Doherty Spices Up North Shore
Hoping to borrow a successful move from the network's old playbook, FOX is welcoming back former Beverly Hills, 90210 good girl Shannen Doherty as a North Shore bad girl.
Doherty, who recently left her gig hosting Sci Fi's Scare Tactics, will begin a multi-episode story arc on Monday, Sept. 20. The former Charmed star will play Alexandra Hudson, the illegitimate daughter of hotel magnate Walter Booth (Christopher McDonald). Alexandra is sure to stir up tons of trouble with new-found sister Nicole (Brooke Burns) as soon as she hits the beaches at the Grand Waimea.
FOX obviously hopes that Doherty's arrival will goose the somewhat stagnant ratings for the sun-soaked summer soap opera, following in the footsteps of Heather Locklear's successful addition during the lackluster early days of Melrose Place.
Certainly the show could use a boost. Through its first six episodes, North Shore is pulling in an average of 4.63 million viewers per week. FOX has ordered extra scripts beyond the show's initial 13-episode order, but the network isn't ready to commit to additional episodes. The possibility of Doherty's continued role on the show could provide incentive for FOX to extend the North Shore run.
However, for every successful Locklear Injection, there have been at least as many fizzled experiments, like The WB's unsuccessful attempt to welcome Carmen Electra to Hyperion Bay in 1999.
FOX already had mixed results earlier this year when Beverly Hills, 90210 good guy Jason Priestley became a Tru Calling bad boy. Priestley's arrival had little impact on that show's ratings, but his presence reportedly gave the show a creative boost and helped to score a second season renewal.
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