Things That Bring Back Memories – Melrose Place #MondayMemories 16


Things That Bring Back Memories


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For this week’s “Things That Bring Back Memories” post, I am going to pick something in the topic of “TELEVISION” and go with Melrose Place.  This was a show that was a spin-off from the Beverly Hills 90210 show back in the 90’s.  It was a bit more grown up and had a lot of evening soap opera drama.  It also had great stories of friends, relationships and other things, as well.  Do you ever remember watching it?  I heard that there was  remake recently, but just like most of the others, I’m sure it was nothing close to the original.

For those of you, who are either too young, or just don’t remember it, here’s a video of one of the Melrose Place shows:

So, did you ever see the show when you were younger? or have you seen it on TV or the internet later in life?  Let me know what you thought of it, and if you have any memories of it in your life!

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More Info on Melrose Place:

melroseMelrose Place was a American prime-time soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992 to May 24, 1999, for seven seasons. The show follows the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment complex called Melrose Place, in Los Angeles, California. The show was created by Darren Star for Fox and executive produced by Aaron Spelling for his company, Spelling Television. It is the second series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. Season one and season two were broadcast on Wednesday at 9pm, after Beverly Hills, 90210. In 1994, for its third season premiere, the show moved to Monday at 8:00 pm. The show had many cast changes during the run. Thomas Calabro was the only original cast member to remain on the series throughout its entire run. The show earned several Golden Globe nominations and placed #51 on Entertainment Weekly’s “New TV Classics” list.

The show is set in a small apartment courtyard complex located at 4616 Melrose Place in the city of West Hollywood, California.  Several young individuals reside in the apartments, each with their own dreams and drives. The original format for the show was to have self-contained stories that conclude in every episode, but when that formula proved unpopular, the producers and writers started developing long-term storylines to evolve during the season. By the second season, the show had adopted a full-on soap opera format.

melroseMelrose Place received mixed reviews from critics. As of September 2014, season 1 has a critics rating of 4.7/10 at Metacritic (this rating is only for the first season, not for the show as a whole).  One of the critics, Time’s Richard Zoglin, who gave the season a 2.0/10 score, wrote that the soap is “tapping into nothing more than worn plot lines from The Young and the Restless”.  Conversely, Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly, gave the first season a B- rating, writing: “Hey, I make fun of Melrose Place — but I’m hypnotized by it. As warm-weather escapism, it takes all the issues facing this country, from unemployment to sexual harassment, and turns them into crises that can be solved in an hour.”  In 1997, Mark Harris, who gave the soap’s sixth season a D rating, stated: “Although the ever-game, deserves-better Heather Locklear still spits out even the worst lines with snappish authority, and the diabolical-doctor duo of Jack Wagner and Thomas Calabro at least try to look interested, they can’t sustain a show that has lost its best asset — a twisted joy in its own trashiness.”

The series won the People’s Choice Award in 1993 for ‘Favorite New TV Dramatic Series’. Heather Locklear was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for her role as Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place, in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. Laura Leighton was nominated in 1995 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series for her role as Sydney Andrews. In May 1994, at the height of the show’s popularity, the female stars, Heather Locklear, Laura Leighton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga and Josie Bissett, were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. Read the article and see the cover. TV Guide ranked Amanda Woodward at #2 in the short list of “The Biggest TV Bi&*es”, only behind Joan Collins’ iconic Alexis Carrington Colby, with whom Locklear co-starred on Dynasty. In Entertainment Weekly, Heather Locklear says about playing her: “Not trying to be a bitch. Just trying to be strong and do what you are supposed to do”. In 2012, Entertainment Weekly reunited Melrose favorites Heather Locklear, Marcia Cross, Laura Leighton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Josie Bissett, Daphne Zuniga, Andrew Shue, Grant Show and Doug Savant, and they appeared on the cover.

