Summary
Overview
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman interview Jenny Garth, star of the iconic 90s show Beverly Hills 90210. Jenny opens up about her journey from a farm in Illinois to becoming a television icon, the challenges of early fame, her struggles with relationships and mental health, and her path to self-discovery through divorce, therapy, and Buddhism. She discusses the toxic dynamics on set, her complex relationship with Luke Perry, battles with anxiety and substance use, and ultimately finding peace and love again.
From Farm Girl to Hollywood Star
Jenny describes her unconventional upbringing as the youngest of seven children in a blended family on an Illinois farm. When she was 13, her family moved to Arizona due to her father's heart condition. At 15, she was discovered at a beauty pageant by a manager who would change her life, leading her to move to LA with her mother at just 16 to pursue acting, despite having no prior interest or experience in the industry.
- Jenny was the only child of both her parents in a Brady Bunch-style blended family of seven kids
- Her father was an educator who started adult education in Illinois in the 70s, teaching adults to read
- The family moved to Arizona when Jenny was 13 because of her father's cardiovascular disease
- Jenny was discovered at a pageant in Laughlin, Nevada by manager Randy James, who she's still with today
- She moved to LA at 16 with her mother, while her parents were separated
" I am very giving. I like to make people happy. I like to make money so that I can make other people happy or my family. I like to give things. My dad a truck and bought the ranch for them to live on. "
The 90210 Phenomenon and On-Set Dynamics
Jenny reflects on auditioning for Beverly Hills 90210 and the show's unprecedented cultural impact. She explains how the show achieved an 11 share—astronomically high by today's standards where even the NFL gets only a 2.8-3.2 share. She discusses the challenging dynamics on set, including how producers intentionally created rivalry between her character Donna and Shannon Doherty's Brenda, which unfortunately affected their real-life relationship.
- Jenny almost wasn't seen for 90210 but her manager called in a favor to get her an audition with Aaron Spelling
- Beverly Hills 90210 maintained an 11 share for most of 10 years with 20 million weekly viewers—unprecedented by modern standards
- The show worked 16-18 hour days and produced 32 episodes per year with only 2.5 months off in summer
- Producers deliberately pitted Jenny and Shannon Doherty's characters against each other, creating real tension
- Jenny and Jason Priestley met on 'Teen Angel Returns' before 90210 and had instant brother-sister chemistry
" There is no show as big as this show is currently to compare it to. You had 20 million viewers a week for like five of the 10 years. There's no real comp in modern television for it. "
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