Beverly Hills, 90210 Re-Watch: Fame is Where You Find It (Season 1 Episode 16)
It’s installment three of the Beverly Hills, 90210 re-watch, so it’s time for some confessions don’t you think?
Beverly Hills, 90210, Season 1 Episode 16, “Fame Is Where You Find It” is one of my personal picks. That’s because one of my favorite characters on the show got no credit at all. Because Laverne is one of the best things to happen on the show, period.
This whole episode is just…fun. That’s easier to come by on the earlier episodes, for sure. But the storyline flows well and feels very relatable, too. Relatable for Beverly Hills, at least.
The Peach Pit needs Laverne, and every time I watch the series I wish she’d come back for more than one episode.
I love Nat, and I love the diner, but the place loses some of its charm as time goes on. I wish more episodes on the series highlighted The Pit adequately. But perhaps I’m just a sucker for a retro vibe even while watching TV that already feels retro.
It really goes without saying that Laverne is fun and fabulous — that’s all she’s meant to be so there’s no need to go too deep.
But early on, Beverly Hills, 90210 is at its core a family drama that pushes the envelope on issues that matter to teens. It’s perhaps always a teen drama…but we are still on Season 1. We still get a lesson at the end of every episode.
As morals of stories go, “Fake it until you make it” is one of my favorites. Probably because I’m not good at it but I want to be. I soak up any tips about how to “fake it” professionally especially in case it helps me make it.
I’m doing OK on my own right now but both Brenda and Brandon really get the “faking it” part down on this episode, athough, Brandon doesn’t “make it” exactly. But perhaps there’s an argument to be made that he does.
I love the idea of telling a story about making a teen drama on a teen drama — anything about making a TV show on TV is rare. So, I love everything about being on the set of Keep It Together on this episode.
Since we’re confessing things, let me get another one out of the way. Brandon Walsh is my least favorite character on Beverly Hills, 90210.
In a world where toasted everything bagels with butter exist, he’s plain white bread, you know? He’s the moral center of the show and every once in a while that’s interesting. But not often.
It’s sad that this episode is from the time when everything gets wrapped up in a lesson. Giving Brandon a tad bit more success in the industry would’ve made for a great arc, but the series definitely isn’t at the point where they’d think to do something like that.
Fame does change him the slightest bit until getting cut from the show smacks him down to reality. It would’ve been interesting for viewers to see him go slightly farther down the rabbit hole before coming back to reality.
Nothing drastic, of course. Perhaps he could make it onto a few episodes of the show before they abruptly cut him and wrap his storyline in a way that makes no sense.
Part of the reason I’m so keen for this storyline to continue is that Lydia Leeds is far more interesting than Emily Valentine. Sure, she’s a bit shallow and self-centered. One aspect of the episode that makes no sense is that they try to make Lydia seem like a nicer person than she is.
It’s actually awkward to watch the scenes where Brandon gets water poured over his head and is supposed to be doing badly on set.
Considering all of the behind the scenes drama we know has happened on this show’s real set and others, it just makes me wonder how many genuinely good and talented souls have been crushed by the Hollywood scene.
Lydia is not the worst. But the way she uses Brandon to get back at her ex is also very uncool.
Plus, in my head, she knows or at least has an idea that Brandon’s scenes are going to be cut. It’s underhanded that she doesn’t at least warn him, no matter if the show wants all of the bows on their storylines to be pretty and neat.
There’s no need to include the scene where Brandon and Lydia make up. His friends are a great support and Lydia isn’t going to be back. He really is her flavor of the week and or her rebound guy and there’s nothing wrong with writing a woman like that.
It’s times like these that the show really exposes its age.
Speaking of Brandon’s friends though, Brenda, Brandon, Jim, and Cindy are the stars of this episode and everyone else plays their supporting roles really well.
I always miss a good dose of the Walshes on later episodes. Plus, there’s cake at the end of this one. It’s such a solid vintage episode that really feeds my fangirl soul.
What did you think of this episode of Beverly Hills, 90210? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.