#90210 talent

[rocknrollflames]

Shannen Doherty

Rest in Peace

April 12, 1971 - July 13, 2024

Little House on the Prairie, 1982 - 1983

Girls Just Want to Have Fun, 1985

Our House, 1986 - 1988

Heather's, 1988

Beverly Hills, 90210, 1990 - 1994

Mallrats, 1995

Charmed, 1998 - 2001

[brandonxdylan]

I just had to make a little appreciation post for the way Daniel Cosgrove makes a funny scene even funnier by being a complete goofball in the background

First, we see him (drunkenly) sipping his tropical cocktail in the background as he moseys his way towards Karen and Rush

Next, as they’re exchanging barbs about who's better at pleasing Samantha in the sack (which itself is fantastic), Matt picks up a little hula doll and shakes it. Plausibly drunk behaviour, and it’s so dumb I couldn’t help but laugh.

Then, as he pops some appetizers in his mouth, he becomes aware of the heated conversation going on in front of him.

Naturally, he leans in to eavesdrop more efficiently...

...and is immensely pleased with Karen’s sick as fuck burn. 

This moment is not acknowledged by any of the other characters and I have to assume it was improvised. I SEE YOU KING!

[mashyimaro]

@thatkevinsmith : Long before any other pop culture figure “broke the internet” (@)theshando singlehandedly shattered it in the early 90’s. This is an incredible accomplishment considering the internet as we know it didn’t even exist yet. I (and the rest of the known universe) used to watch “the girl from #heathers” every week on (@)beverlyhills90210. I usually did so while jockeying the register at (@)quickstopgroceries - so it was ironic that the film I’d eventually make there would lead to #shannendoherty. (@)malcolm.ingram is most responsible for Shannen being in #mallrats. When I told him my next flick was essentially “Clerks in a Mall”, Malcolm insisted “Then you gotta cast Doherty! She’s an American icon!” That she was, and so much more. Shannen was a true talent and she became a good friend, but lest anyone forget, she was the only reason Mallrats got green-lit in 1995. That’s because Shannen was one of the most famous people on the planet - and the fact that she picked Mallrats as her first follow-up to 90210 made that movie happen. I cherish the memories of Shannen walking her German Shepherd around the (@)edenprairiecenter every morning, or whenever she’d gossip and giggle between takes. At the junket for Rats, we established a ritual we kept up for years, where she wrote “dick” over my half of our (@)filmthreat cover while I wrote “bitch” over her pic. But while Shannen was no shrinking violet and she gave as good as she got (particularly to the paparazzi), she was never anything but sweet to me. I told her back in December when I was on her podcast that I felt like the girl I used to watch on TV at Quick Stop was there to welcome me when I got into show business. Fuck… She’s died way too soon. I already miss you, Do-Do. Thank you for going to the Mall with me - and for thirty years of friendship. My Canadian pal was right: you are (and always will be) an American icon.

[donnadsltwmart]

Something I made in loving memory of

Shannen Doherty was a talented actress who left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

From her iconic role as Prue Halliwell in "Charmed" to her unforgettable portrayals in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Heathers," Doherty's impact as an actress was undeniable.

Her bravery in speaking openly about her battles with cancer raised awareness and inspired countless individuals facing similar challenges.

Her spirit and unwavering determination will forever inspire us. #shannendoherty #inlovingmemory #Heathers #90210 #rip #miss #charmed #beverlyhills

[shannendoherty-fans]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/opinion/shannen-doherty-gen-x.html

The New York Times — Opinion

We Owe Shannen Doherty an Apology

July 17, 2024. By Jennifer Weiner

Shannen Doherty was difficult.

If you were alive and sentient in the 1990s — whether you, like me, were a devoted fan of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and E! or you were just the most casual reader of People magazine — you knew this to be true. The sky is blue. The earth is round. Shannen Doherty, the star of multiple hit movies and television shows, is difficult. She was, per the tabloids, a volatile, unmanageable diva, and that reputation was only reinforced by the pouty, prima donna roles in which she was so often and so brilliantly cast.

Ms. Doherty died on Saturday, at the age of 53, of the cancer that was diagnosed in 2015. Since the news broke, the tenor of the conversation around her has changed. Instead of being an eye-roll-inducing wild child, Ms. Doherty is now being praised for the sensitivity and candor with which she discussed her cancer diagnosis and her time in the spotlight. And those ’90s tabloid stories? They’re hitting differently. The glee with which they were once consumed no longer feels appropriate. Ms. Doherty made her fair share of mistakes, but Gen X’s quintessential bad girl no longer looks all that bad.

If this reassessment feels familiar, it’s because in death, Ms. Doherty has joined the growing ranks of female celebrities whose scandals and legacies are being reconsidered by a newly sensitive culture.

In 2002, when Britney Spears’s high-profile relationship with Justin Timberlake ended, she was a train wreck, a bad joke, a problem. Eventually, her career and her money were placed under her father’s control. In 2008, Katherine Heigl went from queen of the rom-com to Hollywood purgatory for the sins of taking herself out of Emmy contention and having the temerity to say that “Knocked Up” was “a little sexist.” In 2009, Megan Fox got slammed — and fired — for calling out Michael Bay, her director on “Transformers,” for a desire “to create this insane, infamous madman reputation.” (OK, maybe she did also compare him to Hitler, which never ends well.)

