Right from Beverly Hills 90210's opening credits- where fans are introduced to a group of gorgeous and sophisticated teenagers, who are in close contact with each other- it is easy to get the feeling and perhaps a glimpse into the future, of how influential the show would be on popular culture. On another note, the closeness of the token teenagers attending a fictionalized version of Beverly Hills High could be seen as a metaphor for the behind-the-scenes happenings on set of the series.
The behind-the-scenes antics of Beverly Hills 90210 could be seen in a similar dramatic fashion to the storylines being written for the show's scripts. Shannen Doherty, who played the show's first 'bad girl,' almost became more known in the public eye for her reputation behind the camera than her on-screen performance. Doherty's castmate Brian Austin Green, who portrayed signature good-guy David Silver, and Tiffani Thiessen, who joined the cast during the series' fifth season as Doherty's replacement after she was let go from the cast, know this idea to be true!
Unbeknownst to some of the crew, Brian Austin Green and Tiffani Thiessen had begun dating off-camera. Bringing Thiessen into his fictional world often ruled by love triangles and the effortless ability of some characters to tell a lie without a second thought, wasn't the easiest transition for Green. He was not very keen on the idea of his real-life flame getting intimate with her co-stars; According to Charles Rosin, the man responsible for being the series' executive producer, watching Thiessen on-screen was "Very hard for Brian. It was pretty clear given how he was reacting to Tiffani experimenting with her acting, as much as anything with her roles and herself being young, that it was unlikely they could stay together as a couple."
Romance Geeting 'Reel'
The idea of Tiffani Thiessen having any involvement in Beverly Hills 90210 could be seen as a cosmic connection, to some! The Saved By The Bell actress was already getting cozy with Brian Austin Green behind-the-scenes and according to Brian, himself, the pair were already dating by the time she was cast on the series in 1994. Perhaps channeling some of his character's signature sense of confidence, Green was the first to make a move, asking her on a date back in 1992.
Green was quite the heartthrob off-screen in comparison to his Beverly Hills 90210 alter ego, who had eyes for one girl for the majority of the series; He admitted to being quite the ladies man behind the scenes! His relationship with Thiessen blossomed after their first date, with the pair going on to date one another until 1995. Their relationship overlapped with Thiessen's aforementioned casting on the series, an idea which did not sit as well with her boyfriend as his sense of confidence might lead us to believe.
Having his personal and professional lives collide lead Green to call Rosin and fellow producer Larry Mollin upon finding out his girlfriend was cast on the show, leading the producers to feel caught off guard, according to Rosin. Rosin had some tough love for the young actor, advising him to consult Beverly Hills 90210's creator Aaron Spelling if he had problems with his girlfriend's presence, before adding "It was Aaron's cast, [and] we were very happy with the decision!"
Locking Lips And On-Screen Sparks
Tiffani, herself, felt a bit hesitant when it came to stepping into the already well-established cast. Many years later, she revealed to Meredith Vieira she had initially felt reluctant to the idea of becoming co-workers with her boyfriend, but the enormous popularity of the show kept Thiessen from getting cold feet and backing out of the project. She smiled when recalling, "I was getting a job on Beverly Hills 90210, I wasn't going to say 'no' to that!"
Enter a man with the potential to strike fear into boyfriends everywhere back in Beverly Hills 90210's heyday; The late Luke Perry, who played the show's signature heartthrob Dylan McKay, stole the hearts of many Nineties teens, and made an impression with the ladies of the show, on-screen and off! Several of the female cast members had the opportunity to lock lips with Perry through the years, and Thiessen was no exception! Dylan McKay was the first guy to kiss Thiessen's character Valerie Malone, much to Brian Austin Green's chagrin, off-screen!
Thiessen went on to reveal she believed the "More awkward" element to her being cast on the show alongside her boyfriend, was due to the fact she had been directed to have her first on-screen kiss with Perry. She jokingly added in reference to her work environment with Green, "Literally having your boyfriend on the show and then kissing another man. I'm getting paid for this! I don't know what to tell you!"
A Match Not Made In Television Heaven
Hindsight can be a great tool for some to make sense of ourselves. For Green, whose romance with Thiessen did not last and lead to a 1995 break-up, his version of events surrounding their relationship could perhaps serve as an explanation to the insecurities of his younger days. He openly admitted to Us Weekly many years later he "Did not deal with rejection very well."
Fortunately for the endearing concept of longtime friendship, the former couple were able to put aside their differences and remain close. Thiessen only has good memories of her years spent dating Green. She revealed the duo "Made it work," before adding they were "Sill close and very good friends," a far cry from the often-drama laden pages of a Beverly Hills, 90210 script!