she replies. "I sip."

Brandon realizes that Steve has spiked his drink, threatens to leave. But rather than cause a scene, he stays and drins more. Brenda sees Kelly and Steve head upstairs to a bedroom.

B&B get home, both giddy. Cindy is waiting up. When Brenda kisses her goodnight, Cindy smells booze on Brenda's breath. Talks to Jim. Neither thinks Brandon would be drinking. (Later, we learn that he vowed not to drink after throwing up from drinking at "Foster's Lake.") Next day, Jim and Cindy confront Brenda, who insists she had "one lousy sip" from "someone else's margarita." Brandon doesn't admit to his own drinking.

At school, Steve is after Kelly because of their booze-fueled romp. Brenda mentions that her parents are going away. Kelly and Donna start planning a party at the Walsh house. Brenda has to get Brandon to go along.

Meanwhile, in Palm Springs, Jim and Cindy get ready for maxi-cuddle only to discover the connecting door to the next room is unlocked and their neighbors, Trudy (Bobbi Jo Lathan) and Bob (Richard Paul), want to be friends.

Back at home, Brenda talks to Brandon about the party. She says a party when your parents are away is "practically a tradition" in Beverly Hills. They agree to a small party, and that they won't drink.

Trudy and Bob continue to pester Jim and Cindy.

The party seems to be growing; Brandon invites Andrea when she asks him to go the theater with her. When the party happens, it's more than 200 people, including David and Scott, who have crashed. Steve is passing out alcoholic punch; Brenda gets on Kelly about her drinking. She also sees that Brandon is drinking. Things start to get broken. Police arrive. Brandon, drunk, lets sober Dylan and Brenda deal with the cops, who want the music turned down. Dylan suggest to Brandon that he "lay off the liquid," but Brandon is already wasted. When Andrea arrives, Brandon asks her to dance; later, he will clumsily kiss her and she, knowing he's drunk, will leave.

Palm Springs. Jim and Cindy in the hot tub. Trudy and Bob show up, lechery in their eyes; they're wearing nothing under their robes.

At the party, David admires Kelly from afar; fending off Steve, she asks David to dance. He is not good at it.

Dylan and Brenda discuss shutting the party down. Brandon and Steve go out for more booze (Steve) and munchies and fruit punch (Brandon). Brandon, drunk, plows into a truck.

Jim and Cindy, in bed, give up on having sex, their brains full of Trudy-and-Bob images. Brenda calls, tells about the accident and that Brandon is in jail. They come home. Brandon apologizes, but accidentally tells them about the party. House is a mess. Brenda says "it got a little out of hand." Brandon says Brenda didn't drink but he did, but blames it on a spiked drink. Cindy still asks, "Why did you have to get behind the wheel?" Brenda confronts Brandon about his lying to J&C, but he's defensive.

At school, he apologizes to Andrea. She cares about him, a lot, and he has a look as if he is reconsidering Andrea as more than a friend. David, working the radio booth, dedicates a song to Kelly.

At the Peach Pit, Brandon is closing up when Dylan comes around. Brandon, upset about how he has disappointed people, wants to get drunk again. Dylan has just the right place for him — an AA meeting. At the meeting, Dylan says he's an alcoholic. Brandon is moved. At home, Jim is waiting up, and Brandon comes clean about his drinking.

Comments: It sometimes seems as if this entire episode is designed to set up the moment near the end when Dylan says he is an alcoholic. Coming on the heels of Dylan revelations in "Isn't It Romantic," "B.Y.O.B." further moves Dylan into a major place in "90210" storytelling; someone has realized by this time that Luke Perry can be a breakout star.

The soap-opera aspects of the show keep amping up; besides Dylan's past, we get the allusions to Kelly's family history, and her climbing in bed with Steve, another chapter in the David-stalks-Kelly saga, the moments between Andrea and Brandon, and of course the continuation of the Brenda-Dylan relationship from "Isn't It Romantic?" Although Jim and Cindy get their screen time — mainly for a comic-relief subplot — this episode tilts far more toward the young people.

Structurally, it resembles "Isn't It Romantic," which used Steve's pursuit of the sex-ed speaker to set up the sudden, big revelation that she had AIDS; this time, Brandon and Brenda's drinking tales sets up the Dylan-alcoholic scene.

But there's a fair amount that's muddled in this; drunk driving, serious accident, and Brandon just gets his license suspended — and there's no discussion of damage to his car. Brenda's ability to drink without getting in trouble suggests to young viewers that you can drink if you can handle it, although the teen AA meeting at the end certainly says that a lot of young people cannot.

Brenda talks Brandon into going to Donna's party by reminding him that he's bored, when in the previous episode it was Brenda who was bored while Brandon was enjoying life. (And what ever happened to his playing basketball on the B team?) And it seemed that Brandon and Andrea had already come to the unspoken understanding that they would be friends — however Andrea may feel about Brandon — before this episode stirred them up a little.

Other notes:

– Brandon threw up at "Forest's Lake." There is indeed a Forest Lake in Minnesota.

– When Cindy is channel-flipping after Brenda and Brandon get home from Donna's party, she passes through an episode of "The Love Boat." That is a little nod to "90210" producer Aaron Spelling, who also did "The Love Boat." It would have to be a late-night rerun, since the show had exited prime time by 1991.

– Brandon is apparently a fan of "The Simpsons," since he Bart-like declares, "Don't have a cow, man," to Brenda when the police show up at the house. "The Simpsons" had started on Fox about a year before "90210." During "90210's" first season, "The Simpsons" led off Thursday night, followed by "Babes" and then "90210."