Today, so many of the former tabloid mainstays do not look like punchlines or cautionary tales, but like regular young women enjoying the pleasures of fame. Some even look like role models. Ms. Spears emerged as a hero, not a villain, and it’s her ex who’s the target of comedians’ jabs. Post #MeToo, Ms. Heigl and Ms. Fox look like truth-tellers, not ingrates. Ms. Doherty, sadly, did not live long enough to enjoy her restored reputation.

A former child actress, Ms. Doherty was only 19 when she landed a starring role in “Beverly Hills, 90210.” She played Brenda Walsh, half of a set of fish-out-of-water Midwestern twins navigating the halls of West Beverly High. She left the show after four seasons, reportedly after feuding with co-stars, including Jennie Garth and the boss’s daughter, Tori Spelling. When Aaron Spelling hired her again, giving her a three-season run on “Charmed,” tensions with a co-star reportedly led to her being fired a second time. She was separated from the other actors as though she were an irrational toddler rather than a skilled, valued employee.

Those high-profile roles, along with her talent and her beauty, made her a star. But the conversation about her often made it seem as if her real job was to be fodder for the tabloids and a target for late-night comedians.

To be sure, Ms. Doherty gave them plenty to work with. There were the feuds and bar fights, a pair of quickie marriages and a D.U.I. arrest. Producers complained that she showed up late to the set, hogged the spotlight, bailed on the Emmys. A former fiancé filed an order of protection.

Ms. Doherty was eviscerated for this behavior in a way that indecorous male actors were not, at least at that time. A People magazine cover labeled her a “hard-partying, check-bouncing bad girl.” A zine called Ben Is Dead published an “I Hate Brenda” newsletter, complete with the “Shannen Snitch Line,” where informants could call in reports of unaired bad behavior.

In a 1992 cover story, People asked “TV’s brashest 21-year-old” why she, “alone among ‘90210’ co-stars and teen idols,” got stuck with the “difficult” label. Is she “one of those women who rhyme with rich? Is she, as the tabloids have gleefully reported, impossible on the set? Is she a prima donna? Also: After hours, does she party too much?”

Years later, Ms. Doherty copped to some of her misdeeds. “I have a rep,” she told Parade in 2010. “Did I earn it? Yeah, I did. But, after awhile you sort of try to shed that rep because you’re kind of a different person.”

So what drove the scandal? Blame it on youth. “90210” begat a whole generation of shows with ensemble casts of teenagers. Ms. Doherty was not the only one who needed time to grow into her outsize prominence. “We were locked in this sound stage for 14 to 16 hours every day,” Ms. Garth, who was also just a teenager, said years later. “There were times when we loved each other and there were times when we wanted to claw each other’s eyes out.”

Blame it on a desire to typecast female celebrities as heroes and villains, sweethearts and shrews, and the time-honored tradition of setting women against each other.

Or blame it, if you like, on plain old sexism. Ms. Doherty said the first time she was called a bitch was when she called out a male cast member on the set of “Heathers” for taking advantage of an extra. “I’m a strong woman,” Ms. Doherty told People. “There are still some people out there who can’t deal with that.”

Today, maybe more people are equipped to deal, more likely to look askance at misbehaving men instead of the women who call them out. Instead of the coy, “is she a rhymes-with-rich?” of early ’90s People, a Rolling Stone tribute is headlined “Nobody Could Break Shannen Doherty, and Everybody Tried.” “Shannen Doherty was irresistible, underrated and permanently shackled to misogynistic speculation,” wrote Adam White in The Independent. The headline on an opinion piece in Vogue read, simply, “Team Brenda Forever.”

The reassessment is more than just a desire (sincere or otherwise) not to speak ill of the dead. It’s a result of a few tough decades that have taught us what real bad behavior in Hollywood looks like: not impolite ingénues but Harvey Weinstein. Or Bill Cosby. Or Danny Masterson.

Maybe Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton and Tara Reid were not hot messes, but just girls being girls, the same way we’ve always allowed boys to be boys. And at least their misdeeds were largely victimless, unlike the missteps of so many male counterparts or superiors.

Maybe showing up late to the set, while not ideal, is not completely unexpected from a teenager adjusting to sudden, unimaginable wealth and fame. Maybe the bitches and the bad girls were giving voice to inconvenient truths about men with power and the sexist scripts they greenlighted, the abusive film sets they ran and the bad behavior they indulged in or ignored. Maybe the difficult women like Ms. Doherty are the ones we should have been listening to all along.

[fuckyeahimafangirl]

I was about 7 years old when I first watched 90210. Brenda was everything to me. Brenda/Dylan were pretty much my first OTP, even before that term existed probably. I was still a little kid when Kelly and Dylan cheated on her and I seriously believe that really impacted my view on relationships.

That show and what was said about Shannen when she was fired are some of my earliest memories.

And from that moment on, up until her last-released podcast episode, she's never left my life.

