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90210 Then and Now: Which Teens Had it Better?
Fans of the original Beverly Hills 90210, the decade-long Fox (NWS) teen drama that debuted in 1990, are now old enough to have high schoolers of their own.
Now the two generations can bond in front of the small screen: The CW (TWX) (CBS) is re-launching the show with new characters, new drama, but the same basic subplot (out of town teens move to California, have problems, deal with them): 90210 debuts September 2.
How has life changed for the 90210 high school set? And which era was more teen-friendly? MainStreet investigates!
FOOD
Peach Pitt proprietor Nat's back! (The actor who played him, Joe E. Tate, is now 71!) Will the 2.0 version of the hot hangout for the gang still have a jukebox or will it have switched over to speakers with an iPod (AAPL) attached? Here is a generic 90210 order from the 90s compared to what it would cost today:
Cheeseburger Burger:
2008: $12.50
1990: $7.97
Inflation Difference: $4.53
+
French Fries
2008: 3.00
1990: $1.91
Inflation Difference: $1.09
+
Peach Pie:
2008: $2.85
1990: $1.82
Inflation Difference: $1.03
+
Soda
2008: $4.95
1990: $3.16
Inflation Difference: $1.79
Peach Pitt Cost for food in 1990: $14.86
Peach Pitt Cost for food in 2008: $23.30
Which era had it better: The 1990s. Prices were cheaper by a third, you did not have to worry about E.coli in the lettuce on your burger, and your date was probably satisfied with a soda, instead of a pricier espresso (which Nat will reportedly offer, among other menu upgrades, on the new show).
WHEELS
Humble Brandon Walsh, tooled around in a used Chevy Chevette, which back in 1987 (the last year they made them) cost $5,000. That's about $9,000 in today's money, which will get you an old Kia Rio! Of course back in the day: Kelly Taylor (played by Jennie Garth, who will reprise the role and play a guidance counselor) drove around her 325 BMW red convertible everywhere. “A 325 BMW Red Convertible cost $27,000 in 1990. Which was a lot of money back then,” says Andrew Glaser, a Car expert.
Which era had it better: The 2000s. Not only are cars safer, they are more convenient: “The BMW 328i is a comparable car to the 325 BMW. The 328i is more technologically advanced with features like a hard top roof that folds into the trunk rather than a soft top roof in 1990 that you had to manual remove.” I mean, like, why risk breaking a nail?
TECHNOLOGY
Email was introduced to the world in 1965, but back in 1990, it was a different entity than it is today, and not part of a high school kid's daily routine. "While email was around in the 90s it didn’t become popular until the late 90s when it became more common in households and businesses,” says Noam Strattfield, a technology expert. However, during the new 90210 expect email to pop up in every which way.
At the same time, a cell phone in 1990 was not a normal sight (remember the brick-shaped device the millionaire played by Michael Douglas in 1987's Wall Street?). Still, on occasion, Kelly would use her BMW's car phone. “In the early 90s beepers were cheap enough that they were prevalent," says Strattfield. "[But] car phones were priced very high.”
On new 90210 expect to see kids constantly on their blackberries and pinning each other during class.
Which era had it better: Tie. In 1990 no one understood the technology that would emerge by 2008, they were too obsessed with Nirvana to constantly be checking Perez Hilton for the latest gossip. (Passing paper-based notes in class might not have been as effective as texting, but it costs a lot less!)
REHAB
Oh, those weekly issues: Date-rape, eating disorder, substance abuse! Going to get help is always important. The cost in 1990 for 28 days of recovery at a nearby rehab clinic, The McDonald Center, in La Jolla, Calif. was $12,000. These days the tab for such rehab is closer to $30,000.
Which era had it better: 2000s. With Lindsay Lohan and crew using rehab like a revolving door, even if the cost has gone up, so has the social acceptance. You may be a bit poorer as your new, clean, self. But you can still be a cool kid, which in high school, of course, is priceless.
So when was better for teens, probably the present. Which show will be better? Tune in this month and let us know what you think!