– Trudy and Bob are played by Bobbi Jo Lathan and Richard Paul. Paul was a veteran of sitcoms like "Carter Country" and "Full House." He died in 1998. Lathan's credits include "Seinfeld." She is also a cookbook author.

– When Jim and Cindy lie in bed, having given up on sex, Jim says, "Why beat a dead horse?"

– Time capsule: When David tells Scott that Kelly is "as good looking as Christie Brinkley," Scott says, "You're no Billy Joel."

– This is a real bad-hair episode for Brenda, from the high hair at the first party to the moppy look at the second.

"One Man and a Baby." Originally aired Jan. 24, 1991. Brandon gets some lessons in parenthood, Brenda takes a leap. …

Synopsis: Brandon is moping under a tree at school when he hears a girl singing along with a song through her headphones. She's Melissa, a senior, applying to Harvard. Brandon is intrigued, even though he's just a junior. When she leaves, she forgets a Latin paper. Grade: A+. At home, he looks through the West Beverly student directory and gets ready to call her.

Meanwhile, Brenda and Kelly are making song lists ("Big Toy," by Confusion) for a radio contest. Brenda calls the radio station as Brandon is getting ready to call Melissa. Kelly and Brenda offer Brandon phone-call advice; when Melissa says she has to babysit — twice — they're convinced she's brushing off Brandon, but he persists and gets a date.

Kelly and Brenda win the radio contest; the prize is skydiving lessons.

Meanwhile, on the date, Melissa is surprised that Brandon doesn't know anything about her. When they get to her house, she introduces Joey — her son. Brandon gives one of his famous stunned-before-the-commercial-break looks.

At school, Steve and Brandon argue about whether Melissa should have kept her baby. Steve says it would be "nothing but problems." Brandon, offended, goes to ask Melissa for another date. But Melissa is having a tough time; she got a C- on some schoolwork, and she can't go out with some old friends because she has to be with Joey.

Meanwhile, even though Jim and Cindy have said no, Brenda sneaks out for skydiving lessons with Kelly. Both admire the hunky instructor, Don.

Melissa doesn't have a babysitter, so brings Joey along on the date. They all go to the Peach Pit. Joey misbehaves. Later, Brandon tells Jim and Cindy about Joey, calling him "a holy terror." Next morning, Melissa drops off Joey with Brandon because she has no one to take care of him while she has her Harvard interview. Jim and Cindy are going out, Brenda and Kelly have a skydiving lesson, so it's up to Brandon — with a little help from Steve, who has come over to watch a Lakers game. But they're inept; even diaper-changing is difficult, and the guys try to rent "Three Men and a Baby" for instructional help. And, when the cable goes out, Steve goes home to watch the game, but by then Brandon has things somewhat under control.

Meanwhile, Brenda and Kelly continue the skydiving lessons, and their interest in Don.

Melissa returns from her interview. It was "a complete disaster," the interviewer questioning her ability to be a mother and a Harvard student. She wonders if she made a mistake in keeping Joey. They argue. Later, Brandon goes to her house to make amends; Melissa suggests they drive to the beach.

Brenda and Kelly skydive. Happily. Later, she confesses to Jim and Cindy that she has lied to them. They're cool about it.

On their drive, Brandon wants to talk about Joey. Melissa wants a break. She makes a move on Brandon. He brings up Joey. "Just for a second," she says, "I'd like to be a teenage girl." The next day, she shows up at the Walsh house. Fight with her parents about being out late, sticking her folks with the baby. Brandon offers to take Joey for a couple of days. She's thinking about giving him up permanently. But Brandon thinks "this baby stuff is amazing."

Cindy advises Melissa. "No one can do everything," she says. "What do you want?" Melissa keeps Joey, goes to half-day schedule at school and decides that Harvard can wait a bit. So, apparently, will Brandon, since Melissa rain-checks him about getting together.

Comments: A so-so episode at best. Not much advancement of the individual stories, and no Dylan, Andrea, David or Donna. Some continuity is ignored. (A week after an episode where he wrecked the car and was arrested, Brandon is driving again.) The cautionary tale about teen motherhood does detail plenty of the challenges facing a young parent, and does so with a Harvard-bound girl who would seem to be able to handle anything. But it seems flat dramatically, especially because of the awkward introduction of comedy (Brandon and Steve try to change a diaper, Brandon gets baby food in the face) as well as the comedy-heavy subplot about skydiving. (Brenda and Kelly are VERY Lucy and Ethel.)

Other notes:

– Kristin Dattilo, who plays Melissa, may be familiar to some viewers as Yola on "The Chris Isaak Show." (Update: According to TV.com, the broadcast version of this episode included Isaak's "Wicked Game.")
She was also a veteran of teen programs, having been on "Hull High" (which had premiered a month before "90210" but was canceled by the end of 1990), "TV 101" and an after-school special. According to IMDB, she was up for the role of Brenda on "90210" but turned it down.

– Don the skydiving instructor was Paul Satterfield. He worked in a couple of other Aaron Spelling shows, and has been a frequent daytime TV presence on "General Hospital," "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "One Life to Live." His Web site is www.paulsatterfield.com.

– Four children — two sets of twins — play baby Joey. (So isn't this "One Man and Four Babies"?)

– As far as I can tell, the songs that Brenda and Kelly listen to and identify by name are fictional, as is the radio station. When winning the contest, they mention one real song — MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" — but it isn't played. (At least, not on the DVD version.)

"Slumber Party" first aired on Jan. 31, 1991. Male and female bonding abounds.

