TCA: The CW takes center stage

The CW took center stage at the TCA Press Tour on Saturday, with perhaps the biggest breaking news of the tour thus far:

Shannen Doherty returns to 90210.

Yes, bad girl Shannen Doherty will appear in "multiple episodes" of the new version of 90210. She'll reprise her Brenda Walsh character, joining Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling, who'll also reprise their roles as Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin, respectively. The new 90210 premieres on Sept. 2, with a two-hour movie. 

Of course, this is not the first time there was a sequel to a successful TV show. There has been successes, notably from the Star Trek, Degrassi, Scooby Doo, and Saved by the Bell franchises. Then again, for every one of those, there's Sanford, The New Odd Couple (with black actors!), DaVinci's City Hall, and the 1995 version of Get Smart (with drug fiend Andy Dick.) 

Welcome back, Shannen. Though yours truly was relieved when she left 90210 in 1994, the program clearly lost some steps without her, and her replacement (Tiffany Amber-Thiessen) - from the original Saved by the Bell - proved she best stayed on Saturday morning TV. 

90210 had a panel at TCA, and you can read a summary of it here. Yours truly will certainly give this sequel a shot (I watched the original version for seven years), and it it's good, I may stick around to see it. If it saves the ratings-challenged CW is another matter, though.

90210 is the centerpiece of a more young female-friendly schedule. The CW is launching some of its schedule on Labor Day Week. For the premiere dates, click here. 

Meanwhile, The CW and Media Rights Capital plans to launch its new Sunday schedule on Sept. 21, the same night the Emmy Awards are scheduled. 

There was also an executive session with CW chief Dawn Ostroff, and I'll address that in a Think Tank due out tomorrow (watch out, Dawn!)