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Some of the Melrose Place Cast:

melroseHeather Locklear (Amanda Woodward) was born September 25, 1961 and is an American actress. She is known for her role as Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place (1993–99), for which she received four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. Her other notable television roles include Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty (1981–89), Officer Stacy Sheridan on T.J. Hooker (1982–86), and Caitlin Moore on Spin City (1999–2002), for which she earned a further two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. She had a recurring role on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland and a main role on the TNT drama-comedy television series Franklin & Bash in 2013.  Locklear’s notable film roles include the science-fiction thriller Firestarter (1984), the action comedy Money Talks (1997), the live-action/animated comedy Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), and the romantic comedy The Perfect Man (2005).

Andrew Shue (Billy Campbell) was born on February 20, 1967 in South Orange, New Jersey, USA as Andrew Eppley Shue. He is an actor and melrosewriter, known for Melrose Place (1992), The Rainmaker (1997) and Gracie (2007). Shue attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey. Along with his sister, actress Elisabeth Shue, he was inducted into the CHS Hall of fame in 1994. At Dartmouth College, as he was in high school, Shue was a Regional All America soccer player and spent a winter studying and playing soccer in Glasgow, Scotland for Queen’s Park FC. Shue received his B.A. in history from Dartmouth in 1989. After graduating, he visited Zimbabwe, where he simultaneously played soccer and taught high school math.  He has been married to Amy Robach since February 6, 2010.  Along with his childhood best friend Michael Sanchez, Andrew co-founded Do Something. He now sits on the Board of Directors.  In 2006 Shue and Sanchez co-founded the social networking website CafeMom.  Lead investors are Highland Capital Partners and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The site provides an online community for moms to connect and share advice and ideas.  The CafeMom is now a family of companies, including blog The Stir, Baby Name Wizard and popular Latina site MamasLatinas.  Andrew currently co-hosts the webisode series “Mad Life” along with comedian Chuck Nice and his mother-in-law Joanie Robach

melroseJosie Bissett (Jane Andrews Mancini) Jolyn Christine Heutmaker was born October 5, 1970, and is known professionally as Josie Bissett, is an American actress best known for her role as Jane Mancini on the television series Melrose Place.  A native of Seattle, Washington, Bissett began her career in front of the camera at the age of 12 as a model in print advertisements and television commercials.  Bissett has been the face of several national commercial campaigns, including Neutrogena’s skin care line, Dr. Scholl’s Pedicure Essentials, and Murad Skin Care.  She has also been the spokesperson of the 1997 Lee National Denim Day with the Lee Company, a VF Company, A leader in quality apparel. This was to help raise money for the fight against breast cancer and for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  She has co-edited two books, Little Bits Of Wisdom and Making Memories, which compile parenting stories and advice from parents around the world. She also authored a children’s book, Tickle Monster, released in April 2008.  Bissett and actor Rob Estes (who also starred on Melrose Place) were married in 1992, and divorced in 2006.  Bissett suffered a miscarriage in 1996, but the couple later had two children together — Mason Tru (born 21 July 1999) and Maya Rose (born 14 April 2002). Bissett resides in Seattle.

Grant Show (Jake Hanson) was born on  February 27, 1962.  He is the only son of Ed and Kathleen Show. Raised in San Jose, California with melroseolder sister, Kelly Show. He studied acting at Samuel Ayer High School, and then majored in theater arts at UCLA. His first professional role was “Rick Hyde” in Ryan’s Hope (1975) from 1984 to 1987. He then took a year sabbatical to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. After returning to America, he worked in the theater, whilst starring in the occasional television show. In 1992, he was cast as “Jake Hanson” in the television hit, Melrose Place (1992). Since then, he has starred in numerous shows, including Swingtown (2008), Private Practice (2007) and HBO’s Big Love (2006).

melroseCourtney Thorne-Smith (Allison Parker) was born on November 8, 1967 in San Francisco, CA and grew up in Menlo Park, a suburb south of San Francisco. Her father, Walter Smith, was a computer market researcher, and her mother, Lora Thorne, was a therapist. They divorced when Courtney was seven years old and she lived with both parents at different stages. She has an older sister, Jennifer, who is an advertising executive. She attended Menlo-Atherton High School, in Atherton, California, and graduated from Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, California, in 1985. She also performed with the Ensemble Theater Company in Mill Valley while attending high school.. She is an actress, known for According to Jim (2001), Melrose Place (1992) and Ally McBeal (1997). She has been married to Roger Fishman since January 1, 2007. They have one child. She was previously married to Andrew Conrad.