Summary: Brenda is having a slumber party — which she insists is actually "an evening of female bonding," and which Andrea calls "a woman's conference." Got to avoid the dreaded slumber-party stigma; as another character, Amanda, later says, a slumber party is "completely 7th grade." Kelly wants to invite guys, but Brenda says no; Kelly does persuade Brenda to let her friend Amanda come.

David, meanwhile, is eager to check out the party, while Steve suggests he and Brandon go find girls. They try at a hot club, with Steve insisting that "girls need guys. Can't have fun without us." So, of course, the girls at the SLUMBER PARTY are having a great time dancing together, with even Cindy joining in. Enter Amanda, sneering. She wants Kelly to go with her to a party with USC guys; Kelly decides to stay at the Walsh house.

Eating ensues — ice cream, chips, popcorn, cookies; Donna is a fan of popcorn in ice cream. Amanda remains aloof and mean, declining snacks, but Brenda is defiant. (After Amanda suggests the others are pigs, Brenda makes pig noises.) Later, the girls talk about how they can't pig out in front of guys — Kelly says she knew it was over with Steve when she did so, while Amanda says she never eats on dates but always orders something expensive anyway.

Steve and Brandon can't get into the club. But two hot girls, Trina and Shelly, approach them outside and they all go for a drive. Back at the party, Donna wants to rent "Pretty Woman," which she has seen many times and which has caused her to imagine becoming a hooker just to meet Richard Gere. Brenda insists they talk. Amanda tries to get Kelly to leave again. Andrea has brought a Ouija board; Amanda, predictably, sneers but the group decides to try to contact Andrea's grandmother. They think they have made contact, especially when there are sudden, eerie flashes; turns out David and Scott are at the window, and David is taking pictures.

After David has been run off, Amanda suggests they play "skeletons in the closet," where they have to answer any question honestly.

Meanwhile, Steve and Brandon have gone parking with Trina and Shelly. Smooching ensues. Trina begs to drive Steve's car, saying "it would really make me crazy." Steve obliges. The girls take off with the car. The guys wait an hour, then Brandon insists they go to the police. Steve is determined to stay. Brandon starts to walk off, and Steve begins to cry. "I can't believe what a moron I am," he says, fearing humiliation at home and school.

Back to "skeletons." Kelly is first. After a couple of tame questions, Andrea asks Kelly about her first sexual experience. She tells a funny story about Steve. Amanda insists she tell the real story. It involves a football star she had a crush on, whom she followed around until he took her in the words and had sex with her. She didn't want to but went along. "He didn't even have a blanket," she says. After they had sex, he "never talked to me again." Kelly weeps, her makeup streaking.

The guys go to the police, who are unsympathetic because Steve let Trina drive his car. "That's not car stealing," the officer says. "That's car borrowing."

Andrea plays skeletons. Amanda gives her grief about pronouncing her name AHN-drea. Andrea says she likes to be different. Then she is asked if she has slept with a guy. She says she hasn't. Then Kelly asks whom she would sleep with at school if it could be anyone — and, when Andrea hesitates, asks, "Brandon?" Andrea, flustered, starts babbling about a lifeguard. Amanda say "the whole school knows (Andrea is hot for Brandon), not that they care." Andrea admits that it would be Brandon.

Donna on the hot seat. She has no secrets, has never been dishonest. Amanda says Donna's life is "totally boring." Brenda defends Donna. Amanda turns on Brenda.

Meanwhile, the police have brought in Trina and Shelly. They insist they were coming back. Trina is nice to Steve, and he not only drops the charges but agrees to pay an old fine Trina owes. Brandon is appalled.

Brenda, under scrutiny, tells a story of trying to steal the boyfriend of a friend back in Minnesota, and how it ruined the friendship. Kelly admits that she tried to date Dylan after he started seeing Brenda. Brenda is enraged. She and Kelly argue, with Kelly saying Brenda can be "completely unbearable" while Brenda says Kelly and Donna are "stuck up." Andrea, angry at the fighting, wants to leave. But Kelly and Brenda make up. "I would never try to steal a boyfriend from you," Kelly tells Brenda. Donna apologizes for not having problems but says that she will and "I'm going to need your shoulders to cry on."

Amanda leaves. She has forgotten her purse. As they get it to return to her, it spills open. Tons of diet pills, which Kelly observes can make you feel horrible; "PMS starts to look like a vacation." Amanda returns, admits that she has always felt horrible about being fat and she never will be again — even though Kelly notes that instead she is "a total bitch."

Amanda tries to leave, but Brenda persuades her to stay and talk. And Amanda asks for cookies!

The hot girls, meanwhile, leave Steve without putting out. Still, Brandon says of the evening, "I had a blast, man." At home, the girls are sleeping but Brenda awakes when Brandon arrives. She asks what he has been doing; he says "guy stuff." He asks about the evening; Brenda says it was "girl stuff."

Comments: Even with the big closeup of Kelly weeping, this is for the most part a blah episode. You can see Steve's car disaster coming from a mile away and you know Amanda isn't going to be a snot for long without some sort of comeuppance.

It does continue the change in Steve from racist jerk to dope who thinks with — well, not with his brain. (All right, vulnerable dope.) It adds another streak of vulnerability to Kelly, and it showcases Brenda's feisty side. But the character who gets the most development is Donna; besides being Kelly's socially prominent sidekick, she is revealed as someone who is fundamentally happy and untroubled, albeit a bit of a goof (popcorn in ice cream).

