In 1992, the Fox sketch comedy show The Edge made waves with a parody of Beverly Hills, 90210, which angered the iconic TV producer Aaron Spelling to the point of threatening legal action. The incident highlights the tensions between Spelling and the edgy humor of the show, leading to a heated response from the producer, who had a reputation for taking legal matters seriously.
Beverly Hills, 90210, which debuted in 1990, centered around twins Brandon and Brenda Walsh, played by Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty, as they navigated life in Beverly Hills after moving from Minnesota. The show became a cultural phenomenon, particularly with its love triangle involving Brenda, her new friend Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), and teen heartthrob Dylan McKay (Luke Perry). Despite a slow start, the show gained major popularity after it aired in the summer of 1991, eventually becoming a top-rated series for Fox.
The Edge, a sketch comedy show that premiered in 1992, was known for its bold, fast-paced humor. The series was created by David Mirkin, who previously worked on Newhart and Get a Life, and featured comedian Julie Brown. The show included a star-studded cast with actors like Tom Kenny, Jill Talley, Wayne Knight, Paul Feig, and Jennifer Aniston. The second episode of The Edge included a two-part parody of Beverly Hills, 90210, which made fun of the show’s moral lessons, characters, and even Spelling’s daughter, Tori Spelling, who played Donna Martin on the original series.
The parody took a particularly dark turn when it depicted a romantic relationship between the twin characters, Brandon and Brenda, which was interrupted by their mother’s acceptance of the situation. The portrayal was provocative, and The Edge went so far as to mock the relationship dynamics and the show’s moral lessons. Spelling was not amused.
In response to the parody, Spelling sent a letter to Tristar Studios, the producers of The Edge, threatening to sue unless he received a public apology and a promise not to parody the show again. Tristar argued that it had the right to parody any show, as it had done with other programs in the same episode. Mirkin, the showrunner of The Edge, responded publicly, saying that parodies did not harm the original shows and were actually a form of cross-promotion. He also criticized Spelling for lacking a sense of humor.
The controversy surrounding the parody played a role in Mirkin’s departure from The Edge before the end of its first season, though he later found success as the showrunner for The Simpsons in its fifth and sixth seasons, which are considered among the show’s best.
While Spelling’s threats of legal action never materialized, the incident remained a notable example of his litigious nature. Spelling was known for being involved in several lawsuits, including one against a nurse who accused him of sexual harassment. The case was eventually dismissed after his death, though his estate continued the lawsuit, which was later upheld on appeal.
In a lighter twist, a few years after the parody, Julie Brown appeared on The Tonight Show alongside Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jason Priestley. Priestley revealed that he had actually enjoyed the parody, and the two even reenacted the infamous scene on stage, much to the audience’s delight.
Though the lawsuit never materialized, the episode remains a memorable chapter in the history of TV parodies and the influence of Beverly Hills, 90210 on popular culture.
