Grant Show Looks Back On His ‘Creepy’ ‘90210’ Moment
There is a new rewatch podcast for the hit 90s series Melrose Place with some of the show’s past stars. There was no better guest for the first episode than former star Grant Show, who played Jake Hanson on the series. However, there was one moment from the show’s genesis that rubbed many people the wrong way.
Grant had a lot to say about the creepy moments from the series that all started on Beverly Hills, 90210, between Jake and Kelly.
Grant Show Says Melrose Place Would Be “Illegal” Now
For those who don’t remember, there was a backdoor pilot for Melrose Place that aired on Beverly Hills, 90210. In that episode of 90210, Kelly’s (Jennie Garth) family hired Jake Hanson (Show) to build a gazebo in their backyards. While he was working on the gazebo, Kelly took notice, and the two kissed.
This helped lead to Melrose Place, which was where Jake lived. He and Kelly continued their relationship for a short time before it ended. She went back to 90210, and Jake continued his life on the new show with more adult characters.
That is the problem. Jake was in his 20s, and Kelly was a high school senior. While she was 18, the relationship was still considered inappropriate due to the age difference, something Show said would be “illegal” now. “I think we only kissed, but still, you know, not good,” Grant said. “How odd is it that we are more, sort of, prudish now than 30 years ago?”
However, the hosts emphasized that it wasn’t “prudish” and that it was “painful” to watch that relationship. “It just didn’t age well. Grant is such a straightforward, ethical guy that he would never do that today,” Courtney Thorne-Smith said (via Us Weekly). “But at the time it was romantic. We forget how badly those things age.”
Grant Show Understands The Problem
While Grant seemed almost dismissive of it with the initial comments, he explained why he felt that way and was wrong. At the time, he saw each of them as adult actors (Jennie was 20 at the time). However, the fictional age difference was the problem.
“She was a grown-up, professional actress,” Grant said. He then said that the fact she played a high school student made it come across badly. “When I watched it, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, look at that.’ … It’s different.”
In an interesting side to the controversy, Luke Perry was only four years younger than Grant Show in real life and he and Kelly had a relationship that fans still look back on fondly years later. However, the difference is that Perry played five years younger than his real age, so no one talks about the actors’ age difference (Perry was 5 years older than Garth).
What are your thoughts on the Grant Show comments about Jake and Kelly’s short-term relationship on 90210 and Melrose Place? Does it bother you to look back on it now? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below.
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