It's as if the show decided that, for the moment, it had enough to juggle in all the problems of the other characters and couldn't load a Donna revelation on top of Brenda's, Kelly's, Andrea's and Amanda's. Then again, it could just be that they didn't think Tori Spelling could do any heavy lifting dramatically. After all, they could have made room for her by trimming or eliminating the Steve-Brandon subplot, which is not only lame but raises a question: Where's Dylan? And aren't he and Brandon supposed to be best buds now?

But even the big drama in this felt a little flat. If Amanda was as mean as she acts, I suspect she could have made skeletons much, much nastier than it turns out to be.

Other notes:
– That is indeed former Playboy Playmate and "Growing Pains" co-star Julie McCullough as Trina.

– I get a big "Heathers" vibe off this episode. I kept thinking Michele Abrams, who played Amanda, was IN "Heathers" — that was Kim Walker in the movie, with of course Shannen Doherty. But I suppose if I was meant to connect "Slumber Party" to an iconic '80s movie, it's much more like "The Breakfast Club."

"East Side Story." First aired on Feb. 14, 1991. Brandon learns about love (again) and stereotyping.

Summary: Jim and Cindy are planning a big party for Chick Schneider, a new client for Jim and a clothing manufacturer who, according to Brenda, makes "all those wipeout pants Dylan wears." But something else is going on, as Brandon sees Jim and Cindy in deep conversation with Cindy's maid/assistant, Anna, and another man, who proves to be Anna's cousin, Richard Rodriguez (John Vargas). Anna's niece has had some trouble in school, and the Walsh family is going to let her use their address so she can go to West Beverly. Brandon and Brenda are cool with the idea.

At school, David is trying to get MC Hammer on the phone, to ask him to play at West Beverly. Meanwhile, Anna's niece, Karla (played by Karla Montana) arrives and turns Steve's head, and Dylan's head, and finally Brandon's. Well-meaning, Brandon is patronizing, telling her "don't be put off if the kids are a little more competitive than you're used to." She's an ace in all her classes. Brandon then says she should have a good shot at a scholarship — which Karla takes as a stereotypical reference, but Brandon huffily explains that lots of kids, including him, will need financial aid. And she cools off when he mentions that he is going to work. (Still, she sums up her life with a vague, "it's complicated.")

At the Peach Pit, Karla meets the other kids but has eyes for Brandon. But she is uncomfortable with the stares from the bus boys. Brandon drives her home; they talk about the differences between where Anna lives and West Beverly, about the bus boys (who stared, Brandon insists, because she's pretty), how "complicated" her life is and whether Brandon is "sweet or a real smooth operator." But after he leaves, Richard appears and warns Karla to be careful.

Brandon is smitten, and nervous when Andrea sees the address Karla is listing. Andrea fears "a whole chain reaction" if one student is found to have faked an address. Brandon asks Karla for a date; she declines, repeatedly. Later, though, he offers to drive her home; they go dancing and, at night, kiss — while Richard spies from the shadows.

Party day. Jim and Cindy wonder if they should tell the kids "the truth about Karla." But they can't. Brandon wants to invite her to the party, but doesn't get a chance, then sees she is working with Anna; Brandon is indignant, and refuses to come to the party, but Jim talks him into it — even though Brandon stops speaking to Jim and Cindy, only to the guests.

Brandon tries to make out with Karla upstairs. Offended, she goes back to work. Brandon overhears Schneider talking about a new factory in Mexicali, and accuses Schneider of exploiting his workers. Jim demands an apology; Brandon does not oblige then but will later. Meanwhile, Karla leaves, telling Brandon that "it wasn't a good idea for me to come here."

After the party, Brandon sulks. Brenda tells him he has been "unbearably obnoxious" and that there may be things he doesn't know about. Brandon goes to Jim, wanting the whole truth because "I never felt this way about someone before." Jim doesn't spill, insisting that he talk to Karla. She has left Anna's home, but Anna tells Brandon where to find her. Anna explains that her father is a college big-shot in Pomona and she has been in hiding because she witnessed a drive-by (and Richard is the prosecuting attorney); the case is now done and she can go back to her old life. Brandon still wants to see her, but she says Pomona is "the other side of the world." She fears that being with Brandon will make her forget "who I am and where I come from."

Kelly and Donna show up in the same Schneider outfits, to their dismay. Brandon tells Andrea he likes that they are "not interested in each other romantically," getting a sad Andrea look after he walks away. David, still trying to get MC Hammer, calls Debbie Gibson by mistake — then calls back Gibson to fawn over her.

Comments: In the annals of episodes where Brandon is a self-righteous jackass, this is one of the biggies. He patronizes Karla, flies off the handle about her working, insults Jim's client based on no evidence and is really pompous about his lack of prejudice. But to achieve all that, the show has to jump through some awkward hoops — and suggest that Jim and Cindy aren't all that smart. When Cindy says it never dawned on them that Brandon might be attracted to Karla, they're ignoring something that Brenda has picked up on — that "every girl you meet suddenly becomes your next true love." In fact, that line is a pretty pointed commentary on the series' approach to Brandon's love life so far. As is the one about Brandon being "unbearably obnoxious."

That said, Brenda the supposedly terrible liar doesn't even blink when Brandon says he has "a professional relationship" with Andrea through the newspaper — while Brenda knows from the "Slumber Party" episode that Andrea needs a steaming hot plateful of Brandon.

Or words to that effect.

Anyway, the show does a moderately good job with the issue of stereotyping, especially at the end, when we learn that Karla is not remotely "a poor girl from the barrio who is looking for a white knight." By that point, plenty of viewers have had the chance to make wrong assumptions about her — just as Brandon has. But Karla's finally brush-off of Brandon doesn't quite work; better that she had told him that he's nnot ready to see past her, or other people's, stereotypes. And by then, Brandon has been such a jerk, he deserves more of a comeuppance.