Charmed was the first fandom I was involved in. The first website I created. My first online friends that weren't just online for long. And Prue, of course, was a huge part of that. Prue and Piper. Their relationship on and off screen. I just loved them so. The episodes she directed on that show were some of my favorites. Very few episodes in history made me feel what All Hell Breaks Loose did.

She didn't change my life because there was not much to change before her. She was one of the artists who shaped me.

My heart is broken for the loss of such a force of nature, such a talented person, for a person who seemed so genuinely good, and for the things that I will not selfishly get to watch/hear. But it breaks even more when I think about people like her mom, Holly and SMG.

Thank you, Shannen, for absolutely everything.

[hell-much]

Hahaha that's so freaking cute that you got into it with 90210! Also 11 years old, I'm impressed.

Who did you ship in Buffy?

Well I'm glad your 30s settled down enough for you to take it to the next level ☺️

Also I can't believe no-one has asked that!! You're very talented

You're too sweet ❤️

I'm physically cringing even today, thinking how my brother read that 90210 fic out loud at lunch. 😭 I was very very proud of it back then though. And him humouring me in that (he is older and was in his late 20s at the time) might be the the most brotherly thing he ever did.

Phew, so Buffy was before I knew / accepted I was a lesbian. So that basically led to me shipping any of the girls I found hot with whoever the show paired them with. I liked Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Spike, Cordy/Xander, Cordy/Angel, Cordy/Spike, you name it. Tara and Willow funnily enough weren't that much on my radar at all. Come to think of it, a Faith/Cordy fic might have been the first wlw smut story I ever read.

I did go back to reading some Buffy fanfics 10 years ago or so, and there, Willow/Faith was a pairing that really fascinated me.

My 30s was me turning into a NPC in my own life (and loving it!) and just focusing on the fictional drama within my control hahaha

[rabid-dog-steve-horn]

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Shannen Doherty, an actress who brought iconic roles to life in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed." Beyond her well-known work in TV and film, Shannen appeared in a wrestling-themed episode of "Charmed," sharing the screen with wrestling legends Scott Steiner and Booker T. Her strength and talent have left an enduring legacy in both the entertainment and wrestling worlds. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Shannen.

[amitstrom-blog]

Remembering David Gale: A journey Through The Life Of a Beloved Actor

The entertainment world is mourning the demise of American actor David Gale, who passed away at the age of 58. Gayle's sudden death, known for her memorable roles in popular TV series like Beverly Hills 90210, Port Charles and Emergency, was announced by her sister Katie. Colmenares on Instagram. This article pays tribute to the talented actor, exploring the highlights of his career and the impact he made on both the small and big screens.

[gldenhrs]

                               (—) ★ spotted !!   luciana  “ luna “  santiago  on the cover of this week’s most recent tabloid ! many say that the 22 year old looks like cindy kimberly , but i don’t really see it. while the model / socialite  is known for being  passionate  my inside sources say that they have a tendency to be  irresponsible i swear, every time i think of them, i hear the song crazy by aerosmith .

*   ◞  ╰   general   .

full name :   luciana kristiyana santiago .  nicknames :   goes prominently by  luna  , only her dad calls her  moon  . birthdate / zodiac sign :   april 12th / aries .  birthplace :  madrid , spain . sexual orientation :  bisexual / heteroromantic .  family :   victor “ vic “  santiago (  lead singer in Aerosmith )  &  indah prasetya  ( band’s groupie )  languages spoken :   fluent in english  &  spanish , conversational in indonesian . pets :   two cats named freddie purrcury  &   madam meow  occupation :  model / socialite . love language :  physical touch . + traits  :  passionate , adventurous , enchanting , valiant , energetic , optimistic , affectionate  &   honest . - traits  :  dramatic , stubborn , querulous , insecure , irresponsible , impulsive , impatient   &  moody .   aesthetic :  red lipstick on plump lips , freshly baked coffee , spontaneous dance parties , strawberry lemonade on hot summer nights , heart shaped sunglasses , pigmented eyelids , european music festivals , setting off firecrackers at midnight , laughter floating through a room , missed calls at 2am , ripped bralettes , bare chest in the mornings .   muse inspo :   fran fine ( the nanny ) , francesca farago ( too hot to handle ) , kelly taylor ( 90210 ) , rachel green ( friends ) , jackie buckhart ( that 70s show  ) , hanna marin  ( pretty little liars ) ,  phoebe halliwell ( charmed ) , kiara ( outer banks ) , gabrielle solis ( desperate housewives ) , caroline forbes ( the vampire diaries ) , stassi schroder ( vanderpump rules ) ,  maddie perez ( euphoria ) .

