The slick television series Beverly Hills 90210, which focused on the lives and loves of young, privileged Los Angelenos, was first aired in 1990 to fairly low ratings and general indifference. As it began tackling serious issues relevant to its young audience, it grew into a phenomenon that ran throughout the decade and came to define it culturally; the New York Times credited it with single-handedly inventing the teen soap opera.
The show reached US audiences of more than 21 million and made worldwide stars of its main cast members, Luke Perry, Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty.