Other notes:

– When this episode aired, Debbie (later Deborah) Gibson was 20; her most recent LP was "Anything Is Possible." The single of the same name peaked at 26 on the Billboard charts. For more, see www.deborah-gibson.com.

– The establishing of Donna as a dope continues, with her big scene involving her not knowing the difference between a taco and a flauta.

– Awkward lines include Luke Perry having to say of Brandon that "he's really flipped for her in a major way." Brenda refers to Brandon getting a "come on baby, light my fire" look, which suggests Brenda has been trolling Jim and Cindy's music collection instead of her own.

– Karla Montana is yet another actress whose screen career faded not long after "90210"; her IMDB credits end in 1994.

"A Fling in Palm Springs," or "Palm Springs Weekend." Known by two different titles, this episode first aired on Feb. 21, 1991. Brandon makes a new friend, David has a family epiphany, Dylan and Brenda have communication problems.

Summary: Dylan and Brenda are parking, but Brenda backs away when things get too hot. Dylan, having been faithful for two months, is impatient. When he finds Brenda is going to Palm Springs for a long weekend, he suggests that he get a room there so he and Brenda can have some private time.

Next day, Cindy frets about this President's Day Weekend trip; Brenda insists it's a ritual. Meanwhile, Brandon tries to get Jim to pay for a classic car — $25,000 worth. When he mentions that it will be a great investment like the Porsche Dylan's father bought for him, Jim notes that Dylan's father "is facing a grand jury indictment." On that note, Brenda departs. Brandon presses, arguing that he is entitled to some consideration because he has to work at the Peach Pit all weekend. No go from Jim.

Scott is psyched about going to Magic Mountain and riding its thrill rides with David. David has other ideas. When he finds out that Steve needs a place in Palm Springs — his house being fumigated — David offers his grandparents' place since they are out of town. Steve agrees. He then tries to get Brandon to go, but Brandon insists he has to work.

Donna, meanwhile, has packed three bags — different outfits for "high school guys, college guys, grad school guys, dropout guys." David drops the Magic Mountain plan with Scott.

Brandon is at the Peach Pit, where a kid named Curtis (John Christian Graas) is hanging around a lot, and a bit annoying. Brandon puts up with him but is still thinking about Palm Springs. Where Steve and David in one car, and Kelly/Donna/Brenda in another, are working their way through the heavy traffic and crowds of young people. During one stop, a hot girl named Tuesday approaches David; he invites her to the gramps' house. Brenda frets about her meeting with Dylan; Donna and Kelly reassure her, with Kelly sure that Dylan "brought protection."

Brenda goes to the hotel where she's meeting Dylan. But it might not be the right place, because the names of Palm Springs hotels are so similar. And she has lost her wallet! The others are in for a surprise at David's grandparents' house; his grandparents, Henry and Adele Silver (Al Ruscio and Erica Yohn), are still there. They have canceled their trip because there were too many old people on it.

Brenda is in distress. Hunky bellhop Tom (David Gail) offers to help by letting her stay at his place. Instead, Brenda lets him help her find a place in the hotel — in a broom closet with a fold-down bed.

Back home, Dylan calls the Peach Pit to ask Brandon if he knows where Brenda is. He tells Brandon the name of his hotel. Brandon looks concerned about Dylan and Brenda being together but does not give a big speech. After they get off the phone, Dylan recognizes another girl in his hotel lobby. …

A maid finds Brenda in the broom closet. She calls home, and Brandon tells her the name of Dylan's hotel — and the elder Silvers' name, so she could go their place. "Where you gonna be?" Brandon asks, still concerned. "Where do you think?" Brenda snaps.

At the Silvers', Tuesday shows up with two skanky looking, leather-wearing friends. Then, Brenda is at Dylan's hotel — the Desert Mirage — where he's in the Ambassador Suite. So is the girl from the lobby. Brenda sees her, flips out. Dylan says it's not what it looks like. Brenda storms out, rants across the lobby, then returns to Dylan's room, boots the girl (who is a childhood friend of Dylan, and whom he has not slept with but lusted after a bit) and demands "let's do it and get it over with. … Stop talking and take your clothes off."

After another Brandon-Curtis moment at the Peach Pit, we're back at the Silvers. Party time; the Silvers have invited all the young people from the neighborhood. The song "Tequila" plays. David tries to persuade his grandparents to leave; they're having fun. Steve tries to rekindle things with Kelly; she's not buying it. When he says she was the best relationship he ever had, she says, "I was the only relationship you ever had."

Dylan and Brenda arrive at the Silvers'. Much tension, and no consummation. "I made a fool of myself and you turned me down," Brenda snarls.

David gets rude with his grandparents about no one wanting them around. Adele is upset. And David is wrong. Soon we see Henry and Adele dispensing advice about love to the guys and girls. David, meanwhile, has gotten private time with Tuesday, but she doesn't want to mess around; she was just mad at her boyfriend, and David reminded her of him.

Peach Pit. Brandon has closed up. Curtis sneaks in, takes money from the cash register. Brandon catches him. Curtis confesses that his family is homeless. Brandon makes him food and gives Curtis his friendship bracelet.