*   ◞  ╰   quick history   .

victor  “ vic “   santiago  (  aka luna’s dad  )  is a  famous lead singer in a rock band .  think steven tyler from aerosmith ! !  so basically , growing up she’s been constantly surrounded by  GOOD  80s rock music  &  being on the road which definitely shaped her personality .

luna’s mother  ,  a groupie  ,  is someone who followed the band around on the road for numerous years , but vic never took her seriously  (  only took them to bed )   &  the only reason she even got pregnant with luna is because vic wanted a child , knowing he would most likely never marry .

soooo , incomes luciana “ luna “ santiago ,  his pride  &  joy  , his  MOON .  yes , he actually calls her that bc he’s always had an obsession with the stars   &  constellations .  tbh luna’s been the love / light of vic’s life from the moment she was born , adored by not only her dad , but the band , team  &  fans too !

as for her mother * cough *  , who knows where she is now , she doesn’t stay in touch tbh , only comes in town every couple of years to  “  see her “  aka  “  ask for money “ .  

with the better part of early years where she was home schooled due to her dad’s insane tour schedule , luna was always an insanely energetic  &  menace of a child , constantly running around , causing trouble , etc !  

at some point , she realized just how much she  LOVES  traveling , nature  &  being barefoot .  yes , kind of a wanderer but who can blame her when she grew up with 80s rock legends ? ?  so , she spend almost every waking moment traveling to exotic places , going to music festivals , walking bare chested in the mornings , painting landscapes  (  SHE’S V TALENTED ) , having spontaneous dance parties at 3am , etc !

as far as doing things outside of being a socialite / a nepo baby go ,  she’s been in her dad’s music videos since she was 15  (  think liv tyler in crazy  )  ,  and in many others , which naturally resulted in a numerous calls for modeling gigs , tv shows …. she took some modeling jobs out of fun  &  recently also out of pure fun , went to a famous tv show called  “ too hot to handle “   (  think francesca farago here’s inspo hehe :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rUY_xAF0T0  )  .  in a way , the only reason she went to that show was to show the world she can be something other than vic santiago’s daughter , so here she is ! !

*   ◞  ╰   personality & dating life   .

luna’s a bit of a spoiled brat which is a given ,  &  while she does come across a textbook example of a nepo baby with no real world problems , she’s really not bc she never cared much about the fame she just likes having  FUN  .

v v enchanting  &  can charm her way out of any bad situation  &  make u swoon .  tbh 10/10  she’ll annoy the living shit out of u or u’ll find her irresistible lol .

given her spanish roots , she can be hella’ dramatic just like her fav characters in telenovelas , but beside that she’s a truly good person with a good heart ok ! !   she just has a flair for dramatics , throwing fits , pouting   &   making puppy eyed faces whenever things don’t go her way .

can be hella hella flirtatious to a point she doesn’t even realize the effect she has on other people  &  more often than not she leads people on ? ?   she regrets it later but eh .

loves to party , drink , dance , wear skimpy outfits  &  kiss on the lips but also wear mickey mouse pajamas while someone softly combs through her hair ? ?   yeah , she needs to grow up . also kind of  LIVES  for summer  &  music festivals where she can just dress in glitter  &  fall in love with a different person every night !

v fun to be around bc she hates being bored  &  is impatient af !  she can’t stand being in one place for too long soooo catch her doing v dumb , impulsive decisions while bored like jumping on her father’s private jet to pet a koala in australia , go bungee jumping or snapping u a nude bc she’s bored at home jfnerjfgjsrgf .

some cute headcanons ? ?  ok , here we go ! !   to this day loves watching telenovelas  &  she might cancel her plans with u to binge watch them (  like rebelde , rubí ,  pasion de gavilanes , la reina del sur … ) , still cries like a baby when mufada dies or miguel  &  mia break up ,  very childish  &  dumb at times but will also surprise u with some random wisdom at 2am , will react if someone offends her or her friends best believe she’ll throw a dramatic telenovela shit in public  &  call u  “ un desgraciado “ lmao .

*   ◞  ╰   connections  .

she could use a squad  ?  like PLS .  i want her to have a squad of friends she can party with and overall do dumb shit lmao . 

also her  BFFS .  the thelma to her louise , the cassie to her maddie ! !   overall just two muses who are her family  &  they’re always tagging along w her , like vic probably treats them like his children too ! 

someone she’s  dating  atm but it’s nothing too serious , maybe he’ll end up breaking up with her or she’ll break up with him we’ll see but main thing is they WON’t last bc they’re messy af   &   luna’s heart isn’t 100% in this .

a  close friend  who party  &   hookup with other people when they’re out but always end up going home together  &  having this super open friendship where they have no problem hooking up with each other 6/7 days of the week ? ?

also gimme  caleb fuck buddies  that everyone ships  &  one of them is in love with the other while the other seems them just as a good time ?  ewfjwesbf.

also also gimme  a messy ex  plot where they are constantly on / off  &  the fans love em but they’re just so fucking toxic ? ?  maybe bc they’re too alike  &  won’t admit it’s love   &  just won’t settle down  (  like imagine cheating scandals , public fights caught by tmz ... but also cute ass insta posts when they’re in a good place )  just think of nate  &  maddie from euphoria or  francesca  &  harry ! ! 

a plot where luna  uses them  to make someone jealous but they don’t know  &  actually think it’s a  legit  relationship ? ?   then obvi they find out luna was just using them  &  y’know  :  drama .  

family friends ! !  someone who could know  EVERYTHING  about her life n be there for her like pls .

someone who is her  HOME .  it doesn’t have to be potentially romantic just someone who makes her feel completely safe , warm  &  protected  ? ?    they can also just…talk, and make each other laugh  &   smile, because they feel comfortable enough in themselves  &   with each other to be vulnerable in that way ? ?  some fluff never hurt nobody .  

someone who’s using her bc of her dad ? ?   YES .  gimme fake friends .

tbh exes she cheated on , exes that cheated on her , fwb of all kinds , crushes , childhood friends , good / bad influence on her dumb ass would be good , gossip queens n kings , party friends , enemies for whatever reason , etc ! !  

