When you think of a television set show that ’s emblematical of the ‘ XC , none are more quintessential than Beverly Hills , 90210 . From the cheesy , guitar - heavy introduction medicine to the too - high - to - heaven hairstyles , the show became an international hit by depicting a group of attractive teens growing up privileged in Southern California . From 1990 to 2000 , it served as a forever clip capsule of the decade that made consumer technology a staple in quotidian biography .
Anyone who knows me , personally , bonk my unhealthful fixation with this show . I did n’t tune in when it originally aired , except for the few episodes I managed to sneak - watch in the recent seasons . As the show concluded on Fox and I entered my early teens , I began watching the rerun on FX and , afterwards , SOAPNet . That ’s when I realize the show could dish out as an escape cock for me ; I opine myself range aside to Los Angeles to chase the sun . I desire the exemption these rich kids had .
I also wanted the Irish bull they had float around in the backcloth . Not only did I like their clothes and want to see the band that they saw live at the Peach Pit After Dark ( The Flaming Lips!Christina Aguilera ! ) , but I also wanted access code to the internet as they had in time of year five when the epic storyline of Kelly getting burn in a housefire starts up by way of an errantly - posted rave broadsheet on a message board . These were all little minute that kicked off more pregnant plotlines in the show , and they were a great lesson of how figurer and the internet became background characters to the decade .
Image: CBS/Gizmodo
I ’ve look on all ten seasons of the show every class since 2005 . During the height of the covid pandemic , I started watch it daily — they say that we ’re more likely to default on to our comforter in sentence of duress . That ’s why I ’m the double-dyed someone to serve as a duty tour templet through technical school and the net , as depicted on Beverly Hills , 90210 , throughout the 1990s .
The privileged tech of the 90210
Beverly Hills , 90210 was n’t symbolic of many teenagers ’ experience in the ‘ 90s — the sort of money and access these kids had was not the average . West Beverly Hills High School was modeled after the real - liveliness Beverly Hills High School , which boast moneyed and inside literal - life ammonia alum such as Lenny Kravitz , Angelina Jolie , and even the Kardashians . While these rich kids were ostensibly teaching viewers about classism , racism , microaggressions , and how to have secure gender , they were also driving expensive sports railcar and wearing clothing blade that only a banker or a lawyer ’s kid could afford at the time .
Technology became the background character in the show starting in season one . In the pilot film instalment , we see b - ringlet of a supposed student at West Beverly carting around expensive laptops like theMacintosh Portable . That chunky laptop come in at around $ 7,000 in 1990 with a hard drive in tow , more than the cost of my last three computing machine in the Modern millenary .
The kids had access to a social class call “ technical school Shop”—I’m still puzzled about what technology they were monkey with , as the show describe beaker and random circuitry instead of the desktop computers I think from the elementary school computer lab . Tech Shop became somewhat of a tertiary character in season one . It ’s where Brandon and the viewers encounter Dylan McKay , played by Luke Perry , who became the show ’s resident bad son . It ’s also where Brandon does his first of many sanctimonious takes inepisode 5 , where he criminate a fateful student - athlete of receiving discriminatory intervention . ( The storyline was cringe , and Brandon apologized to the student subsequently , but the drama started there in that technical school elbow room . )
Screenshot: CBS
By 1991 - 1992 , the show had grown in popularity enough that the meshing took a gamble on air a “ summer ” time of year wherein the small fry and teens at dwelling house could learn in literal - time as the gang enjoyed their break from school . Tech Shop was no longer part of the curriculum , but there would be minute of dialogue and transitionary scenery show that technology had distance at West Beverly High .
David Silver , played by Brian Austin Green ( or “ BAG , ” as the fans call him ) , was introduced to us as a nerdy wannabe with hobbies like attain music with his electric keyboard . Naturally , he morph into one of the more tech - savvy members of the cast — many of my favored tech - centric wrinkle fall from his character , and it ’s clear that he was written as a gadget promontory from the very beginning . Inepisode four of season two , David geeks out over a rearward - projection goggle box present in the gaming way when the crowd sneaks into the Beverly Hills Beach Club after hours to play poker . In one offhanded commentary to Steve Sanders , play by Ian Ziering , he educate viewing audience on why rear jut was consider a proficient engineering at the clip through one punchily - delivered line . just , it had “ twice the brightness . ”
Large television blind became more readily available to consumers starting in 1991 . According tothis vintage articlefrom the Los Angeles Times , which was release around the same time this sequence debut , sales of telecasting screen prominent than 27 - inch had increased 13 % that summer — there ’s no dubiousness that the Beverly Hills Beach Club had budget some of its cash that summer to upgrade the television in the game room . arse - sound projection TVs , which were as big as 53 inches , were pronounce as having “ gained ‘ yuppie toy ’ status , ” which fits the mould for Beverly Hills , 90210 .
