In the 1980s, MTV (see entry under 1980s—Music in volume 5) appealed to young television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3) viewers with a fast-paced mix of music, fashion, and social concern. In the 1990s, the prime-time TV drama Beverly Hills 90210 adopted the same formula, added a healthy dose of upper-class teen lifestyles, and became an enormous hit. Its popularity, particularly among younger viewers, helped the FOX network grow into a ratings power-house.

Aaron Spelling (1928–), a TV producer whose previous hits had included Dynasty (1976) and Charlie's Angels, (1976; see entry under 1970s—TV and Radio in volume 4) created 90210. The weekly one-hour show, which debuted in October 1990, was set in fashionable Beverly Hills, California (zip code 90210), and followed the lives of a group of high-school classmates. While designed to feature an ensemble cast, including Spelling's daughter, Tori Spelling (1973–), the show quickly propelled a couple of...