[gacmediadaily]

Rising Against the Titans

When you switch on your TV, it’s easy to gravitate towards those big-name channels that have been around for decades. Entering this established TV entertainment realm and making a mark is no easy feat. However, within a mere two years, the Great American Family network (GAF), born from the vision of television maestro Bill Abbott, has started making impressive strides. GAF has occasionally secured a spot on the charts, proving its content resonates. It’s a testament that viewers are not only tuning in but genuinely enjoying what GAF brings to the table.

The Man with the Midas Touch

Bill Abbott isn’t new to the game. Many might remember him as the force behind Hallmark’s meteoric rise. Under his guidance, the channel went from being a mere blip on the TV radar to a household name. Remember the “Countdown to Christmas” on Hallmark? That was Abbott’s brainwave. Over the span of several decades, he transformed Hallmark into the go-to destination for heartwarming, family-friendly entertainment. And now, observing GAF’s budding success, it seems he’s well on his way to replicating that magic once again.

A Brief Glimpse into Great American Family (GAF)

Launched in 2021 by GAC Media, the Great American Family network has swiftly carved a niche in the vast television landscape. Available to approximately 59 million households, which translates to 51% of pay television viewers, GAF has bridged the gap for audiences seeking both secular and “soft” faith-based content. With availability across platforms like Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV, and streaming services like Philo and Sling TV, its accessibility is widespread. Though GAF is a fresh face in the media world, its dedication to wholesome, family-oriented, and faith-friendly programming is rapidly positioning it as a preferred choice for many viewers across the nation.

GAF’s Star Power Ignites the Screen

In the vast galaxy of TV networks, the GAF is swiftly becoming a shining star, and much of that brilliance can be attributed to its ensemble of talented actors. Just this past Saturday night, viewers were treated to “A Harvest Homecoming.” This film not only made an impressive mark on the crowded cable charts but also reunited the captivating duo of Trevor Donovan and Jessica Lowndes, eliciting nostalgic memories of their “90210” days. The film’s success is even more commendable given the promotional hiccups faced due to a SAG strike.

Yet, the allure of GAF extends beyond just this pairing. The network boasts icons like Laurie Loughlin, whose grace never fades. Additionally, Danica McKellar, with her enduring “Wonder Years” charm, Candace Cameron, fondly remembered as the heart of “Full House,” and many other talented actors, all contribute significantly to the depth of GAF’s lineup.

With such a star-studded lineup, GAF, in just two years, promises an entertainment future that’s not only bright but stellar.

New Kid on The Block with Old School Charm

Understanding the significance of GAF’s progress is akin to imagining moving to a new school and trying to find your place amidst everyone’s established cliques. That’s GAF for you — the new kid on the block in the TV landscape, looking for its own niche. In just its second year, it’s as if they haven’t just claimed a seat in the crowded cafeteria but are now also getting those sought-after invites to the coolest parties.

Final Thoughts

Entering the world of TV is daunting. But armed with experienced leadership, star power, and compelling content, GAF is showing it has the potential to not just fit in but excel. Here’s to more years of top-notch entertainment from GAF!

[natromanxoff]

Daily Mail - April 21, 1992

(x)

AIDS PLEA BY STAR AS FANS SING PRAISES

Mercury show with a warning

ELIZABETH TAYLOR took the stage at Wembley last night to remind 72,000 Freddie Mercury fans why they were there.

As well as raising an estimated £20million for AIDS charities, the tribute concert to the late Queen star was intended to increase awareness among young people about the perils of the killer disease and Miss Taylor made no excuses for her hard-hitting speech.

'In just two weeks there will be as many new infections of the AIDS virus as there are people here tonight,' she said. 'Please don't let it happen to you.

‘You are the future of our world. Protect yourselves. Whether you are straight, gay or bisexual use a condom every single time you have sex.'

At one point, she was interrupted by hecklers screaming 'Get Off' and 'Let's have some music'. Eyes blazing, she said: ‘I’ll get off in a minute. I have something to say.'

In a personal tribute to Mercury, who died of AIDS last year, she added: ‘The bright light of his talent still exhilarates even now that his life has been so cruelly extinguished. It needn't have happened, it shouldn't have happened, we must not let it happen again.'

In Britain, there have been 5,649 cases of AIDS since 1982, according to Government statistics with 3,334 deaths.

TRIBUTE TO A LOST STAR: 72,000 SAY IT WITH CHEERS AND TEARS

For one big night only Freddie was centre stage

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE and LESTER MIDDLEHURST

EVERYBODY who was anybody in pop music was there as the late Freddie Mercury made a guest appearance at his own tribute concert last night.

