Lifetime's '90210' Movie Continues Network's Questionable Casting Streak
When Lifetime isn’t airing brilliantly deadpan parodies of its own movies starring Will Ferrell, the network’s new favorite thing to do is make quick-and-dirty “tell-all” movies about your favorite ‘90s TV phenomenons. It started with last year’s poorly-received Unauthorized Saved By the Bell Story, and now this year the network is doubling (make that tripling) down with exposés on Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Full House.
One thing that ties all of these films together — besides their obviously cheap production values — are their questionable casting. The teams behind Lifetime Unauthorized movies seem wholly unconcerned whether or not the actors they cast (most of whom are unknowns) even vaguely resemble their real life counterparts. Take the latest cast reveal for 90210 — shouldn’t these people each be about 10 years older? (After all, as HowOldRobot told us, the original 90210 cast was made up of, shall we say, mature actors.) But don’t just take it from us — check out these side-by-side comparisons of each Lifetime cast with the original ensembles (and, just for fun, the 90210 and Melrose CW reboots), and judge the resemblance veracity for yourself.
First up, Full House:
Our grade: C-
Next, the original cast of Melrose Place vs. their Lifetime doppelgangers:
Our grade: C
Lastly, 90210:
Actually, fake Jennie Garth isn’t so bad, so we’ll give this one a B-. Do you agree?
Lifetime’s The Unauthorized Full House Story airs Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.; The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story airs Saturday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m.; and The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story airs Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.