David Silver and Scott Scanlon in Tech Shop.Screenshot: CBS
Season two is also where we memorize that The West Beverly Blaze , the school newspaper , was edited and produce on background computer . Inepisode 12 , Andrea Zuckerman , run by Gabrielle Carteris , also editor - in - chieftain of the Blaze , pens a letter of surrender on what appear to be a electronic computer running MS - DOS ( my brother - in - law think it’sthis onespecifically , but we ’re going off a screencap ) . Andrea convinces herself the ruse that she ’s living at her grannie ’s flat in Beverly Hills wo n’t fly with the school board and that she ’ll have to go back to school in the valley . Later in the episode , she impassionately reminds her friends during dejeuner that she was going through all the trouble to lie because West Beverly High offered approach to technology and programs she did n’t have in Van Nuys . “ You masses have no idea how skilful you have it … You think every place is like this . ”
Indeed , computers were becomingmore commonplacein public schools in the United States . By 1991 , about 98 % of school day were using a computing machine for instruction , up from about 18 % in the early ‘ 80s . electronic computer were also more promptly available , with one computing machine for every 18 students , making it sluttish to access for funny tinkerers .
The most famous tech - tinged storyline in the entire serial — and the one that taught me about the concept of “ social engineering”—occurs in season three . It ’s one of my favorite multi - episode electric discharge . Steve Sanders , who I mentioned earlier , is the nonmigratory jock and “ cool guy ” on campus . Although he ’s boorish and often dysphemistic , he has the best outcome of all the character by season ten . Each season they had him navigating some distressing position . In season two , it wassteroidson the school track squad . And in season three , it was hacking into the school to change his degree .
David Silver, schooling us on rear-projection technology.Screenshot: CBS
Steve Sanders is not the cyber-terrorist in this position . The storyline begin inepisode 8when a recently - graduated West Beverly High alum seeds Steve with the so - holler “ bequest cay . ” This Francis Scott Key is purportedly a master samara that unlock every threshold in the schooling , include the elbow room where they stash away the grades . Steve , revere that he wo n’t make it into the University of Southern California with his stumpy scores , make up one’s mind to try out to break into the school to change his transcripts . To his mortification , the grades are not just letters write down on paper . After all , it ’s the ‘ 90s , and because this is an affluent schoolhouse , all that selective information has been digitized and salt away on a estimator .
rather of working his seat off to make the grades , Steve decide to hire a tech - run whipping boy to help him . This is when we meetHerbert Little , Steve ’s freshman buddy , who also happens to be a data processor hacker in his trim time . However , for Herbert to get to the school ’s computers , he needs the sea captain password . Steve , ever the master bullshitter , make up the call pretending to be from the “ Computer internet Maintenance Corporation . ” He successfully phishes the password from the shoal territory ’s IT department . It ’s almost too comfortable — and mode easier than 2600told meit would be .
In the end , Steve and Herbert ’s efforts to hack on into the school ’s mainframe computer do n’t quite work out . The police collar on that there was a break - in and launch an investigation . finally , Steve fesses up to the attempt to change his grades and spends the rest period of the school class in before- and after - schoolhouse detention , where plenty of other plotlines occur throughout the season .
Brandon judgingly reads Andrea’s resignation letter.Screenshot: CBS
When consumer tech graduated
By time of year four , the bunch had all graduated from high school and entered college . All eight of them end up at the large ( and apparently esteemed ? ) university phone California University — in reality , they were shoot on localisation at Occidental College in Eagle Rock . Their campus was chockfull of mid-’90s engineering gems .
Thanks to a erudition , Andrea has aMacintoshand a optical maser pressman in her hall elbow room . And everyone from Kelly Taylor , played by Jennie Garth , to Donna Martin , play by Tori Spelling , has either a car phone or a cellphone on them — Donna had hers embedded in her BMW ’s middle console , which was a standard option available at the clip .
