As a TV series mainly aimed at teenage audiences, <Beverly Leap 90210>, like <Lois and Clark>, has a simple plot but high production costs, hovering around one million dollars per episode.
It might be hard for a layman to understand why the production cost of a single episode is so high, but as an insider, especially William, who has joined the crew and is waiting for filming, he can guess why.
From the screenwriters, who number more than five people on set daily, to the extras exceeding double digits, the directors who change every episode, luxury cars, lavish parties, Hampton holiday homes, and leading actors earning nearly six-figure salaries per episode—every detail contributes to the expense.
Even William, a supporting actor appearing in fewer than five episodes this season, earns $6,000 for a single episode.
Earning $6,000 per episode totals $30,000, which is already the largest income William has made since entering the industry. After taxes and a 10% agent's commission, he saves over $20,000. Though $20,000 might seem like a lot, it would hardly cover the tuition for a first year at a top private university.
By comparison, the stars of NBC's <Friends>, which launched last fall, earned an average of $6,500 per episode in its first season. The reason it's only slightly higher than William's is that <Friends> was a test run in its debut year, while 90210 is a hit drama in its fifth season. With the strong ratings of <Friends>, the six leading actors' salaries are certain to rise sharply in its second season.
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Manhattan, New York, and Beverly Hills in Los Angeles are famous residences for America's billionaires. But in addition to these two areas, there are two other expensive locations: Malibu, near Los Angeles, and the Hamptons, near New York.
The Hamptons, located in the easternmost part of Long Island, New York, is about two hours from the center of New York City.
With high land prices and almost exclusively wealthy residents, there are actually no supermarket chains, hotel chains, or fast-food outlets in the Hamptons. Instead, you'll find family-run bars, cafes, and farms selling organic produce. Luxury cars fill the streets on weekends, with Lamborghinis and Ferraris a common sight.
The Hamptons, as a backdrop for wealth and luxury, is naturally an ideal setting for shows like <Beverly Hills, 90210>. The crew rented three vacation homes with private beaches, two yachts, and a helicopter to wrap up filming the fifth season.
The storyline involves Anne, the protagonist, organizing a charity event in the affluent Hamptons. Her partner, Princeton, is not only handsome and charming but also rich and enthusiastic. If Anne weren't already in love with her boyfriend Liam, she might have fallen for Princeton.
Princeton's arrival causes a stir among the school-age girls in the Hamptons, including Anne's friend - Naomi - and Naomi's sister Jane. Naomi and Jane have been rivals since childhood, constantly competing and scheming. Now, with both vying for Princeton's attention, their sibling rivalry escalates into humorous antics.
Eventually, Princeton proposes to Naomi, and she accepts. Naomi enjoys flaunting her new relationship, soaking up the jealous stares of other women in the town. However, Anne discovers a shocking truth: Princeton is drowning in debt and only proposed to Naomi to gain access to her inheritance.
Heartbroken, Naomi ultimately ends the relationship, and Princeton vanishes from the Hamptons just as mysteriously as he appeared, leaving behind a trail of infatuated admirers.
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During breaks from filming, William enjoys shallow surfing, beach volleyball, and yacht parties. Born and raised in New York, William spent much of his childhood in Manhattan and the Hamptons, making this setting feel like home—even though his family sold their Hamptons property long ago.
William's familiarity with the town makes him stand out. He knows where to find the best Italian coffee, which bar has the most skilled bartenders, and where to get authentic pizza. Many local shopkeepers greet him warmly, recognizing him from years past.
The eyes of the rest of the crew looking at William changed every day.
From William's words, everyone could tell that he had an extraordinary familiarity with the town.
Given the level of consumption in the Hamptons, what kind of people would have lived here for a long time?
Unconsciously, there were more and more actors who came to chat with William during filming, and there were more and more discussions about him in private.
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