Watching the new rehashed version of Melrose Place is a bit like moving back to university digs 15 years after you first escaped them. Where 90210 manages to feel fresh and new despite the return of Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty (in the roles of Kelly and Brenda), watching the whole Sydney Andrews and Michael Mancini show after all of these years just feels like a giant step backwards into the mid-90’s.
Still, they’ll have to solve the big, bad mystery of Sydney’s demise eventually and Thomas Calabro is only billed in a ‘recurring role’ so I’ve decided to give the show a chance.
The major reason for watching it is that I might have developed a little crush on one of the characters and this was the scene that did it:
Michael Rady as Jonah Miller, Melrose Place, season 1 episode 2
Yum! Look at those come-hither eyes.
It is totally out of character for me to like ‘nice guys’. Generally, I look for the meanest, grumpiest, most evil character in a film or show and that is the one I crush on. But there is something about Michael Rady and he makes the show worth watching. (I just hope this isn’t a new trend as I found myself liking Sam in True Blood). Perhaps he’ll turn into an evil demon or axe wielding murderer or something and my reputation can remain intact.
Katie Cassidy as Ella Simms, Melrose Place, season 1 episode 2
I’ve mentioned before how much I like Katie Cassidy. I just think she’s gorgeous and although her character Ella is really irritating on Melrose Place, she does have a fantastic wardrobe.
Katie Cassidy as Ella Simms, Melrose Place, season 1 episode 3
Nice wardrobe or not, her character isn't nearly as good as she was playing demon Ruby on Supernatural. Why they felt they had to replace her, I will never know.
Ashlee Simpson Wentz as Violet Foster, Melrose Place, season 1 episode 3
I'm not entirely sure Ashlee Simpson Wentz can act but she’s quite striking on the screen. With the Sydney / Michael show going on and the usual awkwardness between actors in a new series, there is room for her to improve and become believable but I really hope the producers don’t make her a complete Sydney clone.
Michael Rady as Jonah Miller, Melrose Place, season 1 episode 3
I thought I'd throw in another picture of Michael Rady (playing Jonah Miller). There are a great deal more actors in the show but overall, they are really irritating and I don’t really like any of them. I’d even go so far as to say that I dislike all of them except for Jonah. We’ll see. I just know that I’ll watch every episode in the series and it will maybe even become a guilty pleasure but I suspect I’ll give up on it just like I did with the original Melrose Place.