At the Silvers', everyone is playing charades. Steve reapproaches Kelly. She doesn't want to get back together. David apologizes to his grandparents — and calls Scott. Starts talking about Scott and David coming to Palm Springs the next weekend, to Adele and Henry's dismay. Brenda and Dylan make up by the pool. Brandon gets home, where Jim and Cindy offer to help him get a new car. Having heard what Curtis has, he says he's "a lucky guy" and happy with Mondale.

Comments: Considering all the possibilities here, especially with the gang off on a trip together, this is a letdown in comparison to the more confessional "Slumber Party." (Nor, when you get down to it, is there any "fling," so the more recent title makes a lot more sense.) There's a big emphasis on comedy, including in the Dylan-Brenda mixups, and the Brandon story is so lightweight, it's no more than an excuse to get him screen time. (It's even more off-putting when you consider that Brandon's drunk-driving incident aired just about six weeks earlier, but is not a part of the car discussion.)
"Palm Springs" does indicate the Brenda-Dylan relationship is moving into more physical territory, and there's a reference to the problems facing Dylan's father — although the problems don't keep Dylan from getting a suite in Palm Springs.
Brandon manages to be far less self-righteous than he has been, especially in the preceding episode, "East Side Story." In fact, it appears that the show's makers know that Brandon can be too much; when he ends a rant about having to work with the declaration "but you don't hear me complaining, do you?" — Jim wearily replies, "Yes."
The episode also extends the growing gap between former best friends Scott and David, as David gravitates more toward the cool kids while Scott is more focused on Magic Mountain. And there's the sex-and-Donna issue. Some fans have read Donna's discussion of sex as contradicting her later virgin status, but I think she can be read differently. The line to Brenda — "You're really gonna like (sex), probably, maybe" — could be interpreted as Donna having no sexual experience of her own, so she's guessing about how it will be.

More notes:
– Erica Yohn's other credits include "Picket Fences" and "State of Grace," where she played Grandma Ida. She would also return to "Beverly Hills, 90210" later in the series. But Al Ruscio, whose TV credits are epic, would not be seen again on this show, with Henry's death part of Adele's next appearance.

– David Gail, who played hunky bellboy Tom, would be seen later on the show as Stuart Carson, who had a romance with Brenda. He was also on Aaron Spelling's "Savannah" and the soap "Port Charles."

– One of the songs playing in the Peach Pit (at least on the DVD) is "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" by Jay and the Techniques.

– Considering that the show has already done a couple of episodes about teens and drinking, it's little weird to have the pool party scene to the song"Tequila" — with even Henry and Adele enjoying it.

– Maybe it's meant to reinforce the idea that Steve tends toward loser-ness: He is at one point seen wearing a Raiders cap, when about a month earlier the Buffalo Bills had crushed the Raiders in the playoffs, 51-3.

– When they play charades, Dylan's phrase is "Pretty Woman," which he uses as a message to Brenda — but which has already been established as one of Donna's favorite movies.

Fame Is Where You Find It."
Originally aired Feb. 28, 1991. Brandon learns about show business, Brenda finds an alter ego.

Summary: Brandon is playing street hockey on rollerblades in the park. We see a thief grab a picnicker's purse, only to be confronted by a girl — but it turns out to be a scene from the popular teen show "Keep It Together," which is shooting in the park. When show discovers that the actor who is supposed to play "surfer dude" has gotten food poisoning, they need a last-minute replacement — and, like an opening scene in "That Girl," they spot Brandon.

Later, in the makeup room, a hilariously costumed Brandon asks for help from a woman he thinks is a makeup artist — only to learn, after he has admitted he doesn't watch the show, that it's Lydia Leeds (Marcy Kaplan), the star of "Keep It Together." But there's chemistry, and Brandon delivers his "surfer dude" line well.

At home, Brenda, who still watches "Keep It Together," is impressed that Brandon is on the show. But she's a little jealous when the show asks Brandon to do more. Brandon, meanwhile, wants Brenda to pick up his shifts at the Peach Pit while he does the TV show; Brenda agrees after Brandon agrees to give her more space in their shared bathroom — and his beloved green shirt. Nat goes along with the arrangement, but warns Brandon not to let "all that Hollywood hoopla" go to his head. And Brenda has warned him that he may just be a pawn in the show's negotiations with former star Sean Judson (Graham Galloway).
But it's hard to keep perspective; David wants to interview Brandon on his radio show (Brandon notes that there are plenty of Hollywood kids at West Beverly) — and Lydia later shows up in a limo to take him to work. When they get there, she notes, "I don't make a habit of giving people a ride to the set."

Brenda worries about the Peach Pit, and talks about how much she likes acting, doing different voices for Kelly and Donna. Back at the studio, Brandon and Lydia have a kissing scene — which they do nine times. Brandon likes. That night — in the green shirt — he goes to a young-Hollywood party with Lydia, telling his parents that it's "a networking thing." When Lydia picks him up, Brenda tries to chat with her, mentioning that she knows Kelly and Donna, who knew Lydia in elementary school; Lydia is snotty about the whole thing.

Things go disastrously for Brenda at the Peach Pit. Brandon has a great time at the party, especially after Lydia kisses him, hard — although it appears she's doing it just to make Sean jealous, since he arrives just before the kiss.

At the studio the next day, Brandon learns his big scene has been cut — and Sean is back. He realizes he has been fooled. Brenda, meanwhile, arrives at the Peach Pit as "Laverne," a sassy, old-school waitress who charms everyone. As she succeeds, Brandon is doing a scene where he repeatedly gets doused with water, which makes him mess up every take.

