Tori Spelling appears to know the tea about what really happened to Hilary Swank’s character on Beverly Hills, 90210.
During the Friday, November 21, episode of iHeartRadio’s “9021OMG” podcast, Spelling, 52, reunited with costar Jennie Garth as they began to rewatch season 8 of the beloved TV series.
When discussing Swank, 51 — who played Carly Reynolds before being written off after 16 episodes — Spelling seemingly hinted that she knew more about why the actress was let go.
“[She was] signed on as [a] full-time cast member,” Spelling said before teasing her departure. “When it happens, I’ll tell you the exact story because I was right there. Oh boy.”
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Garth, 53, replied, “Oh my God, I can’t wait!’
Before diving into the season 8 premiere, podcast producer Amy Sugarman had something to get off her chest.
“I always thought that Hilary Swank was bad at this part. That was always sort of my notion looking back on it, remembering, ‘Oh, Hilary Swank was not good,’” she shared. “It’s not that she wasn’t good. She actually is good. It’s that they wrote her so ridiculously.”
Sugarman went on to discuss a scene when Swank’s character “comes in hot” without a full introduction.
“She’s kind of awful from the start,” she explained. “Who’s coming up to some dad that’s just trying to help a kid and being like, ‘Why are you touching my kid?’”
While Spelling admitted that she “didn’t think the writing was great” in the season 8 premiere, she “liked” Swank’s character in that particular scene.
Garth added, “I liked it that she was like, ‘Get your hands off him.’ If you’re a mom and there’s a grown man on your kid’s shoulder?”
Despite Swank’s shorter than expected stint on Beverly Hills, 90210, the actress was still able to find great success in Hollywood with critically acclaimed movies like Million Dollar Baby.
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In a candid 2024 interview with Guy Raz, Swank admitted she was initially “discouraged” to leave Beverly Hills, 90210 so quickly.
“I thought, ‘Wow, I’m not good enough to be on this show that’s way past the heyday with Luke Perry and all the hype.’ But I think the funny thing is… it was a beautiful reminder that fate doesn’t work in such mysterious ways,” she said. “If you trust — really trust — what’s happening when one door closes…I got Boys Don’t Cry two months later.”
Swank’s portrayal of Brandon Teena earned her the 2000 Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
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Spelling and Garth’s podcast is much more than just one character. The close friends invite listeners on a journey as they rewatch Beverly Hills, 90210 with a fresh perspective.
The podcast also allows the pair to showcase their friendship that has lasted decades.
“I don’t know if it’s art imitates life or life imitates art — but we have had a close friendship, she’s one of my best friends, for 30 years,” Spelling told Entertainment Weekly in 2019. “And we have gotten to the point in our lives where we just want to work together.”
