Almost immediately after the news broke that The CW was contemplating a 90210-esque reboot of the original’s spin-off, Melrose Place, the buzz turned to Heather Locklear. Would she? Could she? Should she?
Perhaps because her tumultuous personal life has been extra public lately, the actress formerly known as Amanda Woodward declined to be interviewed for this story. But a top Hollywood talent agent sees little downside in her slipping back into the man-eater’s trademark miniskirts: “It certainly wouldn’t hurt her to do it.” Even a high-ranking exec at a rival net is excited by the prospect of seeing Aaron Spelling’s old good-luck charm back in action. “She should wait and find out what the actual concept is,” says the suit. “But if it involves her running [her old Melrose ad agency] D&D à la The Devil Wears Prada, she should jump at it.”
Besides a decent premise, Locklear should also hold out until the series has someone decent in charge. Or someone, period. Darren Star, who created the original, has apparently passed. Now CW president Dawn Ostroff is looking internally for a boss, sources say. One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn, who just inked an overall deal with CBS/Paramount, the studio behind Melrose 2.0, is one name being bandied about. The exec confirms that he’s been approached, but adds, “That doesn’t mean I’m on [Dawn's] short list. It’s kind of natural they’d call.” Is he even interested? “Never say never…though I’m more about creating something new. I’m the guy to call when they want to remake One Tree Hill.”
One person who definitely won’t be taking on the job is Josh Schwartz, who has his hands full with The CW’s Gossip Girl and NBC’s Chuck. But he can still dream, can’t he? “I would make the apartment complex a retirement home and have it star Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Bea Arthur,” he jokes. “That way you get two hit shows in one.”
What do you think? Should Heather sign on? Who else from the original cast would you like to see move back in? And what about Schwahn? Is he the right man for the job? And if not him, who? Comment away! (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick and Jennifer Armstrong)
More One Tree Hill:
Who’s getting killed off this season?
The CW extends season
Heather Locklear MUST sign on. Although it would be hard to get Amanda back into town without some major re-writing… One character that must come back is Michael Mancini as well as Lexi Sterling Cooper.
I honestly never really watched Melrose, but she should ABSOLUTELY do it. It could be a good return to form for her
The problem with a Melrose reboot is that a lot of the best characters are dead (Sydney, Matt, Kimberly), faked their deaths (Amanda, Peter), or were played by people who are busy doing other stuff. So basically the only ones left are people no one cares about. The only person who would really work is Michael Mancini.
IF Heather did sign on, she couldn’t visit 90210 otherwise she would notice the uncanny ressemblence the principal has to her old flame Kyle.
And yes, many of the best characters are dead or m.i.a. I am sure Marcia Cross is rolling her eyes. Perhaps Kimberly Shaw could have a young sibling we never knew about!
In any case, I would watch the show to see how they work out the reunion vs. new cast concept that seems quite broken on the new “90210″
Bring back jamie luner & Darren star !!! theae 2 needs to be back on melrose 2.0 to make it a great show.
Matt died? I don’t remember this. Please remind me how it happened.
Why does everyone want all the old characters back? The new show can do just find with some new 20 somethings living in the complex.
And hell no to Mark Schwahn. If we can’t get Darren Star, then they need to find a way to lure Charles Pratt J.R from AMC.
Kate, Matt died in s7. He got into a car wreck. When he died, he left a book of all the secrets that the MP residents had told him.
Matt died off screen in the final season. He was killed in a car accident en route to meet the gang from dinner (after he had moved away). His diary was the catalyst to the whole Amanda-is-a-murdering-cheerleader storyline.
Mark is great on OTH! Would love to see him do something like Melrose Place!!
Remember in the final season, Lexi bought the apartment building from Amanda. While I would love to see Heather!!!…I think Jamie Luner would be necessary as well…and I’ve always loved Josie Bissett
Bring Laura Leighton back to life. Kill Billy and Alison to make sure they can’t return. Heather MUST return. I always loved how she would cattily twist the knife one final time when she was quarreling with one of her MP tenants by saying over her shoulder as she strutted off –
“By the way, the rent is due.”
loved Melrose Place, but i wish they would have never made One Tree Hill in the first place…
Have ya’ll seen Jaimie Luner lately? She looks like an over botoxed mess! I saw her in a tv movie the other day and she couldn’t even move her face.
Bring’em all back! Billy/Amanda 2.0? Why not?