'Melrose Place' Redux

Last month I blogged about noticing what appeared to be the re-opening of Shooters -- the hangout for the gang on "Melrose Place" -- across the street from my apartment, only to find out it was an art exhibition of works that actually had been featured on the sudsy Fox hit  that were coded with cultural messages on topics like reproductive rights, U.S. foreign policy, alcoholism and sexual politics.  (Conceptual artist Mel Chin helped form a group to supply the art and props.)

Damian and I finally stopped by and were surprised to discover the display, located in the Red Bull Music Academy in Chelsea, is way bigger than we expected, including replicas of the apartment complex's swimming pool, D&D Advertising -- whose conference table doubled as a mattress in brothel boudoir -- as well as a screening room filled with bean bags where episodes are shown on a loop.

"Total Proof: The GALA Committee 1995-1997" runs through Nov. 27 -- info HERE -- but if you don't make it in time, here are some of the items that jumped out at me, none of which I recall noticing on the actual show.

Snap, crackle and pop 'em in the face ...

This arrived on Nov. 8, right?

Prozac Nation begins ...

The show's secret weapon ...

 

Sadly, they were showing an episode from the Megan era, when the wheels started to come off ...

As timely as ever ...

How fitting ...

Remember unions? 

No sign of Brooke ...

TV-Phage: Cathode ray tube, deflection yoke, TV antennas 

TV-Phage takes etymological root in the word "bacteriophage," a virus that parasitizes bacteria by reproducing inside of it. The small sculpture is a metaphor for infecting its viewers.  

This piece became the iconic representation of GALA's interaction with "Melrose Place" when it appeared in the MOCA scene with Amanda and Kyle. 

My next memoir title?

I'm a Fanilow ...

Grant Show Wasn't the Only Fine Art on 'Melrose Place'

Couldn't help but notice on my way to my hectic job at D&D Advertising this morning that a pool hall called Shooters just opened up across the street from my apartment building in Chelsea. Cameron Diaz lives in nearby Walker Tower, but now I'm more interested in a possible Jake Hanson sighting ...

Turns out I'm not having an Ecstasy-related '90s hallucination. The Red Bull Music Academy is hosting an exhibition of by conceptual artist Mel Chin, who persuaded Aaron Spelling from 1995 to 1997 to allow him to provide artworks and props for the sudsy show’s apartment-complex set, with coded cultural messages on topics like reproductive rights, American foreign policy, alcoholism and sexual politics. (Huh?)

And all these years I thought the only message from "Melrose Place" was how to hide a giant zig-zag scar under your wig. Read HERE.

From HERE.

   The original Shooters.

Cast of Lifetime's 'Unauthorized Melrose Place Story' Revealed

On Wednesday we got to see the cast of Lifetime's "Unauthorized Beverly Hills 90210" and decided they were way too kind to Tori Spelling. Today we get the first look at the "Unauthorized Melrose Place" and while they definitely hit more nails on the head -- is that actually Andrew Shue and Vanessa A. Williams from the original, plus Allison's vest? -- what the f**k were they thinking with Dr. Kimberly Shaw, aka the greatest character of all time?????

Tell-All 'Melrose Place' Movie in Works at Lifetime

TVLine reports that Lifetime has a tell-all movie about "Melrose Place" in the works. The first few years were must-see TV for me and my friends in Los Angeles -- I even lived off the actual Melrose Place in WeHo -- so I might just have to check this out. The "Unauthorized" looks at "Saved by the Bell" and "Full House" didn't really interest me. Read HERE.

Scientology 101

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This post was written by guest blogger Frank Anthony Polito.)

I saw this headline: Jason Beghe: Scientologist Feared a Gay Friend Caused My Car Crash so I figured it would make for (212)-worthy news... Even though I had no idea who Jason Beghe is. So I imbd'd him, only to find he's Jeffrey from Melrose Place circa 1994.

Remember when he first came on the show at Matt (Doug Savant)'s totally HOT new b/f? (Wasn't he like in the military or something and they did a whole "Don't ask, don't tell" thing... Or am I totally making that up? Or was he HIV+?)

All I really remember is a) how HOT Craig and I both thought he was/is (can you say "Daddy?"), and b) how Jeffrey & Matt would always hug whenever they were in the throws of passion... (Much like Luke & Noah over on As the World Turns as of late.) Did we ever get a single kiss out of them?

Here's another pic of Mr. Beghe... Call it "an oldie but a goodie!" (Personally, I like him better without all the hair--on his head!)