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Melrose Place – Did You Know?

  • The real Melrose Place isn’t located on Melrose Place.  Exteriors of the Melrose Place apartment complex were filmed at El Pueblo Apartments, at 4616 Greenwood Place, in Los Angeles’s Los Feliz neighborhood. You can, of course, take a selfie in front of it, and possibly rent one of its eight units. The listing doesn’t mention a pool, though.
  • During the first season, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Allison Parker) and Andrew Shue dated, and later on in the series she dated Grant Show. “Show and Courtney Thorne-Smith were together and when they weren’t, we were all pretty sure that’s why she left the show,” Melrose Place writer/producer Charles Pratt Jr. told Vulture.
  • Thelma & Louise came out in 1991 and made Brad Pitt a star. Melrose Place actor Grant Show told The New York Times that he was offered the role but had to reject the part because “I was doing 12 days on a Jackie Collins mini-series, and I had to turn it down because they wouldn’t let me out of my contract.” He thinks Pitt did a better job than he would have, but regrets not breaking his contract. “But what I’ve learned is, back then I didn’t realize that the game is played by my own morality and not theirs. If there is one thing I wish I could tell that young actor, it would be to walk off that set and say, ‘Sue me.’”
  • According to The New York Post, before the show’s series finale aired, Fox sent out snow globes filled with MP pool water to journalists. Some of those globes sold for as much as $300 on eBay. Amazon.com got involved with auctioning off Melrose Place memorabilia, including Amanda’s headboard and Sydney’s wedding dress. Grant Show knew the series would last when he saw the pool. “The minute I walked on the set and saw that they’d built a real pool in here, I had the feeling we’d be around for a while,” he told Rolling Stone. “Forget about actors, man; pools aren’t cheap.”

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Thanks for stopping by today.  Please be sure to leave a comment, if this show meant something to you, too.  Or to just let me know what you think of the story in this post!   TigerStrypes claims no credit for any images used on this post, unless otherwise noted.  Images in this post are copyright to their respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please email us with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.  Thanks and have a great day!!

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Jasmine - Stylish Cravings

Wow that’s a whole lot of 90’s style! lol Melrose place is a tad before my time and was on when I was watching 90210 reruns but I knew of it.

LaVonne
5 years ago

Yes, I do remember this show. I loved it too. They tried to re-do it more recently, but I didn’t watch that one to see if it compared well.

Annie
5 years ago

I grew up in the 90s but can you believe I have NEVER seen a single episode fo Melrose Place? I KNOW! I feel like I’m missing out on a crucial piece of culture LOL

Allison Cooper
Allison Cooper
5 years ago

This show was a little bit before my time, but I remember having babysitters who talked about it and would sneak it on TV while my parents were out and I felt so cool! lol

jenn
5 years ago

Oh my goodness- this was one of my favorite shows. We would watch in college! Thank you for bringing back such wonderful memories!

Michele
5 years ago

I’ve never been much of of TV watching person–and I am sure I never saw this one-but the name sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe some of my friends used to watch it. I was 50 in 1990 so I was definitely old enough to watch it!

Gladys Parker
Gladys Parker
5 years ago

I remember Melrose place, not watching it but, my daughter and her friends watching it. It was quite popular with the teens and young adults. I have never been a big TV watcher.

Pamela @ BFG
7 years ago

This used to be such a big show in my house growing up! Not 90210 big, but still popular to watch with my Mom!