His face appeared on giant video screens high across Wembley stadium.

It was as if the lead singer of Queen were alive and well and strutting centre stage once again. 'You ready, brothers and sisters?’ he bellowed as a video showing past triumphs was screened. The 72,000-strong crowd screamed back: 'Yes!'

They waved Union Flags emblazoned with 'Freddie, we love you', 'Freddie come back' and 'Freddie forever'.

They were sentiments echoed 10,000-fold throughout the night. But the big message of the show was a warning — that AIDS, the disease which killed Mercury, could do the same for many, many more.

Weeping

Queen drummer Roger Taylor came on stage with fellow band members John Deacon and Brian May to launch what amounted to the most glittering send-off any showbusiness star has been given.

‘This show is for Freddie, for you and for me,' Taylor told the audience. 'It's also to show that AIDS affects us all. Tonight you can cry as much as you like.'

Many in the crowd took him literally. Stars too had difficulty choking back the tears, and earlier in the day George Michael broke down as he sang Somebody To Love with the London Community Gospel Choir.

Michael moved away from the microphone, unable to continue. 'I needed to cry and I wanted to get as much crying as possible done before the actual show,' he said.

Just as Mercury appeared on the video screen singing Yes, I'm The Great Pretender, Mary Austin, who was his lover for six years and remained his friend until death, took a seat in the royal box.

Earlier, she said: 'I feel very emotional about the whole thing, a mixture of sadness and happiness. It's an incredible tribute to an incredible guy, and I think he would have been knocked out by it.'

One by one the stars appeared on stage to pay their musical tributes. Backed by surviving Queen members May, Taylor and Deacon, they performed solo and collaboration versions of the group's hits.

Liza Minnelli, who led the stars in singing the finale number, We Are The Champions, and the National Anthem, paid her own tribute: 'Freddie was a true champion, and he would have liked us to sing and to celebrate all the good things he stood for.

'The tears we have shed are in happiness and to remember Freddie.'

Satellite messages were beamed in from Michael Jackson, Madonna, golf champion Nick Faldo, Jason Priestley of Beverly Hills 90210 and basketball star Magic Johnson, himself an AIDS victim. Stars were determined not to allow the event to slide into the maudlin. 'There is absolutely no way Freddie would have wanted everyone to be miserable,’ said David Bowie. ‘There's an important message to be put across, but it's also a day when Freddie's music should be celebrated and enjoyed.'

Certainly, fans who had queued all night were determined to do just that. They roared their approval through each moment of the biggest concert since Live Aid seven years ago. Led Zeppelin leader Robert Plant sang Innuendo, Seal fronted Who Wants To Live Forever, Roger Daltrey sang I Want It All, and there was a live satellite performance by U2, on tour in America.

Outside the stadium, touts were offering tickets for £250, up to five times face value.

Fans who couldn't afford them made a pilgrimage to Mercury's home in Kensington, where they laid flowers and messages at the garden gate.

IT WAS UNCANNY -- THE REAL STAR WAS NOT HERE

SPENCER BRIGHT AT LAST NIGHT'S CONCERT

LET'S pretend Freddie Mercury is still alive and was at Wembley last night at someone else's testimonial. Would he have admitted he had AIDS? Probably not.

He chose not to spread the message in his lifetime, but we must be thankful that he has the power to spread the message of the dangers of AIDS posthumously.

It's always difficult balancing mass entertainment and trying to educate people. We were treated to the extraordinary sight of David Bowie on bended knee reciting the Lord's Prayer.

We had a nervous George Michael giving us statistics. We had Liz Taylor, spectacularly glamorous, reading an autocued speech and giving a heckler short shrift.

But oh, how I enjoyed the simple dignity of Elton John, materialising, singing Bohemian Rhapsody and continuing with the music and nothing else. We needed that more than any amount of piety.

Uncannily, the real star was the man who was not here in body, Freddie himself. Even the most unconvinced onlooker could not have failed to feel his presence. The video inserts of Freddie performing had the crowd reacting as if he really was here.

There were a few presantation mistakes. U2's satellite link was a mess. During the link from South Africa, the crowd preferred to entartain themselves with a Mexican wave. Extreme tried to be Queen-like, but it didn't come off. The show was really about the second half, with the three remaining Queen members acting as a backing band for superstars.

The inclusion of Guns N' Roses, considering Axl Rose's anti-gay statements, was a curious one, but he was one of the finest performers of the night, both with Guns N' Roses and later dueting with Elton on Bohemian Rhapsody.

Bowie and Annie Lennox dueted on Under Pressure but it was hard to hear them. George Michael brought things back on course with his duet with Lisa Stansfield, These Are The Days Of Our Lives.

Liza Minnelli came on for the finale in a dangerously low-cut dress for We Are The Champions and proved she could have got by as a rock chick. By this point, it didn't matter what egos were flying around. The weather and Freddie's legacy had worked wonders.

[emmashouldbewriting]

despite madam's best wishes, they can't afford a private jet lol

It's not that they can't afford a private jet, it's that Harry hasn't sucked up to enough people for a private jet this time.