There are some non - computer tech moments that come up in the college years that cue us how far we ’ve come with other case of consumer technology . Remember tapes ? Well , they used to melt , especially if you salt away them in the glove compartment of a hot car , as Donna discovers inepisode three of time of year four .
If you get a call from the CNMC, hang up immediately.Screenshot: CBS
time of year five claim place between ‘ 94 and ‘ 95 , and it is chock full of engineering tidbits — not to advert melodrama . I was struck by how often I was run into hot technical school at the time , just sitting pretty in the backcloth of these rich people ’s homes and dorm rooms . Even Donna ’s mom gets herself anApple PowerBook , relaunched later that year with a faster processor and color cover . But at a starting price of $ 1,600 a whole , it was only within reach for the tributary . ( The Apple Tax has n’t have up since then . )
Season five also bring on Clare Arnold full - time from the late time of year , played by Kathleen Robertson . Clare is the daughter of the school ’s chancellor , and she becomes one of the show ’s nonmigratory techies throughout her four - season tenure . She dates David for one time of year , and while together , they ’re pegged as what we would now call “ extremely online ” for the clip . They both bonk their way around computers and video equipment , and they ’re both take on “ Intro to Media . ” David first encounters her at the schooling ’s computer lab inepisode four , where Clare is making artwork on what appear to be aMacintosh LCdesktop computer for a television assignment . “ That ’s some program . Did you write it ? ” David asks her . “ No , I had to shell out 30 one dollar bill like everybody else , ” Clare answer . Good for her for not pirate it .
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Andrea, that’s a nice scholarship to give you access to your own computer and laser printer.Screenshot: CBS
Kelly is the one who also sire pain in that firm fire . But it ’s arduous to focus on the earnestness of that without first getting through the silliness of how the story arc starts : David accidentally drops the digital flyer for the rave in a transmission channel for “ women - seek - cleaning lady . ” ( It seems hilarious until you realize that later in the episode , lesbians become the punchline . ) As Steve observe that only adult female couple are showing up for the political party , he asks David , “ When you posted this online , where exactly did you post it ? ”
“ The , uh , college party line , ” David reply . “ Of course , at first , I did drop it in the wrong meeting place , ” he take on .
“ Oh well , ” Clare note , helping diffuse the situation . “ The more , the merry ! ”
Poor Donna. She didn’t realize that tapes melt in the sun.Screenshot: CBS
At its pith , the one forum post is a venial patch twist . But it end up conflagrate into massive character development for Kelly . Kelly and Allison , who is one-half of the first lesbian duo we see arriving at the political party , end up trapped in the flame together . They ’re the last I rescue as the credits embark on rolling at the conclusion of the episode . Kelly makes it out of the fire with minimal damage to her model - suitable face , while Allison finish up so badly burned she needs tegument grafts . This all ends up conduct to Kelly conjoin a religious cult . It ’s a long level . But how many forum position have circuitously lead to people joining a cult ? I ’d wager a lot .
Season six starts to get a little zany . Charles Rosin , one of the original writers of the first five seasons , start his expiration around this time . His absence is tangible as the season get along . The episode becomes less about the crew ’s adhesiveness and more about dramatic plot line to contend with its spinoff , Melrose Place . But technology remained a part of the trick .
One of my favorite moments of time of year six involved Clare and Steve . Clare and David have break up by now , and she ’s go on to tutoring Steve in curative mathematics . Inepisode four , we learn that Steve gets her aid by pretending to be a sensitive guy in a chat room . However , she does n’t realize it ’s him until they both chuck each other for their respective online date , only to discover they are actually both talking online — Steve is screw as “ Tender Heart ” in the schmooze , while Clare goes by the alias of “ Cuddles279 . ” This plain off what sour out to be a beautiful relationship between the two and the root of Steve ’s series - retentive redemption arc .
David gets confused about where to place the rave flyer in the Delphi forums.Screenshot: CBS
While I ’m not entirely sure of the chat applications programme they were vex their “ cyber sex ” on — it ’s referred to as such by Brandon , gag — this was filmed in 1995 when the first on-line dating sites started browse up . Based on a screencap , which lists the program as “ hoi polloi Connection – CU , ” I ’m assuming the user interface is a spoof of Stanford ’s inter - campusWeb personal .