Brenda, Kelly and Donna lip-synch "It's My Party" to a crowd including Dylan, Steve, David, Scott, Andrea and even Brandon, who is vague about what has happened at the show. Brenda gets a record amount of tips, which she is "saving up for something special." Brandon goes back to street hockey, where Lydia comes to chat; she assures Brandon that, even though things didn't work out, the show's producer is going to test-market Brandon's character for possible future use. They appear to have become friends — until Brandon sees his "Keep It Together" episode, and discovers that his kissing scene has been reshot with Lydia and Sean kissing. Everyone is sympathetic — "Even my mother's ended up on the cutting-room floor," says Steve — but Brandon is still stung. He offers to let Brenda keep the job at the Peach Pit; she declines — and reveals she is going to spend her tip money on acting lessons.

Comments: I'm not sure why — may just be timing — but I have probably seen this episode more than any other from the old "90210." And it has its virtues. Brandon's speechmaking is again kept to a minimum, and the ending is quite cold — Brandon doesn't even get his one scene. (But what happened to his turn as "surfer dude"?) The Brenda transformation is amusing, although I would have been very interested to hear Laverne doing "Material Girl" — mentioned in the show, but not seen. It's also an interesting reminder that Kelly and Donna are big deals at West Beverly but not in the Hollywood world at large, where Lydia has left them far behind. I was puzzled by Brenda's returning keys to Brandon — wondering if she finally got her driver's license and borrowed Mondale while Brandon was getting chauffeured — but I suppose those could just be the keys to the Peach Pit.

Other notes:

– This is clearly a case of a song being knocked off the DVD — since David dedicates something to Brandon and it's just generic instrumental.

– The co-producer is played by the funny and talented Amy Hill, who would later co-star on Margaret Cho's "All-American Girl." Where, if IMDB is correct, Marcy Kaplan guest-starred.

– Snotty actress MacKenzie (in the club scene) is played by Melissa Rivers, daughter of Joan. Read what you will into the reference to Mackenzie's getting roles just because she has a big-time producer uncle. Joan, by the way, had been Fox's first network star, as host of a late-night show in 1986-87.

– Brandon says his on-set tutor is writing a spec script for "Twin Peaks." That ABC series had premiered in the spring of 1990 and at the time this episode aired was on a hiatus during its second (and final) season.

– There may be a reference to "90210's" early ratings struggle in the discussion of "Keep It Together" after the gang watched Brandon's episode. Donna notes that "KIT" is a top-ten show, and Dylan says, "There's no accounting for taste."

– Poor Scott. He gets in some scenes, but his big line is telling Brandon that his limo has arrived.

"Stand (Up) and Deliver." Originally aired March 7, 1991. Brandon gets into politics, Brenda tries adulthood. …

Summary: School, daytime. Andrea approaches Brandon about running for class president. Her preferred candidate has decided not to run, and Brandon is so new that "no one knows you well enough to hate you" when he opposes "popular airheads." Brenda, meanwhile, is bored — and disappointed when Dylan says he can't take her to the Fallout Club because he has to go see his fugitive father in Mexico; Brenda wants to go, too, but no luck.

Kelly is intrigued by Brandon's running for office; she is turned on by power and his "Kennedy hair." So is Donna. At home, Brenda tries to talk to Cindy about her boredom but Cindy (like Jim) is too consumed by Brandon's campaign. Brenda goes to the Fallout Club with Donna and Kelly; she is impressed by Sky (Carrie Hamilton), a comedian, and starts to befriend her.

Steve advises Brandon to go out with a lot of girls to "nail their votes." Back at the club, Brenda impresses another comic, Jack, with her wit. Back at the house, Jim and Cindy make buttons (which actually look like nametags) and Kelly offers to help the campaign. "Whenever political stuff comes on, you switch to MTV," Brenda snaps. But Kelly persists in wanting to run the campaign, and Brandon has to calm down Andrea (who admits she was the candidate who backed out), and gets both Kelly and Andrea to help.

Brenda goes alone to see Sky again, since Kelly and Donna are helping the campaign. Sky explains that she dropped out of high school at 16 and "when I got out, I had this awakening." Brenda decides to get her high-school equivalency diploma and go into the world. But she needs Jim and Cindy's OK, and they're not happy; they note that when they were young they wanted to go into the world — Cindy to be Judy Collins, Jim to the Peace Corps — but Brenda still wants out.

Kelly begins an image campaign for Brandon, trying to get him to resemble "cute politician" photos she has collected. One is of Gary Hart. Andrea notes Hart "never made it to the nominations." Kelly says that was "because he was too cute for his own good." Andrea wants Brandon to discuss issues. Kelly just wants to win. At school, Brenda has to deal with being known as "Brandon Walsh's sister."

"I feel like Ferris Bueller's sister," she replies. Kelly is manipulating everyone — promising David she will date him if he helps make Brandon a campaign video. Brenda works on her jokes for the club; Michael Miller, another student, encourages her but Kelly doesn't like Brenda talking to Michael because he is running against Brandon.

At the club, Sky says she has to go home to Modesto. Brenda offers to house-sit for her. Kelly shows the campaign video for Brandon; it's all beefcake. Andrea is disgusted. Kelly is getting very turned on by Brandon. "Steve wouldn't like this," he says. "He would love to be in your position right now," she says.

Brenda announces she is moving out — to Sky's place. Brandon's video draws a crowd at school. Kelly then tries to get David to do her will on the debate — offering her phone number as incentive. Andrea and Brenda bond over Brandon's "major integrity loss." Kelly dogs Brenda's clothes as bad for Brandon. Brandon sides with Kelly, at least until the election is over.