...or sucked off. Allegedly, of course. We all know Meghan's talents thanks to the 90210 spinoff.

money or reputation, they can't afford it

[theultimatefan]

‘Supernatural,’ 'The Flash,’ ‘Buffy’ Stars Among Celebrity Guests At Fan Expo Portland, Jan. 24-26

Fans of some of pop culture’s most beloved franchises are preparing for FAN EXPO Portland as Jared Padalecki (Supernatural), Grant Gustin (The Flash), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Alan Tudyk (Firefly) and legendary director Eli Roth (Thanksgiving, Cabin Fever) are among the first wave of celebrities attending the annual extravaganza, January 24-26, 2025, at Oregon Convention Center.

The sci-fi drama Resident Alien (Alice Wetterlund and Sara Tomko) and teen romance High School Musical (Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel) are also well-represented in the lineup with stars of those programs slated to attend.

FAN EXPO Portland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, and cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Jared Padalecki starred in the series Supernatural as the protagonist “Sam Winchester” for its full 15-season run from 2005-2020. Gilmore Girls fans will also remember him from his early-seasons role as “Dean Forester.” Padalecki is currently the lead role of “Cordell Walker” in the CW contemporary western Walker.

Grant Gustin played the title character “Barry Allen” in The Flash CW television series for the duration of its run from 2014 through last year, as well as in Arrow, DC Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman and others. He first gained wide notice for his portrayals of “Campbell Price” in the revival of 90210 and “Sebastian Smythe” in Glee.

Millions of fans worldwide first got to know James Marsters as "Spike" in the hits Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. With film roles in Dragon Ball and P.S. I Love You, guest TV appearances on Smallville, Without a Trace, Warehouse 13, a recurring role on Witches of East End and many others, the multi-talented Marsters is also a singer-songwriter who has performed sold-out concerts on three continents.

Alan Tudyk gained fans’ attention when he starred as wise-cracking "Hoban 'Wash' Washburne" in Firefly and Serenity. He later grabbed the Star Wars fandom with his portrayal of “K-2SO” in Rogue One. He currently stars as “Harry Vanderspeigle” in Resident Alien and also appeared in A Knight’s Tale and I, Robot. Tudyk has also lent his voice to characters in hits like American Dad, Harley Quinn, Transformers: Earthspeak and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

The multi-talented Eli Roth has gained fame as a director, writer, producer and actor. He wrote and directed hit films such as Thanksgiving, Cabin Fever, Hostel, and Hostel II and starred in Inglourious Basterds as “Sgt. Donny Donowitz.” Roth has produced more than 40 TV and film productions and is also the director and writer of this year’s feature film Borderlands starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Adult, Youth and Child Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, Family passes, and Ultimate and VIP Packages for FAN EXPO Portland are available now at www.fanexpoportland.com. Advance pricing is available until January 9. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for additional headline celebrities, comic creator guests, voice actors and cosplayers.

Portland is the second event on the 2025 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[shannendoherty-fans]

Shannen Doherty's Courageous Life: How the 90210 Star Made It Her Mission to Inspire Others Amid Cancer Diagnosis

The actress, who died at 53 following almost a decade with breast cancer, faced life’s ups and downs with strength and humor

By JP Mangalindan

Published on July 15, 2024 02:40PM EDT

When Shannen Doherty reunited with her Beverly Hills, 90210 castmates for a 90s Con panel in Tampa, Florida in September 2023, she welled up with tears as she received a standing ovation from the audience and her castmates alike. Just three months before, the actress had shared on social media that her stage 4 breast cancer had spread to her brain. Wiping her eyes, she expressed her gratitude. “Thank you so much,” Doherty told the crowd, adding, “I have a fight for my life that I deal with every day.” 

Doherty's remarkable journey ended on July 13 when she died at age 53 nearly a decade after she was diagnosed with cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones and her beloved dog Bowie. Tributes poured in, a testament to a woman whose acting career touched generations of viewers and whose cancer advocacy inspired others.  

“Shannen was young and so courageous. By sharing her journey, she has helped so many,” former 90210 costar Gabrielle Carteris says in this week's PEOPLE cover story, on newsstands Friday.

Her friend and follow cast member Brian Austin Green honored her on social media: “You were a big part of my understanding of love. I’ll miss you more than I know how to process right now. Thank you for the gift of you.” 

Noted Jason Priestley: “She was a force of nature.”

Even as “things turned much more difficult in the last couple of weeks, we just kept loving and hoping and supporting and fighting,” says Doherty’s friend and oncologist Dr. Lawrence Piro, who was with her in her final moments.

Still, Doherty never let her work ethic and determination diminish. On June 24 she announced on her podcast Let’s Be Clear that she was beginning a new round of chemotherapy. Just days before her death she recorded five episodes of The House of Halliwell, a Charmed rewatch podcast she was cohosting with former costars Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause and Drew Fuller.

“Too young, too talented, too loving, too grateful, too early,” Krause said in the July 15 episode. “Shannen was just so motivated and determined to help make this show a success.”

