Expert: Crystal - 2/10/2005

Question
I keep seeing on this site that 90210 had re_runs but i never saw any of them and i watched the show every wednesday from about season 2 and from then on never missed it. I never knew that there were re-runs on after the show ended. I was just wondering if there's any place that i can still watch the re-runs or perhaps buy the series? Thanks for ur help.  

Answer
Hello Ross,

Thanks for your question. 90210 was sold into syndication (also called reruns) in 1994 when the show started it's 5th season on Fox. I used to be able to watch the reruns on my local WB station. Shortly after that, FX acquired the exclusive syndication rights and aired the show until late 2004. From there, SoapNet acquired the exclusive rights to 90210 in syndication and began airing them in late January of this year. So, currently, if you have SoapNet, 90210 airs Monday through Friday at 5PM Eastern and 7-10AM Eastern on Saturdays.

About buying the series, the show has not been officially released by Spelling/Paramount. However, I have heard that the distribution rights will be reverting back to Paramount sometime by the end of this year (if they haven't already). In case you are wondering, distribution and syndication rights seem to be two different things (example of this is how Spelling's show "Charmed" is airing on the WB, in syndication on TNT, and the first season was just released on DVD through Paramount).

If you really want to buy the series on VHS or DVD, people do offer it on eBay or other sites like that one. You can also find it by doing a search using the keywords "Beverly Hills 90210 DVD" through Yahoo or Google. However, I must caution you, any way or place you see it offered for sale as season sets or the whole series is BOOTLEG. When you buy that way, you risk your money (you may not get anything in return), quality (may be very different than what you are promised), and possibly even criminal action (selling bootleg is copyright infringement and carries a fine and/or jail time).

Another option to obtain the series is to find fan sites on the show and see if another fan has it and is willing to trade with you and neither party is making a profit (i.e. when you buy bootleg).

If you want to do your part to let them know your interest in owning 90210 on DVD season sets, you can write or call Paramount and Spelling Productions:

Spelling Television, Inc.
5700 Wilshire Blvd. #575
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3659
(323)965-5700

Paramount Pictures
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038
Attn: Home Entertainment
(323)956-5000

Thanks again for your question,
Crystal