The information processing system play between Clare and Steve does n’t arrest there . In time of year 7 , we see Steve ’s true potential drop as a “ tender heart , ” helping contribute credence to the username he was swim around with online . Inepisode 25 , Clare freak out after she strike hard a cup of coffee all over her computer , stimulate it to short . There ’s sess coming out of the machine , and later , she undertake to dry out the motherboard with a hairdryer ( I ’ve done this before ) . Although she blames Steve for the accident — she spills the coffee tree while he ’s on the headphone essay to convince her to delay her work — he eventually comes to the deliverance with a good onetime “ magnetic disk utility program . ” Clare realise he was n’t at fault for the mishap and post him flowers as a truce . It ’s one of the last peaceful bit we see between them before Clare exits the show by prompt to France with her founder .
When it all went to shit
Beverly Hills , 90210 is difficult to watch in the later season . Many of the original writers of the show had left by time of year eight . And season nine saw the departures of Jason Priestley and Tiffany Amber Thiessen , who played Valerie Malone ( unluckily , she was given little to no technical school - centric plot line , though the writers had no problem fornicatress - shaming her through her run ) . This is where I get less nostalgic and have the least chemical attraction for the show . drop a few arcminute on the fan - runsubredditor my favorite meme account,90210Stupid , and you ’ll see plenty of folk who concord with me .
There are still a few desirable technical school - centrical plot drivers in the later season . But they were fewer and far between because , at this point , consumer applied science was no longer something we were goggle at ; it was an embedded part of the late ‘ 90s lifestyle . We had access to more affordable computers and devices , and we had the internet . About40%of American households were on-line when the last season publicise . In some ways , the last few seasons are a mark of how the connected world we ’re living in right now came to be .
In season eight , Brandon and Steve start a rag call the Beverly Beat . It morphs into a National Enquirer - style publication by the serial ’ end . It begins as Brandon ’s valorous effort to get into journalism without actually working up the ranks like the respite of us . They lease Janet , played by Lindsay Price , to facilitate manage the paper . Brandon files his story for the Beverly Beat on what looks like theApple PowerBook 3400c , which issue forth out in February 1997 , when this season would have been shoot . The scenes in the “ newsroom ” are fun because we get glimpses of the consumer tech that was floating around professional space at the meter .
Steve Sanders attempts to woo the internet with his “tender heart.”Gif: CBS
Before Brandon leaves in season nine , Janet pitches Steve on the importance of maintaining a site for the Beverly Beat . “ People will be able-bodied to access articles online , ” she explain . “ We ’ll expand our reader base . We ’ll get more contributor and advertisers . ” She draw it sound so gentle . After her pitch , a fictitious character appoint Sophie latches on to the idea of accost up a webcam to beguile the “ hustle and flurry ” of the newsroom . Naturally , Steve likes it because he flourish on chaos .
The camera they utilize is none other than one of the first webcam , theConnectix QuickCam . Sophie and David get frisky in the newsroom after hours , and since they ’re still live cyclosis , the cyberspace buzz off a gratis naughty flick , one film at a sentence . thing like this totally materialise in the heydays of internet - connected webcams . I remember accidentally leaving on my webcam while plunk my nose at the reckoner . gratefully , no one but me was looking at my site back then .
The rest of time of year nine and ten are a slog to get through . Dylan returns after Brandon leaves , and the writer begin reworking old plot line from the show ’s initial run to invoke to longtime TV audience . I was surprised to see that by time of year nine , he ’s a storied computer user , utter with his ownApple PowerBook G3 . When I last saw him in season six , he could barely type a message to the FBI on a typewriter . But here he is with a Mac in 1999 . Just like the balance of the world that ten , Dylan had to adapt as quickly as possible , as this was how he would be pilot the new millenary .
Behold, Clare, drying off her motherboard with a hair dryer.Screenshot: CBS
I ’m bummed that the writers did n’t think to do a Y2K - theme episode , but it was clear by time of year ten that all Fox desire to do was kill off the show and convey in something fresh . The domain had move on . Young people were no longer like the cast , the mold was no longer unseasoned . And the high shoal experience would never be the same .
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The Beverly Beat website as depicted in 1999.Screenshot: CBS
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