Born in 1971 in Memphis to John Thomas, who worked in a bank, and Rosa, a beauty parlor owner, Doherty learned resilience early on. When Doherty was 8, Rosa was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm with a 10 percent chance of survival and beat the odds. “I come from a woman who was determined,” Doherty told PEOPLE in November 2023. "She impressed that upon me as a very young child."

The pair remained close throughout Doherty's life. "She is my beautiful girl and my heart," Rosa tells PEOPLE.

Doherty's family, including her brother Sean, moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s. A few years later, when Doherty was 11, she landed the part of Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. 

In 1989, she showed off her darker side in Heathers, playing a member of a high school’s popular clique. Then Doherty was cast as rebellious Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, where she and her telegenic costars were catapulted to a stratospheric level of fame.

Being thrust to the forefront of pop culture was surreal for the actress. During a magazine cover shoot with costars Priestley and Luke Perry in 1992, Doherty recalled being awestruck by the show's popularity. “We were all looking at each other like, ‘This is amazing,’” she said in 2008. “To be 18, 19 years old, and having a show blow up almost overnight, was overwhelming.”

As her status was rising, she remained grounded. She spent her first big check from the show helping her father, who was having health issues, pay his medical bills. “He was the example of what every man should strive to be,” she wrote last year in honor of his birthday; he died in 2010 nearly a year after suffering a stroke. “My father was the best man that ever walked this earth.”

Doherty's unabashed frankness became something of a calling card over the years. “I think that growing up on TV in the ‘90s as a woman was very different than it is currently, and I like to say that some of us sort of paved the way,” she said in 2023. “Women are taking such huge strides in the world currently. Being on 90210 and being someone who didn’t necessarily play by the rules, I didn’t placate the men in my business.”

Her 90210 costar Tori Spelling applauded her on Instagram. "She was a rebel in an era when most women didn’t feel comfortable being strong," Spelling wrote. "She always stuck up for me. Always had my back. Always believed in me when I didn’t or couldn’t believe in myself."

Actress Rose McGowan said Doherty “had the heart of a lion” in her social media tribute. “Passion for craft is often mislabeled as trouble. Shannen was passion.”

Although she was let go from 90210 after the fourth season, she’d clearly made an impression on mega producer Aaron Spelling, who cast Doherty in another of his TV projects destined for cultural relevance, the WB supernatural drama Charmed. Prue Halliwell, the eldest of three sisters-turned-witches, became another memorable role for Doherty.

The actress worked steadily in the years that followed, popping up in TV movies, starring in the short-lived reality TV show Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and competing on Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, she appeared with several of the original 90210 cast members on the cheeky, short-lived revival BH90210.

Doherty did not have any children, though she said she “always wanted” to be a mom. She was married three times and agreed to finalize her divorce from photographer Kurt Iswarienko one day before she died. She often looked back on her romantic relationships with humor.

“Listen, Elizabeth Taylor still has me beat as far as husbands and divorces, so I’m good. I’m not there yet, so there’s no reason to be negative about it,” she told PEOPLE in 2023. “S--- happens.”

Decades of ups and downs in Hollywood had made Doherty a private person. But following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015, she had an epiphany. “When I got cancer the first time, it was this really beautiful thing, because it finally stripped all of that away,” she said in 2020. “Those walls were, like, eliminated. That sort of childhood resentment — 19 to me is childhood — was gone.”

She revealed she was in remission in April 2017, but when she announced in 2020 that the cancer had returned, Doherty had a steadfast determination to live life to the fullest. She continued to work, raised money for breast cancer awareness, supported animal rights charities and chose to spend more time with those closest to her, including her mom, actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar and Roma Downey and real estate agent Chris Cortazzo.

"How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship? I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love," Gellar, 47, wrote on Instagram before urging followers to honor her friend by supporting animal rights charities, a cause Doherty cared about deeply.

In 2023 Doherty debuted her Let’s Be Clear podcast, where she was open about her career, the great loves of her life and living with cancer.

“I’m not done,” Doherty said last year. “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better.”

It was crucial for the actress to prove that people with cancer could still live full lives and make meaningful contributions. “People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age — ‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she told PEOPLE in 2023. “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work, embrace life and keep moving forward.”

Her experience, she said, allowed her to peer into life’s greater depths. “You really have to dig deep to face cancer, and in that you find all the stuff that you had hidden away,” she said in 2021. “And it’s beautiful things that you find. You find the vulnerability, you find your trust in people again, you find forgiveness.”

Doherty often expressed gratitude — “I wake up and go to bed thanking God, praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much” — even as her cancer thwarted aggressive treatments like radiation therapy.

Still, “I’m not afraid of death,” she told PEOPLE in November 2023 when she revealed her cancer had spread to her bones. “I know where I’m going — and I know the people that I’m going to see."

[talesfromthecrypts]

The fact that AnnaLynne Mccord went from 90210 to now soaps/hallmark when we all saw her in Excision, is insane! Like girl you have the talent!

I'm not exactly surprised Miss Blood, Sex, and Illegal Surgery ended up on Days of Our Lives. Lots of people (lots of people who do cult stuff especially) do a little soap work. But don't worry she was also in Titanic 666.