At Sky's apartment, Brenda finds repo men taking most of Sky's stuff. Jack shows up with love and Franco-American spaghetti on his mind. But Kelly, Brandon, et al., show up to have a campaign party. Brenda confronts Brandon about his lack of positions, and the party collapses when the power goes out.

Debate day. Brandon and Michael Miller talk. Michael is sure he will lose. But he and Brandon bond over the homeless, and Brandon realizes Michael is more qualified than he is. That becomes even clearer during the debate, when Michael knows more about booking rock bands for school than Brandon. Brandon endorses Michael. Campaign over.

Brenda stops home, gets some things, realizes how good it was at home but has a small spat with Jim and Cindy. She goes to Sky's place, where Sky is crying. Confesses she went home to get money because she isn't making it on her own. Brenda sees the importance of being home. She does a monologue at Fallout Club about her experiences, which everyone comes to hear — including Kelly, who is on her promised date with David, but seeking safety in the group. At the end, Brandon acknowledges that Brenda "had a good experience."

Comments: "Stand (Up) and Deliver" is structurally identical to the previous episode, "Fame Is Where You Find It." In "Fame," Brandon becomes the center of attention through his TV acting, while Brenda is shoved aside — and put in difficult circumstances by subbing at the Peach Pit. In "Stand," Brandon's political ambitions make him the center of attention, while Brenda is ignored by family and friends, barely noticed even when she decides to move out. And, in both episodes, Brandon's ambitions go unrealized, while Brenda is allowed the showy triumph — as Laverne the waitress and as a monologist.

While "Stand" is marginally more plausible with a school campaign instead of Brandon's plucked-from-the-park TV stardom, "Stand" is still the inferior episode. And not just because Brenda's monologue at the end so blah. It fails in part because it so replicates the previous episode (and because Brandon's political debate recalls one with Rob Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"). And its premise — that Andrea needs an opponent to Michael Miller — makes no sense because Michael comes across as exactly the kind of candidate Andrea would admire. He hardly represents the "popular airheads," and has no opponent until Brandon steps in.

But "Stand" has several things to recommend it. For one, it is steeped in popular culture, making it seem more contemporary and topical. It also has two effective performances, by Jennie Garth and guest star Carrie Hamilton. The daughter of Carol Burnett, Hamilton had a rocky life and died of cancer in 2002; her charming turn as Sky suggests a performer of considerable promise.

Garth, meanwhile, is terrific. Of course, the script gives her a somewhat different Kelly to play — one who has more to her than the sad, shopping-and-boy-obsessed daughter of a substance abuser. But Garth hits all the notes. Even though Brenda says Kelly switches off politics, she clearly understands the importance of image in politics, and she certainly knows who Gary Hart was. (Of course, his scandal was tabloid fodder as well as news.) While it appears that David puts together Brandon's video, the message in it is Kelly's idea (which David naturally believes is "brilliant").

She is also stunningly ruthless in her campaign, especially when it involves David, but also when she attacks Brenda's wardrobe (which isn't significantly more radical than it has been in some other episodes so far). And when Kelly begins to make a move on Brandon, Garth plays it as downright feral. You can see why Steve keeps wanting to get back with her. Where Donna is for the most part, well, Donna, Kelly here suggests that she could be much more than she has chosen to be.

Now, all of this is in service of an episode that on balance is severely flawed. But it makes it much more watchable.

Other notes:

– The title, "Stand (Up) and Deliver," is a nod to big-screen high-school drama "Stand and Deliver," with Edward James Olmos. But beyond the title and high school, I don't see any real connection.

– My favorite bit in the episode — and one that suggests Brandon is self-aware about his political activities — is Brandon's use TWICE of "Damn glad to meet you" in his handshaking. That's, of course, a reference to "Animal House," where rush chairman Eric Stratton routinely and insincerely uses the same phrase.

– The episode is full of pop-culture references beyond the "Animal House" line: Gary Hart , "Ferris Bueller's sister" (alluding to the 1986 movie), David wondering what Geraldo Rivera would do in his ethical situation (and Kelly's cynically wise assertion that Geraldo "would go for it. Definitely."). When Andrea leaves a campaign meeting in disgust, she says she's going for a sandwich, a soda and "Sex, Lies and Videotape" (1989). When Kelly calls Brenda's outfit "hippie witch," Brenda retorts that "it's 'Twin Peaks.' "

"It's Only a Test." Originally aired March 28, 1991. Almost everyone is worried about the SATs — until Brenda has to deal with a more harrowing test.

Summary: It's not long before the SATs and Steve is touting a prep course to Brandon. Steve says the test could make the difference between "Princeton and Pacoima." (The latter is home to a vocational school.) Brandon doesn't believe in test prep — and it costs $500. In the newspaper office, Brandon notes Andrea is "masticating" a pencil — and she is convinced he has been doing SAT prep. She, too, is worried about "Princeton and Pacoima."

Meanwhile, at Kelly's house, Donna and Brenda are studying vocabulary words. Kelly is reading an article about breast cancer, including a self-exam. Brenda notes that her aunt Sheila — Cindy's younger sister by 5 years — died of cancer two years ago. All the girls do the self-exam; Donna and Kelly are fine but Brenda feels something. Later — after a testy dinner with more SAT conversation — Brenda tells Cindy about the lump. Cindy is concerned but promises to get an appointment with a doctor — but needs help finding one. The next morning, Jim tries to console Brenda but does a bad job of it. And no one tells Brandon what is going on.

During class, Cindy shows up and takes Brenda to meet with a doctor. She promises to keep Brenda's confidences and does an examination. (We also learn that Brenda has had the lump for two